Romans 16:17-18 I
urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and
put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have
learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our
Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery,
they deceive the minds of naive people.
One of the biggest issues
that the Early Church faced was leadership credibility. The Christian faith was
just developing its own teachings of Christ, which was difficult because some
of the Gospels we know today had still to be written. Innocent people greatly depended
on genuine teachers and faithful preachers to share the Gospel Truth, but
because the Early Christians did not have ‘Christian scriptures,’ they were
sometimes duped by itinerant messengers who brazenly claimed to be called by
Christ. So, in the same way that the ancient Hebrews had to deal with false
prophets, the new Mediterranean churches had to be able to distinguish between good
and evil teachers, true and false gospels, right and wrong beliefs.
Paul’s answer to this dilemma
is contained in the above two verses. The signs of false teachers and dishonest
leaders could be found in their characteristics and behavior – if they were
smooth conceited talkers or deceitful flatterers who caused division, then the
faithful would know instinctively that they were being led astray. The trouble
was this: even though they knew they were being duped, they doubled-down in
their ignorance and nurtured their naivety. Insecure people will often have
hasty hearts and end up following the wrong types. Paul’s concern for the young
Roman church was that they would be attracted to the wrong leaders and end up
damaging their Christian faith, as well as their eternal relationship to
Christ.
This is why Paul’s letters
became so important to the young Christian churches. He not only gave them
sound teaching based on Christ’s ways and words, but he also cautioned them
about accepting every missionary, minister, or leader who came to their
churches. Paul wanted to ensure that the congregations would grow in the real faith,
and not be influenced by some unhealthy hybrid of a gospel that conveniently suited
the messenger and ended up damaging Christianity.
Paul may have been writing
to a particular congregation in the First Century, but his words are still
highly relevant today. If we place our faith in false messengers and leaders,
then our own beliefs can be irreparably damaged and our connection to Christ
may be broken forever. We are individually responsible for what we believe,
whom we follow, and what we do with our faith. Both Paul and Christ would ask
us to carefully watch the path we are on.
Point to ponder
Am I guilty of having a
hasty heart? Who are the leaders and messengers that I follow? Are they like
Paul, or are they similar to what he describes?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You
have called us to follow You and become Your disciples. This means that we need
to be fully aware of our commitment to You. Forgive us for placing our opinions
and ideas before and over Your ways and words. Put us back on the right track
and enable us to find the right leaders and messengers of Your Gospel. In Your
Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.
John Stuart is the pastor
of Erin Presbyterian Church in
Knoxville, Tennessee. Come and join us for worship on Sunday mornings at 11:00
AM. You will be made very welcome 😊
Today’s image is one of
John’s Gospel drawings called “Cross Carrier.” If you would like to view a
larger version, please click this link: Cross.
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