To catch up on our adventure through 1 Timothy, click here and read from the bottom post up.
1 Timothy 1:3-7 (NIV):
"As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm."
Continuing on with the top 10 things we learn about false teachers from this passage...
3. False teachers promote controversies.
There's a difference between having a good, healthy discussion and debate on a matter and always promoting controversy. There is a time for healthy debate--mostly behind closed doors among mature Christians IMO--and then there is a time for putting debate aside and agreeing to disagree.
False teachers, however, are always promoting controversies. Why? Because it puts the limelight on the false teacher. Promoting controversy is a way of getting everyone to look at them.
And these controversies tend to be divisive. They want you to make a stand with them on a controversial issue. They like to say, "Listen, you're either for Jesus or against Him," but what they mean is, "You're either for me or against me." They want you to prove your devotion to them by committing yourself to believe something controversial or by doing something controversial.
4. False teachers do not promote God's work.
False teachers promote controversies rather than God's work.
Because they are too busy promoting trivial controversies and getting everyone's eyes on them, the important work of the kingdom of God is ignored or postponed.
What is "God's work"? Well, the work of God involves showing God's love and sharing God's Word.
This is important work, but false teachers get our focus off that important work and onto trivial arguments.
In this light, many churches would come dangerously close to being labeled as false teachers.
I have been a part of churches and have also seen from a distance many churches who got wrapped up in endless trivial controversies and missed the whole purpose of the church: to show God's love.
Father, help me not get caught up in meaningless discussions and trivial controversies that distract me from the important work You've called me to. And protect my church from these divisive "teachings" as well.
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