| It is surprising that there seems to have been so many false teachers in the infant churches in Crete. Satan of course did not want the church to grow or to honour Jesus Christ. He appears to have been working overtime in Crete. Paul uses the word "many" in verse 10. The description in verse 16 could be true of false teachers and cults today, "they claim to know God, but by their actions they deny Him." Paul wrote in verse 11 that these false teachers must be stopped. One of their methods is still used today - get hold of one member of a household and then through him/her attempt to attract the whole family. This can cause endless heart ache and can disrupt not only family life but the whole church also. Nothing is so divisive than wrong doctrine especially when it appeals to the emotions and to people who are always looking for something new. The motives of false teachers are often suspected. Paul speaks of them doing this for "dishonest gain". The church of God has been hurt many many times by self-appointed preachers of various kinds who are only doing it for the sake of money. When a group leader wants his or her followers to contribute all of their savings, we should clearly stay away from them and warn others also not to be involved. That is one sure test of a false cult. The people of Crete seemed to have been particularly susceptible to any untruth or false statements. But Paul believed the Gospel could completely change them. The words he used in saying how to deal with these people was "rebuke so that they will be sound in the faith". In other words, don't throw them out of the church but win them to a new place of faith and trust in Jesus Christ. The rebuke was to bring about restoration. Look at Galatians 6:1, and let it guide us in dealing with those who are wrong in teaching or behaviour. | 
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