Don't Trust Teachings that Use These Methods

Dear Christians, beware of any teacher who: 

🠞 1. Claims Christians have been wrong about some of God's commands for thousands of years.

See False Teachings about Sodom and Gomorrah. 

🠞 2. Claims a New Testament command is only cultural. 

See Comparing Apples and Rocks.

🠞 3. Claims a Bible author was only sharing his opinion.

See Paul's Letters Are Scripture.

🠞 4. Uses complex arguments to explain away obvious truths in Scripture.

See A Letter Defending Male and Female. 

I encourage you to read the verses below that urge us to be wise in judging the things we hear. In fact, you might want to memorize some of these verses. 

Colossians 2:8: “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”

Proverbs 3:5: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

1 Corinthians 3:18-20: “Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become ‘fools’ so that you may become wise.  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: ‘He catches the wise in their craftiness’; and again, ‘The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.’”

1 Corinthians 1:20: “Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?”

1 Corinthians 2:14: “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.”

2 Timothy 4:3: “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”

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See 6 Steps to Expose False Teachings and  4 Things Promoted in False Teachings.

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When Male Leadership in the Church Is Misused

Before we start our careful study of male and female roles in the church, we must understand that every biblical command has been misused. But when people abuse God’s commands, that doesn’t mean the command is wrong. It means the person is wrong. 

Some people are unfaithful to their spouses, and some parents mistreat their children. But that doesn’t mean we should give up on God’s design for marriage or parenting. Some church leaders are abusive, manipulative, predatory, or selfish. But that doesn’t mean we should give up on God’s design for church leadership.

God sets high standards for leaders. Ungodly leaders should be removed, and anyone who remains silent about an abusive leader is a partner in his crime. 

Furthermore, no one (man or woman) should obey an ungodly request. Never!

Scripture explains that a leader must be “above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect.” (1 Timothy 3).

Detailed qualifications are also found in Titus 1:6-9, and God judges teachers more strictly than others (James 3:1).  

So let’s continue our Friday discussions with this foundation: God’s commands are not the cause of abuse. Sinful men are the cause of abuse. 

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For more insights, see When to Disobey Authority and Sexual Abuse in the Church - Placing the Blame Where It Belongs. And check out Limits to Submission: Abuse and Limits to Submission: Immoral or Illegal Requests.  I wrote these last two devotions specifically regarding abuse in marriage, but the principles apply to church leadership as well. However, as we'll discuss in future posts, submission in marriage is very different from submission to church leadership.

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How David Slew Goliath

The story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17 offers some wonderful principles for slaying our “giants,” those things that challenge our faith and sometimes seem insurmountable.

Five tips for dealing with “giants”:

1. David trusted God in his everyday life as a shepherd, being faithful in smaller things. This prepared him to be faithful in greater things (vv. 34-37).

See When Little Things Are Big Things.

2. David didn't trust himself. He trusted God. He responded to Goliath's taunts by speaking truth, and he wasn't deterred by the size of his enemy (vv. 45-47).

See The Shepherd Knew. The Giant Didn't,  Trash Talk versus Truth Talk, and Some Trust in Chariots and Some in Horses.

3. David ignored jealous critics and doubters (Eliab vv. 28-31 and King Saul vv. 33-40). 

See Don't Listen to Doubters and Sometimes We Miss Seeing the Heart.

4. While both armies stood waiting, David was proactive and aggressive in taking on Goliath (vv. 48-49).

See 4 Ways to Be Aggressive In Fighting Satan.

5. So let's follow David's example—building our faith in our daily life, speaking truth when others speak lies, ignoring jealous critics and doubters, and being proactive in fighting our battles.

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This devotion offers us an example of a “giant” that Christians are currently facing: A Present Goliath We Must Address & Defeat.

And I encourage you to do the Bite Size Bible study based on this devotion: Slaying Our Goliaths.

💙 Please check out The Bible Love Notes devotional Wisdom for Life. It features one-minute devotions from Psalms and Proverbs and is on sale at reduced prices on Lifeway, Amazon, and CBD.  

And please sign up for a free email subscription to Bible Love Notes online devotions HERE. 

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Are You Swimming Upstream?

When we seek to follow Christ and represent His values in our fallen culture, it's like “swimming upstream.” We must be deliberate and persistent, refusing to be swept downstream with the majority (Matthew 7:13-14).

