There is only one true gospel and others will try to distort it and add to it. Paul writes to the Galatians in chapter 1 verse 7, “not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.” The Greek word for “distort” means to turn one thing into another. Elsewhere in the BIble when it talks about the sun being turned into darkness, the same word is used. These people from Galatia were probably not intentionally trying to distort the gospel but Satan and his henchmen were and still are. The people convinced themselves that they were correct; that they were almost enhancing the gospel. Paul is boldly telling them this is wrong. The distortions were effectively turning them from the one true Gospel. These people were being troubled by this distortion. They were being stirred up and agitated. He wanted to make certain that the Galatians knew there is only one gospel.

There are so many things that distort the gospel. Things that take our focus off Jesus, yet are in the name of Jesus. Things like feng shui from “Christians” who start out talking about energy from an electricity perspective but then say you are loosing all your money because your toilet seats are not closed. We are in jeopardy of becoming superstitious which leads to a lack of faith in God. Some are writing what they are receiving new revelations from Jesus. They are stating that Jesus is personally speaking directly to them and these “new words” can be trusted and seen as scripture. Last I checked the Bible still holds true about not adding or taking away anything from the Word of God (Proverbs 30:5-6, Deuteronomy 4:2, Deuteronomy 12:32, Revelation 22:18-19). 

The modern Christian seems to select items from the Bible as if at a buffet, choosing some more favorable truths and rejecting what doesn’t “feel” right or what seems to be antiquated. Beloved reader, this is insidious. It is a constant battle to guard ourselves from the false teachings of this world. Even believers will be drawn away and enticed into the “world biblical view” (Matthew 24:24). There really is only one way to keep from going astray. Prayer should be a continuum in your day, but our minds are tricky and our flesh is strong. While we must continue to pray throughout the day and also as a solid time given to our Boss as we clock in each day, there is something else that must be a mainstay. Guard yourself against heresy by reading the entire Bible cover to cover as often as you can. Heresies have a sneaky way of seeping into the smallest of cracks and little by little they will end up breaking you beyond repair. Paul was being as loving as he possibly could by rebuking them. Sometimes the most loving thing to do is seemingly the most difficult and painful.

When I broke my arm as a child my dad rushed me to the hospital. Yes I was in pain, but nothing compared to the agony of resetting the bone. It was the most loving thing to do? Without the pain of setting my bone back to its right place my life would have been filled with pain and disability moving forward. Sometimes a momentary yet intense pain is necessary for healing and new life to begin. Don’t be afraid to correct your brothers and sisters in Christ and also to take correction. Correction to the mind of man without the Holy Spirit won’t go too smoothly and will most likely not be profitable. Dig deep into the Bible to bring its Truth along side the situation. 2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,”. We all have our flesh still clinging to us. Our flesh is strong and wants to win. Root yourself in the Word of God. Root yourself in prayer. Root yourself by surrounding yourself with trusted children of God who are not afraid to help you become the best servant to Christ that you can be!