How can we avoid being like Athenians, always seeking new teachings? The Scene in Athens “Now all the Athenians and foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing more than hearing and articulating new ideas.” (Acts 17:21) Luke paints a city fascinated with novelty—always listening, rarely living. The temptation is timeless. How do we keep from drifting into the same pattern? Why Novelty Pulls at the Heart • Curiosity can masquerade as commitment. • Fresh ideas feel exciting, while steady obedience can seem ordinary. • Culture rewards the “latest” and sidelines the “lasting.” Ephesians 4:14 warns of being “carried around by every wind of teaching,” highlighting how easy it is to chase what’s new instead of what’s true. Anchor 1: Rest in the Unchanging Word • Psalm 119:89: “Your word, O LORD, is everlasting; it is firmly fixed in the heavens.” • Isaiah 40:8: “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” Scripture is not merely ancient; it is alive, sufficient, and final. When the Word is our reference point, novelty loses its lure. Anchor 2: Let Scripture Shape Discernment 2 Timothy 3:16–17 grounds us: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction… so that the man of God may be complete.” • Instruction—shows what is right. • Conviction—shows what is wrong. • Correction—shows how to get right. • Training—shows how to stay right. When every new teaching is filtered through these four functions, deception is disarmed. Anchor 3: Test Before You Trust “Test all things. Hold fast to what is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21) Practical checkpoints: – Does it exalt Christ or mere curiosity? – Does it align with the whole counsel of God’s Word? – Does it produce obedience, holiness, and love? If an idea fails any test, let it go. Choosing Depth Over Breadth Hebrews 13:9 cautions, “Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.” Instead: • Go deeper in one book of the Bible rather than skimming five new podcasts. • Re-read familiar passages until they form your reflexes. • Memorize key verses; truth stored in the heart crowds out error. Daily Practices that Keep Us Grounded • Consistent, systematic Bible reading plan. • Scripture memory—write verses on cards or use an app. • Expository teaching—commit to a church that opens the text, verse by verse. • Fellowship with believers who prize truth over trends. • Meditation—slow reflection instead of rapid consumption. • Immediate obedience—James 1:22: “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” Living Steadfast in a Noisy Culture • Limit intake: you don’t have to click every link. • Prioritize repetition: hearing the same gospel truths never grows old. • Celebrate the ordinary means of grace—Word, fellowship, communion—rather than chasing spiritual novelties. • Model consistency: your steady faithfulness testifies louder than ever-changing opinions. Staying free from the Athenian itch isn’t about rejecting learning; it’s about rooting every new idea in the eternal Word and letting proven truth, not passing trends, set the course of our lives. |
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