The Dangers of Distractions

The Danger of Distractions

1 Timothy 1:1-11

                   In our quest to follow our faith, it is easy to become derailed by the distractions of the insignificant. Instead of focusing on obedience to God’s word and His moral law, we can become ensnared by people's opinions.  As Paul is writing to Timothy, his protégé and a young pastor starting in ministry, Paul warns him of the dangers of “strange doctrines and myths and endless genealogies.”  Throughout the writings of Paul, we find two different false teachings in the church. The first error is legalism, which incorporates rules and regulations not found in Scripture into the Christian life.  These are grounded in traditions and principles not found in Scripture but ones that we make essential in our faith.  The second error is liberalism.  This involves rejecting and denying the Biblical teaching of morality to conform Scripture to our views and justify our behavior rather than allow Scripture to transform us.  We see these errors creeping into the church and our lives today.

                  Paul warns of those teaching strange doctrines.  Some people were influencing the church by teaching a different doctrine.  In our Christian life, the standard for truth is both the Old and New Testaments. Some teachers today undermine these teachings by either rejecting them as outdated or adding to them by making new rules and regulations or by introducing myths and speculations. In other words, they were distorting the Scripture by their interpretation and speculations. The mark of a false teacher is not just how they live but what they teach.  Do they teach the truth of the whole counsel of God’s word, or do they promote different teachings by distorting the text to conform to their ideas and desires?  This is easy to do. We can quickly find a “proof text” that affirms our interpretation. Others can come claiming to have unique insight and knowledge of the Bible that is hidden from others. One of the reasons false teachers gain popularity is that they say what we want to hear.  They either give us the license to sin (liberalism), or they give false security through external rules and regulations (legalism). How do we identify and avoid these teachers in a culture where people follow others because of their popularity?  

                  Paul provides the answer in verses 5-11 by challenging us to examine the teachers we The Danger of Distractions

1 Timothy 1:1-11

                   In our quest to follow our faith, it is easy to become derailed by the distractions of the insignificant. Instead of focusing on obedience to God’s word and His moral law, we can become ensnared by people's opinions.  As Paul is writing to Timothy, his protégé and a young pastor starting in ministry, Paul warns him of the dangers of “strange doctrines and myths and endless genealogies.”  Throughout the writings of Paul, we find two different false teachings in the church. The first error is legalism, which incorporates rules and regulations not found in Scripture into the Christian life.  These are grounded in traditions and principles not found in Scripture but ones that we make essential in our faith.  The second error is liberalism.  This involves rejecting and denying the Biblical teaching of morality to conform Scripture to our views and justify our behavior rather than allow Scripture to transform us.  We see these errors creeping into the church and our lives today.

                  Paul warns of those teaching strange doctrines.  Some people were influencing the church by teaching a different doctrine.  In our Christian life, the standard for truth is both the Old and New Testaments. Some teachers today undermine these teachings by either rejecting them as outdated or adding to them by making new rules and regulations or by introducing myths and speculations. In other words, they were distorting the Scripture by their interpretation and speculations. The mark of a false teacher is not just how they live but what they teach.  Do they teach the truth of the whole counsel of God’s word, or do they promote different teachings by distorting the text to conform to their ideas and desires?  This is easy to do. We can quickly find a “proof text” that affirms our interpretation. Others can come claiming to have unique insight and knowledge of the Bible that is hidden from others. One of the reasons false teachers gain popularity is that they say what we want to hear.  They either give us the license to sin (liberalism), or they give false security through external rules and regulations (legalism). How do we identify and avoid these teachers in a culture where people follow others because of their popularity?  

                  Paul provides the answer in verses 5-11 by challenging us to examine the teachers we listen to by properly assessing whether their teaching is Biblical.  First, we must explore the person's life, attitude, and conduct to ensure they live a life consistent with the Bible.  In verse 5, Paul reminds us that the goal of teaching is not information but transformation and that our lives and behavior reflect the love we are to have for God and others.  This comes from a pure heart.  The heart in Scripture refers to the center of a person’s thoughts, motives, and spiritual life. A good conscience refers to a person living by the standards and principles grounded in scripture.  The point is that a genuine teacher manifests consistency between what he teaches and how he lives.

                  Second, a genuine teacher upholds the truth of all the Scripture found in the Old and New Testaments (vs. 8-11).  They correctly understand the Bible and proclaim the moral and spiritual standard of conduct revealed in the scriptures.  They call people to a life of obedience to what the Bible teaches.  Instead of justifying sin and distorting the Bible, they call people to obedience to it.  Their teaching conforms to “sound teaching,” which points not to how they teach but to what they teach.  We do not judge a preacher by how eloquent they are but by how much their teaching conforms to “sound teaching” (vs. 10).  This refers to sound doctrine that conforms to the teaching of the Bible. In our age of proliferation of teaching, we need to be careful not to become distracted.  Instead of following the Bible, we can start to follow people.  Instead of adhering to sound doctrine that calls us to a transformed life, we can follow popular teachers and say what we want to hear. Instead of following the truth, we can become distracted by what is false. We need to know God’s word and live by His Word, which is the foundation for godliness.

 

  to by properly assessing whether their teaching is Biblical.  First, we must explore the person's life, attitude, and conduct to ensure they live a life consistent with the Bible.  In verse 5, Paul reminds us that the goal of teaching is not information but transformation and that our lives and behavior reflect the love we are to have for God and others.  This comes from a pure heart.  The heart in Scripture refers to the center of a person’s thoughts, motives, and spiritual life. A good conscience refers to a person living by the standards and principles grounded in scripture.  The point is that a genuine teacher manifests consistency between what he teaches and how he lives.

                  Second, a genuine teacher upholds the truth of all the Scripture found in the Old and New Testaments (vs. 8-11).  They correctly understand the Bible and proclaim the moral and spiritual standard of conduct revealed in the scriptures.  They call people to a life of obedience to what the Bible teaches.  Instead of justifying sin and distorting the Bible, they call people to obedience to it.  Their teaching conforms to “sound teaching,” which points not to how they teach but to what they teach.  We do not judge a preacher by how eloquent they are but by how much their teaching conforms to “sound teaching” (vs. 10).  This refers to sound doctrine that conforms to the teaching of the Bible. In our age of proliferation of teaching, we need to be careful not to become distracted.  Instead of following the Bible, we can start to follow people.  Instead of adhering to sound doctrine that calls us to a transformed life, we can follow popular teachers and say what we want to hear. Instead of following the truth, we can become distracted by what is false. We need to know God’s word and live by His Word, which is the foundation for godliness.