Beware Of False Doctrines And Myths
BRD REFLECTIONS:
1 Timothy 1 (NIV)
(Ng Su-Ran, Precept Facilitator)
READ
Paul wrote to Timothy:
- to instruct certain people not to teach false doctrines (v3) nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies (v3-4)
- such things give rise to useless speculation rather than advancing God’s work which is by faith (v4)
- our goal is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith (v5).
OBSERVE:
Paul founded the church at Ephesus on his 3rd missionary journey and spent 2 years there (Acts 19:1, 8-10, 20-22). Subsequently he left Timothy at Ephesus to pastor the church.
In his letter to Timothy, he gave advice on the management and the building up of the church.
He heard some men were teaching false doctrines and paying attention to myths and strange ideas. He instructed Timothy to stop them as these would only hinder God’s work. Only by following the truth as taught by Paul, the church would learn to love and cultivate a sincere faith.
This meant that the members of the church should not be learning or following the false teachings, myths and strange ideas. This also applies to us, as members of the church today.
APPLY:
Today, we are “taught” by many people. We are bombarded with information, ideas, arguments, opinions, etc. through the internet, social media and other platforms.
Not all are well-considered or correct. Some may even have hidden agendas.
In our attempts to be politically correct, fair and inclusive, do we get drawn into ideas and concepts that are incorrect, or worse, contrary to biblical truth?
I am reminded to be careful to evaluate information and ideas I receive. I must not allow myself to be led, inadvertently or otherwise, to follow false doctrines or strange ideas. I must turn constantly to the Word of God to ensure I have not departed from Scripture. (Indeed, in Acts 17:11, Paul commended the Bereans for after “they received the word with great eagerness, [examined] the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.)
I am also reminded that my purpose in studying God’s Word is to learn to love with a pure heart and to have a sincere faith. It is not an intellectual exercise for fruitless discussion.
As Paul reminded us :
“It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all” (v15).
DO:
I need to be disciplined and intentional in the study of God’s word, and to allow Him to transform me to love Him and my neighbour and to trust Him to keep me safe through to the end.
PRAY:
Heavenly Father, I thank you for your love for us and sending your Son to save us from our sins. I thank you also for your Word which is a lamp unto my feet and light unto my path. I pray for your guidance as I walk each day so that I do not stray away from your path. Amen.
