Let’s review twelve teachings by church leaders that are spiritual but not Christian according to the Bible.

Here is the big idea to begin with: All things eternal are spiritual, whether good or evil. Factually, Christians define this battle through the Bible’s teaching: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph. 6:12).

What’s more profitable to expose are teachings that nearly every reader of this article has been taught and still believes, despite having no biblical support. These are spiritual lies masquerading as Christian truth, and it’s time to set the record straight.

#1: Wise Men Visited Jesus in the Manger

The Christmas nativity scene feels so spiritual and stirs up the “X-mas spirit!” But there’s a problem: it never happened, at least not as depicted in Western culture. The traditional narrative shows wise men visiting baby Jesus in a manger right after His birth, surrounded by shepherds and animals.

However, the Bible’s account in Matthew’s Gospel debunks this entirely. Matthew 2:1-2 states: “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.”

This indicates the wise men arrived in Jerusalem after Jesus’ birth, seeking the child, with no mention of a manger. Furthermore, Matthew 2:11 notes: “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him.”

The text says 'house' and 'young child,' not a newborn in a stable. This makes it clear that the visit occurred months or even years after the birth, when Jesus and His family were no longer in the manger (Luke 2:7).

The nativity scene is a feel-good spiritual fabrication, blending separate events into a single, unbiblical image. The Bible warns, “No lie is of the truth” (1 John 2:21). Now that you know better, tell others to stop perpetuating this falsehood.

#2: Three Wise Men Visited Jesus and Herod

The idea of three wise men traveling thousands of miles to find baby Jesus screams “Christmas spirit.” But this teaching is a lying spirit because the Bible never says there were three wise men!

Like the false manger scene indicating the presence of wise men, the notion that exactly three wise men visited Jesus and Herod pervades Christian culture, yet it’s pure fiction.

Matthew 2:1-2 says: “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews?” The text doesn’t specify their number.

Furthermore, Matthew 2:7 adds: “Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.” This shows Herod spoke with them secretly, but there’s no confirmation of a formal meeting or their exact count.

Sure, I saw this in the movie starring James Earl Jones as one of the three wise men as well but it is false. The assumption of three wise men likely stems from the three gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—listed in Matthew 2:11.

Three gifts don’t mean three men. Christians must reject anything that misrepresents the gospel message.

#3: Adam and Eve Committed Original Sin

This shocks every Christian I meet, but if 'original' means 'first,' there were sinners before Adam and Eve were even created. If we’re talking about humanity’s first sinners, that’s a different conversation.

The church often paints Adam and Eve as the first sinners due to their disobedience in eating the forbidden fruit, as described in Genesis 3:6: “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”

However, a closer look at Scripture reveals sin existed before their transgression.

Lucifer (often identified as Satan) and the rebellious angels sinned first, followed by the serpent’s deception in Eden. Isaiah 14:12-14 describes Lucifer’s fall: “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! … For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.”

This rebellion predates Earth’s creation, let alone Adam and Eve. The serpent, understood as Satan or his agent, also sinned by lying to Eve (Gen. 3:4-5). Adam and Eve’s disobedience was the first human sin, but not the first sin in the biblical narrative.

Are you still clinging to this untruth despite these facts? That is the very difference between a spiritual person and a true born again, blood washed Christian! One only believes truth while the other willingly accepts falsehoods.

#4: Believers Must Always Accept Verbal and Physical Abuse (Turn the Other Cheek)

Want to spot 'super-Christians' who think they’re holier than Jesus? Look at the passivist, turn-the-other-cheek crowd. This false spiritual belief system isn’t just unbiblical—it’s opened the door to godlessness flooding the church.

Pastors pushing this are cowards, not followers of Jesus, full stop. You cannot be a follower of Jesus yet teach and believe in passivism because the Lord never taught this, let alone demonstrated it as a biblical imperative.

The idea that accepting abuse as an ongoing lifestyle comes from Matthew 5:39: “But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” But this oversimplifies Jesus’ teachings and the Lord's power.

He didn’t always respond passively to evil and since 'a servant can't be greater than their Master (Jesus's words)', how are we to show greater restraint than He (John 15:20).

For example, John 2:15-16 shows our Lord confronting temple money changers, destroying their property, screaming at them, and swinging a weapon. That’s not turning the other cheek—that’s righteous indignation.

The way anyone can tell the two apart is to discern whether the offense hurts your personal feelings or do you immediately think, "they are not doing this to the Lord God without being confronted!"

