False teaching is spiritual poison

Good morning, everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Sound doctrine, strong faith”

Our Bible verse for today: “For God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against all godlessness and unrighteousness of people who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth …” Romans 1:18 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “False teaching is spiritual poison”

I have a book on my bookshelf that serves to remind me of just how critical sound doctrine is – and how damaging false teachers can be. It is a book written by a leading voice in a very liberal wing of the Christian community. He is the pastor of a large church in a denomination that promotes unbiblical beliefs and practices. His book is designed to help professing Christians who disagree with some of the foundational doctrines of the Christian faith to rationalize departing from them.

For instance, in the book the author declares that the Bible is the Word of God, but it is also the word of man. It is a mix of both. In his opinion, in the writing of it the human writers inserted their own opinions and personal biases along with the words from God. So, for instance, when we read the words of Moses in the Old Testament, and Paul in the New Testament, which condemn the practice of homosexuality, we need to realize that that was just Moses and Paul inserting their own cultural biases into the Scripture and we should not take that to mean that God condemns homosexual conduct. So, according to the author, it’s necessary for the enlightened reader of the Bible in our day to thoughtfully discern which statements in the Bible are from God and obey them; and which are from the human writers, and disregard those.

Another example of false and destructive teaching that author puts forward is when Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the light; no one comes to the Father except through me.” The author maintains that statement is true, but it is true for everyone regardless of their faith. No matter what faith you adhere to here on earth, even if you have no faith, when you pass from this life into the next you will stand before Jesus and you will discover that John 14:6 is indeed true and that Jesus has already paid the penalty for you sins so you don’t have to. Jesus is the way for everybody, regardless of their faith – or lack of it.

Those are just two examples from that one book by that one author. Our society today is awash in all sorts of twisted and false teaching which purports to be acceptable Christian doctrine. But it’s not. It’s not Biblical and it is not acceptable. It is spiritual poison that destroys people’s faith and leads them away from God. That’s why sincere Christians today need and hunger for good teaching on sound doctrine. It’s a desperate need in our society today.

There is a lot of bad theology being taught out there today. A lot of easy-believism, twisting of Scripture, and a lot of culturally modified and selective application of Scripture. Sincere Christians are hungry to be instructed in sound doctrine. Paul’s letter to the Romans provides us with exactly that. Our study of this letter will help us to appreciate the truth that sound doctrine is an essential element of strong faith.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you are reading in these daily devotionals and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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