Tuesday, March 23, 2010

FALSE TEACHERS

I have loved my study over the last few months, around the Colossian Conversation. It has been fascinating to see how Paul, trapped in prison, writes this loving, affectionate apostolic letter to this fragile church that is being ruptured by 'false teaching'. What makes it more amazing is that he does not fully list what these are but he is so passionate about Jesus that the book is the most Christological text in the scriptures. Fifteen times alone, Paul speaks about being "in Christ". No other subject in this book carries more emphasis than the "this gospel that bears fruit and grows all over the world".

With this notion that if we present the authentic strongly enough, then the false, fragile, vulnerable will be clearly identifiable.

In R.C. Lucas' commentary on the book of Colossians, he lists seven fruit that these kinds of teachers produce:

1. ... they offered a spiritual 'fullness' not previously experienced..."what you have is quite alright... now let us finish it off for you and you will really be Christians..."...

2. ... the visitors spoke of a new spiritual 'freedom' which those who followed them would enjoy. They may offer 'deliverance' of some kind...

3 ... the visitors appear to have claimed particular insight into the powers of evil and to be able to give believers special protection from them...

4 ... the visitors were known for their impressive asceticism: fasting... have a poor track record of of combating self-indulgence...

5 ... the visitors offered a further initiation into a deeper 'knowledge' of God and a greater experience of His power...

6 ... the visitors were inclined to be superior to, even critical of, 'ordinary' believers...

7 ... the visitors were, unhappily, divisive in their influence. Disruption in the fellowship must be part of the cost of listening to them...

If there ever is a time when apostles need to be at the gates of theology to provide fatherly affection in times of uncertainty, it is now... so too, if ever there is a time for elders to be at the city gates to guard their community with rich sound theology, it is now...

Just thinking...
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1 comment:

  1. Extending BoundariesMarch 24, 2010 at 12:17 AM

    Amazing that for the first 300-odd years the early Church would consistently have whole-Church Councils to thrash out the heresies and false teachings, at the end of which they would put out their respective "Creeds". 1700 years later we think that we can never make, and are immune to, the same heresies and false teaching! How right that we need the apostles & elders to be more credal in the Church. Our Western passion for "independent democracy" (now there's an oxymoron!) has blinded us to the safety of the guardianship of apostle/elders.

    It is in the refining of precious metals that the dross is made visible and removed. You are right - focussing on that which is the most authentic will reveal that which is just dross.

    Blessings

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