There are a lot of spiritual teachings and teachers out there, but not all of them are biblical. We must avoid being tossed around by somewhat true statements that keep us from the clarity of God’s Word.
One of the fundamental needs of spiritual maturity is developing discernment. We have a sufficient number of wannabe spiritual influencers devoid of biblical orthodoxy.
In a time when anyone can share an opinion on social media and anyone can search for any version of philosophy out there, we are starving for the truth. One of the greatest gifts to help protect us from errors these days is other believers committed to the unadulterated Word of God.
14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. 15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ. 16 From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.
Ephesians 4:14-16
To avoid being overtaken by false teaching (Eph. 4:14), we need people committed to speaking the truth in love (Eph. 4:15). Some people are so committed to the truth that they fail to display a loving spirit.
Others are so fixated on being loving to people that they will surrender the truth to be approved by others.
We need both truth and love.
Only then can we lovingly call one another out when we are straying from the truth. In these types of relationships, we can maintain the unity of the whole body growing in stability and strength (Eph. 4:16).
As we stay committed to the truth, we know that when we each minister our parts, we are all the better because of it.
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.
