Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
Early on in their development, caring parents teach their children the phrase “stranger danger.” It’s not that Mom and Dad are paranoid or afraid of everybody, just cautious and safe. Spiritually speaking, adults should adopt that same level of caution.
When new people come into our lives, getting to know their doctrine is wise before we form spiritual bonds. It is essential to be on guard because false teachers don’t say, “Hey, I’m here to lead you astray.” Heresy never presents itself like that. It’s more like a virus—small, easily shared, and sometimes deadly.
Viruses need a living organism to survive, making every human just another opportunity to covertly infiltrate, duplicate, and dominate. Once inside, a virus hijacks the host’s cells and spreads its infection—a tactic that resembles that of false teachers. It’s an ugly word picture, but an effective one.
Doctors say washing your hands is the easiest way to ward off a virus. Water won’t dilute the pathogen, but it doesn’t allow it to stick. Likewise, if you saturate yourself in the whole counsel of God, deception will not take hold. You can fight off false doctrine by cleansing your mind and heart with the pure water of God’s Word. Read it, study it, memorize it, pray it into your life, and keep yourself spiritually strong by discussing what you’ve learned with like-minded believers.
Be cautious and wise, and you’ll recognize false teaching for what it is—an attack upon the health of your soul. (Hibbs)