(Last Names Starting with “C”)
“They’re a sorry bunch–pseudo-apostles, lying preachers, crooked workers–posing as Christ’s agents but sham to the core. And no wonder! Satan does it all the time, dressing up as a beautiful angel of light. So it shouldn’t surprise us when his servants masquerade as servants of God. But they’re not getting by with anything. They’ll pay for it in the end”
(2 Corinthians 11:13-15 MSG).
What is a false teacher and how does one qualify for this list?
False teachers are those who presume to teach in their own authority (as did the scribes), often in the Name of the Lord, when He has not sent them. Though they have knowledge of Biblical truths, they are, at best, in delusion, presuming to turn others to the Kingdom of God when, in fact, they are building the corrupt kingdoms of men. At worst, they are deliberate charlatans, seeking to deceive, steal, kill, and destroy, using Biblical truths to do so.
A teacher I follow is not listed here. Does that mean they aren't false?
This list is not meant to be an exhaustive one. What is important is that one learns to discern truth from error.
“Then you shall again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God, and him who does not serve Him” (Malachi 3:18 MKJV).
No person rightfully takes upon himself the role of a teacher or any other ministry of God without God’s power and authority. In a world full of teachers, preachers, elders, deacons, speakers, writers, evangelists, pastors, prophets, and apostles, rare are the true ministers representing the Lord Jesus Christ. Many are the false, and very few the true, even as in Noah’s day.
I heard the truth for the first time from a teacher listed here on this site. How is that?
Though false teachers lead astray, the Biblical truths they teach can lead to Christ those whom God has called and is choosing. The truth quickens those being given the gift of faith. However, faith manifest in the one who receives the truth does not certify as God’s representative the one who speaks some truth. The child of faith who walks in obedience to Christ will soon enough part ways with those who mix truth with error.
This is God’s commandment:
“Therefore come out from among them and be separated, says the Lord, and do not touch the unclean thing. And I will receive you and I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:17-18 MKJV).
How can a teacher be false when they teach true things found in the Bible?
False teachers mix the holy things of God with their carnal thoughts, creating a false form of godliness. They can’t do otherwise, because they haven’t taken up the cross and submitted themselves to Christ’s righteousness. They are still in their sin nature, living unto themselves, teaching doctrines and commandments of men.
And because false teachers haven’t submitted themselves to Christ’s righteousness, they can’t lead others there. A false teacher is one who may speak truth, yet points his hearers in another direction.
An example of this would be that of a “Tijuana taxi,” or any predator of tourists who says, “Yes, I know exactly where such-and-such a place is, and I’ll take you there. On the way, I’ll tell you all you want to know about it. Please, get in.”
Guess what? He gets you there after a half-hour drive, but didn’t tell you it was only a block away from where you began with him. Meanwhile he charges you for the time or mileage.
And though he filled you in on what the place is all about, what he doesn’t, can’t, and won’t tell you is that you need a membership to enter. He drops you off at the gate, and you find out your trip was for naught.
Isn’t that just like the churches and spiritual leaders one encounters in a multiplicity of places and forms? They have truth, and they may even get you into the wedding feast, but never with a wedding garment.
Therefore, while the truth spoken is to be believed (no matter who speaks it or what affiliation the speaker may have), false teachers are not to be followed. Teachers sent of God are to be followed, as with the example given by the apostle Paul, who said by the Spirit, “Become followers of me, even as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). A false teacher leads into the emptiness of self-righteousness and death, but a true teacher leads to the fullness of Christ and life.
After reading what's written here, I still can't determine if the teacher I follow is true or false. Is there anything else I can read that may help?
See also Diabolical Doctrines, The True Marks of a Cult, and Teachings. Indeed, our entire website will help you to forsake the error and to walk in the path of truth.
(Click on the links below for a short summary of each teacher along with a link to their listing.)
C3 Church, Following the Prince of This World
The Lord, promising believers tribulation and the death of the cross, certainly seems cruel and undesirable next to Satan, who promises the glory of this world if you’ll follow him. C3 has opted for the latter in a big way, and we’re here to warn you about taking that wide road to destruction.
