Strange Scriptures to Grow Your FaithExemplo

Pay Attention to the Warning Signs

Warning signs are set in concrete to be obeyed. Someone is not out to spoil your fun. Nobody’s trying to rain on your parade. If there’s a sign telling you to be careful, you’d better assume someone knows something you don’t and take heed. Think of all the trouble we’d be in if those looking out for our welfare never gave us a word of caution.

In Philippians 3, the apostle Paul gives the church in Philippi a warning for its own well-being. Here, Paul was concerned about false teachers who would be making their way to the Philippians. Sooner or later, they’d come creeping around the believers and try to devour them with false doctrines. In Philippians 3:2, Paul puts up a warning sign: “Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.”

The word “look out” comes from the Greek word blepō. It means “to watch.” Paul uses it three times in the present tense and in the imperative mood. This means that he is giving a strong command that is to be followed incessantly. He triples the warning. “Watch out! Watch out! Watch out!” Paul is pleading with the Philippians to be careful of false teachers. They are out there! And they are coming! And the Philippians were always, always, always to be on the lookout for them.

The strange thing about this verse is that Paul calls the false teachers “dogs,” “evildoers,” and “those who mutilate the flesh.” Is he using pejorative language? Certainly. When it came to protecting his churches, Paul was blunt. He was determined to let the Philippians know that these false teachers were not kind and cuddly, but dangerous and bloodthirsty. He mounted a full-scale alarm.

As Christians, we should heed the Holy Spirit’s warnings when they are given. He will either speak to your heart through His still, small voice, or He will use someone else to caution you, like a pastor or Christian friend. It serves us well to listen. 

Maybe you are about to step into a relationship and you don’t have peace. Perhaps you are hanging out with some friends and you’ve begun to feel uncomfortable. Has someone pointed out that something in your life is dangerous and destructive? If so, watch out! Watch out! Watch out!