1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
Enjoy that bacon with your breakfast and that pork chop at supper. Beware of those who command you not to eat certain foods and that forbid marriage.
It is interesting that God spoke to the two strongest appetites of mankind in these verses. They are also two of the things for which Legalists and cults have commandments.
God says we are now free to eat anything and yet people command vegetarianism or strict adherence to the Mosaic dietary laws. God says marriage is good as long as both are Christians.
Cults either promote polygamy or celibacy if you are going to serve God. One cult demanded celibacy of all of its followers and it died out. Another said that every woman is every man's wife and every man is every woman's husband. It died out as well because of jealousy and other issues.
Beware of groups that put you under law but also those who promote lawlessness. We are free from the Mosaic law, but there are many commandments/laws/torahs in the New Testament. Restricted diets and commandments against marriage are not sound doctrine, but rather doctrines of devils as verse one declares.
We live in an age where people have little love for sound doctrine and are easily deceived by cults outside of the Body and false teachers within the Body.
2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
Not all false prophets or heretics go off to start new groups. They will work deceitfully in a congregation or denomination/association slowly creating dissension and division.
1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
If it was already a problem while the Apostles were alive then in this age of apostasy before Christ returns it is not surprising that false prophets, heresy and division abounds. Seek discernment as it is so lacking in the Body. Many are in bondage to false teachings so "study to show thyself approved, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15 rightly dividing is interpreting the Word. Sometimes you have to "split hairs" to see the heresy because the verbiage may seem correct until you discover what they really mean to that teacher.
Be safe. It is a dangerous theological world out there! Maranatha!
