As we continue in Romans 16, we approach the topic of “False Teachers”, those who falsely teach about the Gospel, ultimately denying the teachings of Christ, leading people away from the reality of what we know Scripture teaches.  By way of example: these teachers distort clear, biblical truth, typically with a goal in mind, leading to dissent; they distort teaching submission to Christ as Lord; they distort the sufficiency, authority, historicity and/or inerrancy of Scripture; they downplay obedience and highlight grace; and, they undermine the Gospel by helping people find security in things outside of Christ.

False teachers are not limited to charismatic leaders we see on TV or well-known authors.  The most significant threats to encountering false teachers occurs within the church, brought into the fellowship by Satan.   One theologian says, “Satan does his most devastating work when he joins the church”.  Within our midst at Southside, in people who have entered our world, we have found false teachers serving as Sunday School teachers, small/growth group leaders, elder candidates, adult ministry leaders and friends, people who have tried to find a platform to teach their distortion of the Gospel and the teachings of Scripture.

False teachers are often not who we expect, which is why they are false teachers.   One false assumption we have of false teachers is that they always teach explicit heresy.  Typically, their distortion of Scripture occurs in subtle means as opposed to a blatant denial (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).  A second false assumption is that false teachers lack biblical knowledge.  Most are well-versed in Scripture however, they twist it with the objective to distort or deceive (2 Peter 3:16).  A third false assumption is that they are not likeable or charismatic.  Most often they have likeable personalities, appearing trustworthy, approachable and loving; however, inwardly, they are ravenous (Matthew 7:15).  A person may appear to have the desire to be a source of comfort or encouragement, helping people in the ways they are struggling, with the difficulties of life; however, their focus is away from leaning on the sufficiency of Christ and towards leaning upon themselves.  A fourth false assumption is that they always produce obvious division; however, they often present themselves as unifiers, peacemakers.  A careful examination of their words and teachings will reveal a desire to undermine unity.  A fifth assumption is that they do not attack the spiritually strong.  Scripture teaches they prey upon the weak and the strong (Galatians 3:1-5).

False teachers can have charismatic personalities, can be compassionate, thoughtful and loving.  They tend to fit in more than they stand out, seamlessly integrating within the community, spending time gaining trust before they begin spreading error.  They know how to win people over, how to connect with them.  They know theological vocabulary and have knowledge of Scripture that allows them to appear credible.  They are skilled manipulators.  They know how to build strategic support systems, slowly building their sphere of influence, which often goes unnoticed until conflict arises and the need to “take sides” occurs.  

To what end?  What is the chief goal of a false teacher?  Often, they are themselves deceived, looking for affirmation in what they wrongly believe; so, they move from fellowship to fellowship.  Some people just have a desire to discredit other believers.  As a church, as a community of believers, what do we do?  We must remain vigilant, keeping watch.  It needs to be common knowledge that Satan’s desire is to infiltrate good, strong churches, ones that teach the truth, that have a strategic influence for the Gospel such as the church at Rome. 

Paul tells the church to “Keep watch”! (Romans 16:17).  In Psalm 130:6 we find, “my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning”.  In this Psalm, we find a shepherd being vigilant through the night, watching over his sheep, ever mindful of predators, waiting for the relief he knows comes when the morning sun arises.  This is where Paul finishes (Romans 16:20), “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet”.  We are to be watchmen for the morning, people vigilantly guarding against divisive heresy, because false teachers are a threat to every church, holding fast to the promises of God, waiting for our ultimate victory.

As Paul closes his letter to the church at Rome, he reminds them to be “watchmen for the morning”.

The Call to Vigilance (v17)

Recognize Danger Exists

The recognition of danger begins with the danger gaining your attention.  We cannot be lulled into the false idea that the presence of false teachers will not happen within our church.  Here, in his urging, Paul is not offering a casual suggestion but, rather an earnest appeal and a compassionate encouragement…a weighty request…to stand with him against a very pressing threat: the spiritual health and unity of the church. The Gospel of Christ is at stake because any division diminishes the church’s beacon of light for the world.  Division is a direct attack on the Gospel.  Thus, Paul’s sense of urgency.

Just as Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:20 urgently pleaded on behalf of Christ for reconciliation within the church at Corinth for the preservation of unity within the church so that those who come to Christ would know and better understand God’s will for them and His character, so he pleads here in Romans 16:17.  Note that this pleading is not from a place of authority but, a plea rooted in love as a shared familial responsibility.  We must cautiously walk together in a specific direction with an intentional focus, carefully scanning the horizon for threats, always aware of the existence of spiritual dangers that bring spiritual consequences.  It is the same warning against the same threats Paul, with great pain on his heart, spoke to the church elders in Acts 20:28-31, where he instructs them to “pay careful attention” and to “be on guard” against what can happen within the fellowship, the devastation that can occur from false teaching.  Know that danger exists everywhere all the time!  

