Diverse and Strange Doctrines

How to Know which Winds Demand our Attention

A study prepared for Larissa Brown by Eugene Prewitt, February 2008

Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. Heb 13:9

It is a simple matter to realize that Satan would like to distract men from their duty. Less obvious, however, is the way of determining which doctrinal issues are the distractions. Certainly it is our duty to study.

And it would not do to say that any doctrine that seems unimportant is a distracting one. The importance of the truth may not always be apparent to the casual observer. It makes no sense to some, for example, why God would use Sabbath as a dividing issue in the end of time.

Yet He will. And a careful study reveals the perfect propriety of choosing the fourth commandment as the basis of the final test.

Our text indicates that there are doctrines that should be labeled “diverse and strange.” To obey the text we must have some way of knowing which doctrines these are. Otherwise we can not resist being carried around by them.

Here are a few observations from the text:

1.         The strange doctrines are, metaphorically, winds. That is how they can carry persons about.

2.         There are good doctrines that differ somewhat from the strange ones. They establish the heart “with grace.”

3.         The strange doctrines are “meats.” This is apparently in contrast with doctrinal “milk” as described earlier in the same book.

4.         The strange “meats” occupy persons – keep them busy.

5.         The business does not “profit” persons.

With these hints we may find enough information to help us recognize which doctrines should not be permitted to carry us around.

Winds

Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

From this passage we perceive that metaphorical children are more likely to be tossed around by winds of doctrine. From the verses before it (11-13) we find that God gave the gifts of the Spirit to prevent us from being carried about by the winds.

We would also learn that the winds are promoted by cunningly wise men who are anxious to promote their views.

And we would learn from these two verses that the opposite of being carried away is to speak “the truth in love” while growing up into the character of Christ.

We could conclude that the unhealthful doctrinal winds would be opposed by the gifts operating in the church, and that they would be zealously promoted by intriguing arguments.

It follows logically, at least, that the promoters would of necessity need to find some way to undermine the credibility of the gifts which expose their error.

Established with Grace

Stability is a Salvational issue. Those that endure to the end are saved. Matthew 24:15. Those that hold their confidence steadfast receive the promise. The others fall back to perdition. Heb 10:35-39. (See also 2Pe 1:4; 2:21-22; 1 Co 15:1-2.)

“The Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.” 2Th 3:3.

Holiness is the goal of stability. We are established, or settled, so that we will resist temptation. This process of being established in our resistance, the work of grace, takes “a while.”

1Pe 5:10  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

 

Our leading text in this study contrasted the effect of “strange doctrines” with “grace.” While the latter gives stability to our hearts, the former do not. Then the more we learn about the way that grace builds us up, the better we will be able to indentify those “diverse” doctrines that make little contribution to our strength.

Doctrinal errors in Paul’s day were opposed[1] and this strengthened the church.

Ac 16:4  And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. 5  And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

What is the connection between resolving the doctrinal issue and the churches being established? Doctrinal division tends to bring out the worst in people. And it is difficult to bring new believers into churches that are the scenes of heated arguments.

Hebrews 13:9 contrasts this effect with that of our hearts being established with grace. It is grace that gives us “a good hope” and “everlasting consolation” and so comforts our “hearts.” When our heart is thus encouraged we are established in our right doing. We are morally lifted.

2Th 2:15 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 17  Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

Our hearts are established in these good words and works with love. By leading us to a more fervent love for our brethren God intends to settle us, to prepare us for Christ’s Coming.

1Th 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 13  To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

Argument, of course, does not tend to increase our mutual affection.

Yet doctrinal unity, rather than doctrinal apathy, was the stabilizing element in Acts 16 above. As we received Christ Jesus by repentance and faith, so we are to walk “in him, rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught.” Col. 2:6-7.

But what if there is an issue that conscientious brethren can not see eye-to-eye on, an issue not authoritatively settled by prophets in the manner of Acts 15? How do we achieve stabilizing love and accuracy of teaching in such a case?

Just such an issue did surface after the Acts 15 meeting. Many men felt that Jesus had given continuity to the Passover by saying, at the last supper, that we should keep it till He returns.

They taught that we should keep the Passover as a holy day. While we need not eat the lamb (since we eat bread symbolizing the same thing), we should, they thought, eat the bitter herbs and participate in other Passover rites. Biblical presentations could be made on both sides of the question – for the complete abolition of the ceremonial system, and for the retention of this part of it.

