Romans 16:17 - Avoiding False Teachers

Romans 16:17 - I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.

Message: Avoid false teachers

Time: Written in AD 57 from Greece, to the Christians, both Gentile and Jewish in Rome

What the Lord is Saying: 

Paul has spent the first 16 verses giving a greeting to those individuals he wanted to call special attention towards and, for this chapter, this verse now is his first admonition or teaching towards them. 

Watch Out
This message is again directed toward his brothers in Christ and he appeals to them. The important thing I hear is "Watch out." Do not simply accept everyone at face value. I need to realize that many people will sound Christian and put on a good presentation but will begin to offer something that is contrary to the doctrine taught. This is rampant in our day and age. People have motives and appeal to emotions and begin to get people off track. They distort the truth. The important thing is to watch out and then avoid them. We are not to allow these ideas any air time, but we are to turn ourselves from them. 

This isn't just a momentary watching, but it is an always present watching out. We are to continually pay careful attention to what is being said. This is hard because in religion particular we don't want to read the Word ourselves and for many centuries the Catholic church even encouraged people to not read it themselves. Instead, people are spoon fed and the problem lies in not knowing people true disposition toward the Word of God. When not examining it yourselves, then confusion occurs and this confusion is real and rampant. 

It is one thing to have people differ on the type of baptism that is the best (infant, age of accountability, adult, sprinkling, immersion), but it is another thing to present an idea that people get a second opportunity for the gospel after they die or that prophets still exist today that can give people new truth. It is difficult to know the difference sometimes, especially when we are leaning on leaders to guide us. 

Avoid them
Does Paul say we are to spend our time talking about them? No. Does he say we are to slander them? No. Does he say we are to excommunicate them? No. We are to avoid them. We are to turn to truth and right doctrine and stay immersed in those things. Our tendency in life is to see something we don't like and tell the whole world why we don't like it. Our focus should be on being about the truth of God and immersing ourselves in it so that people only see that in our lives. 

I think this means that sometimes it is fine for a Christian to not give the false teacher, like the JW or Mormon any air time at their front door. It is very well possible that a weaker person in the faith needs to just not listen. It is only the strong that may be able to speak to the person, to hopefully show them their error. Evangelism is often testifying of the truth that a person has in them. It is defending their faith. It is not necessarily indoctrinating oneself in what other people believe. Not everyone it as the same level spiritually. 

The Greek word ekklino gives the idea of avoiding prickly shrubs. It is a soldier running away or deserting. 

Overall, I think this is difficult because I have had a tendency to indoctrinate myself in other forms of thinking, in hopes of winning them over. I do not need to reading the Quran or the New World Translation or Book of Mormon. It is not necessary unless the Lord has given me a special calling and even in this, I must be careful. My goal is to be effective and useful in the Body of Christ. This means I must be sensitive at all times to God's word and not easily swayed by men. Even Christian men or Christian leaders. The truth is to reign in my life first and foremost. 

Promise: Stay close to God's word. Stay close to His truth. Lean on it and then practice the gifts he has given, making sure that the application of the gifts stays aligned with God's word and truths.