Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Don't Believe Everything You Hear by BeckyLee Briggs

Memorize: 1 Timothy 1:15 - Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.

Read: 1 Timothy 1:3-11

Reading Level: Elementary School | Middle School | High School In our passage for today, we read a portion of Paul’s letter to Timothy giving him instructions concerning false teachers in the church. It is interesting that false teachings had already crept into the church this early in the history of Christianity and the age of grace. Some of it was because there were Jews who thought they had to accept Christ as their Savior and try to keep all the laws of Judaism. They tried to convince the Christians around them of the same. Some of it was because believers were focusing on and arguing about genealogies (family relationships) and things in the Scriptures that are not black and white. Some of them meant well and wanted to teach; but because they did not fully understand what they were teaching, they were confusing in their teaching and unintentionally teaching heresy (not the Truth). Some were focusing so hard on all the do’s and don’ts that they were leaving out all of Christ’s teachings of grace, mercy, and love toward the unsaved and fellow believers. Paul urges Timothy to stay at the church in Ephesus and scold and correct these false teachers so they do not continue to confuse and manipulate and divide those in the church. Have you ever heard something in school, church, or at home and been confused or even confidently believed in it just because someone you trust said it? I know I have only later to find out that they were wrong. That should come as no surprise because no matter how smart a person is, they still can be wrong. They do not know everything. We are so often really quick to believe what we hear or see whether it is from a pulpit or from the media or from a grown up. “Don’t believe everything you hear and only half of what you see.” This old word of wisdom has a lot to it. There are a lot of people who will believe anything they see on TV or read in a magazine or hear from someone standing behind a podium. Now is a great time to start researching and studying the Bible to see if what you believe about God, Salvation, creation, etc. is based on the Word of God and on truth or just what your pastor or parents have told you. When you are in church, do not just listen and take every word as true. Look at the passages and use the direction of the Holy Spirit to decide for yourself what the Bible says on that topic.

Additional Reading: 2 Peter 2

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