City Life Starter

The Word: Romans 16:17-18 

17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.

18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. 

 

Reflection Questions

1) What was Paul mostly concerned about in his last thoughts of this Chapter?

2) What are the signs (fruit) of disinformation in our day and age?

3) Consequently what are we to guard against in order to stay grounded in the faith?

 

 

Disinformation is a fairly new word having only appeared in dictionaries in the late 1980’s. It is derived from the Russian word dezinformatsiya meaning false information deliberately and often covertly spread in order to influence public opinion or obscure the truth. It was most widely utilized when in 1923 the Soviet Union created an office in government whose sole purpose would be to “manipulate a nations intelligence system through the injection of credible but misleading data”.  

 

This is the appeal Paul is making to those in Rome to guard again disinformation. Jesus warned against the same thing in Matthew 7:15-20 saying:

 

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

 

It’s amazing that Paul’s instructions aren’t to engage these individuals theologically but to avoid them altogether. How many Christians today out of “good intentions” keep company with those causing divisions and creating obstacles? Their thinking is that by hanging out with them they’ll reach them with the gospel when in actuality they’re the ones feeding on false doctrine disseminated by these individuals.  

 

My prayer is that YES we would absolutely engage the world for the sake of missions but do it wisely. Mission goes two ways…we’re either the ones going on mission for the sake of Christ or are a mission field for the world. There isn’t a middle ground.