The Dangers of False Doctrines
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| Poison symbol from Wikipedia |
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Is belief really just a matter of taste?
But, does it matter if a poison is in its original taste or is orange flavored? Poison is poison. It is the same with our beliefs.
In the book
of Colossians, the apostle Paul warned the believers there regarding the
dangers of false doctrines.
“I say this in order that no one may delude
you with plausible arguments. … See to it that no one takes you captive by
philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the
elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” (2:4, 8) [All Bible verses are from the ESV unless noted.]
Note the
words “delude” (v. 4b) and “captive” (v. 8b). Here we see the first danger of false doctrines: It does not set us
free but takes us captive through its deceptions. Error imprisons us. Paul
described people who oppose the truth as being trapped in “the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.”
(2 Timothy 2:26b) On the other hand, the
truth sets us free us (John 8:32).
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| Picture from Dr. John MacArthur Jr's “Exposing False Spiritual Leaders” Bible Study Guide. |
False
teachers would seek to “delude [us] with
plausible arguments.” (Colossians 2:4b)
In the NIV, “plausible arguments”
is translated “fine-sounding
arguments”. Error sounds
so persuasive. But they are just “hollow and deceptive philosophy.” (v. 8a, NIV) The second danger of false doctrines is
that it does not satisfy our soul but leaves us empty. It’s just an “empty
deceit” (v. 8a. Emphasis added). They are merely “a shadow of the things to come” (v. 17). False teachers boast
about knowing the “deeper meanings” of
the Word. We see this attitude when a group claims that they and only they saw such an interpretation of a passage in the Bible. But they only fill the mind of their followers with useless teachings.
“Certain persons, by swerving from these,
have wandered away into vain discussion,
desiring to be teachers of the law, without
understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make
confident assertions.” (1 Timothy 1:6-7. Emphasis added.) But truth feeds our souls, making us “nourished on the truths of the faith and of
the good teaching that [we] have followed.” (1 Timothy 4:6b, NIV)
The third danger of false doctrines is that
it makes us think of ourselves superior to others or more spiritual than them. “Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or
with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.” (Colossians 2:16.
Emphasis added) Error makes us judgmental of others. When a group thinks it is the “only true church,” it breeds such a mindset. It tends to make people look
down on others who disagree with them. But truth
leads to humility. To paraphrase what somebody wrote, “Error makes us proud that we know so much. Truth makes us humble that
we know so little.” The more we learn from the Word, the more we realize we
need to know more of it.
It is a
great thing that Colossian believers stood firm against these attacks. “For though I am absent in body, yet I am
with you in spirit, rejoicing to see
your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.” (v. 4) Thus, like them, we should remain in the
faith and not yield to doubt.
Belief is not a matter of taste. It is a
matter of the truth. Somebody said, “Ideas
have consequences.” That’s why we
must expose errors and teach the truth. Error is a disaster. Truth is a
delight.
posted by Bible Exposé at 12:36 AM
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