{"id":8089,"date":"2020-07-01T07:15:46","date_gmt":"2020-07-01T11:15:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cristolaverdad.com\/?p=8089"},"modified":"2021-11-17T12:04:29","modified_gmt":"2021-11-17T17:04:29","slug":"romans-1617-avoid-a-divisive-person","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cristolaverdad.com\/?p=8089","title":{"rendered":"Romans 16:17- Avoid a Divisive Person?"},"content":{"rendered":"
This entry is part 4 of 5 in the series Misuse of Bible verses<\/a><\/div>

Some Christian teachers proudly proclaim they embrace everybody<\/strong> & their beliefs<\/strong>, because they don’t want to be divisive<\/strong>.<\/span> This may sound good to many of you, but is not<\/span> a biblical<\/strong> teaching. Some may even consider themselves a better person because of this ecumenical<\/span> approach & cite part<\/strong><\/span> of Romans 16:17<\/a> as proof for that:<\/p>\n

‘Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions<\/span> and offences’<\/strong>
\n<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/p>\n

I have also heard some of them say: ‘That we should avoid a divisive<\/strong> person” or that “We are not suppose to divide<\/strong> the ‘bride of Christ,’ the Church for whom Jesus died!” But I would answer to that: “Who do you\u00a0 think is really doing the dividing<\/strong>? the one who brings an unbiblical teaching<\/strong> or the one defending the doctrine of Christ? – Also aren’t we suppose to lovingly warn others (the bride) when there is danger? or is it better to let the ravenous wolves in sheep clothing destroy her? ”<\/p>\n

Sadly this Bible verse of Romans 16:17 has been misused<\/strong> so much, specially by some denominations & sects to wrongly mark & shun people<\/span> (churchgoers) for various reasons, but in reality this was written to protect<\/strong> the body of Christ<\/span> from contamination of<\/strong> false doctrines<\/strong> & false teachers. The division<\/span> is in reality caused by <\/strong>the teacher<\/span> who brings the wrong doctrine <\/strong>to the body of Christ, not by the discerning person that is trying to defend the faith or by the churchgoer that is there to learn, & by the way, whom won\u2019t affect much their congregation or the body of Christ if they have wrong doctrines (because they are not the teacher\/leader).<\/p>\n

We are suppose to love one another even when we find someone in fault, & a mature Christian as possible, will look to restore them <\/strong>(who are in fault), Gal.6:1-2<\/a>. But teachers are going to be judged more severely<\/span><\/strong> (James 3:1<\/a>) because they have a bigger responsibility and can badly influence hundreds (if not thousands) of believers.<\/p>\n

Now let us read the entire verse to understand it better:<\/p>\n

\u201cNow I beseech you, brethren, mark (#G4648<\/a> consider<\/strong><\/em><\/span>) them<\/strong> which cause divisions and offenses<\/strong> (#G4625<\/a> = snare, stumbling block<\/strong><\/em>) contrary<\/span><\/strong> to the doctrine<\/span><\/span> which ye have learned; and avoid<\/span> them<\/span>.<\/strong> For they <\/strong>that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ,<\/strong> but their own belly<\/span>; and by good words and fair speeches <\/strong>deceive<\/span> the hearts of the simple.\u201d Romans 16:17-20<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Our authority is the Bible or the Scriptures, not people’s opinions. What this verse is really telling us, is to avoid<\/span> teachers that are saying things contrary to the doctrine that Jesus taught<\/span><\/strong> (that we find in the Bible).\u00a0 Sadly the majority of Christians are not doing this, because they are being taught by false teachers in these last days.<\/p>\n

The Bible doesn’t say that we should taste everything and “Chew the meat & spit out the bones<\/a>” (1<\/a>), but it does says to avoid them<\/strong><\/span><\/span>.\u00a0 Jesus also warned us in different occasion to be careful of false teachings: “Then Jesus said to them, \u201cTake heed and beware<\/span> of the leaven<\/strong> of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. . .How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? but to beware of the leaven<\/span><\/strong> of the Pharisees and Sadducees.\u201d 12 Then they understood<\/strong> that He did not tell them to beware<\/span> of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine<\/strong><\/span><\/span> of the Pharisees and Sadducees<\/em>\u201d Matt.6:5-12<\/a>. Leaven is a very small organism that spreads throughout the dough and changes<\/strong> its nature, operating exactly like sin in man, & in this example false doctrine\/teachings<\/span> does the same.<\/p>\n

We also find apostle Paul saying regarding the deceptive persuasions (false teachings) of the Judaizers: “You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?<\/span> 8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. 9 A little yeast leavens the whole batch<\/strong><\/span><\/em>.” (Gal.5:6-9, 1 Cor. 5:7<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Furthermore, regarding the advise of ‘Chew the meat & spit out the bones’, I think we should ask ourselves, how are we sure that we are eating the right spiritual meat?<\/strong> think about it for a moment, even if we spit out the bones, what will happen if the meat<\/strong> is contaminated? . . it will make us sick!\u00a0 isn’t that right? – Beloved please, we need to be very careful, & always obey God’s Word, it is for our own good! Our loving Father knows best what we need. If He says to avoid<\/strong><\/span> false doctrines & teachers that propagate them<\/span> it is for a good reason & He knows better!<\/p>\n

We understand that in order to differentiate a false teacher we will need to exercise discernment<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/strong>, something absolutely necessary in these last days, but also take into account that a false teacher will always try to vilify discernment to avoid getting caught.<\/p>\n

Here is a good sermon by pastor Mike Winger on the subject, that will help us identify false teachers<\/strong>:<\/p>\n