Stay or Stray

The love of money causes some of those with whom we once fellowshipped to stray from sound doctrine. Greed has been the downfall of some because there’s easy money preaching corrupt Christianity. There are financial benefits for those who will twist doctrine to say what people want to hear. The preachers of today’s twisted doctrines draw people to their churches, trap them in avarice, and draw them from Christ.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the Faith… (1 Timothy 6:10)

The Wrong Interpretation

The idea in this famous verse is not that a person wanders from faith. Since living by faith is the opposite of living by the Law, someone who wanders from faith would be someone who was living by faith, but who then slipped into a works-based system of salvation. For example, a Christian who becomes Messianic, commits to the Law, and begins to follow the Old Testament rules of Sabbath-keeping, Jewish holidays, and kosher food.

Instead of walking in the Holy Spirit by faith, and following the law of liberty (James 1:25; 2:12) which is loving your neighbor, some turn to the rules, regulations, and laws of the Old Covenant. Instead of following Jesus, they turn to Moses.

Turning from Truth

But that’s not what Paul is talking about here. First of all, he doesn’t say that people wander from faith. He says that people wander from the Faith. He’s talking about a departure from sound doctrine. And it’s a departure from sound doctrine motivated by greed—easy money.

Paul is talking about pastors who become false teachers. He’s addressing the phenomenon of pastors who do not hold fast to the Word of God—men who exchange Truth for riches. He started talking about pastors in verses 3-5.

If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a sick craving for controversial questions and disputes about words, from which come envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between people of depraved mind and deprived of the Truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain (1 Timothy 6:3-5).

Today’s Spiritual Landscape

Many of the people Paul speaks of are the equivalent of today’s high-heeled church leaders, seminary professors, and even some missionaries (the ones with generous incomes) who have turned Christian ministry into a business. These are the men and women who chase money and find it through the naiveite and generosity of church goers everywhere.

How many so-called “Christian” musicians, “Christian” bookstore owners, and online retail outlet salespeople who sell Christian products have commercialized the Faith? Have you noticed them or does their brand of “faith” not offend you? Have you noticed that they have no concern for Truth?

They parade their extravagance for all to see, but what most people do not see is how their love of money has caused them to wander from the Faith. Avarice has clouded their thoughts. They can’t even remember what apostolic doctrine sounds like because they’ve been blinded by greed. They have sold their souls. They thought they didn’t, but they had a price—and the Devil matched it.