He may, like Marcus Borg and other prominent scholars, deny the virgin birth or the resurrection of Jesus Christ. When Pope Leo X famously commissioned Tetzel to sell indulgences, the profits not only funded the reconstruction of St. Peters Basilica, but also his luxurious lifestyle. Scripture says otherwise (Rev 20:10-15). Our leaders need to be held accountable, and not held in such high esteem that we give them a pass on the normal Christian life. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Sometimes he plants himself in academia, where one of his recent masterpieces is a re-imagined God who is unable to see and know the future. 1:8). Bill Hybels, founding pastor of Willow Creek, resigned in April 2018 after allegations of sexual harassment and abuse of power. Conversely, some believers attend to their actions without caring about the doctrinal commitments that undergird (or contradict) those very behaviors. Today he is Joel Osteen, pastor of the largest church in America, who is known equally for his toothy smile and his vacuous content. All of these are what the Apostle John called anti-Christs (1 John 2). He does this in the name of ministry, with the claim of Gods anointing. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work" (16). No matter how small a minority the church becomes, and no matter how fragile we feel, the very one who is both the subject of true teaching and the model of true living is also our life-and-soul-preserver. What is the clear and present danger of these false teachings? Also, they are grumblers and malcontents; they indulge their own lusts; they are bombastic in speech, flattering people to their own advantage (v. 16). Some who depart the faith do so because they pay attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons (1 Tim. 6 False Teachings Bringing Deceptive Darkness Into the Church Organizations/trends are listed alphabetically by name.Teachers are listed alphabetically by surname. Sarah Young, author of the top Christian bestseller of the decade, boldly claims that her book contains the very words of Jesus. Carl Lentz, pastor of Hillsong East Coast, was let go in November 2020 for moral failures, including an adulterous affair, and now stands accused of sexual abuse. Its no surprise that Jesus told the apostles before his ascension to make disciples of all nations by baptizing them in the Triune Name and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you (Matt.