The Pastoral Epistles (1-2 Timothy, and Titus) Paul tells Timothy and Titus how to defend against heresy and false teaching in their communities. Paul doesn't give a long list. Paul talks about where to keep their focus. If someone's message has anything else at the center than Jesus, then it is heresy.
The Pastoral Epistles use the phrase “Trustworthy is the statement” to build protection against heresy. In 1 Timothy he uses this phrase 3 times. Two of the three times it is referring to God saving humans. Paul in 1 Timothy 1 talks about how following Jesus is not about myths and endless genealogies, but a stewardship of faith. Meaning, anything that gives an excuse for us not to steward our faith and anything that is a burden to believers do not worry about it (1 Tim. 1:3-11).
Paul goes on to talk about what we should focus on, which is that Jesus came to save the sinner (1 Tim. 1:12-20) . In true Paul fashion, Paul tells us to block everything else out that keeps you from focusing on the saving love of Jesus. The heresies arising at the time were making people focus on numerous things other than this. Paul writes a unifying message: focus on that Jesus loves us and has saved us from sin and death. This is a message many of us need today. It is easy to make following Jesus about becoming a better person, experiencing a better life, or finding peace which all can happen. However, when these are the main points of our faith and Jesus is not, it creates new heresies. We must put our faith in Jesus above all else. When our desire is solely Him, everything else works itself out. This message is recurring in the Pastoral Epistles (1 Tim. 4:9-10 ; 2 Tim. 2:11-13 ; Titus 3:4-8)
Many arguments Christians have are because we forget what the main point of being a Christian is, which is to be "mini-christ". We find all we need when we deny ourselves and stay faithful to Jesus. When we focus on what Jesus has done for us, we see that all the other things do not matter.
It is hard to fall into heresy when we keep the focus on the work of Jesus and not trying to build our own empire. This is not just for church leaders because the everyday Christian can build their own empire in the name of Jesus. How this happens is we make a life all about us and claim that it is in the name of Jesus. This only happens when we make the Christian experience anything else than Jesus saving the sinner, which is you and me. No one is exempt from the sinner status.
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