Suffering the Fools

2Co 11:19 For ye suffer fools gladly

Paul, in chapters 10 and 11 of II Corinthians, is having to defend his person, his message and his credentials because slick snake-oil salesmen tended to come in with false messages, drawing the sheep away from the truth.

It has always amazed me how it works. A soul winner brings a lost sinner to the saving knowledge of Christ. That individual follows the Lord in baptism, gets involved in the church and then he or she suffers some fool to bend his/her ear with their lies. The hucksters rarely win their own, they prey on the sheep. Soon, that soul is drawn away into error. Charismatics and cultists make their living off of those who suffered the fools to spew their poison.

But Paul states that it is not slickness, eloquence and bling, but solid teaching taught by flawed, yet solid teachers such as himself.

May God guard and guide His little lambs, that they may see through the sales pitches and not suffer fools to lead them astray.