Paul’s inspired answer to the perplexity promoted both mutual love and doctrinal integrity. We should, he taught, receive brethren that differ with us as brethren. But there is a limit to how we ought to receive them.

Ro 14:1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

Men who kept the Passover and who ate only bitter herbs on that day were to be appreciated and treated with Christian respect despite their error. But they were not to be allowed to make an issue of their convictions for others.[2]

 

Why not receive the brother with his doubtful disputation intact? Disputations, doubtful ones, tend to “spoil” men through “philosophy.” This is the normal “tradition” of successful doctrinal winds. The various arguments bewilder the student. Inspiration itself is belittled as the confused person asks why inspired materials seem to contradict each other. See Col 2:6-10.

When Paul wanted to establish the Romans, he knew how he would accomplish the aim. The gifts of the Spirit build up love and faith. They encourage temperance and longsuffering. They settle doctrinal issues. In short, they establish the heart with grace.

Ro 1:11  For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

The gifted Timothy was directed to distinguish between teachings that were well known to the church community and teachings that were obscure. The former, being well represented in the plain teachings of the apostle, were to be fodder for the gospel cannon.

2Ti 2:1 ¶  Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2  And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

The verse above shows that doctrinal integrity is a family matter. Individuals need each other to attain it. They need “witness” from the community regarding what has been established to be true by faithful elders. They need teachers who have respect for well-established positions.

While each individual is to be a studious workman in mining the Word for truth, each is also charged to “strive not about words” when disagreements arise in the church family. Persons listening to such arguments tend to be overthrown in their faith.

2Ti 2:14  Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

While we should simultaneously study the Word and yet “shun profane and vain babblings.” “Profane” sounds sinister. But it really means “common.” It developed its evil sound from the truth that it is wicked to mix the sacred and the common.  “Vain” can mean either proud or useless. The latter meaning, empty talk, is intended here.

2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16  But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17  And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18  Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

So men are bidden to “study” in a way that God approves, to study helpful and sacred themes and not fall into bickering on other matters. Men with doctrinal innovations, ideas not taught by Paul among many witnesses, have a cancerous message.

In this passage two babblers concluded, likely from their study of Matthew 24, that the resurrection must have occurred at the Destruction of Jerusalem. “Some” were led astray by this fascinating teaching.

How are persons overthrown by doctrinal innovations? They are overthrown by the degradation of their moral character. Something is putrefying within even while they appear to grow in holiness, even while their followers are admiring their faithfulness.

Pride swells. The man becomes less inclined to hear “wholesome” correction. The bitter nature of argument continues its foul work.

1Ti 6:3  If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4  He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5  Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

The moral work of building character, described in 2 Peter 1 as climbing a ladder of virtues, gives us stability. Though we have heard the “present truth” many times, we need to hear it repeatedly.

2Pe 2:12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

Character building, in harmony with Christ’s core teachings, keeps us from falling. The cultivation of the ladder’s virtues assure us an abundant entrance “into the everlasting kingdom.” This is, and always will be, “present truth.”

More than this, the present truth’s tone and content condition us to recognize moral value with our spiritual sight. It enables to perceive the big-picture value of various topics and so aids us in identifying “strange doctrines.” But those who neglect either character-construction or defect-reduction lack such insight.

2Pe 1:9  But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11  For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 12 ¶  Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 13  Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;

So, in summary, how may our hearts be established with grace? By individual study of the Word with the aim of character development. The Word empowers such activity. Central doctrinal tenets of the church family, those well represented by the plain teachings of the apostles, deserve constant attention.

Side issues spoil men’s character while diverting their studious energies away from the work of character preparation. But the wholesome and plain teachings of the Bible are no canker. They are able to build us up.

Ac 20:32  And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.

Flesh for Infant Consumption

It is an irony that diverse and strange doctrines target spiritual “babes.” The metaphor of “meats” reminds us that spiritual life develops in an orderly fashion. While we still struggle with basic human courtesies or with being able to teach men skillfully how to use the Bible to “discern good and evil”, we are spiritual infants and need the “milk of the Word.”

1 Co 3:1  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

Heb 5:12  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. Heb 5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

1Pe 2:2  As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

And just as we are learning to crawl spiritually Satan arranges for us to have a pound of flesh. Long-term health issues mean nothing in this illustration. At the moment death from choking is the immanent danger.

We don’t have the teeth needed to be benefitted by the flesh. As our teeth mature we will also, simultaneously, grow in wisdom. By the time we are able to chew steak we will also be equipped (if taught well) to know which foods to accept and which to refuse.