Here in Romans 16:17, Paul’s appeal, his plea, to be vigilant in watching is given to the entire church, not just to the elders.   Just as in Matthew 13:24-30 where we find the tares sown in secret at night by the enemy growing alongside the good wheat planted by the farmer, are we, like the farmer, able to discern the good from the bad, what is true and what is false within our body?  Are we vigilant to know the difference?  This vigilance begins with each member of the church standing watch over his own heart (Galatians 6:1).  Similarly in Proverbs 4:23, we are reminded to “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life”.  From the heart flow wisdom, discernment and understanding.

Are we actively guarding our hearts, ensuring they align with God’s truth so that we know when the false things are presented?  Do we understand danger exists and can we identify it?  Vigilance begins with the alertness of each member for his own protection and should naturally extend to protecting the spiritual health of other members.  With the awareness this danger exists, we are then able to ...  

Identify the Cause for Concern

“...Keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances”.  There exist people who naturally bend away from, or are contrary to, the unity and growth God desires for His people.  In 2 Timothy 4:3-4, Paul warns that some will accumulate teachers to suit their own desires, turning from the truth to myths.  False teachers exploit division amongst the body; therefore, we must first see the Spirit of God never divides.  The Spirit always unites as we are reminded in Ephesians 4:3-6, the very source of unity binding believers together in a bond of peace.  It is His role to foster peace among believers, emphasizing reconciliation and harmony over division.

False teachers foster division, placing obstacles…dissensions, disruptions…in the way of the body, with those obstacles sourced in selfish motives.  Motivated by our love for God and the church, we should be vigilant to guard against anything that disrupts our harmony, creating any weak areas.  Like a weak link in a bike chain, breaks in our chains cannot be ignored! 

Examples of dissensions: subtle gossip, slanderous comments made in private conversations, often in regards to church leadership, framed as concerns, ultimately undermining trust or the character of the one about whom the comments were made; preference-based conflicts; murmuring, which is like smoldering discontent; people who present themselves as spiritually superior to those around them; and, any accusation made that lacks solid, biblical foundation. 

Moving from disruptions, which may be more subtle in the way they present themselves, Paul now warns against hindrances, which are direct or deliberate acts of division.  These actions are directly tied to teachings that contradict sound doctrine, causing spiritual stumbling with the church, impeding spiritual growth.  Paul gives a similar instruction in 1 Corinthians 8:9, “But see to it that this freedom of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.”  As we exercise our freedoms, they can become a trap for others around us to whom we are not giving consideration.

Going back to the wheat and tares, the roots of the tares will become intertwined with the roots of the wheat so that, when the tares are pulled up and removed some of the wheat cannot help but be removed.  Also, tares can take needed nutrients and light from the wheat, leaving the wheat in a weakened condition.  Taking this to spiritual examination, what characterizes your interactions?  Are they unifying and building up in love, wanting people to deepen their faith or to go deeper in their relationship with the Lord or do they lack depth that fosters spiritual strength or fruit, raising more questions than providing answers?

Charles Spurgeon said, “Satan always hates Christian fellowship; it is his policy to keep Christians apart.  Anything which can divide saints from one another he delights in.  He attaches far more importance to godly communion than we do.”  The call to be watchful for those who consistently cause dissensions and hindrances is a weighty call, given with urgency because of the eternal consequences.  At a minimum, we need to treat it with the equal importance attached to it by Satan.   What are  we to do?

Take Action

First, we are to “watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught”.  The doctrine of false teachers often looks similar when laid alongside sound teaching but, it is not sound teaching.  They are actively working to establish their false doctrine with the goal to bring you along with them.

Next, we are to “avoid them”, to turn or bend away from them.  This avoidance is a decisive action, not driven by pride or anger but out of love for the church, for the unity of the Gospel, for your own spiritual growth.  Avoidance is not punitive; it is protective, as it serves to maintain the purity of the church.  It does not mean hatred or unkindness but, rather a clear boundary to prevent further harm. “Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned” (Titus 3:10-11).  Paul’s instruction is to decisively deal with the factious because their behavior undermines the mission of the church and is an assault on the bride of Christ.

It is the nature of wolves to act nice and to draw their prey away and to attack once the prey is isolated.  Regardless of the difficulty, regardless of the pain, we must turn away from them because of our love for Christ, for His church and for His kingdom.

May the Lord help us to fearlessly stand firm in our faith, to be ever watchful, ever vigilant for what is right, keeping our hearts and minds stayed on the truth that the unity of the fellowship must be preserved, that the accuracy and truth of God’s word must be upheld, that the beacon of light and hope our church projects is always at stake!

Selah

• Are you actively, diligently guarding your heart, ensuring it aligns with God’s truth so that you know when false teaching is presented?  Do you see this level of vigilance as necessary for protecting others, not just yourself?

• As you prayerfully consider your interactions with others in the church, do they demonstrate a heart that is truly motivated by a love for God and for your brothers and sisters or would you find yourself a “weak link” in the chain?

• What is truly at stake if we do not take decisive action to vigilantly stand firm for the truth of God’s word?  Is your heart and mind committed to accurately uphold the Gospel of Christ?