5 Ways Christian Women Are Easily Deceived
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 3:1-7, ESV)
Ladies, as the matriarchs of our families, we have an immeasurable influence on the world right now, and for generations to come. I know it’s hard to focus on this amidst diapers, sleepless nights, homeschool planning, dirty dishes, and the thousand other tasks we have. But the impact we have on our children impacts their children, and their children, and their children.
As women, we are an easily deceived sex.
I believe it is because we are nurturers, and we tend to let feelings lead us. We want to be treated fairly, and we want those around us to be treated the same. We want justice, comfort, equality, and protection. So we are tempted to seek worldly solutions for these desires, because God’s way often requires dying to ourselves.
I ponder this topic a lot, and have prayed about how to address it. I’ve identified at least five ways that Christian women are easily deceived:
1. Failure to read and study the Bible
Knowing the scriptures is the easiest and most vital protection against deceit. While the Bible is more accessible to us than in any age of history, it remains unread by too many professing Christians (men and women included).
How many Christian women do you know who read Harry Potter every year, or Lord of the Rings, or Redeeming Love, almost (dare I say) religiously? And how many of them are not reading their Bibles equally as religiously? I see this so often in social media. And trust me, I’m not down on reading books. Reading is extremely important. But our first priority should be the Word of God.
The best defense against deception is a thorough reading of the complete works of scripture, in context. While it may be convenient to look up our favorite verses, or read the Proverbs every month, these are not nearly enough to understand the full counsel of God.
Many false teachers take scriptures out of context, and create entirely new doctrines from them, when a cursory reading by any thinking person would reveal the true meaning of the whole text. This is why the reading of the entire Bible is key. Don’t skip the difficult books. Read them all. Use a good study Bible to guide your understanding. Pray for discernment and wisdom.
Failure to read and study the Bible is directly related to the remaining four ways women are deceived. So let’s talk about those:
2. Depending on devotionals as Bible Study
Let me begin with the disclaimer that devotionals are not necessarily bad. There are many that glorify God and continually point readers back to scripture. But the market is also flooded with fluffy, feel-good “inspiration” that is more about sales than edification. Publisher’s Weekly illustrates this in their report on the booming devotional market.
Devotions can be as benign as a collection of scriptures by topic, or as dangerous as claiming to speak for God. Don’t even get me started on Sarah Young and Jesus Calling, one of the best-selling devotionals of all time. The majority of its audience is women.
There are a couple of things to consider when purchasing, giving, and reading devotionals.
First, enjoy them as an accompaniment to your study of the Bible, not in place of the Bible. This is a frightening trend.
Second, choose wisely. Devotional authors vary so widely. I recommend choosing a devotional based on the author’s credibility, and not just on the subject matter. “99 Inspirations from the Kitchen” are more than likely going to be pep talks on faith instead of wise counsel from the scripture.
See #1: Read your Bible.
3. Neglecting church
Oh, this trend makes me so sad! Every Sunday I come home from church filled with renewed thankfulness for the body of Christ. There is no substitute! A sermon online does not replace fellowship with other believers, corporate worship, praying with (and for) others, and that iron-sharpens-iron atmosphere in a Bible study class.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV)
Friends, there is no such thing as a perfect church. But there are many, many wonderful ones. If you haven’t found it yet, keep searching. Our family has been through times of church-less-ness. It was hard and painful, but the continued search was worth it. Drive a little farther, get a little more involved, ask a bunch of questions—just keep looking.
4. Elevating influencers
Well, it’s the 21st century. The internet is part of our daily lives, and influencers are everywhere. (My kids don’t even remember life before them!) Whether it’s podcasts, Instagram, YouTube, or whatever your favorite platform, we probably all enjoy daily content by our favorite online personality. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Influencers aren’t evil.
The thing is, especially with younger women, we tend to elevate these ladies (and men) and their advice. We rush to buy everything they recommend. We read the books they promote. We wear the t-shirts they sell. We share their content everywhere. But do we practice discernment?
There are teachers, authors, podcasters, and many other women who have sound doctrine and important ministries. And then there are women who have themselves been deceived, and are now leading more women away from the truth. Ladies, proceed with caution. One resource I like to check when it comes to sound teachers and influencers is Michelle Lesley. I don’t necessarily agree with 100% of her points, but it’s a good starting place.
Don’t get me wrong: the internet has changed a lot of things for the better, and small businesses and small voices are a good thing! But as with everything else, choose who you follow with discernment and wisdom. If you’re daily in the scriptures, you will be increasingly capable of identifying untruths and bad advice.
So I’ll say it again: read your Bible.
5. Looking at scripture through a feminist lens
Ouch! This is where toes get stepped on. Ladies, for nearly a hundred years we have allowed secular ideas to infiltrate the church body, and none is more dangerous than feminism. We may hear (or even think to ourselves) “Did God really say…?” about all manner of topics related to women today.
That little question was first asked ages ago in the Garden of Eden, when the serpent deceived the first woman (Genesis 3:1). And it’s been a problem ever since. Throughout the past 200 years, this little question has prompted wave after wave of feminism, and here we are in the 21st century, still applying it to our favorite issues (even in the church). The issues are many, and they grow and change with the years: the sanctity of life, church leadership, motherhood, sexuality, and even that uncomfortable word, submission.
If this topic makes you bristle, let me gently suggest some earth-shattering truth bombs: the Sheologians podcast has produced a series on feminism that is well-researched and biblically grounded. You can start with the original series here, listen to the second series here, and finish with the latest installments here.
In short: don’t let culture influence how you read the scriptures. Let the holy word of God influence everything you think about the culture.
Reminder: read your Bible.
Now what?
Identifying the ways women are easily deceived is the first step. The next step is radically changing your priorities, starting with (you guessed it) making the Bible your guide. Read it and study it. Learn God’s ways.
And from there, spread the love. No matter where you are in life, or in your walk with Christ, you can make a difference in this world right now.
Mothers: show and tell. Give your daughters (and sons) their own Bibles as soon as they are able to read. Lead them in reading the scriptures by your example. Encourage them to follow some sort of reading plan. Give them a notebook, pen, and highlighter for deeper Bible study.
Grandmothers: No matter what you did or did not do when your children were growing up, there’s no time like the present to be an example of biblical womanhood. Again, lead by example, encourage your grown children and your grandchildren to be in the Bible daily.
Older women: This includes a wide range of ages, so don’t count yourself out! Titus 2 encourages the older, experienced women of God to be an example to the younger (whether that’s our children, grandchildren, or ladies all around us). Encourage Bible reading and study. Consider hosting a Bible study at church or in your home, and encourage younger women to dig deep.
Younger women: Seek a Titus 2 mentor if you don’t have one. That could be someone in your family, church, or even your homeschool community. Ask questions. Look for someone who has not allowed the above worldly influences to impact her.
Influencers: Be the light. It’s not popular to speak bold truths, but it’s vital. Encourage your audience to read the Bible and to test every worldly philosophy, every trend, every author, and every statement against scripture.
We will not live to see all the years we will influence, but building a strong foundation right now is necessary. There is no career, no Instagram account, no beautiful home worth more than our own biblical integrity and how it shapes those around us.
Be a woman after God’s own heart. Have Him shape you.