Jesus also rebuked the Pharisees sharply in Matthew 23:27: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.”

Following Jesus requires courage, not spineless passivity. Weak Christians, especially men, aren’t followers of the Living God. Grow a pair and be like your Savior and refuse listening to the overtly 'spiritual' fake Christians who have no truth behind their niceness.

#5: The Strongest Faith Rejects Being Armed (with a Gun)

This stems from Ghandian Hindu non-violence philosophy, not the Bible. In America, Dr. Martin Luther King popularized it during the Civil Rights Movement, saying, “God gave me the method and Gandhi gave me the method.”

As a Black pastor, I love Dr. King, but he was dead wrong here! This also ties to the lie that “we’re not under the law anymore; we’re under grace.” Jesus said otherwise in Matthew 5:17: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”

You can’t follow Jesus without embracing the fulfilled law if not its 600+ ritual requirements.

Jesus told His disciples to arm themselves in Luke 22:36: “Then said he unto them, … he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.” Furthermore, the Lord said in Matthew 10:34: “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.” This was both spiritually and literally.

When He returns, according to the book of Revelation 19:11-15, describes Him as a righteous executioner: “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations.”

Christians aren’t to use violence recklessly but must exercise Holy Ghost discernment.

Do you think no police officers or judges who sentence people to death follow Jesus? If you’re not prepared to defend your home from intruders, you’re no disciple—you’re a coward. Discipleship means imitating Christ, not cowering in fear.

#6: Catholicism Is Just Another Denomination That Follows Jesus

The Pope and his Catholic Church aren’t just another way to follow Jesus—they don’t follow Him at all. Jesus asked in Luke 6:46: “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”

Catholicism embraces spiritism, a form of witchcraft involving contact with the dead.

Here are some of its unbiblical errors:

1. Papal Infallibility: Claims the Pope is sinless contradicts Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Furthermore, how is papal infallibility true when scripture says: "they who say they have no sin are liars and the truth is not in them" (1 John 1:10). Either all 40 writers of the Bible are lying or the Catholic church is.

   
   

2. Mary’s Immaculate Conception: Teaches Mary was sinless, yet she called God her Savior in Luke 1:47: “And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.” Why need a Savior if sinless? Romans 5:12 further says: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”

3. Praying to Saints: Catholics pray to the dead to intervene for them ignoring 1 Timothy 2:5: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” John 14:6 further offers: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

   
   

4. Tradition Over Scripture: Catholic tradition trumps the Bible, defying Romans 3:4: “Let God be true, but every man a liar.”

   
   

5. Purgatory: A supposed post-death cleansing state contradicts Hebrews 9:27: “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”

   
   

6. Indulgences: Paying to reduce sin’s punishment was rebuked by Peter in Acts 8:20: “Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.” Furthermore, what about Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Catholicism is global spiritual apostasy and I feel terrible that more than 1.5 BILLION people are so spiritually deceived that they are hell bound.

#7: Adam Made an Excuse for Sinning

With this falsity, it is important to explain to non-Believers, and blind leaders of the blind within the Christian Church, that people who are spiritually deceived are often sincere, just sincerely wrong.

Lord knows I have been there and, in ways which have yet to be revealed, there in a few ways currently. I am far from a biblical savant!

We’ve all heard the un-Christian lie that Adam, ashamed and naked after sinning, made an excuse by blaming Eve in Genesis 3. This comes from lazy preachers who think they’re smarter than God’s Word.

At first glance, it seems plausible, but it’s theologically unsound according to Genesis 3:12. Adam wasn’t dodging responsibility—he told the truth, answering God’s question directly.

He provided a factual account, even more detail than requested. The lie came from the serpent, not Adam. Your pastor is the one lying, not the first man. Stop swallowing this narrative and start studying.

#8: God Won’t Give Us More Than We Can Handle

This warm-and-fuzzy phrase comforts struggling Christians, but it’s a lie. The verse often misused, 1 Corinthians 10:13 says: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape.”

This addresses temptation, not suffering.

Scripture shows believers facing overwhelming trials:

• Quails in the Camp: Numbers 11:31-34 describes God sending quail to Israel, but their greed led to a plague: “And he called the name of that place Kibroth-hattaavah: because there they buried the people that lusted.”

• Job’s Trials: Job 1-3, 6:11-13 outlines Job overwhelmed, crying out to God: “What is my strength, that I should hope?” (Job 6:11).

• Paul’s Thorn: 2 Corinthians 12:9 records Paul’s saying: “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”

If we could handle everything, why rely on God? Ditch the lies!

