Marks of False Doctrine
Published on: October 15, 2025
Exposed Wolf
Discern patterns, not just moments. Isolated failures reveal weakness, but persistent, unrepentant patterns reveal the heart. We all stumble, but when sin remains unconfessed and unchanged, it signals something deeper than slow sanctification it exposes a need for true repentance and renewal in Christ.
Symptom Categories​
| Category | Examples | Why It Matters | Scripture Warning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Authority Shift | "God told me" > textual exposition | Elevates subjectivity over Scripture | "All Scripture is breathed out by God" (2 Tim 3:16) |
| Gospel Dilution | Sin reframed as dysfunction | Erodes need for substitution & repentance | "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves" (1 John 1:8) |
| Ego Amplification | Brand / platform central | Displaces Christ's preeminence | "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30) |
| Emotionalism | Sensation prioritized over substance | Forms shallow, unstable disciples | "Faith comes from hearing...the word of Christ" (Rom 10:17) |
| Novelty Addiction | Constant "new" revelations | Undermines sufficiency & contentment | "Do not go beyond what is written" (1 Cor 4:6) |
Progressive Drift Model​
- Softening terminology - "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil" (Isa 5:20)
- Re-centering on felt needs - "They heap up for themselves teachers to suit their own passions" (2 Tim 4:3)
- Minimizing substitutionary atonement - "For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified" (1 Cor 2:2)
- Introducing extra-biblical revelations - "I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book" (Rev 22:18)
- Resisting accountability structures - "Obey your leaders and submit to them" (Heb 13:17)
Diagnostic Grid​
| Lens | Questions | Scripture Foundation |
|---|---|---|
| Text Handling | Is context respected? Original meaning preserved? | "Rightly handling the word of truth" (2 Tim 2:15) |
| Christ Focus | Does Jesus' cross/work anchor application? | "I have been crucified with Christ" (Gal 2:20) |
| Gospel Terms | Are grace, repentance, faith intact & balanced? | "By grace you have been saved through faith" (Eph 2:8) |
| Ethics | Is holiness framed as fruit, not earning? | "We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works" (Eph 2:10) |
| Authority | Is the biblical model of shared eldership truly practiced in the church, reflecting Christ’s headship and mutual accountability among leaders? | "Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy" (1 Tim 5:17) |
Escalation Threshold​
When 3+ category symptoms persist over multiple months without correction, initiate formal evaluation using tests (Module 3).
"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone" (Matt 18:15)