Colossians 3:1

It's not enough to reject the error, but you also have to actively embrace the truth. It's not enough to reject the false teacher; you must also embrace the true teacher, Christ.

After Paul had written many verses telling the people what teachings and persuasions to avoid, he gave them something positive to focus on.

There are lessons here.

Be aware of what to avoid in your age

Some of what Paul was talking about has applications for all ages. But the specifics (which would have been immediately obvious to the initial recipients of the letter) would take some historical digging for us to be close to being sure of what he was talking about because he was probably addressing issues that were peculiar to the people, using language that connects with their on-the-ground reality.

The point I am making is that, in every age, we need a healthy dose of discernment to not follow the multitude to do evil (Exodus 23:2), not to follow the crowd into errors and lies, and not to think that because something is popular, it is truth.

There are repackaged errors in each generation that we are responsible for avoiding falling into their pits, with the guidance of the holy scriptures and ample humility.

We need to put Paul's charge and warning to the Colossians right in front of our eyes; we need to hold fast to the word of God (1 Timothy 1:13). And there is no need to hold fast to something if no forces are trying to wrest things away from you.

What to embrace is the same in every age

What to avoid at every age changes because the presentation of lies always changes, so we have to be on our toes, watching and praying (Matthew 26:41). We should always be vigilant.

But what to embrace in every age is the same — Jesus.

While the lies change, Jesus never changes. That is why we can benefit from the writings of people who have been dead for more than 1000 years. Why? Because Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). But the lies keep changing, and the devil's lying trap keeps changing, so there cannot be a time we let down our guard and stop watching, praying, and repenting of the lies we have believed. Keep that in mind.

Don't be a Pollyanna

Don't be the one who is only predisposed to think positively about things. This kind of person may say each Christian is responsible for separating the truth from lies, which is true. But that is used to attack those who want to publicly stand strong against falsehood. That's the person who wants to get along with others more than they want to stand for truth. But, John wrote in one place that we should not welcome certain people who bring false doctrine, not even greet them (1 John 1:10-11).

Don’t be a critic/Grinch

Yes, it is good to stand against falsehood; maybe that is even what you do for a season, or that is even what you are known for. But there is a danger in neglecting to actively seek the things above (of heaven) where Christ is, according to the words of Paul in this verse.

Let's be careful that we are not trying to carry the burden of the whole world and lose our souls in the process (Mark 8:38).

That can happen when we are covered with pride and a feeling of superiority to others rather than the awe, reverence for God, and humility of Christ.

Paul had choice advice for Timothy on how to handle those who oppose him with falsehood. I will put it simply: do your best and leave the rest.

He said he should focus on relentlessly preaching the word all the time and every time (2 Timothy 4:2), meaning proclaim truth relentlessly and consistently, guide his life from error, ensure he is a vessel of honor, and only appoint leaders who have been proven, not new converts (1 Timothy 3:6).

With regards to the opposers, he said the man of God must not be quarrelsome but gentle; when you begin to jettison gentleness and move into the arena of quarreling, then you need to be careful (2 Timothy 2:14-26).

But before we get to all that, we can start by being bold enough to seek an audience with, seek a private time with a brother, someone you have access to who is speaking errors and confront him about it. Just like Jesus said, if you have something against your brother, go and meet him privately (Matthew 18:15).

The problem is that we have put some people on pedestals and no longer see them as brothers and sisters, even though Jesus died for all of us on the cross and at the same time on the same tree.

Now, we fear them instead of Christ, and we hold them in awe instead of the need to uphold the truth. Our courage has left us because we fear man, who can only destroy the body, and not God, who can destroy both body and soul in hell (Matthew 10:28).