My least favorite part in most movies is the point when the protagonist(s) loses sight of the goal, begins to treat people badly, and has to be brought back to the vision, and repair damaged relationships. It’s a necessary part of many story arcs, but it’s still no fun to watch. I find that in the real world, it happens all the time. I also find that it never ends with a fun, “gettin’ after it” kind of montage, a la Rocky III and IV. No, in the real world we have to continuously work to stay sharp, to remind ourselves and each other of the truth, and to stay vigilant over our own thoughts and attitudes. Negligence and complacency are sure to cause us to lose our vision and to make mistakes.
Paul came down pretty hard on the church in Galatia when they lost their way, and deviated from one of the most fundamental components of the gospel. Galatians 3:2-3 reads: “This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”
In the same way, we have to be careful to remind ourselves and each other of the the truth, the Word of the Lord. How can we make sure that we don’t fall into the same trap? Genesis 13:12 teaches that Abram “dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom.” While it’s necessary that we live in the world as salt and light, it is also necessary that we keep ourselves “unstained by the world” (James 1:27), that we not flirt with sin as Lot did and suffered great loss for it. We should put “aside all filthiness and all abundance of malice, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save our souls” (James 1:21). In place of the filth and malice, we surround ourselves with the truth, and with those who will remind us of the truth. We commit to the faithful participation in fellowship and ministry of a Bible-believing church. We “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;” and we “consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some but encouraging one another; and all the more, as [we] see the day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:23-25). And we commit ourselves to take responsibility for our own relationship with the one God, by continual engagement in the training of the study of scripture and prayer without ceasing.
If we begin to listen to preachers of a false gospel, or to neglect any of the above disciplines, then we should not be surprised when we begin to lose sight of the most fundamental principles that the Bible teaches. And if we lose sight of those principles, we should not be surprised when our families suffer for the failures of their leadership. There is a reason that Deuteronomy 32:47 speaks of the Word of the Lord, saying: “it is not a futile thing for you, because it is your life…”