Heart Posture
Before you evaluate anyone else’s teaching, you begin with your own heart. Discernment is not about hunting for “heretics” — it is about protecting the flock, honoring Jesus, and keeping the gospel clear.
- Pray first: Ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom, purity of motive, and love for people.
- Check your heart: Are you moved by fear, anger, or pride — or by love for truth and souls?
- Stay teachable: You are always a student, even when you are teaching.
Key Definitions
These words get used a lot. This helps you use them precisely and carefully.
| Term | Short Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Orthodoxy | Right belief; historic, core Christian teaching. | Anchored in Scripture, summarized in early creeds (e.g., about Jesus, Trinity, resurrection). |
| Doctrine | What the church believes and teaches about God and the Christian life. | Some doctrines are essential; others are important but not salvation-level. |
| Heresy | Persistent teaching that denies or distorts an essential of the faith. | Not every mistake is heresy. Heresy attacks the heart of the gospel or the true identity of God/Christ. |
| False Teacher | Someone who consistently spreads serious error and refuses correction. | Often marked by pride, greed, manipulation, and bad fruit — not just one bad sentence. |
| Wolf | Image for someone who spiritually harms the flock. | May look “anointed” externally but leads people away from Christ’s truth and character. |
| Wounded Brother/Sister | A true believer who is immature, misinformed, or still learning. | Needs gentle correction and discipleship — not harsh labeling. |
Question to ask: “Is this person attacking the core of the gospel, or just expressing something clumsy, incomplete, or different from my tradition?”
Biblical Foundations
Use this as a mini index. Read these passages slowly. Note what Scripture actually says about false teaching and how to respond.
| Reference | Main Theme | What to Notice |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 20:28–30 | Wolves among the flock | Leaders must watch over themselves and the flock; false teachers can come from “among you.” |
| 2 Peter 2:1–3 | Destructive heresies | Secretly introduced teachings, denial of the Lord, greed, and exploitation. |
| 1 John 4:1–3 | Testing the spirits | Test what is said about Jesus — especially His incarnation and identity. |
| Galatians 1:6–9 | Another gospel | Any “gospel” that changes salvation by grace through faith is serious danger. |
| 2 Timothy 4:2–4 | Itching ears | People will gather teachers who say what they want to hear instead of the truth. |
| Jude 3–4 | Contending for the faith | The faith was “once for all” delivered; certain people twist grace into license. |
| Matthew 7:15–20 | Fruit test | False prophets known by their fruit, not just their words or gifts. |
| Titus 1:9–11 | Correcting false teachers | Elders must be able to encourage by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. |
Core Non-Negotiables
These are not small side issues. When these are denied or seriously distorted, you are in the territory of heresy — not just “a different view.”
| Doctrine | Short Summary | Sample Scriptures |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of God | One God in three Persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit); holy, eternal, Creator of all. | Deuteronomy 6:4; Matthew 28:19; John 1:1–3 |
| Person of Christ | Jesus is fully God and fully man; the unique Son of God, not a created being. | John 1:1–14; Colossians 1:15–20; Hebrews 1:1–3 |
| Work of Christ | He lived sinlessly, died for our sins, and bodily rose from the dead. | 1 Corinthians 15:1–4; Romans 3:21–26 |
| Salvation | By grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone — not by works or performance. | Ephesians 2:8–9; Titus 3:4–7; Galatians 2:16 |
| Scripture | God-breathed, authoritative, and the final standard for teaching and practice. | 2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:20–21 |
| Resurrection & Return | Jesus will return; there is real resurrection, judgment, and eternal life. | 1 Corinthians 15; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; Revelation 20–22 |
When someone’s teaching directly denies or rewrites these, that’s not just a “different emphasis” — it may be genuine heresy.
What Is Heresy?
Heresy is more than “I don’t like that” or “my church doesn’t do it that way.” Think in terms of direction and center — what is this teaching doing to the core of the gospel?
- Centered on essentials: It denies or twists who God is, who Christ is, or how we are saved.
- Persistent: The teacher continues in it after patient correction and clear Scripture.
- Spreading: The teaching is public and influencing others, not just a private question.
