1 Timothy 6:5 “…constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth…”

An update attempt corrupted the system files on my computer. After that, the computer continued working but refuse to work correctly. My good computer had become a troublemaker.

Paul’s list included a characteristic that had nothing to do with intent. In fact, these people may have the best of intentions and yet they still create conflicts. Their ideas about theology, doctrine and church policy become a constant source of friction. At some point, many of these members were a valuable and functioning part of the body of Christ, but then they allowed their minds to be corrupted.

The corruption of a believer’s mind happens in much the same way the corruption of a computer system happens. A source from outside the system provides information that contradicts what is true. Believers need to be careful about what they read, watch and who they listen to. In Ephesus, the false teachers were corrupting people’s minds. Timothy could warn his congregation against them, but only the individual believers could make the choice of who they listened to and who they believed.

Paul believed that these Christians had at one time known the true gospel, but false preaching had robbed them of the truth. It had taken away their faith in truth and replaced it with a lie. This still happens today. Most cult members do not come from a nonreligious status directly. Instead, cult leaders pull their members out of the church and then draw them into the cult.

Christians are always learning. However, when we learn something new we have a responsibility to determine if it is true. Christian beliefs will meet four standards. 1) Scripture confirms it. 2) Personal experience can validate it. 3) Sound reasoning does not contradict it. 4) The historical teachings of the church support it.

Christians do not agree on everything but our disagreements should not cause friction. If our beliefs cause constant friction, our beliefs may be corrupted.