Stick to the True Gospel

Romans 16:¹⁷I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. ¹⁸For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. ¹⁹For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.

Paul is ending his letter to the Romans, and the main point he wants them to take away from the whole letter is to watch out for false doctrine. When a religion or church causes divisions and creates obstacles, then it is most likely contrary to the true gospel. Paul says to avoid those people because they serve their own desires and they fool the naive. Sometimes Christians are like little children, they want to win over many to Christ and sometimes get led astray in the process. An example is when a Christian woman meets a man who isn't a Christian and decides that God wants her to lead him to Christ. Bad idea. That is not from God. God says to avoid those who teach a doctrine contrary to the truth. A growing Christian can easily be led astray if he or she doesn't keep his or her guard up. Discernment is key. Also, Paul tells the Christians in Rome that he wants them to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil. I think many times, Christians are tempted to investigate the other religions out there in an attempt to gain knowledge of what they are facing. However, without a solid foundation in Christ, a Christian can be led astray. It is better to be innocent to what is evil, meaning not experienced or have knowledge of what is evil.

It is a huge mistake to think that if I learn more about false truths, then I will understand the real truth better. This way of thinking can really distract me from learning God's heart. It opens up a door for confusion and pointless questioning. I think questions are very good and God desires us to seek Him. But when we allow false teaching to prompt those questions, we will become tainted in our seeking and the answers will never satisfy. This reminds me of the sin of Adam and Eve. They were innocent to evil. When they ate the fruit, they were not innocent anymore and it opened up the door for sin and pain to enter mankind. When I look back, I was so easily led astray by false doctrine. I would get caught up in thinking that I should give other beliefs a fair chance at proving to be true. I allowed my feelings for my non-Christian boyfriends in the past to rule over the truth I was taught in the Bible and in church. For example, I wanted to see what drugs were like, so I could better understand people who use drugs to win them over for Christ. I thought, "If I can relate to them in this area, it'll win them over to Jesus!" That is not truth and it really messed up my own faith and walk during that season. It was a compromise in disguise. Of course, the Lord was able to redeem that period in my life and now I am much more wiser. But it would have been better to stick with what I knew is good and remain innocent of what is evil.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your grace. Please forgive me for that time I led others astray in my own confusion. Redeem that, Lord, and seek after Your children. Lord, may I keep to what is good and true and not wander off into what is evil. Jesus, You are the Truth. Thank You for coming to testify to the Truth. I pray and intercede for those who are being led astray by false doctrine. I ask that You open their eyes and lead them back to Your loving embrace. I pray over Lion, that he would be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. I love You, Lord. I pray all this in the precious name of Jesus Christ, Amen.