Q&A Home > T > Teaching Is it alright if I read books by non-orthodox authors? I think there are many TV evangelists today that the Coptic Orthodox Church needs to be aware of in order to warn us against any false teachings they might telecast. One of the greatest achievements of our Orthodox Church is the preservation
of our Lord Jesus Christ's teachings and commandments. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the ages" (Matthew 28:19-20). We celebrate Christianity in its entirety, as Jesus Christ Himself has commanded not recommended. For our salvation, these teachings were not intended to go through a selective process by which we choose according to convenience of truth and worship. False teachings occur when "pastors or teachers" omit Holy Scripture and Tradition or highlight versus taken out of context to appease their parishioners and listeners. Both Gospels of St. Matthew 24:24-25 and St. Mark 13:22-23, warn us of false christs and prophets doing great signs and wonders "to deceive, if possible, even the elect." Both Gospels' verses stress Our Lord's warning against and foretelling of false teachings. We must be cognizant of Our Lord's clear instructions, beginning with instructing His disciples, whom He personally appointed to disciple others in the same manner delivering to them the same correct teachings; and for them to deliver those teachings from generation to generation. Our church leaders are ordained disciples directly after our Lord's disciples who had observed and taught as it had been delivered to them.
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