… we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting…

Apart from Christ, we are as vulnerable as children. We are vulnerable to the false teachings of deceitful people. If we have no knowledge of the true way of salvation, we may fall for every “wind of doctrine” conjured up by manipulative, ego-driven teachers.

Those in Christ, on the other hand, are protected. Having been taught the true way of salvation by the apostles, prophets, pastors, and teachers sent by God, we have been equipped to discern the truth and to teach others to do the same. We will be able to come to a unity of faith and knowledge (Ephesians 4:11-13).

Although it is true that Jesus, in His teaching, praised the humility and simple faith of children (Matthew 18:3-4), here Paul warns against naivety. With respect to the winds of doctrine peddled by false teachers, we should not be like children at all. We should be mature Christians who see through the deceptions.

The world is full of deceptive doctrines and the deceptive people who peddle them. How do we know the Gospel messengers are not among them? How do we know Paul was not a crafty trickster? We know because “the Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,” (Romans 8:16). We know because the very spirit of God confirms the truth we have received and accepted.

Thus, we have an anchor for our souls that keeps us from being tossed around by every wind of doctrine that comes along. We have a supernatural stability of soul that others will gravitate to in the storms of life.

Stand firm, then, in the faith you have been given—and you will never be blown away.

By John Huisman, Friend of Bible League International