Warnings
For Paul and the Apostles, establishing the church in the Roman Empire did not come without opposing religious perspectives. Polytheism was popular, practices from pagan beliefs were seemingly ordinary, and people were swearing to Caesar as if the emperor was a god figure himself, not to mention Christianity’s roots in Judaism. Nonetheless, there were some skewed theological views. The people Paul warns God’s people about, though, are not just those who happen to have a background in a strange religious system before following Jesus. Rather, we are warned of those who actually didn’t leave their other religion behind and whose attack is primarily on our whole-hearted devotion to Christ.
Alright, I’ll say it for us: there are some bad people and bad theology in the church.
Before we get skeptical of everyone around us, let me begin with what I am not saying. Christianity is not a superstitious religion, nor of paranoia; I’m not saying you should stop trusting the Church or people in your local community. The church is not ALL imperfect. The people Paul calls “dogs” and “evil-doers” (Phil 3:2) are likely not the majority in Bible-believing, disciple-making churches. What I am saying is that just as it was in the times of Paul and the early church, not everyone in the church is saved or serves the same God as we do. Some people believe and even petal a different message: a false gospel—people who are in the physical body but not a part of the spiritual body. In the instances we will look at this week, all the outsiders are not to blame for suddenly coming in with wildly different takes on things. Contrarily, those who are decently acquainted with the church and the Gospel sneak their way in, sometimes undetected. Paul defends himself, his ministry, and the true Gospel from people who are going to their church services. Additionally, their lousy theology and idolatry are not just banter among the pews; it is an assault on the faith of believers. Lest we be bewitched like the Galatians or led astray like the Corinthians by false gospels and their preachers, we must first find our roots in what is good and faithful.
For God’s people, the Gospel is all we have and what we take our stand on (1 Cor 15:1-2). How beautiful our Gospel is that we do not rehearse a script to ourselves or repeat phrases. Instead, by it, we receive a relationship with God and know Him deeper through it. A deep longing is expressed in Paul as he explains the hope of our message to the Philippians: to “know Christ more and the power of his resurrection.” His heart is bent on following God, not merely from a distance, but in the heart. In complete closeness. Knowing this Gospel more and more is no chore, but a joy as it is knowing our God and the riches of His love toward us. Paul reminds the Philippians of our reality in Christ in the face of theological opposition. When we love God and find increasing delight in the message of reconciliation to Him, how frustrating it is to us when anyone attempts to sway us from it. Furthermore, when our depth of knowledge in the true Gospel is abounding, the false gospels are all the more clarified (Colossians 2:2-4) and become our most trusted tool as we look to dismiss the advancement of lies.
In these letters, Paul makes it clear we have to not only know our Gospel in progressively greater depth but also test the content of one's preaching. In Galatians, Colossians, and Corinthians, we see Paul taking one step deeper into the implications of the invading ideologies and thus dismantling their arguments, seeing their faults. The resurrection of the dead and freedom from rules and works-based righteousness are foundational elements of the good news of Jesus Christ. Furthering the point above, they are things we ought to delight in as we consider God’s grace to our souls. Yet, if false Gospels are circulating, there should be no surprise that advocates are behind them, too. Not only do we test the invading message, but we also observe the pattern the ideology tells us to live by.
Perhaps a better question we should ask of these false gospels is, “Which god does it tell me to serve?” A gospel message containing no good news at all is that of pointing our devotion away from Christ and to ourselves. In the letters, these hallow ideas are hidden behind flattery and appearances: the appearance of wisdom and false humility (Col. 2:23), sounding smart and well thought (Col. 2:8), boasting in their works (2 Cor 10:12-18), and hiding behind self-imposed authority (2 Cor 11:13) to name a few examples. All that to say, they are posers. But every time, the pattern of their life exposes their true god as pleasure and indulgences (Col 2:23). It is a ploy to come back to the slavery we were in before we knew Christ. By the pattern of their lives, what god do they serve? In Enduring Word’s commentary on Philippians 3, Guzik points out how vital it is for Paul to express his desire to know Christ, not himself (2017). In every instance, underneath the ‘smart talk’ and worldly wisdom, there is some level of self-indulgence, achievement, or glory shamefully pursued by the individual.
Do they share some unique devotion to Jesus yet disobey His commands and scripture? Do they speak of a greater love than what is felt on Sundays yet can’t commit to anything they aren’t immediately made the leader of? … Brothers and sisters, Christ has rescued us from sinful living, pride, and selfishness. We can not be fooled by masquerading and surface-level flattery. Instead, we identify invading, destructive ideology by looking past the appearance of those preaching, test the theology against the Gospel we have (and God’s Word), and weigh the reality of who it commands us to serve.
The question remains: when it comes down to it, what god will we serve? The Psalmist is surrounded by evil yet leans in and trusts in God. This might be our case when lousy theology and false doctrine come knocking, deceiving even our friends who walk with us in the faith. In your firm foundation to Christ and your sincere love for the Gospel, test and weigh diligently with what we do have in Christ. It is no good news if it is not the God of the Bible. Instead, commit yourself to God and take your stand on what is true, as God is our hope, and He will not disappoint.