This is all true in the spiritual life as well. The church, not more spiritual today than Corinth of yesteryear, is more a nursery than a school. While pastors are invited to play the discerning part of nurses, even the infants are commanded to “desire” the milk. These infants may diagnose their spiritual youthfulness with the keys of 1 Corinthians 3 and of Hebrews 5.

And how are the “strange” doctrines of Hebrews 13 characterized? They are “meats.” They are inappropriate for consumption at our age even if otherwise wholesome.

They are not, of course, wholesome. But at our age we might not be able to discern that, so we are to desire the “milk.”

What is the “milk”? What are those “first principles” of Hebrews 5:12? The answer is in the next verse after those already quoted:

Heb 6:1 . . .  the principles of the doctrine of Christ . . . the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

Here are the basics. Study repentance, study faith, study the meaning of baptism. Understand the purpose of ordination. Sink your shaft into the mine of truths that center around the hope of resurrection. Meditate on the scenes of the judgment.

And as mother’s milk has been found to jump-start the development of an infants immune system, so these topics will be found to inoculate many from the very errors that are being fed to the church today.

Occupied with Strange “Meats” or How Shall we Consider Jesus?

No activity promises such rich rewards as meditation regarding our Savior. In Him we find themes to engage our imagination with utmost profit. There we find marrow and meat in due season.

But there are questions that may be asked about Jesus which, so far from aiding our contemplation of him, actually serve to distract us from his beauties.

As an illustration, we might begin with a description of his physical being while on earth. Was he tall or short? Brown hair or black? Was he Semite or of those Ethiopian Jews of the black race? Did he have a large nose or a more common one? Were his legs of equal length?

Of course we may not be able to answer these questions with any certainty. Though we have artistic descriptions of many of the world’s great men, though Jesus was the hero of many in his own generation, these kind of details were never revealed. They are casual facts – truths that carry no moral value.

The beauty of Jesus is “holiness.” We adore Him, not for his appearance, but for his character. We love Him, for example, because He first loved us. We fear Him because of his infinite power as manifest in the creation of the universe.

Ps 96:9  O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.

1Jo 4:19  We love him, because he first loved us.

Ro 1:20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

When the Bible speaks about glorifying God it speaks of doing good works that others may see his glory. We are told to declare his mighty works among the heathen. Angels ascribe glory to him during the seven last plagues because his “judgments are made manifest.”

Re 15:4  Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

So when the Bible bids us think on God, it recommends to our thought two categories of attributes – his mercy and his wrath.

Ro 11:22  Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

In this way of thinking it is easy to understand how “knowing” Jesus brings us all things that pertains to life and godliness. We are changed by thinking about the very characteristics that we consider. His kindness, gentleness, wisdom and courage invite us to imitate his beauties.

We are not, however, invited to imitate the fact that he was a male. While there were reasons that he chose to be born as a boy, there is no moral value attached to the male gender. Ladies may be as completely holy as their male counterparts.

Christ’s patience under oppression could overcome our own lethargy, if we would let it. We would be changed into his same image.

When we consider the suffering, reproach, and indignity that Jesus suffered without murmuring or retaliating, that he might redeem man, and elevate him to his own right hand, how much are we willing to endure and sacrifice, that we may have a part in the work of rescuing perishing souls, and thus enter into the joy of our Lord? “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us.” It is of the greatest consequence that we understand what we are placed in this world for. We are not here to glorify self or to seek our own pleasure, but to glorify our Father which is in Heaven, and to carry on the work begun by the great Teacher of righteousness.  {ST, November 3, 1887 par. 9}

2Co 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Jesus had character before he had a body. He was like his Father in character. He existed in the same “image” as the word is used in the text above. Not that the Father and the Son were identical twins, nor that they were a cosmic version of cloned persons, but that they shared the same beauty of holiness – that is the point of the following verse.

Heb 1:3  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Just as there are moral qualities regarding Jesus that we should know, and that help us grow; there are moral qualities about the Father of the same nature.

They are the same qualities.

John 14:8  Philip saith unto him, “Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.” 9  Jesus saith unto him, “Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, ‘Shew us the Father?’ 10  Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.”

Jesus shows, in this passage, that his likeness to the Father, the likeness that men can see, is not a collection of facial features. Rather, it is a similarity, an exact harmony, of words and works.

