8 Dangerous Things for Christians to Avoid

False Doctrine Such as Another Gospel

• preach any other gospel … let him be accursed (Gal 1:8)
• A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump (Gal 5:9)
• I would they were even cut off which trouble you (Gal 5:12)
• who privately shall bring in damnable heresies (2 Peter 2:1)
• tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine (Eph 4:14)
• follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons (1 Tim 4:1)

Ungodly Motivations

• wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matt 7:15)
• masquerading as apostles of Christ (2 Cor 11:13)
• disguise themselves as servants of righteousness (2 Cor 11:15)
• women must keep silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak out (1 Cor 14:34)
• do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man (1 Tim 2:12)
• men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected (2 Tim 3:8)
• They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. (Titus 1:6)
• They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good (Titus 1:6)
• there will be false teachers among you (2 Peter 2:1)
• Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, receives us not (3 John 1:9)
• spots in your love feasts (Jude 1:12)

Untrustworthy Attitudes

• confidence in an unfaithful man is like a broken tooth (Prov 25:19)
• savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock (Acts 20:29)
• of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things (Acts 20:30)
• put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching (Rom 16:17)
• take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him (2 Thess 3:14)
• an heretic after the first and second admonition reject; (Titus 3:10)
• scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires (Jude 1:18)
• if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church (1 Tim 3:5)
• teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding (1 Tim 6:4)
• do not take them into your house or welcome them. (2 John 1:10)

Supporting Schisms or Divisions

• all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you (1 Cor 1:10)
• speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them (Acts 20:30)
• watch out for those who cause divisions and offences (Rom 16:17)
• Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry (1 Cor 10:14)
• For since there is envy and strife among you, are you not fleshly and living like unbelievers? (1 Cor 3:3)
• where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice. (James 3:16)
• Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. (James 4:11)
• they which separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit (Jude 1:19)
• Gnosticism and the altar of special knowledge in the church today

Walking in Darkness

• The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness (Rom 13:12)
• what fellowship has light with darkness? (2 Cor 6:14)
• Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them (Eph 5:11)
• purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour (2 Tim 2:21)
• claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness (1 John 1:6)

Participating in Sin and Worldliness

• the works of the flesh are manifest (Gal 5:19)
• not to associate with sexually immoral people (1 Cor 5:9)
• Do not eat with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. (1 Cor 5:11)
• Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. (Eph 5:11)
• Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior (2 Tim 2:16)
• Flee the evil desires of youth (2 Tim 2:22)
• so run from all these evil things (1 Tim 6:11)
• anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God (James 4:4)

Judging One Another in Malice and Wickedness

• “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. (Luke 6:37)
• Examine and remove your own faults before judging others, avoiding hypocrisy and embracing humility. (Matt 7:3-5)
• Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Cor 5:8)
• There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. (James 2:13)
• Jealousy and selfish ambition oppose God’s wisdom; they are demonic, causing disorder and every kind of evil. (James 3:14-16)

Defiling Your Conscience

• Don’t eat it, out of consideration for the conscience (1 Cor 10:28)
• Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. (2 Cor 6:17)
• Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin (1 Tim 5:22)
• Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work (2 John 1:11)
• You are trying to earn favor with God by observing certain days or months or seasons or years. I fear for you. Perhaps all my hard work with you was for nothing. (Gal 4:8-12)
• it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it (James 4:17)

For deeper study:

• Stop doing these things (they will destroy the joy of your salvation) – Stop doing these things. They will not help you grow in grace and knowledge. They will destroy the joy of your salvation.
• 7 ways to restore the joy of your salvation – Rediscover joy in your Christian journey! Embrace hope, seek medical help, confess sins, focus on Jesus, trust God, and serve others.
• 8 Important Things for Christians to Embrace – Christians need to embrace these things to love one another in a way that is pleasing to the Lord Jesus Christ.