OTHERS

Why You Should Avoid These People

Published by victor caleb on January 23rd, 2023.

The apostle Paul describes a group of persons he considers callous, harsh, cruel, and treacherous in his second epistle to Timothy (2 Tim. 3:2–4). He then states unequivocally, “Avoid such people” (v. 5).

But didn’t Jesus interact with sinners? Shouldn’t we follow suit? Both yes and no.

Stay away from such people.
Paul is not addressing doubters or those considering Christianity. People who do not identify as Christians should not be avoided. We should open our doors to them and invite them to know Jesus. Nor is Paul referring to those who are battling with sin, as we all are. He’s referring to professed Christians who accept their sin. They may look to be godly, but they have refused its potential to improve their lives (2 Tim. 3:5).

Because they are open-minded, some people attend church and may even believe themselves more spiritual than others. They are not bound by restrictions, unlike strict Christians. They lead a more enlightened and “grace-filled” existence. However, they are phony believers. Their words declare that they love Jesus, yet their actions do not reflect this. They look to be the genuine article at first glance, but upon closer investigation, they fail to muster.

Their words declare that they love Jesus, yet their actions do not reflect this.

This is not a decision we make lightly. Paul tells Timothy to be patient and kind, praying that God may lead them to repentance as he has done for us (2 Tim. 2:24–26). But there comes a time when you must “avoid such folks.” This most likely relates to ex-communication, which occurs when the church proclaims that a person’s confession of faith is no longer trustworthy. When this occurs, the relationship with the individual must shift—as Jonathan Leeman puts it, “time together should be used to call him or her to repentance.”

Paul’s order is significant. However, when we consider what is at stake when a professed believer remains “in good standing” with her church while committing unrepentant immorality, the mandate makes perfect sense.

Here are two major reasons for Christians to “avoid such persons” in their local churches.

Reason #1: They can mislead you.
Unrepentant “believers” should be avoided since some bring erroneous teaching into the body. Spiritually, they are infiltrating God’s house and capturing those who are inside to lead them astray (2 Tim. 3:6, 15).

The congregation is accountable for exercising discernment and being cautious about whose teaching they receive (2 Tim. 4:3–4; cf. Gal. 1:8–9). The issue of erroneous teaching did not go away in the first century. False teachers continue to preach unbiblical teaching and sinful living under the pretense of spirituality, fooling millions. Just because someone labels themselves a “pastor” does not guarantee they are teaching the truth. False teachers are dishonest; they try to convince you that they are merely communicating the voice of God. You risk being led astray if you don’t avoid them—always learning but never arriving at a knowledge of the truth (2 Tim. 3:7).

The world needs pastors who will faithfully preach the Scriptures—both the encouraging and the offensive parts. Be wary of spiritual gurus who assure you that everything is OK and that you are perfect just the way you are. Everything isn’t fine, and you’re not fine the way you are. We are engulfed in sin, and we require God’s omnipotent power to change our hearts. Sit under the instruction of people who will tell you that and then direct you to Jesus.

Reason number two: They are opposed to the truth.
The second reason we should avoid such people is that “just as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so these men oppose the truth, men twisted in mind and unqualified in faith” (2 Tim. 3:8).

Jannes and Jambres, according to Jewish legend, were Egyptian magicians who resisted Moses by mimicking his signs in front of Pharaoh. They attempted to discredit the might of Israel’s God in order to keep the people in servitude (Ex. 7:11, 22). Similarly, dishonest teachers preach liberation while keeping people chained to vice. Paul advised Timothy to avoid individuals who are opposed to the gospel’s truth. He wishes for us to do the same now.

They won’t get very far.
But there is some good news: the impact of fraudulent teachers has an expiration date (2 Tim. 3:9). Just as Jannes and Jambres were judged by God after failing to imitate Moses’ miracles (Ex. 7:12; 8:18), the folly of false instructors will be exposed, and truth will triumph in the end.

False teachers preach liberty while keeping people tied to vice.

Despite today’s threats and discouragements, everything will be restored when Jesus arrives. Those who simply appeared to be godly will be exposed, while those who actually believed him will be vindicated. We are all guilty before God and deserve his judgment on our own. Those who stick to Christ, on the other hand, are declared righteous in him and are kept from wandering astray by trust in his finished work.

God was trustworthy in leading his people out of Egypt, in preserving his people in the first century, and in holding us fast today and forevermore.