Does God also have qualities that have no moral value? He has a face. He has “hinder parts” that Moses saw. But Moses didn’t describe them. No prophet has.

There are some other things that have never been revealed. They have no moral value for humans. They would not contribute to our faithfulness or to our success in doing all the words of God’s law.

De 29:29  The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

What a trick of the devil it would be to lead us to speculate regarding the unrevealed aspects under plea that we should know Jesus.

I will venture to suggest that the popular differences of opinion regarding whether Jesus has existed from eternity, or from nearly that long ago is just such a characteristic as the color of God’s skin. While His divinity is “everything to us,” His particular age, whether it is billions of years or infinite, is not.

The question of the nature of the Spirit of God is another. We are changed by knowing the character of the Spirit.  We are strengthened by the Spirit in the inner man. We are dependant on the power of the Spirit to work through us.

But whether the Spirit has a body makes no material difference in our experience. Whether the Spirit is a third member of the Godhead, or whether the Spirit is the mind of the two members, or whether the mind of the other two has all the attributes of a personal being, or whether the nature of the Spirit is beyond human comprehension (a likely reality) – these theories just do not change the nature of how I need the Spirit to be active in my life.

These theories are empty. Or, in the wording of Hebrews 13:9, “vain.”

Spiritual Profits

In all labor there is profit. God teaches us to do spiritual labor and to reap spiritual growth.

Is 47:17  Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. 18  O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:

Tranquility is part of the great gain gathered through doing what God says. How little of this, however, comes from strange and diverse doctrines. These “have not profited” those who have been occupied with them.

Peace affords efficiency in doing God’s work. The flip-side of this is that diverse and strange doctrines distract us from God’s work. In this way they are similar to romance during a time of lethal persecution. Both the romance and the strange doctrine hinder our attention to the work for this time.

1Co 7:35  And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

(The thought occurs to me at this juncture that the leading figures in promoting various strange doctrines are often full-time employed in this work. The effect of this is that they are able to produce an uncanny volume of written materials, correspondence and rebuttals that can not be matched, in volume, by family men holding positions of trust in God’s cause. Then if persons are prone to judge truth by the preponderance of writing they will surely fall prey to self-appointed teachers.)

The “profit” that Paul sought for others was that they might be saved. The profit that our Father in heaven seeks is our “holiness.” These profits always run together.

1Co 10:33  Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

Heb 12:10  For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

And though men carp to the contrary, salvation is not based on the acceptance of various and strange doctrines. It is based rather on the acceptance of the truths communicated by the work of the Spirit through the “gifts.” Such acceptance is “faith” and allows men to prosper in all things, “withal.”

1Co 12:7  But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

The faulty use of languages removes the profit from spiritual revelations either by making the words difficult to understand or by sharing words that are not inspired. This shows plainly that the profit comes from the ease of understanding inspired statements.

1Co 14:6  Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? . . . 9  So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

The strange and various teachings of Hebrews 13:9 sound similar to the arguments regarding “words” in 2Ti 2:14.

2Ti 2:14  Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

The gospel, an inspired and easy to understand message, may fail of profiting men as verily as an error – if it is not believed.

Heb 4:2  For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

And this shows that profit comes from believing the easy to understand revelations of the prophets.

Then which doctrines are “strange”? They would include those that find someway to get around believing the easy to understand revelations of the prophets.

Conclusion

There are steps to escaping the doctrinal gusts of our time. Foremost among these is the work of character development. Heresies are a fruit of the flesh (Gal 5:19) and “none of the wicked will understand” Dan 12:10.

Character development has been assigned to men especially during the judgment. Satan, even eager to distract us from our work, has sought to distract us from it.

So while the core truths for this time and the milk of the word and the character of Jesus are a unit that changes us as we meditate on it, there are other doctrines that fail to profit in this way.

They are doctrines that do not show us how to live. They are doctrines that skirt simple inspired statements with some sort of unbelief. They are complex doctrines that defy the average man to untangle them. They, accordingly, are sources of “doubtful disputations” and “doting about questions” which promote evil feelings between brethren.

“Desire the milk of the Word that you may grow thereby.” That is Peter’s counsel to us.

Paul’s counsel is to stay occupied with the beneficial themes.

And my conclusion is that there are many doctrines agitated today that qualify precisely for the “diverse and strange” ones that ought not to move us. But until we get moving in the work of adding virtue to virtue we may find ourselves blind to know which winds are “strange.”

Then let us seek holiness and claim the promise:

“The wise shall understand.” Dan 12:10