Thomas Brooks and False Teachers: part 1

Thomas Brooks, in his book, Precious remedies against Satan’s devices, published in 1652, writes about false teachers. That chapter is “Seven Characters of False Teachers.” Brooks in the introduction to this chapter offers several Bible verses. Perhaps the best is “Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who lead my people astray; when they have something to bite with their teeth they cry, ‘peace,’ but against him who puts nothing in their mouths they declare holy war.” (Micah 3:5)

Brooks lists seven character traits which I shall list and write about using his book.

The first one is, “False teachers are men pleasers” Brooks explains that in this case false teachers preach or teach in such a manner that those who listen will be pleased with their words. They are not interested in changing the heart of their hearers. He suggests that such teachers “handle holy things rather with wit and dalliance than with fear and reverence.”

In this day being men (people) pleasers would undoubtedly apply to those who agree with the culture of the day, preaching in place of the gospel a cheap grace that has no transforming power. They lift up the spirit who supposedly blesses all religions rather than the Holy Spirit who leads the sinner to Jesus Christ and his unique saving work.

The second character: “False teachers are notable in casting dirt, scorn, and reproach upon the persons, names, and credits of Christ’s most faithful ambassadors. Brooks points out several godly persons in the Bible who had false accusations thrown at them. In the Old Testament Moses and Micaiah are mentioned. The story of Micaiah is found in 1 Kings 22:5-26. In the story Ahab, the King of Israel expresses his hatred for Micaiah, saying of him, “I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.”

Micaiah told King Ahab the truth, he would be defeated in battle and Israel would be scattered. Some of his words are pastorally prophetic, telling of the condition and need of God’s people.

“I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep which have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master. Let each of them return to his house in peace.’”

For this Micaiah received prison with only bread and water for nourishment.

Paul and Jesus are the New Testament persons Brooks points to. Of Paul he writes, “They rather contemn him than admire him; they look upon him as a dunce rather than a doctor.” Of Jesus he writes, “And the same hard measure had our Lord Jesus from the scribes and Pharisees, who labored as for life to build their own credit upon the ruins of his reputation.”

The third Character: “False teachers are venters of the devices and visions of their own heads and hearts.” Brooks gives several biblical texts including Jeremiah 23: 16.

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are leading you into futility; they speak a vision of their own imagination, not from the mouth of the Lord.” Actually this whole chapter in Jeremiah is helpful in understanding God’s concern for the false teacher who is misleading the Lord’s people. And it begins with the promise of the one who would be and is a wise King and our righteousness. (23:5-6)

The fourth character: “False teachers easily pass over the great and weighty things both of law and gospel, and stand most upon those things that are of the least moment and concernment to the souls of men.”

Brooks quotes 1 Tim. 6:3-5 here and I will use his translation. “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strife of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmising, perverse disputing of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”

According to this scripture text it is the false teacher who causes strife and disputes. Rather than preaching and teaching the gospel, the good news, that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Father who took on flesh and died on the cross for our sins, she teaches about God's supposedly "unconditional love" or about "women's choice," etc. Rather than teaching about the righteousness that Christ imputes to us because of his death and resurrection, he teaches about "Christ consciousness" or "culture as God's revelation, etc.

The people of God, the Christian believers, are hungry to hear the word of God preached and taught in its fullness and purity. No more political speeches or hymns doctored up with political or cultural allusions but faithful worship of the Lord. Whether it is a praise song full of scripture, or a traditional hymn resounding with God’s redemption through Jesus Christ, or a class which is faithful to the biblical text and confessions of the Church, or best of all a sermon where the preacher is not afraid to speak of the blood Jesus shed for our sins, the people of God are longing and needing the truth that is God’s word. We too are scattered on the mountains and need to go home in peace.

I will write of the last three character traits of false teachers in my next posting.