We are commanded to treat false teachers and false prophets completely differently than our brothers and sisters struggling in their walk. Have you noticed how Jesus addresses false teachers/prophets? He warns against associating with them. He calls them “blind guides”, “fools”, “hypocrites”, “whitewashed tombs”. (Check out Matthew 23.) Confronting a brother or sister with their sin is a completely different situation than confronting false teachers and false prophets who are leading others astray.

The first requirement on our part is “do not receive him into your house”. In other words, do not engage in nor develop a personal relationship with them. (And this goes for having them in your house by allowing them to be on your television or on your radio or in your bookcase!) The longer you maintain intimate contact, the more sure that you will fall to them. Yes, I might be able to hold out for hours or even days in a bar without having a drink or beginning to talk and act like the bar patrons—but sooner or later I WILL succomb. Whereas we can help a brother or sister in Christ recover from the error of their sin, we can never rescue a deceiver. We must rescue ourselves!

The second requirement on our part is “do not give him a greeting”. If we acknowledge them in any way, it gives them the air of legitimacy. Others will mistake our politeness for indirect approval. The deceiver will make inroads into the body just as effectively as if we did engage in a personal relationship with them. We must not acknowledge them; we must not allow them to share the stage or spotlight with us or other true teachers of God; we must not remotely hint at even the possibility of their legitimacy by casting even the slightest nod in their direction.

We are to live by Christ’s example in all things. In the presence of false teachers and false prophets, do as He did and reject them completely both personally and publicly. It’s the proper biblical response. Anything else is to actually be participants WITH them in their evil deeds._††_†

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