In many places, Scripture warns us against false doctrine. One such place is 1 Timothy 4:1: “The Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons” (NASB). The KJV words it as “seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” A doctrine is a teaching or a set of principles. The “doctrines of demons,” then, are things that demons teach.
There can be good and bad doctrines. The word doctrine can refer to the biblical teachings of a church or a pastor. Or, in the case of 1 Timothy 4:1, the ungodly teachings of Satan. Those who follow the doctrines of demons “will fall away from the faith.” That is, heeding the doctrine of demons is a serious matter because it involves a departure from the truth of Christ’s gospel.
How are the doctrines of demons promulgated? They are delivered through human instructors: “Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:2). These false teachers are hypocritical; that is, their lives do not evidence the holiness they seemingly espouse. They are liars; that is, they deal in falsehood and knowingly lead others into apostasy. And they are beyond the reach of conscience; that is, they have found a way, in their own minds, to justify their lies. These false teachers may be personable, charming, and persuasive, but they do not receive their message from the Holy Spirit; rather, they spout the suggestions of evil spirits, whose work it is to lead people astray.
What exactly are the doctrines of demons? The immediate context gives an idea of the teachings to look out for: “They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer” (1 Timothy 4:2–5). According to this passage, we should not follow any person or group that forbids marriage or that places restrictions on certain foods. Any person or group that says holiness comes through a select diet or complete sexual abstinence is lying.
In the Garden of Eden, Eve encountered the doctrines of demons as the serpent spoke to her: “He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say, “You must not eat from any tree in the garden”?’” (Genesis 3:1). At the beginning of the conversation, Satan questioned the teaching of God, and, as they continued to talk, he substituted his own teaching for God’s. Satan has continued to use deception, doubt, and subtlety to lead people astray. Satan is the father of lies and a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44), and the doctrines taught by his demons through the agency of willing human accomplices continue to separate people from God and His blessing.
Satan knows how to manipulate us, and that is why the doctrines of demons are so effective. We can identify the doctrines of demons by immersing ourselves in the truth. We must read and study our Bibles. When we know what God says on any given subject, then any deviation from that teaching will send up a red flag. When we are in tune with God’s Word, aberrations from that keynote will ring hollow and off-key.
What should we name the Preachers that Bring these Doctrines of Demons to the Church . Apostle Paul gives us the Answer :
Gal 1:6 – 9 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
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Op baie plekke waarsku die Skrif ons teen valse leerstellings. Een so ‘n plek is 1 Timoteus 4:1: “Die Gees sê uitdruklik dat sommige in die latere tye van die geloof sal afvallig word en ag gee op bedrieglike geeste en leerstellings van duiwels” (NASB). Die KJV verwoord dit as “verleidende geeste en leerstellings van duiwels”. ‘n Leerstelling is ‘n lering of ‘n stel beginsels. Die “leerstellings van demone” is dus dinge wat demone leer.
Daar kan goeie en slegte leerstellings wees. Die woord leer kan verwys na die Bybelse leerstellings van ‘n kerk of ‘n pastoor. Of, in die geval van 1 Timoteus 4:1, die goddelose leringe van Satan. Diegene wat die leerstellings van demone volg “sal van die geloof afvallig word”. Dit wil sê, gehoorsaamheid aan die leerstellings van demone is ‘n ernstige saak, want dit behels ‘n afwyking van die waarheid van Christus se evangelie.
Hoe word die leerstellings van demone verkondig? Hulle word gelewer deur menslike instrukteurs: “Sulke leringe kom deur skynheilige leuenaars, wie se gewete soos met ’n warm yster geskroei is” (1 Timoteus 4:2). Hierdie dwaalleraars is skynheilig; dit wil sê, hul lewens getuig nie van die heiligheid wat hulle oënskynlik voorstaan nie. Hulle is leuenaars; dit wil sê, hulle handel met valsheid en lei ander wetend in afvalligheid. En hulle is buite die bereik van die gewete; dit wil sê, hulle het in hul eie gedagtes ‘n manier gevind om hul leuens te regverdig. Hierdie valse leraars is dalk persoonlik, bekoorlik en oortuigend, maar hulle ontvang nie hul boodskap van die Heilige Gees nie; hulle spuit eerder die suggesties van bose geeste uit, wie se werk dit is om mense op ‘n dwaalspoor te lei.
Wat presies is die leerstellings van demone? Die onmiddellike konteks gee ‘n idee van die leerstellings om voor op te let: “Hulle verbied mense om te trou en beveel hulle om hulle te onthou van sekere kosse, wat God geskep het om met danksegging ontvang te word deur diegene wat glo en wat die waarheid ken. Want alles wat God geskape het, is goed, en niks is verwerplik as dit met danksegging ontvang word nie, want dit is geheilig deur die woord van God en gebed” (1 Timoteus 4:2-5). Volgens hierdie gedeelte moet ons geen persoon of groep volg wat huwelike verbied of beperkings op sekere kosse plaas nie. Enige persoon of groep wat sê dat heiligheid deur ‘n uitgesoekte dieet of volledige seksuele onthouding kom, lieg.
In die tuin van Eden het Eva die leerstellings van demone teëgekom terwyl die slang met haar gepraat het: “Hy het vir die vrou gesê: Het God werklik gesê: “Jy mag van geen boom in die tuin eet nie?” (Genesis 3). :1). Aan die begin van die gesprek het Satan die lering van God bevraagteken, en terwyl hulle aanhou praat het, het hy sy eie lering met God s’n vervang. Satan het voortgegaan om misleiding, twyfel en subtiliteit te gebruik om mense te laat dwaal. Satan is van die begin af die vader van leuens en ‘n moordenaar (Joh. 8:44), en die leerstellings wat deur sy demone geleer word deur die agentskap van gewillige menslike medepligtiges, gaan voort om mense van God en Sy seën te skei.
Satan weet hoe om ons te manipuleer, en dit is hoekom die leerstellings van demone so effektief is. Ons kan die leerstellings van demone identifiseer deur onsself in die waarheid te verdiep. Ons moet ons Bybels lees en bestudeer. Wanneer ons weet wat God oor enige gegewe onderwerp sê, sal enige afwyking van daardie lering ‘n rooi vlag opstuur. Wanneer ons in pas is met God se Woord, sal afwykings van daardie hooftoon hol en onduidelik klink.
Wat moet ons die Predikers noem wat hierdie leerstellings van demone na die Kerk bring. Apostel Paulus gee ons die antwoord:
Gal 1:6-9 Ek verwonder my dat julle so gou weggeneem word van Hom wat julle in die genade van Christus geroep het, na ‘n ander evangelie toe.
Wat nie ‘n ander is nie; maar daar is sommige wat julle pla en die evangelie van Christus wil verdraai.
Maar al sou ons, of ‘n engel uit die hemel, julle ‘n ander evangelie verkondig as wat ons aan julle verkondig het, laat hom vervloek wees.
Soos ons vroeër gesê het, so sê ek nou weer: As iemand julle ‘n ander evangelie verkondig as wat julle ontvang het, laat hom vervloek wees.