Obstinate
Angry
Lack of self-control
An abuser
Greedy

But, we also looked at the list of the personal qualities of one who is qualified for Christian leadership:

Hospitable
Loves the good in everything
Prudent
Respectful and Reverent
Decent
Self-mastery
Able to correct another

This morning we are looking at people who plagued Paul wherever he went and for his entire ministry as well as the ministries of those who followed after him. Paul and his disciples were not only persecuted by authorities and Jewish leaders in cities where he established churches. He was always contending with false teachers:

2 Timothy 3:6-9: “They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sin and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth – men of depraved minds, who, as far as faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.”

Colossians 2:8: “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.”

Ephesians 4:14: “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.”

Galatians 3:1. “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as one crucified.”

2 Corinthians 11:13: “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ.”

2. And they all share traits in common.

A. They are undisciplined and refuse to obey legitimate authority. They refuse to accept the guidance of the church. “There are certain things which a man must believe to be a Christian, and the greatest of these is the all-sufficiency of Christ.” William Barclay

They are just the opposite of the person Paul describes in Philippians 2: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

B. They are “matalogoi” or empty talkers. “It is worship and teaching that produces no goodness in life.” The teacher who simply provides his class with a forum for pleasant intellectual and speculative discussion teaches in vain.”

They are just the opposite of the purpose Paul describes in Ephesians 4:15. “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

Or what James says in James 1:22-27: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

C. They are deceivers and instead of leading people to the truth, they lead them away from the truth. Instead of establishing people in the faith they slowly erode away their faith.

Paul knew he was leaving the church at Ephesus at risk: “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.”

Ross Douthat in “Bad Religion” writes this: “America’s problem isn’t too much religion, or too little of it. It’s bad religion: the slow-motion collapse of traditional Christianity and the rise of a variety of destructive pseudo-Christianities in its place. Many of the overlapping crises in American life, from our foreign policy disasters to the housing bubble to the rate of out-of-wedlock births, can be traced to the impulse to emphasize one particular element of traditional Christianity—one insight, one doctrine, one teaching or tradition—at the expense of all the others. The goal is always progress: a belief system that’s simpler or more reasonable, more authentic or more up-to-date. Yet the results often vindicate the older Christian synthesis. Heresy sets out to be simpler and more appealing and more rational, but it often ends up being more extreme.”

False teachers want followers and supporters – not pointing people to Jesus or the church.

D. Their teaching upset whole households. Their teaching intentionally creates and encourages controversy, division and turmoil. In his first letter to Timothy Paul warns him about people who “have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

“Teaching that ends in nothing but doubts and questioning a is bad teaching. In true teaching, out of the mental disturbance there should come in the end a new and greater certainty than ever.” – William Barclay

In Acts 20:27 Paul says, “For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.”

In 1 Corinthians 2:12 he writes, “We have not received the spirit of the world but the spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us…But we have the mind of Christ.”

But in a world of spin, outright lies, memes and “if it bleeds it leads” what is our responsibility not to be deceived? We are not victims. We are not to simply allow our minds to be colored by the world. How are we to be on our guard as Paul commands in his last words to the church at Ephesus?

E. Their teaching was designed for gain. Paul is not against supporting teachers. In fact, it is a right as he says in Romans 9:12 but he does not use the right. As well, Paul allows one church to support him to keep him from being a burden to other churches. Many churches do not see support as a right. Rather they see it as overhead or as something no real minister should exercise.

But, Paul goes on to say that “unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit.” 2 Corinthians 2:17

Again, in 2 Corinthians 11:9 he says, “I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.”

“I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.”

There is a little book titled “Journeys of Simplicity” that asks the question, “What would it mean to make one’s life a journey of simplicity? A journey unencumberd, uncluttered, without distraction – a journey of focus and intention? A journey of lightness and light?”

In the book there is an account of Will Baker, a filmmaker, photographer, and writer who set out to meet a native people living in Central Peru. On the trail one day he paused to compare himself to the local travelers:

Gringo gear:

Sleeping bag
Mosquito net
Nylon cord
Matches and candle
Machete
Swiss Army knife
Extra pants, shirt, socks
Cooking kit
Camera, notebook
Film, pens
Dictionary and maps
Toothpaste, brush
Hairbrush, razor
Soap, towel
Poncho
First aid kit
Raisin nut mix
Tea
Sombrero

Indian gear:

Water bottle
Machete

I think that probably describes Paul.

But here is the most important statement. He is not neutral or disinterested. No, he wants something far more than their money or possessions. “What I want is not your possessions but you.” 2 Corinthians 12:14

False teachers do not write:

Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?” 2 Corinthians 11:21-29

And that is the ultimate test of teachers. Do they feel as Paul did? Can they say, “….and everything we do, dear friends, is for your strengthening.” (2 Corinthians 12:19)

False teachers have no understanding of that. In fact, they do not want people to be strengthened – only to be followers and supporters.

F. Finally, these teachers are to be muzzled. This does not imply violence. Rather, the word we read last week. It is “epistomizein” or the ability to silence a person by reason. What was the crowning quality of a church leader? Exactly this. “The aim of a Christian rebuke is not to humiliate another person, but to enable him to see and recognize and admit the duty and the truth to which he has been either blind or disobedient.”

To do that, we must believe and have the confidence that people can change and people can “turn round right.” It’s not for this lesson but it is a fact that we need men and women like this inside and outside the church. We have people on the extremes of the spectrum from those who are always at 211 degrees and waiting to boil over and those on the other end who manage to live by “Que sera sera”. What will be will be. Neither of those is the way we are to live, are they?

But, more important even than correction is to offer true teaching that guides people not to dependence or controversy or fear and anger but to a productive Christian life of faith and works resting on the hope of eternal life.