Read C3 Church – Following the Prince of This World
Read C3 Church – Following the Prince of This World
Calvin, Finished Forever
Calvin, John
Show me whom you follow, and I will know what manner of person you are or will become. If you do not know whom you are following, don't you think it is time to find out how and where you are being led? Do you think you will altogether escape the consequences because ignorant? Think again. You already suffer them.
John Calvin was one of the most vicious of wolves ever to pose as a lamb of God. His supremely self-righteous spirit lives on in those who lionize and follow him, even unbeknownst to themselves. Truly, “that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.”
Read The Fruit of Cain Multiplied: The Murderer John Calvin
Read The Fruit of Cain Multiplied: The Murderer John Calvin
Cameron, Kirk
Kirk Cameron uses a traditional approach of “preaching the gospel,” which tries to scare people into the Kingdom. It does not work because it is based on lies. Paul corresponds with Kirk about how that is so, and how it will require him to lose his life to lose this controlling doctrine on which he has built a “ministry.”
Read False Teacher – Kirk Cameron
Read False Teacher – Kirk Cameron
Camm, Jeffry
Jeffry Camm uses the Koran as an authoritative source of truth to preach Jesus Christ to Muslims. We expose his faulty reasoning and arguments, and also show the disastrous results of convincing a Muslim to seriously follow the Koran, which would lead him to resemble Muhammad, the criminal, rather than Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Read Jeffry Camm – Using the Koran to Preach Christ?
Read Jeffry Camm – Using the Koran to Preach Christ?
Campbell, Nick, No Case For Christmas
Beware of the perverse reasoner and the amazing rationale of a mind dead set on pleasure.
Read False Teacher – Nick Campbell
Read False Teacher – Nick Campbell
Campbell, Nicol
There is only one “Path of Truth,” and His Name is the Lord Jesus Christ. Though many “paths of truth” are claimed by men, THE Path of Truth and way of salvation is found only within the Son of Man, Mediator between God and men. “The Lord is my Rock, and my Fortress, and my Deliverer. The God Who is my Rock, in Him will I trust. He is my Shield, and the Horn of my salvation, my High Tower, and my Refuge, my Savior” (2 Samuel 22:2-3 MKJV).
Read False Teacher – Nicol Campbell
Read False Teacher – Nicol Campbell
Carson, D.A., Trying to Change the Sabbath
We were challenged to read what some “Bible experts” have to say about the Sabbath and their arguments for Sunday-keeping (as if we have not heard). The complex and tortured reasonings of these scholars provide a perfect backdrop for the simplicity and power of God’s Word to illuminate the truth to those who come to Him as little children. What rest we have in believing Him! The Sabbath indeed!
Read False Teacher – D.A. Carson
Read False Teacher – D.A. Carson
Carter, Jimmy
Some general and specific people and peoples are warned of God’s purpose for Israel, against which nation, whether subtle or overt, anyone comes at his or her own peril.
Read A Word to the Enemies of Israel
Read A Word to the Enemies of Israel
Case, Ryan
How naked and exposed are the wicked who presume to be ministers of Jesus Christ in their corruption! Whether by few words or many, the thoughts of their hearts are laid bare, not only before God, but before all those in Him. How amazing it is that those who preach the Creator of the eyes and ears are dumbfounded that He grants vision and hearing to His children!
Read False Teacher – Ryan Case – Starving for Glory
Read False Teacher – Ryan Case – Starving for Glory
Catholicism, Satans Supersitions
Catholicism and its superstitions won’t protect you from Satan and his lying prophets such as John Ramirez.
Read John Ramirez’s Fishy Story
Read John Ramirez’s Fishy Story
Challies, Tim
According to a false gospel preached by men, you cannot truly tell who is a sheep and who is a wolf in sheep's clothing. You just have to be a nice person and not say anything negative about another who claims to be Christ's. So when Satan comes to your door, or you go to his website or church, you should not dare think, much less say, that he comes as an angel of Light. Such is the religion of Tim Challies, a vain one that is not fit for the saints of God, but is the common fare of tares.
Read False Teacher – Tim Challies – Beware of False Brethren
Read False Teacher – Tim Challies – Beware of False Brethren
Chan, Francis - A Call to Discipleship?
Many are the modern-day false ministers of Christ who ‘feel’ a call from God to a work, yet are clueless as to what He wants. Where does one find a calling of such a nature in the Scriptures? Since when has God communicated a call to a work by feelings? The answers are ‘Nowhere’ and ‘Never.’
