Naming Names

One thing I respect about Word of Faith preachers is they typically avoid “naming names” when talking about individuals living in sin. In contrast, critics often share sound bites of their sermons they disagree with in attempts to expose them.

Is it ever appropriate to name names? Scripture gives us some guidelines. Jesus didn’t specify individuals as false ministers though He regularly stood up against the scribes and Pharisees as a group. In Matthew 23, he repeatedly called them hypocrites. 

In Acts 13, Luke named a false prophet that Paul confronted… 

6 Now when they [Barnabas and Saul] had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, 

7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 

8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 

9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 

10 and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? 

11 And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.”And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.  

In one of his epistles Paul called out people by name. Phygellus and Hermogenes turned away from him in 2 Timothy 1:15. There’s also Demas who forsook Paul because he “loved this present world” (2 Timothy 4:10). Notice though they weren’t labelled a false anything. In this letter originally addressed to Timothy’s congregation, I believe Paul didn’t intend for these men to be considered apostates. Paul did issue this warning in 2 Timothy 2… 

16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 

17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 

18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some 

In contrast, Paul talked about false ministers in 2 Corinthians 11 without naming names. Likewise, Jude’s epistle warned of apostates. In verse 4 he wrote, “For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude went on to describe these men without naming specific individuals except those who died in a fallen state.

Spiritual leaders who disciple large numbers of people sometimes must warn of specific ministers who drift into error. Pastor Bill Johnson of Bethel Church Redding in California had made many attempts to correct Jason Westerfield, a former protégé who started talking more about aliens and space travel at his meetings. This young minister went from calling Jesus the Son of God to simply “a good man.” In April 2015, Bill issued a warning about Jason to his congregation but also expressed hope of seeing this minister restored.

In a recent blog article, evangelist Mario Murillo called out Robin Bullock and Kat Kerr as false prophets. I never listened to Robin and Kat much. One man who hosted me a few times is against women preachers but ironically likes Kat Kerr. It was through my friend I first learned Kat had prophesied Donald Trump would serve two consecutive terms as president, followed by Mike Pence for two terms, and then Pence’s running mate would become president for eight years. I was skeptical of this prediction but hoped it would come to pass. 

After the 2020 election, I briefly watched a video in which Kat Kerr ate cake while insisting Trump would stay in the White House. Instead, ministers who repeatedly issue false prophesies should eat humble pie. I cut back on reading and listening to Elijah List teachings after discovering they sold “The Shack” on their website. Now I shun them completely (Kat continues to be a weekly guest on their YouTube channel). 

Oswald Chambers stated, “God never gives us discernment in order that we may criticize, but that we may intercede.” Every denomination and stream of ministry has had leaders and staff members that went off course. Even Jesus had one named Judas. So when you hear a preacher say something you believe is wrong, don’t be quick to cry wolf. Pray for that brother or sister but also pray for yourself. You may be the one in error.

“Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” - James 5:19-20

Portions of this article are taken from T. R. Post’s book “Crying Wolf: Recognizing and Responding to False Prophets, Teachers, and Apostles” (available on Amazon).