The apostle Peter said “there will be false teachers among you” (2 Pet. 2:1). No “ifs, ands or “buts” about it. Their “destructive heresies” deny the Lord and bring “swift destruction” upon themselves and those enslaved by their false teaching (2 Pet. 2:1, 18-20).

Jesus warned us to “beware of false prophets” because they appear to be harmless when, in fact, they are deadly (Matt. 7:15). He explained how to identify them: “You will know them by their fruits” (Matt. 7:16, 20). In order to heed Jesus’ warning, we have been equipped with the inspired Scriptures so that we can “test the spirits, whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 Jno. 4:1, 6). Simply put, we can know the difference between truth and error. Furthermore, we are told to “note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them” (Rom. 16:17). False teachers can be known and must be avoided.

This reminds us of all the “fake news” we have been hearing about over the past several months. It is getting to where you have to really be careful that the news you are reading or hearing is actually real. Facebook “wants to stop the spread of false news on Facebook,” so they just posted “Tips to Spot False News” to help curb the problem. Facebook even wants you to report false news to Facebook so they can investigate it and remove it.

Consider these tips from Facebook about spotting false news. (We can see some applications about spotting false teaching.) Facebook wrote:

1   Be skeptical of headlines.
2   Look closely at the URL.
3   Investigate the source.
4   Watch for unusual formatting.
5   Consider the photos.
6   Inspect the dates.
7   Check the evidence.
8   Look at other reports.
9   Is the story a joke?
10 Some stories are intentionally false.
(http://bit.ly/2pvjrSr)

First, notice that false news is identifiable based upon objective evidence. Facebook did not say to first figure out the motives in the news reporters’ hearts in order to identify a false news story. These people are false news reporters because what they report is false. In like manner, it is the content of the teaching, not the character of the heart of the teacher, that identifies the false teacher and his false teaching. The fruit of the false prophet, according to Jesus, is teaching that is not “the will of My Father in heaven” (Matt. 7:20-23).

Next, see that Facebook urges us to “look closely,” to “investigate the source,” to “watch,” to “consider,” to “inspect,” and to “check the evidence” to spot false news. Amazing. These are the very things the Scriptures tell us to do to identify false teachers and their false teaching:

   “Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thess. 5:21-22).
   “Let no one deceive you with empty words...have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them...walk circumspectly...” (Eph. 5:6, 11, 15).
   “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit...therefore by their fruits you will know them” (Matt. 7:18, 20).

Also, Facebook notes headlines that grab your attention, but the substance of the news report is false. Likewise, some teachers try to “make a splash” with grand titles and headlines that capture the imagination and generate enthusiasm. With “great swelling words” they attract a crowd, but their message is empty and devoid of truth (2 Pet. 2:18).

Facebook warns of “unusual formatting” such as “misspellings or awkward layouts” as evidence of false news. Galatians 1:6-12 explains how we can identify the “unusual formatting” of false teaching; when it fails to conform to the standard of apostolic truth. The “pattern of sound words” received from the apostles of Christ is corrupted by the false teaching of false teachers (2 Tim. 1:13; 1 Tim. 6:3-5). We must be willing and able to see subtle errors, for these help us recognize false teaching so that we can turn away from it.

Very importantly, Facebook not only advises us how to spot false news, but also asks us to inform them of false news reports. “If you see a story in News Feed that you believe is false, you can report it to Facebook.” To do so you will have to identify the source of the false news. It will not be enough to say, “there is false news on Facebook;” that will not get it removed. You will have to identify it in order for Facebook to address it. In the same way, we cannot say, “there will be false teachers” among us, but then refuse to identify the very ones who teach that error. That does not help anyone. In order to “contend earnestly for the faith” one must also expose the ones who have “crept in unnoticed” and overturn the grace of God (Jude 3-4). Paul identified such men, and so must we (1 Tim. 1:18-20; 2 Tim. 2:16-18; 4:14-15).

Yes, there are false teachers among us; they have not left the scene (2 Pet. 2:1). Their error hinders the spread of the truth and corrupts souls. Like “false news,” false teaching must be identified and rejected. False teaching never saved a single soul. False teachers give people false hope. Know how to spot false teaching. Refuse it. Report it. Oppose it.