Swimming upstream means swimming against the current of sin and the flood of popular teachings that redefine God. It means identifying half-truths presented in Christian materials and letting God give us strength to resist pressures to conform inside and outside of the church.  

Our culture is happy “going with the flow,” swimming downstream, denying God's loving commands, and celebrating things that break God's heart (Psalm 12:7-8). 

They think they're headed for a holiday at the beach when they're actually heading for the retention pond of filth, conformity, and death.

Let's not join them. Let's swim with all of the strength God gives us as we head toward the pure mountain brook of Living Water.

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For more insights on the subject see: Blessed Are the Pure in Heart and 6 Attitudes of the World that Salty Christians Avoid.

 

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He Is No Fool Who Gives What He Cannot Keep

April Fool’s Day isn’t a church holiday, but God has lots to say about fools.

We celebrate foolishness:

1. When we neglect God’s Word.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:7

2. When we refuse correction.

Do not speak to a fool, for he will scorn the wisdom of your words.
Proverbs 23:9; 17:10

3. When we trust ourselves.

Those who trust in themselves are fools.
Proverbs 28:26

4. When we think we know it all.

Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.
Proverbs 18:2

5. When we lose control.

A fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure.
Proverbs 14:16

But the most grievous celebration of foolishness is this:
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
Psalm 14:1

Martyred missionary Jim Elliot said it well: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." 

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See 3 Ways to Identify a Fool and 3 More Aspects of Foolishness.

 

I encourage you to check out the Wisdom for Life Devotional. It contains 100 one-minute devotions to challenge, encourage, instruct, and inspire your love for God's Word: Wisdom for Life. Read the story behind Wisdom for Life HERE. Find out about the two free Bible studies with purchase HERE. You can read the first four devotions in the book by clicking "look inside" on Lifeway or Amazon.

 

I also encourage you to sign up for a free subscription to Bible Love Notes and get a free e-booklet. Find out more HERE.

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Is Romans 16:17-18 Hyperbolic?

What do you think when a good teacher “shares the stage” with a false teacher? I recently heard someone describe this concern as “hyperbolic.” Hyperbolic is a sophisticated way to say this concern is “exaggerated…blown out of proportion.” 

I disagree. When solid Christians participate in seminars and conferences with people teaching biblical errors, they appear to be giving their approval to such speakers. 

Is it hyperbolic to be concerned that Christians might follow a false teacher based on this outward approval?

I personally know people raised in Christian homes who rejected their faith due to the half-truths promoted by false teachers. (See How Can We Bear Watching Loved Ones Reject the Lord?)

Is it hyperbolic to think good teachers should not align themselves with such people? 

God answers our questions in Romans 16:17-18:

“I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.” 

Some might call this passage hyperbolic. But it actually shows God's strong desire to protect us from errors that damage our faith.

For more on partnering with those who teach error, see Paul's warning in Acts 20:20-32 and also check out the strong warning in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 about partnering with unbelievers. 

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Some people might think it's hyperbolic to write my post Beware of the IF Gathering for Women because some of the teachers participating in the seminar are good teachers. If you haven't read it, I encourage you to do so. I've been adding research to it on a regular basis, so even if you read it before, you might want to check it out again. It now contains information on IF Gathering speakers David Platt and Brandon Cromer as well as info on a controversial video where Jennie Allen (IF Gathering founder) interviewed Mike Kelsey.

 

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Women in Church Leadership: Complementarian or Egalitarian?

Satan wants to make God's principles sound foolish and evil (2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31).

He's successfully convinced people to deny God as Creator, claiming the beautiful details of our world were nothing more than accidents and man is nothing more than an evolved animal.

And one of Satan's favorite targets is God's design for male and female. He's convinced the world that both God and science are wrong about what comprises a healthy sexual lifestyle. But, to do that, he had to first distort God's beautiful design for male and female, convincing women that God devalues them.  

Many women have bought into Satan's lies and have rejected God's loving purposes. They're seeking to understand God's commands culturally instead of biblically. And, in the process, they're losing important blessings. 

Understanding God's creation design for male and female is critically important for our faith. So in the coming weeks on Fridays, we'll be carefully examining the biblical details of womanhood, addressing these two views:

Egalitarian: Women are approved by God to hold any role in the church and home. 

Complementarian: God has assigned different roles to men and women in the home and church. 

