TURNED ASIDE. 1st Timothy 1:6. The Christian Gospel doesn't suggest that we only add a religious touch now and then to our worldly lives. A child of God does not belong to a society that rejects the Savior who condemned sin with a death sentence and then paid the price Himself. The fact that "Christ died for our sins" often receives little more than a simple acknowledgment, like, "Oh yes, we all know that," from many people. A feeling of deliverance and appreciation for Christ's sacrifice on the cross has little appeal to them. The spiritual illness spread by false teachings fosters a lethargy toward public preaching of the Gospel. People attend church services only if there's nothing else going on. Bible reading is, at best, very superficial and is usually done without any real desire to "study to show thyself approved unto God."
This attraction to "fables and endless genealogies" occurs too often. The only response when it becomes clear we are targeted by such a satanic attack is to handle it decisively and quickly. Timothy may have been hesitant, but the apostle Paul "charged" him to "charge" others that they only teach the doctrine of God—sound doctrine. All other doctrines must be rejected immediately and permanently. Regardless of what others say or do, we must remain faithful and true to God and His word. God's saints need to be protected from any teaching that is not "sound doctrine."
Further, false teachers do not care about what God is doing in their lives or whether there is evidence of love, grace, mercy, and faith in them. Their focus is on pointless talk and minor disputes that show no sign of divine approval. These people aim to make a name for themselves and claim a level of authority and "wisdom” that other faithful teachers do not possess. False teachers often belittle simple, straightforward brothers who delivered a clear message at the beginning of God's work in a place, considering them uneducated and naive.
Avoid the self-opinionated man who demands that you agree. Stop! Consider the power of charity again. Watch his face and eyes; what do you really see? Shifting movements or openness that seeks understanding? It is our duty to reject profane and useless theories brought up by people who are either not Christians or are self-opinionated believers. They and their teachings must be rejected. The word of truth opposes the unholy, empty, and profitless opinions of those who try to promote their false doctrine as the truth.
We recognize that these same dangers exist today, and we must be alert to act quickly whenever we see them, preventing them from influencing or leading God's people astray. Detecting false teachers often becomes clear when we notice the saints drifting away from their "first love." When people's focus shifts from God's Word to the written words of men, placing them above the Bible, the danger is already present among us. Gifted teachers who are distant from God tend to develop a sense of their own importance and expect us to accept their words without question. Today, much teaching causes people to pay more attention to the world and conform to its ways. The approach of "lifestyle evangelism" often results in believers adopting worldly habits, dress, and customs, instead of "coming out from among them" and maintaining separation.
Why all the aggressive talk over trivial matters that have no real reason? What causes people to become so defensive, unreasonable, and territorial? Something has invaded the minds of those who argue relentlessly—a mind willingly opened to false teachings from persuasive individuals. What will we do when “useless” arguments arise over insignificant issues? How can we handle the subtle, divisive “little chats” people desire? Return to the “end of the commandment” and let it influence you. Charity, out of a pure heart, holds greater power than “jangling.”
We must avoid and reject the ungodliness that infects people like a disease. False doctrine spreads like gangrene and corrupts the faith of God's people. Hymenaeus was already handed over to Satan because of his false teaching about the resurrection. Another person, Philetus, joins Alexander in causing a shipwreck because of listening to and promoting false teachings. The Sadducees held false beliefs about the resurrection. Some perhaps believed that the resurrection of "many saints" who rose after Christ was the only resurrection. Many believe only in a spiritual resurrection and think the body will not be raised.
Troublemakers can lead God's people astray. Some spread lies, some believe those lies, some distort the truth, and others water it down. However, God's truth remains constant and unchangeable and will never become insignificant. "The truth" encompasses the entire body of teaching we call "the faith." This teaching is absent in the false teachings of those who distort it, and the effects of their actions last. Our duty is to know and live by God's truth in both our teaching and our lives.
Many of today's religious people will not live according to God's word because they don't want to. They refuse to listen to "sound doctrine." They avoid what is right because it conflicts with their lifestyle. They want the power to decide who and what to listen to. Healthy doctrine reveals both what is wrong and what is right. These individuals will not "endure" or accept sound doctrine. God's people will endure sound doctrine even if many around them reject it, because they have their own desires and refuse to submit to God's revealed will. As a result, they turn away from the truth to myths. Many churches today no longer preach the Gospel. Many preachers do not truly preach God's word. They only use it as a stepping stone to push their own ideas. Some teachers and professors claim they understand right and wrong better than what is taught in Scripture. They assert they know God's intentions more clearly than God Himself.
The result is that they gather, "heap," to themselves the kind of teachers they want who will tell them what they want to hear. They pay them to do this, and because they have "itching ears," they, in turn, will want to gratify those who flatter them. They deliberately turn away from the truth even though they know it and focus on those who twist the Gospel into nothing more than a fable or fictional story. They do not tolerate the truth and refuse to accept absolute truth or any standard for judgment that can't be tailored to their desires. They reject the truth in favor of drama that makes them feel good and entertained. What they think, want, and claim as their truth is what they believe. More than that, they do not want to hear anything different. They label those who disagree with them as "intolerant," "unfeeling,' and "bigots" who won't accept their viewpoints. They want others' opinions to align with theirs. This describes the character of people living in the last days.
False teaching isn’t only outside the so-called church. We must seek God and dedicate ourselves to preaching only His word to ensure that what we say is true. Don't react too quickly when challenges arise. Keep a clear mind and stay open to the guidance of the Spirit of God. Be alert to the temptation to please people by conforming to what they want. Resist what we know is wrong. Commit to doing what is right. Be vigilant when under pressure and fulfill our responsibility to uphold the truth.