DEALING WITH EVIL. Deuteronomy 13 Those who oppose God and His Word do not usually present themselves as ungodly, sin-loving, God-hating people. More often, they appear as attractive, kind, intelligent, and thoughtful individuals with a charismatic appeal that draws many listeners. They follow the pattern of Satan, who may be seen as "an angel of light" rather than a "roaring lion." The first is more dangerous than the second because they come closer, and there is a certain allure when preachers or prophets introduce a new philosophical approach to life, God, and the Bible.
If someone claims to be a prophet, we need to verify their credentials and test their predictions against the word of God, which we know to be true. Some "prophets" have set dates for the return of Jesus Christ and have misled thousands. They base these dates on past or current events. Others have created obscure formulas from out-of-context scripture verses and present them as facts. Usually, there's a book to buy or some other scheme to make money. Occasionally, some insist they have no profit from these predictions but just want people to be prepared to meet God.
No reasons people give for teaching these things outside the Bible's tested and proven truths should be ignored. Instead, we should warn others against false teachings and teachers with unknown agendas. Among the children of Israel, false prophets, whether they were outsiders or family members of communities, were to be destroyed as the only way to stop the spread of dangerous doctrines of demons. Testing, discipline, and punishment were God’s methods of keeping His people protected and pure.
Apostasy is turning away from the truth. In this chapter, the test of apostasy is when someone says to another, “Let us go after other gods.” False information won’t deceive us if we know what is real. Judging against evil is an act of obedience. Any temptation to do evil that comes from within us or from an outside source must be addressed without mercy. The death penalty for an individual was meant to protect the nation from destruction. False prophets who pretend to have wise foresight and predictions must be stopped. “A little leaven leavens the whole lump.”
Allowing false doctrine to persist in an assembly or among God's people today will quickly lead to divisions and eventually to the downfall of a local testimony. We need to watch for certain signs to prevent the spread of false teachers and their doctrines. Anyone who doesn't believe that "Jesus Christ has come in the flesh," that He is the Son of God from eternity to eternity, and that He alone provides the way of salvation is teaching false doctrine. Many other areas of teaching—regarding salvation, church truth, the life of a believer, future events, and eternal destinations—are also being challenged by false teachers today.
When a stranger joins us and wants to become part of the local fellowship, we need to understand who they are and why they are interested in this assembly. If they are not professing Christians, we can invite them to attend our meetings and listen to the Gospel, with the hope that they will come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. If they claim to be saved soon after hearing the Gospel, we should wait long enough to see genuine fruits of salvation and new life in them before baptizing and fully accepting them into the fellowship of the saints.
When someone claims to be a believer, a letter of recommendation from their previous place of fellowship is needed to verify their profession of faith and their conduct up to this point. Some professing Christians come from other "churches," and they often have complaints about the people, the teachings they've heard, and the practices there. Don't rush to give space to discontented individuals, especially if this has been a pattern and they have frequently moved from one congregation to another. This pattern of life often indicates they believe they've always been right and everyone else is wrong. Such an attitude rarely leaves easily and only does so when genuine humility and an honest change are evident.
If a family member becomes discontented and wants to change what has been tried and proven to be biblical, then we cannot treat them differently in the local assembly than we do other people. Warning signs are discontentment with things that have been taught from the scriptures and practiced in the assembly for generations by godly people. When a person seeks to give a private interpretation of a passage of scripture and wants everyone to accept that interpretation as a true fact, that person needs to be warned and the teaching rejected, even if it is from our own family members. Subtle whispers of discontent sometimes come to us from others, and we find the source is our own flesh and blood. Love in the family unit does not take precedence over love for God.
Whole communities in Israel could be destroyed if rebellion against God and His revealed will takes root there. Some epidemics can only be halted through extreme measures. The discontent and unbelief of the next generation can lead to the loss of a community of faithful Christians in just one generation. Islam aims to eliminate not only communities of Christians and Jews but entire nations. That is the only way they can control the whole population and bring it under the domination of the Muslim religion.
Our laws do not permit such things to occur here, and as Christians, we are called to promote what is right by preaching and living the truth of God. Our mandate as Christians today is to make disciples of all nations and then mark them by baptism in a biblical way. We must teach them to follow what God's Word says in their lives, families, and communities. The motivation of genuine Christian love is the great power at our disposal when guided by the Holy Spirit of God.
When false teachers arise, whether from among our own families or within our community, and begin promoting teachings from obscure sources, we need to respond quickly. We must carefully determine what they are saying and why they are teaching these things. To do this, their points should be examined through the lens of scripture from our perspective, so we avoid making false accusations. Usually, there will be some hidden motive, such as promoting a false religion and its doctrines. Some may seek a leadership position or desire to teach simply because they love to have preeminence, often for egotistical reasons.
We need to verify that what they are saying is true because the right words can be used incorrectly, and the meaning behind those words may not align with what is taught in the Bible. The phrase "born again" is often used in ways that are not consistent with its biblical context. Many people use the term "personal relationship" in a way that does not match the biblical understanding of becoming a child of God. Using the right words in the wrong way can lead people astray. All teaching should be tested against the statements of scripture and within the context in which they are found in God's Word. "Try the spirits" suggests there is more behind the teaching than just a person wanting to be heard. The powers of darkness will not hesitate to use biblical words to promote false teachings so that people are led away from God.
When unusual teachings are introduced, it's important to verify rumors about the individual and the new teachings they present. Confirm the credibility of both the person and the message. If they are false, avoid using innuendo or gossip to address the issue; instead, provide proof of the falsehood of the teachings and the teacher. If others bring charges and you hear about it, verify the facts, as information can be distorted when passed from one person to another. False accusations are not a honest way to handle problems that arise among us. Once an issue has been investigated, tested, and proven, do not hesitate to take action against it and the person or persons responsible, regardless of who they are.
There may be times when we need to rebuke a friend, discipline our child, or avoid a place where God's truth is compromised. These are difficult tasks, but when we act with faith in God and rely on the authority of scripture as our reason, we should then trust Him to bring about the right outcome according to His sovereign will.