Beware of Faith pollution

Posted on Oct. 9, 2024, 9:29 a.m. by Rev. Shobayo Kayode The Gospel Study Centre

Faith pollution is as good as apostasy, which is rejection of God. Faith pollution brings rebellion against God and God’s commandments. It corrupts the revelation of God. It distances the heart of the Christians from Christ. What faith pollution does in the life of believer is to alienate him or her from Jesus Christ. No wonder the scripture says “These people draw near Me with their mouth, and honour Me with dear lips, but their heart is far from Me” (Matt.15:8) Like Apostle Paul says to the brethren in Corinth “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourself.” (2 Cor.13:5a) Believer should constantly and deliberately examine his or her faith to see that it has not deviated from the way of Christ and the teaching of His apostles. Two common causes of faith pollution according to the scriptures are, false teachings that comes from false preacher/teacher, “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many” (Matt.24:11) and believers carnal life style, “And they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” (2 Tim.4:4). So, it takes two to tango. (False Teachers and Carnal Believers) It is no gain saying, that there are all kinds of teachings and practices in the Christendom today that are unknowingly distancing believers from Jesus Christ. Teachings and practices that are neither known to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Head of the Church, nor traceable to the teachings of His apostles. Teachings that promises spirituality in which Christ is demoted and the basics of Christianity is denied. Teachings that have to do with the issue of monetary inducement in the name of sowing various kind of seeds, sale of ‘so called’ anointing items and other teachings that are intended to impoverish believers. The scripture says, “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ” (Col.2:8) To avoid faith pollution, believers should make conscious and deliberate efforts to shun teachings and doctrines that are not according to the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and abide strictly in the word of God. Jesus says, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed” (John.8:31) He says further, “And you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free” (John.8:32) It means that, if we abide in His word, we shall grow in faith as His disciples, we shall know the truth and we shall be set free from the deceit and religious bondage of the fake teachers. Most importantly, believers should begin to emulate the Berea Christians, whom the scripture says, “in that they received the Word with all readiness, and searched the scriptures daily to find whether these things were so” (Acts.17:11) They were not gullible. They were not afraid to ask questions regarding the scriptures. They compare what the preacher or the teacher say to them, with what is in the Bible. So, they can determine and believe only what the Bible teaches. Brethren, let’s not turn our ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. Rather, we should be receptive and believe the true teaching of the scriptures. Hearing what one wants to hear cannot not help one to grow in faith. It is the true word of God that strengthens faith to the extent that when we pray, we have faith that the prayer is answered. Evangelism Jesus Christ is the only Way to be displayed to the lost. There is no other name by which one can receive Salvation, but the name of Jesus Christ. Rev. Shobayo Kayode The Gospel Study Centre