The Danger of Departing from the Word (1 Timothy 4:1-5)

Over the last three years we have continually emphasized the importance of the Word. We sing the Word, pray the Word, Read the Word, preach the Word, picture the Word (through the ordinances), so that will live the Word. This emphasis is vital because the Word is Truth. In John 17:17, Christ states, Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. We must remain solidly on the Word of God because many who claim the name of Christ do not follow the Word of God. Just because something claims to be Christian does not make it Christian. Just because the individual speaking claims to be a Christian does not make what they day true. The Word is what determines truth. 

So in our services, we guard carefully who stands behind this pulpit and that those who do, faithfully exposit the Word. We zealously guard what songs we sing. We insist that our songs be deeply theological and faithfully biblical. For much music today that claims to be Christian is nothing more that theologically shallow, unbiblical, self-focused, emotional drivel. 

However, we must ask, “Are we being unnecessarily narrow?” Does what we sing, and what we say really matter all that much as long as it is spiritual in nature? In our text this morning, Paul reminds Timothy and the Ephesian church of the danger of departing from the Word. For these things that pull our attention away from the Word and cause us to depart from it are not just dangerous, they are Satanic.