Yes — Christians can avoid false doctrines by growing into spiritual maturity through the Word, testing every teaching by Scripture, and following Christ as the Head of the Body.
Les Feldick teaches that the antidote to deception is spiritual growth: believers must move beyond spiritual childhood, ground themselves in the basics of the Word, and line up every teaching with Scripture rather than accepting what preachers, seminaries, or clever men say. The Bible warns that false prophets and deceivers are already at work and will increase, so discernment through God's Word is essential.
Ephesians 4:14 — Paul directly connects spiritual childhood with being carried about by every wind of false doctrine, making maturity in the Word the remedy.
1 John 4:1 — John commands believers to test every spirit because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
Matthew 24:4 — Jesus' first warning about the sign of His coming is not to be deceived, showing that deception will be a major end-time issue.
The Bible describes the end-time condition as one of heavy deception. Jesus answered His disciples' question about the sign of His coming by saying, 'Take heed that no man deceive you' (Matthew 24:4). John instructs believers, 'Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world' (1 John 4:1). Jude warns that ungodly men have crept in unawares, 'turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ' (Jude 1:4). Paul explains that God gave gifted men 'for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.' The goal is that believers 'henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive' (Ephesians 4:12-14). He then says that 'speaking the truth in love' believers grow up into him in all things, 'which is the head, even Christ' (Ephesians 4:15). Scripture's remedy is maturity in the Word, testing every teaching, and growing up into Christ.
Les Feldick repeatedly stresses that we are living in an end-time age of mass deception. When Jesus was asked for the sign of His coming, His first answer was 'Don't be deceived' (Matthew 24). Les says false teaching is flooding our country and that the world is set up for the biggest deception in human history, with Satan infiltrating even the church. People are refusing to search the Book for truth and are falling for anything that comes their way. Les emphasizes that every believer has the wherewithal to discern whether a teaching is scriptural or thought up by man. The only criterion is the Word of God — not what a preacher says, not what Les says, not what a seminary says. He also connects false teachers with Jude's warning: they creep into churches unnoticed, deny the Lord Jesus Christ, and speak evil of what they do not know. In addition, Les teaches that spiritual maturity is the safeguard: believers must get into the basics of the Word and be rooted so they are not blown about with every wind of doctrine. He reminds us that not every church member is a member of the Body of Christ — only genuine believers are — so the real question is whether you belong to the Body, not just to a church.
In Ephesians 4:14, Paul says spiritual children are 'tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.' Les Feldick applies this directly to our day: false teaching is coming at believers 'from every direction.' He teaches that the answer is not exciting speculation about prophecy but the 'nitty-gritty' of everyday Christian living — the basics of what God did for us — because that is what gives believers roots and strengthens faith.
Scripture commands, 'Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world' (1 John 4:1). Les Feldick says every believer has an innate ability to discern whether a teaching is scriptural or something man has thought up. His test is simple: 'You line it up with the Word of God.' He insists that you do not go by what some preacher says, what a seminary says, or even what Les says — the Word is the only criteria.
Les points to Jesus' end-time warning: 'Don't be deceived' (Matthew 24). He reasons that if Jesus gives that warning, mass deception must be coming in the closing days. John, writing around A.D. 90, already said many false spirits had gone out into the world; Les asks how much greater it must be now. He warns that the world is set up for the biggest deception ever and that people are falling for anything and everything but refuse to get into the Book. Satan, he says, is infiltrating the church with 'everything but what the church needs,' and people are being given less than the truth.
Les Feldick teaches that not every church member is a member of the Body of Christ. A person can belong to a local church and still be lost, and we are not to judge who is saved. But only genuine believers are in the Body of Christ, and there are no false professors in that Body. Les says the membership you should be sure of is the Body of Christ, not which church you attend. This connects with Paul's words that the Body is edified through the Word and grows up into Christ, the head (Ephesians 4:15).
Body of Christ Membership
Les explains that not every person attending a church is a member of the Body of Christ, so no one should presume salvation based on church membership; the real concern is being genuinely in the Body.
End-Time Deception Warning
Les says Paul's teaching gives believers roots so they are not tossed about by every wind of doctrine, and he stresses that Jesus' first end-time warning was 'do not be deceived' because false teaching is part of the last days.
Testing Spirits by the Word
Les says every believer can test whether a teacher is from God by lining up what they say with the Word — not by a preacher, a seminary, or Les himself.
Discerning Scriptural vs. Man-Made Teaching
Les says believers have an innate ability to discern 'Is this scriptural, or is this something man has thought up?' and he connects that discernment with Jesus' warning about mass deception.
Jude's Description of False Teachers
Les reads Jude's warning that false teachers have crept into churches unnoticed, turning God's grace into lasciviousness and denying the Lord Jesus Christ.
Satan's Deceptive Work in the Church
Les warns that the world is set up for the biggest deception in history and that Satan is infiltrating the church, giving people less than the truth; believers must warn others and get into the Book.
Wheat and Tares in the Church
Les uses the wheat and tares analogy to show we cannot judge who is saved, but only genuine believers are members of the Body of Christ — the membership that matters.
The Basics of the Word as Protection
Les says basic doctrinal studies are the nitty-gritty that strengthen faith so believers are not blown about with every wind of doctrine.
Ephesians 4:12: For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Paul shows that gifted teachers are given to build up the Body and prepare believers for ministry.
Ephesians 4:14: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Paul identifies spiritual immaturity as the reason believers are carried away by false doctrine.
Ephesians 4:15: But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Truth spoken in love is the path to growing up into Christ, the head of the Body.
1 John 4:1: Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
John commands that spirits be tested because many false prophets are in the world.
Matthew 24:4: And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Jesus' first answer about end-time signs is a warning against deception.
Jude 1:4: For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jude describes false teachers who have crept into the church unnoticed and deny Christ.
No. In Ephesians 4:12-16, Paul speaks of the edifying of the Body of Christ, and Les teaches that not every church member is in the Body. He says a small percentage of church members are actually members of the Body, and we should never judge any individual, but we should make sure we are genuinely members of the Body of Christ.
In Ephesians 4:14, Paul describes children being 'tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.' Les teaches that this is exactly what is happening today — false teaching flooding in from every direction — and the cure is the basics of the Word that give believers roots.
Les Feldick says the only criterion is the Word of God. Every believer has the ability to discern, but you must 'line it up with the Word of God.' You don't go by what a preacher says, what a seminary says, or what Les says. If it doesn't match Scripture, it's not true.
Watch the Teaching: Why Only Paul Uses the Term 'Body of Christ' — Bible Study