Consider Romans 16:17-18:
“Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.”
Paul here describes insidious actions by Christians. They are insidious for two reasons. The first is that these actions are self-serving, and thus sinful. Those who engage in these behaviors have ulterior motives. They do not serve Jesus, but rather their own belly. They are doing what they do because it serves their purpose. It is not to please Christ, to edify, to build up. It is to accomplish their own desires, whatever those desires may be.
The second reason for the insidious nature of such actions is that they are deceptive. It is difficult to see it, or believe it, or to prove that deception has occurred to those who are simple. The word “simple” here refers to more than just ignorance. In fact, the meaning of the word revolves around guile. It is apparent that an individual with a pure heart will probably also be one who is trusting of another. As such, he can be easily swayed by “smooth words and flattering speech.” Such credulity is not an inherently bad thing. Such a pure heart is laudable. But, it can make one vulnerable to the manipulations of the unscrupulous.
It is for this reason that the people of God have been described in scripture as sheep. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own” (John 10:11-14). Sheep are innocent, wandering if they are without guidance. In our context, in need of the guidance of the Good Shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is for this reason that God established the office of elder. Wise and experienced men are needed to protect the flock of which they are a part. “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves” (Acts 20:28-30).
To be pure is commendable. But Jesus warned about this vulnerability, admonishing his disciples, “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men…” (Matthew 10:16-17). Recognize the nature of our conflict, Jesus wants us to be pure, but not to be naïve.
Consider the characterization of love in 1 Corinthians 13. Among other things, the apostle Paul said that love (agape) “believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (vs. 7). It seems to me that in the love you profess for others, you trust them until or unless you are proven wrong. In other words, until evidence shows that you have been lied to or mistreated. When that happens, your love remains unchanged. From that point on you hope and pray for their repentance — “hopes all things.” Such repentance may not come, but that does not mean that you should then hate them or mistreat them. Instead you endure. “But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also” (Matthew 5:39).
The key here is to act in love yourself, but to know it is possible for others to use professed love (flattery) to gain advantage. Paul said too much guilelessness is childish, and warns us to “no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting” (Ephesians 4:14).
The difference is the why such is done. It is flattery? – which is often insincere, sometimes not even true, but designed to gain advantage? Or is it praise? – which is always altruistic, designed to edify, and comes from a heart devoid of any schemes or self-interest.
- Flattery: The enemies of David, “For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is destruction; their throat is an open tomb; they flatter with their tongue” (Psalms 5:9).
- Praise: Paul regarding the liberal Macedonians, “And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God” (2 Corinthians 8:5).
Is it hard to know the difference between flattery and praise? Yes, it sometimes is! So, depend upon the experienced, be circumspect, and pray for wisdom!
