“DECEIVERS”

18 “For 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.”

Romans 16:18

False teachers have been causing confusion, pain, and destruction for ages. For example, proponents of communism see this form of government as a path to a fairer society where basic needs are met while the exploitation in capitalism is eliminated. This ideology is what runs communist countries like China, Cuba, and North Korea.

However, Christianity views ideas like communism as destructive to society because its basic principles contradict biblical understanding of God, nature, and morality. Christianity is rooted in the belief that God is the source of absolute truth, morality, and human rights. 

On the other hand, modern communism was founded by German philosophers and social theorists like Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, who were staunch atheists and materialists. They sought to eliminate faith and replace God with human government as the ultimate authority. Marx described religion as "the opium of the masses." He viewed God as an illusion and religion as a psychological crutch used by the ruling class to pacify the oppressed. 

This belief cannot be further from the truth. Why? Because God is our refuge from a world of pain and suffering. He sacrificed Himself to give us a hope and a future. He took our shame and guilt and nailed them to the cross. He offers rest and eternal life if we come to Him in faith.

You may or may not see it, but false teaching can affect our religious freedom and daily lives. This blog will likely be banned in communist countries, but it is my job to speak the truth, so I'll publish it anyway.

In our previous blog, we pointed out that living the Christian life in the age of social media requires biblical wisdom and discernment. Let’s examine the next verse.

Romans 16:17-23 shows Paul’s instructions and greetings to Christians in Rome. He warns his readers to watch out for false teachers and steer clear of them. Such duplicitous men do not serve Christ but themselves, confusing the young in faith and division within the church. Quite noticeable is Paul’s rather harsh language regarding the false teachers. Paul encourages the believers in Rome to be on guard against ideas that go against apostolic teaching.

Verse 18 describes the false teachers, who teach corrupted versions of the Gospel. The Apostle Paul faced many deceivers throughout his ministry, so he was quite aware of their tactics. He rounds up his message, saying that such persons serve their own appetites (“koilia,” “the whole belly”), not God. They use excessive praise to hook their audiences into believing their lies. They may make references to God, but they do not serve Him. If anything, they do things for their own benefit.

To better understand the nature and destiny of these false prophets, let’s take a look at Paul’s warning in his letter to the Philippians.

19 “Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.”

Philippians 3:19

Such individuals were marked for destruction. Everything they did, including their so-called religious service, was reserved for the purpose of gratifying their fleshly desires. They exist to have fun! So they boasted about their shameful deeds and immoral behavior. What's worse, they encouraged others to follow their example!

My friend, the false teachers that the Bible discusses are still here today. This may be a different generation, but their tactics are the same. They use their communication skills and cleverness to capture the hearts of their unsuspecting listeners. They present a different gospel that has no power to save even their very souls. But their lifestyles tell everything about what’s really in their hearts. Immorality and indecency are their default. What makes things even more alarming is that they are very influential; they have an army of followers!

Thankfully, those who belong to Christ hear His voice, and He keeps them safe from the falsehood of the father of lies. The enemy can do his best to deceive God’s people, but he will never succeed. Our God is greater; He is stronger. In Him, you are safe.

Pursue the Savior today!

Photo by Breno Machado on Unsplash