One of the deceits of Satan is the suggestion that all ecclesiastical unity is a desirable end.  But what his emissaries neglect to acknowledge is that real unity is born only of adherence to sound doctrine.  And without that, what is promoted as unity is merely compromise and conformity.  The truth is that so long as sin and error prevail in this world, the faithful believer will be involved in far more occasions to separate than to unite—and God would have it so.  We must be spiritual contortionists to deny the repeated exhortations to separate in matters ecclesiastical.  Today’s text is yet another example of such a call.  Paul warns his protégé Timothy about false teachers. Giving Timothy a lengthy list of markers by which to identify the purveyors of error, Paul suggests that their convicting trait is that of “supposing that gain is godliness,” and he sternly warns Timothy:  “from such withdraw thyself” (I Tim. 6:5).

            Convicting fingerprint.  Just as surely as a fingerprint on a weapon reveals the identity of the criminal who wielded a weapon in a violent crime so there is a “fingerprint” that identifies the perpetrator of the crime of doctrinal error.  Paul explains that those who promote the doctrine of gain and equate it with godliness are guilty of committing a spiritual crime.  Identify the person to whom the fingerprint belongs, and the identity of the criminal is known.  Identify the person who promotes the doctrine of gain, and the identity of the spiritual deceiver is known. 

            A huge religious industry has mushroomed and many so-called preachers have grown rich by promoting this doctrine today.  Television, radio, print, and internet ministries have burgeoned by playing to the despair of the needy and the desires of the greedy.  Such ministers and ministries as Joel Osteen, much of the Trinity Broadcasting Network, the Word of Faith Movement and the Charismatic Movement, including men like Benny Hinn, Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, and Creflo Dollar promote this error to one degree or another.  For the most part, they are not well-meaning men genuinely trying to help people.  They are wolves in sheep’s clothing who do not spare the flock, fleecing them of their money and leaving them spiritually dead (Matt. 7:15; Acts 20:29).  The gospel repudiates the idea of “your best life now”; the gospel rejects the idea that if you plant your seed faith money you are certain to become rich.  The only people who become enriched by such a message are the charlatans who preach it.

            Consequent flight.  Such error has been around since the beginning of time.  Wherever good seed is sown, Satan sows his tares.  Wherever sound doctrine is proclaimed, Satan makes a counterfeit claim.  God provides a simple solution (there is no other) in such cases:  “from such turn away.”  This injunction includes two components, one implicit, one explicit.  Implicit in the command to “turn away” is the need to identify specifically those who are promoting this doctrinal error.  For example, we do not warn people to avoid road construction in general.  We say, “Avoid Main St. because traffic is backed up for fifteen blocks due to road construction.”  The thing to avoid must be identified specifically or the warning serves no purpose.  Those who preach doctrinal error must be identified by name as much as possible so that the true flock can “withdraw” from them.  The Greek word here translated withdraw is most frequently translated in various forms as depart.  Both translations make clear God’s explicit call for a physical flight from these promoters of false doctrine.  Believers are not to watch them, listen to them, purchase their merchandise, or promote them in any way.  God will eventually judge them for their “damnable heresies” (II Pet. 2:1).  Believers must separate.