#9: God Loves Everybody All the Time

Christians love this feel-good mantra, but it’s humbug, as Scrooge would say! The Bible shows God’s love has conditions and boundaries. Ecclesiastes 3:1, 8 says that: “To every thing there is a season, … A time to love, and a time to hate.”

God Himself said in Malachi 1:2-3 and re-quoted in Romans 9:13: “Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” David echoed this in Psalm 139:21-22 with: “Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee?”

Should I continue? Yes, why not? Hosea 9:15 adds: “All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them.”

Selective verses like John 3:16, although true, and in this case perhaps the most well-known verse of all does not cancel or otherwise change the entire Word of God.

Numbers 23:19 warns: “God is not a man, that he should lie.” Either the Bible’s holistic theology is true, or your Bible teacher is lying. As on old preacher said and I now warn you: "don't keep being the devil's fool."

#10: You Can Be a Follower of Jesus and a Freemason

Freemasonry is satanic spiritualism, plain and simple. No amount of 'Jesus sauce' makes it holy. 2 Corinthians 6:14 asks: “What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?”

More plainly, and especially in the Black Church, pastors cannot claim to be followers of Jesus and the false God of Freemasonry.

The core tenets of Freemasonry—brotherly Love, Relief (Charity), and truth—originate from a combination of medieval stonemason guild practices, Enlightenment-era philosophy, and biblical symbolism.

Again anything Holy cannot be mingled with corruption and remain pleasing to God, at least according to Leviticus 10:10, Ezekiel 22:6, 2 Corinthians 6:17 and others.

In the Black church, 80% of older pastors are Freemasons, swearing it’s biblical. They’re wrong according to Deuteronomy 22:9, 1 Corinthians 10:21, Romans 12:12, and many other besides.

Freemasonry’s secret rituals, oaths, and focus on human enlightenment contradict Scripture. For example, Matthew 5:34-37 teaches you says: “But I say unto you, Swear not at all” while Ephesians 5:11 adds: “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”

Freemasonry’s generic Supreme Being language undermines John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” These are the words of the fulness of the Godhead, Jesus Christ, and not my own (Col. 2:9).

I saw a Freemason wake at the church I lead under the previous pastor. The man who died, was lying in a coffin with that freemason white apron, and their rituals were so like Satan-worship.

With no hyperbole necessary, that evening I could feel an evil presence and walked out in the middle of a ritual.

I circled the building seven times, and vowed it’d never happen again if I was ever to lead and it has not. The church would literally have to vote me out (termination) before I would allow that wickedness.

If your pastor’s a Freemason, fire them, or you’ll follow them to Hell.

#11: The Church Should Be ‘Inclusive’ to Transgenderism

Transgenderism is aggressive, evil spiritualism, anti-Christian to its core, yet churches are caving. The progression is clear: from hiding to demanding acceptance, now pushing kids to choose genders.

The church, meaning 'separated' and/or 'set apart,' welcomes sinners but demands repentance, not tolerance of evil. More plainly, there will be no one who is confused about what biology they are in Heaven (Rev. 21:8).

A Waterloo, Iowa, church, Zion Lutheran, has a transgender 'pastor.' This is confusion, condemned in 2 Corinthians 5:17 which says anyone truly in Christ is 'new' which is the opposite of the satanic and confused demon in this lifestyle.

Come to Christ, sacrifice sin, or stay out of Heaven and in this, I remind myself as well.

#12: You Can Manifest Your Reality Through Positive Thinking

This unbiblical spiritualism, peddled by false preachers like Joel Osteen, hides in phrases like: “Live with expectation that God will do what you ask if you have enough faith,” or “Speak God’s blessings into existence.”

These twist Scripture to push material gain, not Holy Spirit-led prayer. Furthermore, it prioritizes our wicked desires over the Lord's Will for our lives.

The Bible refutes this 'name it and claim it' gospel in James 4:13-14: “Go to now, ye that say, today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow."

Leaning a bit further into this, Proverbs 19:2 teaches you and I: “There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless, the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.”

There are literally hundred more verses and stories of those, such as the Rich Young Ruler, teaching personal possessions we have or desire are the very things which keep us out of God's glorious presence (Mark 10:17-22).

God won’t give you distractions like wealth that pull you from Him. The biblical model is sacrificial living, not begging for cars and houses. Jesus had none of that—why should you?

Please, by the mercies of God through the Lord Jesus Christ, do not accept that things which sound 'spiritual' are always biblical Christianity just because they make self-willed people feel great.