Read False Teacher – Francis Chan – A Call to Discipleship?
Read False Teacher – Francis Chan – A Call to Discipleship?
Chan, Francis - Revisited
Francis Chan has been weighed in the balance of God and found wanting. According to the measure of the Lord Jesus Christ, Chan has been, and remains, a carnal minister of the counterfeit church, a blind guide leading others into the ditch of fruitless religiosity. Whosoever has ears to hear, let him hear.
Read False Teacher – Francis Chan Revisited
Read False Teacher – Francis Chan Revisited
Chavez, Ruben
Men walking in their own righteousness, presuming it to be God's, are His greatest enemies. Saul of Tarsus was such a man, but the Lord turned him into a great friend. Ruben Chavez is such a man, but he has been hardened for destruction.
Read False Teacher – Ruben Chavez (a.k.a. Ruben Israel)
Read False Teacher – Ruben Chavez (a.k.a. Ruben Israel)
Chew, Ben
Ben Chew blows the cover off the impressive appearance he tries to create with his religious works when he comes mocking the real thing, our work in Christ. He is exposed as one whose reformation is superficial and wanting, a whitewashed tomb with dead men’s bones and rotting flesh inside. See how this empty cloud is vaporized by fire, removing the appearance of godliness and leaving nothing behind.
Read False Teacher – Ben Chew – Exposed by a Mocking Spirit
Read False Teacher – Ben Chew – Exposed by a Mocking Spirit
Chopra, Deepak
There are so many people who believe the lie that Christ is but one of many ways to God. They believe that the major religions of the world are in agreement and harmony with Christ and the Bible. There is nothing farther from the truth. Herein is addressed Buddhism in particular, with reference to the philosophical assertions of Deepak Chopra and Robert Thurman.
Read Buddhism Examined from a Godly and Biblical Perspective
Read Buddhism Examined from a Godly and Biblical Perspective
Christianity, False Unmasked
Akaid Diaz sent us a challenge to respond to “The Essentials of Christianity,” a document published by the Christian Research Institute. We take the challenge to proclaim what, and more importantly, Whom we believe on. We do so in every series of The Issues of Life, and in every breath we take. We thank the Lord Jesus Christ for making Himself known to all given to see.
Read False Christianity Unmasked
Read False Christianity Unmasked
Ciniraj, Paul
In late April, 2017, a news article circulated by religious publications reported lions attacking and driving off three jihadists who sought to murder a “Christian” preacher in an unnamed Middle Eastern country. This story, which has more holes in it than Swiss cheese, was uncorroborated by any witnesses or viable evidence. Adding to the fantasy and sensationalism, the preacher stated that lions don't even live in those parts.
Read False Teacher – Paul Ciniraj
Read False Teacher – Paul Ciniraj
Claiborne, Shane
Responding to Shane Claiborne's book, Irresistible Revolution, we expose the falsity of the gospel of the peace activist and social worker “Jesus,” which depends on a corrupt mankind to do good, and point Shane to the living, resurrected Lord Jesus Christ, Who alone is good, and to His instructions for life.
Read Shane Claiborne – The Gospel of Do-Gooding by Rotten Scoundrels
Read Shane Claiborne – The Gospel of Do-Gooding by Rotten Scoundrels
Clark, John Sr.
Some cults have pet, false doctrines on which they justify their existence. “Pastor John’s House” has an obsession with “the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues,” which we address (theirs is a false baptism and experience). We also deal with Satan and his subtleties, cloaked by an appearance of graciousness that deceives the simple. It does not take long, however, before he bares his fangs.
Read The Cult of “Pastor John’s House”
Read The Cult of “Pastor John’s House”
Cohen, Aviad
We correspond with Jewish rapper Aviad Cohen, aka 50 Shekel, who began to publicly profess Christ and offer advice and teachings. How greatly does the spotlight of fame, even if minor as in his case, amplify insecurities and errors! How foolish for neophytes to think to teach in the first place!
Read False Teacher – Aviad Cohen
Read False Teacher – Aviad Cohen
Collins, Francis
Lauded as a hero of the faith because he professed belief in God while leading the Human Genome Project, Collins became a link between Christian institutions and the scientific establishment.
