Why Should We Correct Compromised Truth?

that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting (Ephesians 4:14)

Today’s big question: why should we correct compromised truth?

In the previous devotional, we looked at the concept of speaking the truth in love when correcting a brother or sister in Christ (Ephesians 4:15). We are now going to look at the previous verse in Ephesians to see an important aspect of speaking the truth in love. Scripture is clear that many people are spreading false teaching (1 John 4:1). Why should we correct this compromised truth, and why is it so important?

As Paul stated in 1 Timothy 1:3–7, the main purpose of refusing to accept any other doctrine is love for the brethren. Moreover, standing firm on the biblical authority of God’s Word is our moral duty. Compromising God’s truth started back in Genesis when the serpent deceived Eve, and it has been happening ever since. The truth of God is our foundation, and if it is unstable in any way by man’s added, unsound ideas, we will fail when fighting in this spiritual battle.

Correcting compromised truth is not always easy—you may be ridiculed for it. Out of love for fellow believers and the Lord, telling others about false doctrines is necessary. Christians need to know about the false teachings and recognize the people who spread them, since it is “by the trickery of men” that many people are “tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine.”

In correction, we should make sure we are bold in Christ yet not prideful. Humility is crucial because it will guard us from self-righteousness and keep us in the right spirit when we are corrected for our faults.

In order to follow the Great Commission of Jesus Christ to make disciples, we need to make sure the body of Christ is standing on a firm foundation. How can we make disciples of Jesus Christ when teachers are basing their beliefs on man’s ideas rather than God’s truth?

This is why it is out of love we do not accommodate the false doctrines of the day. If we love our fellow believers, we want what is best for them, and exposing false doctrines and false teachers is for the benefit of every single person. Following God’s command to speak truth in love starts with each and every one of us. In order to stop our country, churches, and children from declining spiritually and morally, we must first make sure that as a body of believers we are standing firm on the truth of God.

Today’s big idea: we correct compromised truth out of love for our fellow believers.

What to pray: ask God to help you never to compromise His truth.