- Fruit: Often joined to pride, greed, control, or sexual sin — not humility and repentance.
Quick contrast: mistake vs heresy ▶
- Simple mistake: Misquoting a verse, speaking clumsily, or being unclear once.
- Immaturity: Over-emphasizing one verse or experience because they are still growing.
- Heresy: A pattern of teaching that rejects clear Scripture about Christ, the gospel, or the nature of God — and refuses correction.
Historic Patterns of Heresy
You don’t have to memorize all the “-isms,” but recognizing patterns helps you see when something old is wearing new clothes.
Arianism
Jesus as a created being, not fully God.- Denies the full deity of Christ.
- Makes Jesus a high creature or lesser “god.”
Modalism
One Person who appears as Father, Son, Spirit in different “modes.”- Denies real distinction of Persons in the Trinity.
- Makes God act like one person playing three roles.
Gnosticism
Secret knowledge & despising the physical.- Salvation by “secret revelation,” not Christ alone.
- Treats physical world as evil and irrelevant.
Pelagianism
Humans not truly fallen; we can save ourselves by effort.- Denies original sin and deep need for grace.
- Makes salvation depend on willpower and performance.
Prosperity Distortion
Turning the gospel into guaranteed wealth and comfort.- Centers faith on getting money and status.
- Minimizes suffering, repentance, and holiness.
Legalism
Adding human rules as conditions for being accepted by God.- Ties salvation to rules, dress codes, or traditions.
- Produces spiritual pride and fear, not freedom.
When you hear something new, ask: “Does this sound like one of these old patterns returning?”
Discernment Grid
Use these questions when you evaluate a message, teacher, or “movement.” Write down what you see and hear, not just what you feel.
- What do they say about Jesus? Is He fully God, fully man, crucified, resurrected, and Lord?
- What is their gospel? Is salvation by grace through faith in Christ — or by performance, money, or secret knowledge?
- How do they treat Scripture? Do they submit to the Bible in context, or twist verses to fit an agenda?
- What fruit shows up over time? Pride or humility? Repentance or excuse-making? Holiness or compromise?
- How do they handle money, power, and sex? Are there patterns of greed, control, and hidden sin?
- Are they accountable to healthy leadership? Or do they reject correction and claim unique authority?
- Do they divide the Body without cause? Do they constantly attack other believers to build themselves up?
Red Flags vs Healthy Disagreements
Not every disagreement is “heresy.” This section helps you sort between genuine danger and normal differences within the Body.
| Serious Red Flags | Secondary Disagreements | Style & Preference |
|---|---|---|
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When possible, keep strong language (“heretic,” “wolf”) for clear, serious cases — not for everyone who disagrees with you.
Responding as a Teacher & Steward
Once you sense something may be off, how you respond matters just as much as what you see.
- Pray: Ask for clean motives and a clear mind.
- Document: Write down what was said, where, and when. Avoid exaggeration.
- Study: Search Scripture in context; consult trusted commentaries or leaders if needed.
- Clarify: When possible, ask the person or leader to explain what they meant.
- Involve proper authority: Bring concerns to elders/pastors in a respectful way.
- Teach clearly: Use the moment to teach sound doctrine and point people back to Christ.
- Guard your heart: Refuse to let bitterness, gossip, or self-righteousness grow.
Case Study Worksheet
Use this simple layout to think through specific situations. Print this page or rewrite the pattern in your notebook for real-life examples.
1. What happened?
Example: “Teacher said believers never need to repent again because grace covers everything, so sin is no longer an issue.”
2. What does Scripture say?
Example: Note passages about confession, repentance, and ongoing sanctification (e.g., 1 John 1:8–9; Hebrews 12:14).
3. Provisional discernment
Example: “This seems like grace being twisted into license. Needs careful correction and leadership review.”
Personal Guardrails for Me
These simple commitments help you stay healthy as you grow as a steward and teacher of God’s Word.
- I will stay anchored in Scripture, not just popular opinions or viral clips.
- I will submit to healthy spiritual authority and correction myself.
- I will avoid labeling people quickly without patient listening and study.
- I will protect the vulnerable from harmful teaching and from harsh, graceless “discernment.”