The Apostle John had to face this problem because many of those who had previously professed Christ left churches after false teachers. He wrote to the Christians of Asia:
Little children, you are of God and have defeated false prophets, for he who is in you is greater than the one in the world, that is why they speak of the world and do the world hear you?(1 John 4. 5).
- John explains here the success of these teachers in bringing together listeners and followers: they were from the world and that is why the world heard them.
- Humanity without God recognizes in the message of false prophets a familiar tone and identifies with it.
- Inspired thoughts are attractive to the spirits of the world.
- The success of false prophets in the Old Testament was due to the fact that they prophesied of what rebellious and worldly people wanted to hear (Jer.
- 5.
- 31; 29.
- 8; Mq 2.
- 11).
The apostle Paul prophesied: “There will come a time when they will not endure sound doctrine; on the contrary, will they surround themselves with teachers according to their own lusts, like itching in the ears? (2Tm 4,3).