How to Keep Your Head on Straight in a World Gone CrazySample

Day 6: The Wrong Spiritual Diet

As we come to the end of this week, I want to talk to you about having a proper spiritual diet. When someone eats something that is toxic or rotten, we would expect them to get sick from consuming it, and the same principle applies to what we consume spiritually. People who take in teaching that is spiritually imbalanced and not grounded in God’s Word will become spiritually sick, which will affect every area of their lives.

As we’ve previously discussed, Paul said that at the very end of the last days there will be an invasion of “seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1, King James Version) — in other words, the contaminated spiritual food that will make us sick.

But where will we find this contaminated spiritual food? The answer is found in the word “doctrines”, which is translated from the Greek word describing well-packaged, sophisticated teaching that is applicable to lifestyle. This means the enemy is going to disseminate very seductive messages of error, cleverly mingled with truth, to lead people down a path to destruction.

These kinds of teachings may appear attractive or intelligent, but Paul clearly identifies them in 1 Timothy 1:4: “Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do” (King James Version). The phrase “give heed” is the same Greek word which was used by Paul in 1 Timothy 4:1 and by Jesus in Matthew 24:4, and in the context of this verse, itdescribes those who are leaning in a new direction. These people are eager to be open-minded, but the new ideas they are leaning toward don’t line up with the truth of Scripture.

In fact, Paul said what they were leaning toward was “fables” — the Greek word describing a myth or fantasy. Paul was saying that these cleverly crafted doctrines were actually closer to myths and fairytales then they were to actual truth!

In addition to “fables”, Paul also urged believers to avoid “endless genealogies.” The word “endless” is the Greek word that describes something endless, unbridled, and unrestrained. It is talking about thinking without any barriers, unfounded thoughts, and ideas that are incomplete in content and thought. The Holy Spirit is saying that these false teachers were not thinking all the way through the subjects they were teaching, so perhaps without even realizing it, they were teaching doctrines that ultimately led away from the truth.

Unfortunately, what is being preached and taught on TV and in many churches today is primarily inspirational and motivational messages. It might sound right or feel good, but sound biblical teaching is missing. Teachers try so hard to be open minded that they teach fables, or they fail to think all the way through what they are teaching and end up producing endless genealogies, but those things are not the truth! If we try to fill ourselves up with this contaminated spiritual food, it will make us sick in every area of our lives.

It is no wonder Paul, Peter, Jude, and Jesus, all told us to stand by truth and not allow it to be amended or modified. Cultural norms and people’s opinions will always change, but the Bible never changes. It is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth!

For Your Consideration:

• Is there anything you’re consuming right now that you know you need to eliminate from your spiritual diet?
• Think about some teachings you have listened to recently. Do they match the unchanging truth of the Word, or are they fables or endless genealogies that are just disguised as good doctrine?