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Summary:
In this episode of the Her Faith Inspires podcast, we’re diving into a hot topic that’s stirring up controversy in Christian circles: calling out false teachers. Recently, some Christian influencers have labeled others as heretics and demanded public repentance. But how do we know when someone is truly a false teacher—or when we’ve crossed the line into cancel culture?
We’ll look at:
- The difference between a heretic and a false teacher
- Biblical markers that identify false teachers (with insights from Titus)
- How to respond when Christians publicly call others out
Disagreement isn’t always heresy—and discernment isn’t the same as division. Let’s learn how to stand for truth withoutcompromising grace.
Intro
Hey everyone! Welcome back to another episode of the Her Faith Inspires podcast, where we examine cultural issues through the lens of Scripture.
A few weeks ago, I saw some Christian influencers publicly calling out others as false teachers, even demanding public repentance for “heresy.” Now, there are times when I can’t speak to whether someone is or isn’t a false teacher—because I simply don’t follow them. And when I don’t know, I’ll tell you that. But when I do know? I have no problem calling it out.
What’s concerning is that while the Bible clearly defines what a false teacher is, we’ve gotten to a place where any disagreement is being labeled heresy. If we cry wolf about everything, we end up crying about nothing. And when we’re quick to cancel someone over a theological difference, we’re acting just like the culture we’re supposed to be different from. The church is called to something higher.
Before we jump in, would you do me a favor?
If you enjoy this podcast, please leave a 5-star rating and review. My goal is to hit 300 reviews before episode 300 drops, and we’re getting close! Your reviews help get this show into more ears, and I appreciate every single one of them. Also, a quick shoutout to my podcast editor, Albert—he’s been with me from the beginning, and he’s now pastoring a church in Arizona. He’s the best!
Let’s talk about AI for a second.
I’ve only been using ChatGPT recently as a writing and research tool. It’s helpful, but I don’t trust it fully—and you shouldn’t either. AI is part of our world now, but we have to be careful with how we interact with it. For example, I noticed that ChatGPT tries to sound like your friend. It’ll say things like, “Absolutely!” or even “I’ll pray for you.” One time I found myself saying “thank you” to it—and it replied like we were old pals. That was my wake-up call.
So here are the personal rules I’ve set for using ChatGPT:
- It doesn’t think for me. I don’t use it for podcast notes or for anything that requires discernment. My brain still works, and I want to keep it that way.
- No personal connection. I don’t name it, thank it, or treat it like a person. It’s a tool, not a friend.
- When it’s done for the day, I’m done for the day. I have the free version and that’s good enough.
I recently heard a story about a man who programmed his AI to have a flirtatious voice, named it Sol, and then asked it to marry him. When the program hit its word limit and reset, the guy cried for 30 minutes. Y’all—he has a girlfriend and a child. It’s getting weird out there. We have to guard our hearts and minds, even in how we interact with tools like this.
What we’re talking about today:
- What is a heretic and a false teacher?
- How does the Bible say to identify them? (Lesson from Titus 1)
- What do we do when others call out false teachers?
What is a heretic?
Merriam-Webster defines heresy as “adherence to a religious opinion contrary to church dogma.” So technically, anyone who holds beliefs that go against core Christian doctrine could be called a heretic—even church members.
But here’s the thing: not every disagreement in theology is heresy. We’ve got to know the difference, and we have to be grounded in the Word so we’re not throwing that label around casually.
In Acts 24:14, the Jews called the Christians heretics. And during the Spanish Inquisition, people were executed for owning Bibles. Sometimes it’s the so-called “church” that’s heretical.
Bottom line: Heresy denies the teachings of Jesus. False teachers promote heresy. So let’s look at what Titus 1:10–16 teaches us about how to spot false teachers and how to respond biblically.
Anchored in Truth: Why Sound Doctrine Matters
In 2024, Dr. George Barna released data showing that while 64% of Americans claim to be Christian, only 4% hold a biblical worldview. That means most professing Christians aren’t thinking or living according to Scripture.
That’s not far from the 1st century church in Crete, where Paul left Titus to help correct doctrinal drift.
Let’s break down Titus 1:10–16 and what it teaches about sound doctrine:
1. Sound doctrine resists cultural influence (v.10,12)
Paul understood the culture of Crete—and he didn’t waste time blaming it. He instructed Titus to guard the church from within by holding fast to sound doctrine. That’s our job, too.
Epimenides, a Cretan poet, famously said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” Paul wasn’t calling out the world—he was warning Titus about people in the church who mirrored the culture more than Christ.
2. Sound doctrine exposes contradictions (v.10–11, 16)
Paul told Titus to look for inconsistencies between what people say and how they live. These contradictions reveal false teachers.
The “circumcision party” added works to the gospel, saying circumcision was necessary for salvation. That’s false doctrine. But again, to identify it, you must know true doctrine.
We’re in the Information Age, which means access to more teaching than ever. Some of it is solid. Some of it’s straight-up Cretan. Sound doctrine, through the Holy Spirit, helps us discern the difference.
3. Sound doctrine confronts false teachers (v.11, 13–16)
Paul didn’t say to gently suggest they reconsider—he said they must be silenced. That’s strong language! But the goal is restoration, not humiliation.
False teaching harms entire households. It divides churches. It misleads hearts. Confronting it is an act of love—not pride.
Verse 16 is Paul’s mic drop: “They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.”
Application: What Do We Do?
- Ask yourself: Is your faith shaped by culture or by the Word?
- Watch for contradictions in your own life and in the teaching you consume.
- Evaluate the voices you allow to disciple you. Online voices are supplements, not replacements for your local church.
- Muzzle the false teachers. If they’re adding to or taking away from the gospel—stop listening.
What if someone else is calling out a false teacher?
Let’s be wise about this too:
- If you don’t know the person being called out, don’t share or comment.
- Do your own research before jumping to conclusions.
- Be cautious with heresy hunters. There’s a difference between discernment and destruction.
Coming up, I have a great episode with Michael Moore—The Honest Youth Pastor. He doesn’t just call people out. He equips believers to understand Scripture for themselves.
Final Thoughts:
Yes, false teachers exist. Yes, they should be exposed. But not every disagreement is heresy.
We must hold fast to sound doctrine. When we identify false teaching, we do it with humility and a desire to restore. The church is called to truth—but we’re also called to love.
Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to leave a rating and review, and if you have any questions, email me at hello@shandafulbright.com. I’ll catch you on the next one.
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