“O
foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was
publicly portrayed as crucified?” (Galatians
3:1). The Galatian congregations were converted as a result of Paul’s early
missionary work in the area, but at a time in the church’s history when Jewish
Christians appear to have had a problem leaving their heritage in Judaism, and
letting go of the covenant of circumcision and the Law of Moses.
This and other diversions which faced Christians in the first century were methods by which the devil attempted to weaken the church. Early Christians had their focus diverted from following Christ and His doctrine to the worshiping of angels, the adoption of human philosophies and traditions, and the acceptance of visions as authoritative teaching. Congregations were diverted from their course by undue emphasis on the demonstration of miraculous spiritual gifts in their assemblies in the place of the plain preaching of the gospel with its power to convert people (see Romans 1:16).
Upholding the authority of his apostolic teaching and preaching, Paul says, “Even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!” (Galatians 1:8). This hits at what was, apparently, one approach of the false teachers where they claimed angelic visions as authority for what they preached. The same apostle points out that those attempting to mislead the Corinthians are “false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). So even apparently legitimate preachers of the word are to be suspect if they try to divert people from the plain and simple teachings of the word of God
What methods do you think Satan is using today to divert our minds from following Christ? We’re easily drawn to what authority figures claim and they have far wider platforms for propagating error than ever in the past. The personable, dynamic, impeccably dressed, cultured, fiery preacher draws people to him no matter how preposterous some of his doctrinal interpretations may be. Success builds on success for the ministries of such men and then the large followings they gain are, in themselves, a drawing card. All these methods are used to divert our attention from following the purity and simplicity of Christ’s life and teaching.
The church which Jesus established was equipped with men to lead it in the direction set by the Lord. Paul, as he writes about those set in the church by Christ says, “As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming” (Ephesians 4:14). We need to hold fast to what the New Testament teaches about salvation and church membership, and disregard every attempt to divert our minds to false teaching and practice, no matter how attractive those may seem to be.