Jesus says, “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them” (Matthew 6:1). The illustrations that follow include prayer and fasting, but begin with giving. When you give to the needy, He says, don’t announce it, as do the hypocrites, who want to be honored by men.

Our theology tends to come from whatever we trust. The fact that a writer or teacher has some good insights along the way makes the heresy all the more effective.