Where is the battle against deception fought?
This question pulled at my attention during a corporate intercessory prayer session. You should probably know that I am being pushed, pulled and rolled through an examination of many of my deeply held beliefs. Here's why:
"Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
speaking hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,
forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving;
for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.
But reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness."
1 Timothy 4:1-7 NKJV
If you have been a Christian for a long time, as I have, you will undoubtedly have picked up doctrines that are in error. If you have been a Christian for a short time, and are hungrily seeking wisdom and instruction, you are destined to find wrong beliefs mixed in with the right ones.
No one wants to believe that they are responsible for deceiving another believer. The ugly truth is that we do it out of ignorance, and laziness. The battle against deception does not take place in some obscure spiritual realm relegated to prayer warriors and intercessors. It takes place in the realm of self-discipline and commitment to study the Word for ourselves.
Unless we study the scriptures for ourselves, in such a way that we remain open to the truth through the Holy Spirit, we risk being deceived. The price of that deception in our own lives, in truth, may not be so high. The greater price is paid when that deception is passed on to another person, believer or non-believer, and that price is that they may miss the blessing God has for them through unbelief or misplaced expectations.
This is a serious issue, if you look at it in Paul's writings. Following his list of expectations for a bishop, or one in church leadership, he writes, "holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain." Titus 1:9-11 NKJV
There appears to be two types of deceivers - the idle talkers, and the ones who claim to be Christians but teach wrong doctrines for selfish reasons. Either way, Paul says, "Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in faith, not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth." Titus 1:13-14 NKJV.
There is a call for strong correction in the body. "Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple." Romans 16:17-18 NKJV
My point is not to encourage you to go looking for error in others. The scriptures illustrate how serious an issue deception is, but my original question was how do we combat such deception. The first, and most important, issue is in preparing ourselves. The battle against deception is fought through self-discipline and knowledge of the Word of God, and not simply by praying against it. "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Hosea 4:6a
You might be asking the question, "Where do I start?" I hate to present an issue that would convict someone's heart, and fail to give them the tools to do something about it. There are no shortcuts, but studying the Word is like a snowball - once you get started, you'll pick up a whole lot more than you expect. I recommend starting with the Beattitudes in Matthew 5:3-11. I believe that if you want scripture to stick with you, write it down, and meditate on it. It's not nearly as complicated as it sounds, either. The process of writing the words will help 'stick' them in your brain. And if you have them handy, you'll think about what they mean to you, and how to apply them to your life.
"Be glad and rejoice, because your reward is great in heaven." Matt. 5:12
