Ephesians 4:14 (NLT)

“Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.”

Paul has been talking about maturing in the faith under the leadership of pastors and teachers and apostles and evangelists and prophets who are exercising their spiritual gifts. As a result – “Then” – a mature Christian won’t be an easy mark for bad teachings, regardless of how “new” or how popular they may be. We really need to be reminded of this in 21st Century America.

We all know that some things are too good to be true…and that natural cynicism should be applied in the realm of “spiritual teachings” or even “Christian” teachings. Scripture commands us to test the spirits (1 John 4:1) to see whether a teaching is from God or not…but it also calls us to be very discerning when it comes to worldly information as well (2 Cor. 10:5). Not everything that IS evil actually LOOKS or SOUNDS evil. Remember: Satan can masquerade as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14).

The only hope you have in this regard is via the renewing of your mind (Rom. 12:2), which can only take place when you get to know God’s Word thoroughly. Do you think biblically? Reason biblically? Look at the world through a biblical lens? If so, you won’t be “tossed and blown about.” If not, you will be on a regular basis. The choice is yours.