Mark and Avoid

Have you ever heard the expression, "Mark and avoid," when speaking about false teachers and false doctrine? Many have wondered where we get the command in the Bible to mark and avoid those who contradict sound doctrine. It comes from Romans 16:17:

Now I urge you, brothers, to keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and stumblings contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them (LSB).

Now you may have noticed those words do not appear in the LSB's translation of this passage. However, they do appear in this verse in the King James Version:

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Now that we have determined where the phrase, "Mark and avoid," came from, the next question is why should we? First, false teachers cause divisions. They will cause you question those who teach the Bible faithfully. False teachers will even go against your pastors whether they are in your church or the ones you see on Christian television. They will entice you to the point that you will break away from your church and join another that preaches a false gospel.

Second, they go against sound doctrine. Take the prosperity gospel for example. That gospel teaches that God will make you healthy and wealthy and if you are not either of those things, the favor of God is not upon you. If you know your Bible, you would know this teaching is false, but those have embraced it would want you to follow them away from not only the gospel of Christ, but your fellow believers. 

How does one avoid false teaching? Do not follow the social media accounts of false teachers, do not use their music, books, and other resources, and attend a good solid Biblical church. 

Another way to avoid false teaching is to ground yourself in the Word of God. J.C. Ryle said that the best way to protect yourself from false teaching is "the regular study of the Word of God, with prayer for the teaching of the Holy Spirit."