How Should You Pray for False Teachers?
A number of church members have lamented, “Pastor, I see the way false teachers assault the church and the way they undermine the truth. Should I be praying for them, or against them? If I feel righteous anger, how should that be applied in my prayer life? How should I be praying for false teachers? Should I pray for them at all?”
Important questions deserve biblical answers. Here are several truths that can help you navigate this topic:
1: Pray that false teachers would be granted repentance and come to true saving faith.
When Paul instructs Timothy concerning false teachers in 2 Timothy 2:24-26, he cautions against a quarrelsome and unkind attitude saying,
“And a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, and forbearing. He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, who has taken them captive to his will.”
This does not at all condone dumbing down the truth, but we see that Paul would be an advocate for not only what Timothy says, but how he says it. By way of application, perhaps one of the best ways to resist a quarrelsome and hard-hearted attitude towards opponents of the truth is to pray for their salvation and that “they will come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil” (v.26).
So should you be praying for false teachers to repent, while maintaining a soft heart regarding the peril of their soul? I believe the Scriptures support that. Resist bitterness, speak the truth objectively, and be faithful to warn God’s precious flock concerning dangerous deceivers. It is love that compels us to care for saints and call out wolves (2 Timothy 1:3-7).
2: Pray that God would demolish their demonic ministries.
This may seem like whiplash from the last point, but stick with me! Notice I am not advocating for God demolishing “them,” but rather, their demonic ministries. Think of a wrecking ball taking out large swaths of a structure until it can no longer stand with strength — that is what we are allowed to pray for, biblically speaking. You might think, how can you dare to pray against someone’s ministry with such harsh terminology? Simply put, because Paul the Apostle says they are entrapped by the “snare of the devil” (2 Timothy 2:26). The kingdom of darkness fills the stands and cheers on the false teacher in his or her schemes. This undoubtedly stirs up righteous anger in the true Christian and most certainly the men of God who are charged with the task of preaching truth and refuting error.
In the Psalms, this would fall under the category of “imprecatory prayer” as the righteous pray that the enemies of God would be destroyed and stopped in their treacherous tracks. Keep in mind, these are not prayers against those whom you are offended by amid a secondary doctrinal issue or even a personal conflict. These are specific to the enemies of God and His truth. Examples from Scripture that may surprise you include:
Prayer for the wicked leader to be removed and replaced
“When he is judged, may he come out guilty, and may his prayer become sin. May his days be few; may another take his office. May his children fatherless, and his wife a widow” (Psalm 109:7-9)
Prayer for God to shut their mouths
“God, shatter their teeth in their mouth; break out the fangs of the young lions, Lord” (Psalm 58:6)
Pray for them to be driven away and fall
“Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the Lord driving them on. Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the Lord pursuing them” (Psalm 35:5-6)
3: Pray for those entrapped by their deception.
An evangelist's heart is essential when considering this topic. When Paul contrasts the ear-tickling fancy of false converts and the way that delusion will sweep over the minds of people, he specifically ends his exhortation to Timothy by saying, “But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 2:5).
What an excellent passage to apply to our prayer life when it comes to dealing with false teachers. Doing the work of an evangelist would include proclaiming the gospel and praying for lost souls. In 1 Timothy 2:1-4, Paul exhorts,
First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
I believe it’s wise and right for us to apply the “all men” to those whom God will save and will call to salvation. There are lost sheep currently under the blinding power of false teachers and their false gospel. Pray for their salvation and that they would be set free by the power of the true gospel!
4: Pray that you & your pastors speak the truth in love with boldness.
This isn’t necessarily a prayer for false teachers, but after praying for their soul, and that God would end their demonic charade, and that the lost would be found, what else is there to pray for but that you and your pastors would boldly proclaim the truth in love?
To the Ephesians, Paul implores, “…and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Ephesians 6:19-20).
May that be our prayer!
