Exposing False Teaching: A Biblical Guide to Discerning Truth from Error

0:00 Introduction and the Word of Faith question
0:50 What is the Word of Faith movement and why is it wrong
3:18 Wealth, contentment, and testing health and wealth teaching
7:04 How the health and wealth message distorts godliness
7:27 Why we confess the Bible as inerrant and authoritative
8:27 Biblical and Christ centered reasons to trust Scripture
15:13 Has God preserved His Word for us today
18:21 Can I apply any Bible verse to my personal situation
23:07 Misusing promises like 2 Chronicles 7:14
24:28 One meaning, many applications interpreting Scripture in context
26:46 What it means to be a word centered church
30:08 The church as the pillar and buttress of the truth
33:41 Taking God’s Word at face value and trusting Him

These sermons address the doctrinal foundation of Biblical Authority (Inerrancy and Sufficiency) and the practical dangers of Discontentment/Prosperity Teaching discussed in the podcast episode.

Word of Faith / Prosperity Gospel The Pains From Lack of Contentment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9Oj5uwclCA Living for the Will of God - 1 Peter 4:1-6: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iyfc0VRrkxU

The Sufficiency of Scripture Session 4 - Richard Caldwell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUc6RVIvpKM The Sufficiency of Scripture Session 8 - D.A. Carson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_MUBMHXfg8

What is false teaching, and how can Christians recognize it when it disguises itself as gospel truth? Why is biblical discernment necessary for every believer, and what dangers arise when we do not test all teaching by Scripture? In this episode of the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Richard Caldwell and Dr. Josh Philpot consider the rise of the word of faith movement and the prosperity gospel, examining how both movements promote a distortion of Scripture that misleads people about the nature of faith, the character of God, and the Christian life. They show how these teachings gain influence and why the church must hold fast to the infallible Word of God.

Dr. Caldwell explains that at the heart of the word of faith movement is a false understanding of faith itself. Instead of presenting faith as trust in the God who has revealed Himself in the Scriptures, this movement teaches that faith is a force, something activated through spoken words to bring about desired outcomes. This emphasis on the supposed power of speech leads many to believe that God wants all Christians to be healthy, wealthy, and prosperous and that these blessings can be claimed if one simply speaks the right words. Dr. Caldwell shows how such claims ignore biblical authority and fail to interpret Scripture in context. Passages are taken out of their historical and biblical settings, resulting in teachings that contradict the clear witness of the Bible.

Throughout the conversation, Dr. Caldwell presents a faithful alternative rooted in biblical inerrancy and sound biblical hermeneutics. He reminds listeners that God has spoken with clarity and finality in His Word and that any teaching must be tested by Scripture. Christians must learn how to apply the Bible rightly by paying careful attention to context, literary structure, authorial intent, and the unity of the Scriptures as a whole. When believers commit themselves to expository teaching and a right handling of the Word of God, they are protected from error and strengthened in gospel truth.

This episode also highlights the importance of being part of a word centered church where healthy doctrine shapes worship, ministry, and Christian living. A church grounded in Scripture is equipped to confront error, shepherd God’s people, and stand firm in the truth. Dr. Caldwell explains that the Scriptures warn believers about the dangers of greed, covetousness, and the love of money, and that the prosperity gospel stands at odds with the heart of genuine Christian discipleship. God does not promise worldly wealth to His people. Instead, He calls them to take up their cross, follow Christ, and treasure Him above all earthly gain.

As the conversation unfolds, Dr. Caldwell urges Christians to hold fast to the Word, cultivate biblical discernment, and reject any teaching that contradicts the plain instructions of Scripture. The authority of Scripture is the believer’s safeguard. When the church understands and embraces what God has revealed, it is able to discern truth from error and to rest in the sufficiency of the Word for all matters of faith and life.

This episode serves as a clear and helpful guide for anyone seeking to navigate the confusion created by the prosperity gospel and the errors of the word of faith movement. By grounding the discussion in Scripture, Dr. Caldwell demonstrates how believers can grow in discernment, guard their hearts from deception, and remain anchored in the unchanging truth of God’s Word.