Read Francis Collins – Professing Faith While Promoting Evil
Read Francis Collins – Professing Faith While Promoting Evil
Comfort, Ray
Teaching on The Path of Truth – Heathen Much Wiser than Foolish Preacher
Read False Teacher – Ray Comfort
Read False Teacher – Ray Comfort
Confused by Calvin Doctrine
Conlon, Carter
Men of God don’t spawn clones, but men do. The tragedy of David Wilkerson is that he had received some truths from God, but he chose the favor of men over the praise of God. He remained in the corrupt systems of men that he sought to reform, without success because he wasn’t reformed himself. His legacy is Carter Conlon, a preacher who never even came close to God.
Read False Teachers – David Wilkerson & Carter Conlon
Read False Teachers – David Wilkerson & Carter Conlon
Conversations with God, Truth and Consequences
Walsch’s entity says many true things about men, their foolish imaginations, erroneous doctrines, and false notions of God. Many things he says are open to interpretation; they may be right and they may be wrong. However, it is not my intent, nor the purpose of this letter, to find agreement, because it is plain to me that the entity is not serving the Lord Jesus Christ, and is certainly condemning the testimony of Holy Scripture, which Author is God.
Read Conversations with God – Truth and Consequences
Read Conversations with God – Truth and Consequences
Cooke, Graham
Graham Cooke says, “Grace is the empowering presence of God to make us feel good about ourselves as we are in the process of becoming more and more Christlike.”
Scarcely has a greater lie been told.
Read False Teacher – Graham Cooke
Read False Teacher – Graham Cooke
Cooper, Paul
We submit to our readers as a warning, as we do with many false teachers, a Facebook conversation some of us at ThePathofTruth had with Paul Cooper of www.iampaulcooper.com. We recently learned of him in a personal visit from my nephew Nathan Hafichuk. Some time ago, he adopted Paul Cooper as his “life guide” or spiritual mentor. As a result, there was a major conflict of spirit, doctrine, and understanding between Paul and Nathan with their philosophy on the one hand, and us who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ on the other.
Read False Teacher – Paul Cooper
Read False Teacher – Paul Cooper
Copeland Kenneth
Kenneth and Gloria Copeland are “prosperity” teachers, bold and brash, but are they of God? If so, why would a cloud of evil spirits come to possess all those who sing, “praise,” and “worship” with hands uplifted, by Kenneth Copeland’s leadership? My wife and I almost got caught ourselves, but by God’s mercy and grace.
Read False Teacher – Kenneth Copeland
Read False Teacher – Kenneth Copeland
Cordeiro, Wayne
False teachers who preach Jesus Christ don't resemble Him at all. They may talk about Him, but they look like the world, appealing to its credentials and ways in order to attract converts and followers. It's a twisted bait and switch where you get what you want, but not what you need.
Read False Teachers – Wayne Cordeiro & Ravi Zacharias
Read False Teachers – Wayne Cordeiro & Ravi Zacharias
Cordova, Maria
Witchcraft is divination – and many are those today who divine sayings and visions as if they are from God when they’re not. “Have you not seen a false vision and uttered a lying divination, whenever you have said, ‘Declares the LORD,’ although I have not spoken?” (Ezekiel 13:7 ESV) Thus says the Lord to these two witches.
Read False Teachers – Glynda Lomax & Maria Cordova
Read False Teachers – Glynda Lomax & Maria Cordova
Crews, William
“Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink” (Isaiah 5:21-22 KJV).
William Crews has been mixing the Scriptures with his own embittered inclinations and ideas for many years, serving it up to the unsuspecting through his writings and preaching. The Day has come to disentangle and set free all who are given to hear the Truth that puts away his error.
Read False Teacher – William Crews – Christ vs. Crews
Read False Teacher – William Crews – Christ vs. Crews
Crouch, Paul & Jan
The “Trinity Broadcasting Network,” also known as “The Blasphemy Network” (TBN), presents Christianity as a carnival – “a frenetic disorganized (and often comic) disturbance suggestive of a large public entertainment.” This is the work of Paul and Jan Crouch and their associated band of thieves, knaves, liars, and pretenders. But God isn’t mocked. “For he sowing to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh” (Galatians 6:8 MKJV).
Read False Teachers – Paul & Jan Crouch
Read False Teachers – Paul & Jan Crouch