So grab your Bible, sit back, and let's discuss this important aspect of theology step by step.

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For some foundational insights in our study, I encourage you to read How False Teachers Help Us and False Confidence.

Note: I'll also explain why I can hold the complementarian view and feel comfortable authoring Christian materials read by both men and women. And speaking of that, I encourage you to share biblical truths with friends and family this Easter season. It's a great time to buy Wisdom for Life for gift-giving because of the great sales on Lifeway, Amazon, and CBD.

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What Motivates You in Your Faith?

What motivates your Christianity—legalism or love?

Legalism is a word that is often misused. It's sometimes used to discredit Christians who speak up for God's commands or refuse to compromise their faith. That's not legalism. God expects us to do those things.

Those who are motivated by genuine legalism:

1. Ignore Romans 14 which tells us not to judge other believers for their non-essentials beliefs. There are essential beliefs that are non-negotiable, but there are also denominational differences and other non-essential beliefs that shouldn't separate Bible-believing Christians.

2. Do things to look good on the outside (Matthew 6:1) but remain unchanged on the inside (Matthew 23:25).

3. Compare themselves with others and feel superior (2 Corinthians 10:12).

Those who are motivated by love:

1. Graciously defend God's loving commands (Colossians 4:6; 1 Peter 3:15)

2. Keep a clear conscience before God (Hebrews 13:18).

3. Judge themselves by God's standards (Romans 12:3).

If we love Christ it will be our heart's desire to obey Him (John 14:21).

“May [our] roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love” so everything we do is done in love (Ephesians 3:17).

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For more on this subject see:

Thank You that I'm Not Like Other People

I'm a Recovering Pharisee

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Paul Tells Us What to Think About!

Fixing our thoughts on positive things will bring God's peace to our souls: 

"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things...And the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:8

I don't know about you, but peace is something I want and need!

So what are we to think about?

Whatever is: 

♥ True - Things which are accurate and correct, no rumors or unproven accusations. 

♥ Noble - Things of exalted moral excellence, not crude jokes or stories. 

♥ Right - Things in accordance with what is good, proper, or just, not profanity or slander. 

♥ Pure - Things uncontaminated and uncompromised by worldly values and philosophies. 

♥ Lovely - Things that are spiritually pleasing, not evil. 

♥ Admirable - Things worthy and inspiring, not discouraging. 

♥ Excellent - Things outstanding and superior, the best of things. 

♥ Praiseworthy - Things that deserve praise and inspire godly values.

Throughout our day, whenever we daydream or pause between tasks and whenever we wake in the night or have trouble sleeping, we should seek the peace of God. And one of the best ways to do that is to think about the love, wisdom, and glory of our God. 

Please see these one-minute devotions that give insights into this subject:

When You Can't Even Pray

Praise Music Therapy

And please check out the Bite Size Bible Study based on this study.

Be Prepared: Why Would a Loving God Send Men to Hell?

Some people claim that a loving God would never send men to Hell. But they're wrong.

Genuine human love is faithful. 

For example, a loving wife doesn't have affairs.

Genuine human love is offended by evil. 

For example, a loving father protects his child from molestation.

But God's love goes beyond human faithfulness and goodness. His love is perfect and pure. In addition, He's a perfect judge because He knows every detail of every life. 

He longs for men to turn to Him (1 Timothy 2:3-6): 

• He speaks to us through His creation (Romans 1:20).
• He writes truth on our hearts (Romans 2:12-16).
• He offers everyone His grace-filled love (John 15:13; John 3:16). 
• He promises that all who seek Him will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13; Luke 11:9-13).

But God won't force men to love Him and He won't let unrepentant men and women infect eternity (Revelation 21).  

Even if we don't fully understand the concept of Hell, we can trust God's just and loving character. 

“This is what the Lord says: ‘Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:23-24 

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For additional insights: 

What about People Who Never Hear the Gospel?

What Jesus Said about Hell

Why Hoping All Men Will Be Saved Is a Sign of Unbelief

I encourage you to check out the Wisdom for Life Devotional. It contains 100 one-minute devotions to challenge, encourage, instruct, and inspire your love for God's Word. Read the story behind Wisdom for Life HERE. And find out about the two free Bible studies with purchase HERE. You can read the first four devotions in the book by clicking "look inside" on Lifeway or Amazon. In addition, you can buy the book in Kindle format on Amazon and as an ebook on other sites.

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