Articles
Pay No Attention to Them
“But others were mocking and saying, ‘They are full of sweet wine.’”
(Acts 2:13)
Babies are cute and funny when they coo or are trying to speak. Parents make silly faces and talk to the infant in hopes that they will respond. There is an unspeakable joy when parents hear the first words that come out of their baby’s mouth. Although the verbal incoherency of an infant is adorable, the babblings of an adult are to the contrary.
During a certain Pentecost in Jerusalem, a miraculous event occurred. Suddenly, a violent wind caused a great disturbance among the people (vv. 2ff). Since this was an important festival for Jews, there were people from all over. Unexpectedly, everyone in the vicinity was shocked to hear their native tongue being spoken by a group of outcasts. Some dismissed this situation as a result of these men being out of their minds drunk.
The message that these men were offering is the key to eternal life (vv. 37ff). Jesus had promised His disciples that they would be given these keys (cf. Matt. 16:19). Initially, the people were very receptive to the teachings of Christ and the Apostles. Thousands responded to the simple message of the Gospel. However, it was almost immediately that opposition arose to challenge the truth of Christ (cf. Acts 4:1ff).
Before the word of God was completed, the Apostles warned that many would come and cause the fall of others. The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, “But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some” (2 Tim. 2:16-18). It is amazing how quickly some abandoned the faith by distorting the truth!
Additionally, the early Christians were instructed not to trust every word but to examine what is being taught (cf. 1 Jn. 4:1). If believers failed to properly scrutinize their teachers, then it could be easy for them to fall. The church at Ephesus was given a warning, “As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming” (Eph. 4:14). Even after the copious warnings, people fell for sly false teachers. This continues to this day (cf. 2 Tim. 4:3f; 2 Pet. 2:1ff).
Many men and women make fallacious prophecies and speak in unintelligible words. They stand in front of enormous crowds, and the people hang on every word. These so-called teachers and believers do not understand that Scripture has made certain things plain. Paul wrote, “…But if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away” (1 Cor. 13:8). Once the word of God was made available to all, then those things were no longer needed (1 Cor. 13:9ff), which included miracles (cf. Mk. 16:20; Heb. 2:1ff).
Some things are difficult to accept, but it would be a lie to say, for instance, that laying on hands today cures diseases. The Apostles laid hands to pass along the Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 8:17ff) and impart certain spiritual gifts (cf. 2 Tim. 1:6). Likewise, God does not guarantee material wealth on earth (cf. Jn. 16:33). Finally, there is no passage where the Holy Spirit caused convulsions or gyrations. God does not promote chaos or confusion (cf. 1 Cor. 14:32f). These are but a few characteristics of contemporary false teachers.
Give heed to the word of God. Watch out for those wolves in sheep’s clothing. Satan is lurking everywhere and will use people who falsely invoke God’s name. Pay close attention to the message of the Gospel, and don’t fall into Satan’s trap by following after liars.
