For us today, it is not always obvious when a preacher displays the two marks of the false prophet that Jesus has identified. It is very possible that there are pastors, elders and professors who might happily subscribe to the Three Forms of Unity and formally submit to Biblical teaching whilst at the same time promoting works righteousness and lowering the standard of God’s law. In fact, there are many times where godly preachers might even do the same. Like Peter joined the table of the Judaizers (Galatians 2:1–21), we are all naturally drawn to the doctrine of the false prophets. We are drawn to the teaching that gives room for human pride, a theology of glory that wins the praise of men. It is where we will drift if we are not careful and if God does not keep us.

And that means that Jesus’ warning against false prophets is also another warning about the deceitfulness of our own hearts. We love to hear a gospel that gives us something to contribute. Whether it be an experience or a task, it just seems so much more tangible to put our hope in what we can see than in Christ who is invisible. Likewise, we love to hear a gospel that reduces the demands of God’s law to go along with the ethics of our society. A gospel that makes the hard road more comfortable, so to speak—no condemnation of sinful desires, no calls or big life change. We like these things, we want these things, this is where we are all tempted to go. Given our propensity, let us be very careful about whom we listen to and the churches we attend. Yes, there are a lot of different preachers on YouTube and lots of great podcasts. Many of them do a really good job when it comes to their presentation. They are articulate, they are well known and even celebrated. But not all that glitters is gold.

Works righteousness is a common denominator in many sermons, even the vast majority of sermons. The value of Christ is typically assumed, rather than proclaimed, with little reference to his active and passive obedience on our behalf. Antinomianism is another regular problem—the idea that God’s law is no longer relevant for the Christian life, the concept that you can be united to Christ and share in all his benefits without serving him as your King. We must exercise discernment, and be careful as to whom we let into our heads and our hearts. You are what you eat, and your sermon diet will inevitably influence your thinking and shape your desires.

If this is true for us as adults, how much more when it comes to our children. Far too often we give them into the care of others without a second thought. We make big efforts to ensure they go to top secular schools, where they will be trained and taught by those who do not hold fast to the truths of God’s Word. Some people are even willing to leave their families for work in other countries in order to make that a reality. Surely, we must wise up and start doing things differently? In the past maybe the schools had a general Christian ethos and the decision was easier—but even then, there was a lot of exposure to false prophets, plenty of decisions made because it was the broad way that is easy rather than the narrow path that is hard. This is not to say that there is no room for getting other people involved in the education and care of our children, but it is to emphasize that we must beware. We have a responsibility for what they consume. We must give an account for the way in which they are raised, so let us be careful regarding whom we listen to.

When it comes to churches, we must not pretend as if those who have the word Reformed in the title always get things right. Within the Reformed world, within the broader evangelical world, there are many churches who veer from God’s Word in order to fill pews and accommodate preferences. No matter the checks and balances in a denomination, things can and do go wrong.

Our liturgy and confessions can protect us to a certain extent. One of the benefits that come with following a historic Reformed liturgy in worship is that we God’s people will typically be exposed to the gospel every Sunday even if the preacher makes no mention of Christ in his sermon. God’s law will be read, the law which reveals our sin and shows our need for a perfect Saviour. There will be a prayer for God’s mercy, a reminder and confession that there is nothing good in us that is deserving of God’s favour. There will also be a declaration of pardon, the good news of Christ read and proclaimed from a passage of Scripture, the good news of peace with God for all those who have faith in Jesus. Regular and repetitive, these liturgical movements are essential, we need to hear gospel truths again and again.

While we can be thankful for a Reformed liturgy and the other means by which we seek to limit and stop the influence of false teachers, we cannot get rid of them entirely. Certainly, in these last days before the return of Jesus Christ, the church will always be a mixed community of believers and unbelievers. Until Christ comes in glory, there will never be a time where there are no false teachers. They have been a constant plague from the beginning, and they will continue to be a plague to the end, abusing the people of God, encouraging sin, blaspheming the name of Christ, combining God’s truth with pagan religion, brandishing a whip that says, Pull up your socks or else.

We are all familiar with the damage that has been and can be done by these individuals. So often they are the public face of Christianity in the world, and there are many times where they drive us to despair, especially if we have suffered at their hands. If we have been told that we must do better to be sure of God’s favour, if we have been told that we need a special warm heart experience to be sure that God loves us, if we have been told that certain practices are acceptable only to later find that they are contrary to God’s will—then we long for the day when these teachers will be done away with, when the kingdom of God will be all in all.

Be assured that such a day will come. It is the promise of Jesus. The false who do not know him will not be part of his kingdom. Workers of lawlessness will find the door is shut. Outside of true faith in Christ, there is no life in God’s presence—our King will not be fooled.

Let us be on our guard then as God’s people so that we are not taken in to follow the ways of those who are not in Christ. Let us have our Bibles open when we listen to the preaching of God’s Word, confident that the Scriptures are true and trustworthy and that they stand above the preacher no matter how persuasive he might be. Let us take responsibility for our children and what they hear, not neglecting our duty as parents. And let us pray like the apostle Paul, that God would shut the mouths of false teachers (Galatians 1:6–9), and that those under their sway might come to a place where they can hear God’s truth and join a true church. As that is our prayer, may it also be our action. At school, at university, at the office—many Christians around us are unfamiliar with basic doctrines. Let us share what we have been taught and let us invite others where we can so that they can come learn from Christ together with us.