Paul wrote:
“The time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

Notice that those responsible for the falsehood in this passage are the listeners, not the teachers. Listeners need to approach their listening with care. Here are seven strategies to help.

1/ Pay Attention
Passive listening makes you vulnerable to falsehood.

We know that Scripture always accomplishes God’s purposes (Isaiah 55:11). It has everything we need to be complete and equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). It is living and active, able to discern the thoughts and intentions of your heart (Hebrews 4:12). We should be thrilled to receive it. We should accept it “not as the word of men but as what it really is, the Word of God” (1 Thessalonians 2:13).

Yet often we come to church tired from staying up too late and stressed from leaving the house too late. Then we expect the preacher to overcome these obstacles for us. But it’s our responsibility to “pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it” (Hebrews 2:1).

Protect yourself from falsehood by paying attention.

• Go to bed early on Saturday night, expecting to receive something valuable Sunday morning.
• Arrive at church 10 minutes early so you’re not frazzled as the service begins.
• Sit up straight and maintain eye contact.
• Nod when you agree. Say “Amen!” when you really
• Bring your bible, a notebook, and a pen — and take notes.

2/ Test what you hear
Naïve listening makes you vulnerable to falsehood.

As a listener, it’s your responsibility to “let no one deceive you in any way” (2 Thessalonians 2:3). As you listen, “test everything; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

The main two questions to ask:  

• Is this true to the Bible?
• Is this true to the gospel?

As you listen, write down anything you hear that doesn’t seem to pass the test. Ask your pastor or other trusted mentors about it later.  

3/ Listen to learn
Forgetful listening makes you vulnerable to falsehood.

The author of Hebrews wrote:

About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
(Hebrews 5:11-14)

New Christians need someone to teach them the basic principles of Christianity, but they should learn those principles and advance in their understanding. Something is wrong when a Christian gets hooked on milk and never graduates to solid food. When this happens, their powers of discernment never develop.

As you listen, write down what you want to remember and learn. Your growing knowledge of the truth will protect you from falsehood.

4/ Listen to respond  
Unresponsive listening makes you vulnerable to falsehood. It hardens your heart, dulls your ears and stunts your growth (Hebrews 3:15, 5:11-14). The more you act on the truth you hear, the more you will grow and the less susceptible you will be to falsehood.

Peter wrote, “Take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:17-18). The alternative to being carried away into error is to grow. We want to mature “so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes” (Ephesians 4:13-15).

Growth comes by responding to Scripture. As you listen, write down what you intend to act on and how you plan to do it. Be specific and concrete about how you will obey the commands, believe the promises, heed the warnings, etc. Then, follow through with your plan.

5/ Listen for one another  
Isolated listening makes you vulnerable to falsehood.

Paul wrote, “If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother” (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15).

This seems harsh, but we need to hold each other accountable. As James says, “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20).

Take an active role, not just in your own listening, but the listening of your fellow Christians. Now that you’re paying attention and writing down your questions, takeaways and response plans—get together with fellow Christians to discuss and hold one another accountable.

6/ Spot false teachers
As a listener, it’s your job to be discerning, not just about the teaching you hear, but the teachers to whom you listen. It won’t always be easy to discern false teachers from true teachers.

• Both can seem righteous (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).
• Both can have the appearance of wisdom (Colossians 2:23).
• Both can demonstrate power that seems to come from God (2 Thessalonians 2:9-10).
• Both can be confident in their assertions (1 Timothy 1:7).

False teachers “are deceitful workmen, disguising themselves” (2 Corinthians 11:13). Thankfully, God has told us what to look out for.

False teachers tend to profit off their listeners
False teachers peddle God’s Word for their own gain; true teachers sincerely carry out their commission from God (2 Corinthians 2:17). False teachers will try to get rich off of you; true teachers will work hard so as not to burden you (2 Corinthians 11:7-11). False teachers seek their own interests; true teachers seek Jesus’ interests (Philippians 2:21).

False teachers tend to promote themselves
False teachers proclaim themselves; true teachers proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord (2 Corinthians 4:5, 10:12).

False teachers tend to flatter their listeners
False teachers will make much of you so that you will make much of them; true teachers will tell you the truth, even if it makes you dislike them (Galatians 4:16-17). True teachers are not people-pleasers (Galatians 1:10). They won’t seek to please you with flattery as a pretext for greed and self-glorification (1 Thessalonians 2:5-6).

False teachers tend to stir up trouble
False teachers often have an unhealthy craving for controversy and quarrels, “which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction” (1 Timothy 6:4-5). True teachers seek to please God and minister with gentleness, affection and generosity (1 Thessalonians 2:7-8).

False teachers tend to be hypocritical
“They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works” (Titus 1:16). They do not abide in the teaching of Christ (2 John 1:9).

False teachers tend to come up with new ideas
True teachers see themselves as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s grace and mysteries (1 Corinthians 4:1-5). They simply put God’s word before the church (1 Timothy 4:6). They are “guardians of the good deposit” entrusted to them (1 Timothy 6:20).

False teachers tend to be defensive and jealous
Because true teachers see themselves as servants and stewards, they don’t get defensive when people criticize or question them (1 Corinthians 4:1-5). Nor are they jealous of other ministers’ success (Philippians 1:15-18).

7/ Stop false teachers
Paul wrote, “Even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8).

The apostles have deputized you to put a stop to falsehood when you hear it. Don’t tolerate false teachers (Revelation 2:20). Don’t put up with it “if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus” (2 Corinthians 11:4). John wrote “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works” (2 John 1:10-11). 

If you hear falsehood, don’t sit under it passively. Bring your concerns to light in an appropriate way to the right people.