1Timothy 1:3-7 ACT NOW An urgent matter had arisen in Ephesus, when some false teachers with their own agenda, and motivated by self-interest, had given voice to their own opinions and were expecting the saints of that assembly to follow them. A teaching had piqued the interest of people in that area, in which the Lord's people were told they had to seek for some hidden knowledge the apostles had not taught them, and that angels are to be worshipped. Such matters spread among assemblies in an area can hinder, and maybe even stop, the outreach of the Gospel. Such myths and the idea of going back to their family trees in the Old Testament for spiritual understanding hinder the work of God, then and now. Some saints are stumbled and left floundering in doubts by those who say, "You need something more than faith in Christ alone." When controversies arise over opinions false teachers have, the interest of the people in the truth of God and the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ is sidetracked. People get interested in speculations, and then get argumentative over their personal ideas, and the work of the Gospel is effectively stopped. The study of the Bible and how to apply its truth to our daily life, and to the work of the Lord in our generation, suffers and ceases to take priority in an assembly when there is vain speculation.
Religious speculation and pointless arguments take away the time that could, and should, be spent on the central message of Christianity - the Person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ. Strangely, one foolish question gives rise to another, and one man's speculation and opinion promote the same things in other people. The master deceiver, Satan, has a "hay-day" when he can get God's people away from the purpose of the church, which is to bear testimony in faithfulness to our Lord and to promote God's truth. Anything that keeps a company of God's people from carrying out the commission we have been given should be avoided. Have nothing to do with those who turn the focus of the saints away from our Lord Jesus Christ.