Avoid Whom, What and Why?
Part of Paul's pattern and manner of life for us to follow concerning those 'others we want to help see the truth' includes: Prayer, Tears, Grace, Truth, Mercy, Longsuffering, Patience, Changing Your Voice, Reprove, Rebuke, Avoid, etc., eventually having to send them off to Satan, the god of this world!

I continue to see more and more of what I would consider one of the hardest 'changes' in our new life to do; that is having to choose who to avoid, reject, stay away from, have no company with, mark, shun, withdraw from, etc.

It seems we are either willing to put up with their false teachings for whatever 'nice' reason there is - or possibly because we are just not aware of their false teachings or the dangers of being around them.  We tend to think things are ok and that you can handle those few differences, etc..  But there does come a time when it becomes extremely important for you and for your testimony to step away.

Hear exactly what God says to us concerning the people, ministries, friends, teachers, pastors, churches that you and I should step away and stay away from - and it is that simple.  Just do it - and ignore the reasons you want to stay with them.  Is it more important to please yourself or the risen Saviour?

Review the actual verses:

Mark and Avoid

  • Romans 16:17, 18 - Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
  • I Timothy 6:20,21 -  O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.
  • II Timothy 2:23-26 - But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
  • Titus 3:9 - But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
    • Reject
  • Titus 3:10,11 - A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
    • Shun
  • II Timothy 2:16-18 - But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.
    • Withdraw
  • I Timothy 6:3-5 - If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
  • II Timothy 3:1-9 (look this up yourself...)
  • II Thessalonians 3:6 - Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
    • Not Strive
  • II Timothy 2:24 - And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
  • II Timothy 2:14 - Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
    • Neither Give Heed
  • I Timothy 1:3,4 -  3: As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
    • Purge
  • I Corinthians 5:7 - Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
  • II Timothy 2:20,21 - But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
    • Be not Partakers
  • Ephesians 5:6-1 - Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
    • Have No Company With
  • II Thessalonians 3:14,15 - And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
  • I Corinthians 5:9 - I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
    • Cast Off - No Fellowship
  • Romans 13:12 - The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
  • Ephesians 5:11 - And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.


    • Reprove

  • Ephesians 5:11 - And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.


    • Rebuke

  • Titus 1:13-16 - This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.   Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
    • Summary of the above verses:
    1.  WHO are these people / WHAT are these things...
     2.  WHY should we avoid, etc. them?

    1.  Who

  • them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned
  • avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
  • foolish and unlearned questions
  • foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law
  • A man that is an heretick
  • profane and vain babblings
  • If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness
  • every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
  • they teach no other doctrine
  • fables and endless genealogies
  • the old leaven
  • wood and of earth; and some to dishonour
  • vain words
  • if any man obey not our word by this epistle,
  • the works of darkness
  • the unfruitful works of darkness
  • Jewish fables, and commandments of men
  • For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:
    • Why
  • For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly;
  • by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple
  • have erred concerning the faith
  • they do gender strifes
  • for they are unprofitable and vain.
  • Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
  • they will increase unto more ungodliness
  • their word will eat as doth a canker:
  • overthrow the faith of some
  • they are proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness:
  • they strive not about words to no profit,
  • to the subverting of the hearers.
  • minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith
  • if - purge - he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work
  • For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light
  • that he may be ashamed
  • they may be sound in the faith
  • turn from the truth
  • their mind and conscience is defiled.
  • They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him,
  • being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
  • For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
    • But, don't we have the liberty to stay with those folks and keep doing those things?

    Of course... the end of the law, etc.:

  • Romans 10:4 - For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
  • Galatians 2:19 - For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.
  • Romans 3:28 - Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
  • Romans 4:15 - Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
    • But there are still strings attached:
    OK, so who DO we keep in our little circle of fellowship?
    Who are we to follow?
    Who we should allow to teach and preach to us?
    Philippians 3:17 - Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.