Galatians 5:9-10 Watch Doctrine Carefully, For a Little Bad Doctrine Can Corrupt Completely

Galatians 5:9-10 A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view; but the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.

Brothers and sisters, this is a clear warning even for our day. As Jesus warned His disciples that the leaven (yeast) of the hypocritical, self-righteous teaching of the Pharisees would corrupt all who heed their doctrines, and so to be wary of what they teach (Matthew 16:5-12), so Paul now reminds the Galatians that the seductive message of the Judaizers would usurp more and more power in the community and in the lives of those who listen to them. Bad doctrine itches people’s ears (cf. 2 Timothy 4:3-4). It often tells them what their sinful nature wants to hear; and in the case of unwary Christians, it scratches the lusts of the sin that still dwells within their flesh. Such bad doctrine is like yeast; if you put a little yeast into a batch of bread dough, mix it up and let it sit, the yeast will ferment and leaven the whole loaf of bread. It may take a long time or it may take a short amount of time, but bad doctrine will infect and corrupt extensively those who give heed to it.

This is why, fellow heirs, we must not tolerate bad doctrine. When we know of it in ourselves, we must seek to root it out and be filled with good doctrine. We must also seek to help others root out their bad doctrines; with extreme gentleness and patience, however (cf. 2 Timothy 2:24-26). If they are not corrected, they will bear the judgment of God upon them.

We must be especially sensitive when we are dealing with matters of the gospel. Many churches today pride themselves in the diversity of their teachers (in Sunday School classes, for instance). They are not taking seriously this clear and crucial teaching of Scripture. We should not be allowing Open-Theists to teach in our Sunday Schools; nor should we be allowing those who adhere to the “New Perspective” (the teaching that there is no positive imputation of Christ’s righteousness to believers) be leaders in our small groups. These are dangerous heresies (though I will not pass judgment hastily upon them to call these people unbelievers). Such heresies easily distract and confuse especially younger believers and can become extremely divisive. Not only this, but one bad theology will usually, if not always, lead to other bad theologies; as humans, we cannot live with a system that is not coherent (at least not consciously). We will of necessity, it is our nature, construct systematic theologies which will have massive effects upon our lives. Thus, Paul warns us to be very careful when it comes to our life and our doctrine. How we live will affect what we believe and what we believe will affect how we live (1 Timothy 4:16).

As Paul had confidence in the Galatians that they would return to the gospel that they had received, so remain hopeful, especially those of you in positions of leadership, that those who have strayed will return to good doctrine. Keep on praying and pursuing peaceful discussions. Throwing up the heresy flag in their face is rarely ever the solution. Rather, approach them with gentleness. Show them from Scripture why you will not allow them to teach or lead ministries. Be humble. Though offense may come, do not grow hostile; “perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:25-26).