8 Dangerous Things for Christians to Avoid

False Doctrine Such as Another Gospel

• preach any other gospel … let him be accursed (Gal 1:8)
• A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump (Gal 5:9)
• I would they were even cut off which trouble you (Gal 5:12)
• who privately shall bring in damnable heresies (2 Peter 2:1)
• tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine (Eph 4:14)
• follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons (1 Tim 4:1)

Ungodly Motivations

• wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matt 7:15)
• masquerading as apostles of Christ (2 Cor 11:13)
• disguise themselves as servants of righteousness (2 Cor 11:15)
• women must keep silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak out (1 Cor 14:34)
• do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man (1 Tim 2:12)
• men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected (2 Tim 3:8)
• They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. (Titus 1:6)
• They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good (Titus 1:6)
• there will be false teachers among you (2 Peter 2:1)
• Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, receives us not (3 John 1:9)
• spots in your love feasts (Jude 1:12)

Untrustworthy Attitudes

• confidence in an unfaithful man is like a broken tooth (Prov 25:19)
• savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock (Acts 20:29)
• of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things (Acts 20:30)
• put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching (Rom 16:17)
• take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him (2 Thess 3:14)
• an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; (Titus 3:10)
• scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires (Jude 1:18)
• if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church (1 Tim 3:5)
• teaches something different is arrogant and lacks understanding (1 Tim 6:4)
• do not take them into your house or welcome them. (2 John 1:10)

Supporting Schisms or Divisions

• all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you (1 Cor 1:10)
• speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them (Acts 20:30)
• watch out for those who cause divisions and offences (Rom 16:17)
• Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry (1 Cor 10:14)
• For since there is envy and strife among you, are you not fleshly and living like unbelievers? (1 Cor 3:3)
• where there is jealousy and selfishness, there is disorder and every evil practice. (James 3:16)
• Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. (James 4:11)
• they which separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit (Jude 1:19)

Walking in Darkness

• The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness (Rom 13:12)
• what fellowship has light with darkness? (2 Cor 6:14)
• Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them (Eph 5:11)
• purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour (2 Tim 2:21)
• claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness (1 John 1:6)

Participating in Sin and Worldliness

• the works of the flesh are manifest (Gal 5:19)
• not to associate with sexually immoral people (1 Cor 5:9)
• anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard  or swindler. Do not even eat with such people (1 Cor 5:11)
• Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. (Eph 5:11)
• Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior (2 Tim 2:16)
• Flee the evil desires of youth (2 Tim 2:22)
• so run from all these evil things (1 Tim 6:11)
• anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God (James 4:4)

Judging One Another in Malice and Wickedness

• “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. (Luke 6:37)
• “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. (Matt 7:3-5)
• Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Cor 5:8)
• There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. (James 2:13)
• But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. (James 3:14-16)

Defiling Your Conscience

• Don’t eat it, out of consideration for the conscience (1 Cor 10:28)
• Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. (2 Cor 6:17)
• Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin (1 Tim 5:22)
• Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work (2 John 1:11)
• You are trying to earn favor with God by observing certain days or months or seasons or years. I fear for you. Perhaps all my hard work with you was for nothing. (Gal 4:8-12)
• it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it (James 4:17)

For deeper study:

• Stop doing these things (they will destroy the joy of your salvation)
• 7 ways to restore the joy of your salvation