A stronghold is defined by a harmful belief system that goes against God’s word and creates a fortified place where the enemy has influence and a place to hide.
This fortified place in our minds allows the enemy to perpetuate disunity and confusion among believers, preventing them from experiencing the fullness of God’s desires for His church. In the early church, as highlighted in 1 Corinthians, the apostle Paul strongly corrects the Church to avoid divisions and to be united in their faith and understanding.
1 Corinthians 1:10-13 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
Verse 12 could easily read: “Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am a Baptist,” or “I am a Pentecostal,” or “I am Lutheran,” or “I am of Christ.”
Every Christian denomination was birthed out of some disagreement and lack of unity. The very thing that this passage is warning against.
Any time disagreement and disunity give birth to a separate belief system we move farther and farther away from the simplicity of the gospel.
Strongholds develop when erroneous beliefs take root in a community or within an individual’s mind, creating barriers and blind spots that hinder spiritual growth and understanding. These belief systems can arise from misinterpretation of scripture or distortion of biblical truths, fueled by personal agendas, cultural influences, or historical conflicts. Over time, these beliefs become entrenched in our thinking, forming a fortified mental or spiritual structure that resists change and rejects differing perspectives. It causes us to be unteachable in certain areas.
One common way strongholds develop is through repeated exposure to false teachings. When individuals are consistently taught doctrines that deviate from the core message of the gospel, they begin to accept these teachings as truth. This acceptance can lead to a rigid mindset that is resistant to reconsideration or correction.
Another contributing factor is the spiritual pride that arises from clinging to specific interpretations or traditions. People can become so attached to their denominational identities or theological positions that they view them as superior to others. This pride fosters more division and prevents the unity that the apostle Paul urged the early Christians to maintain.
Additionally, strongholds can form through influential leaders who promote their preferred doctrines or practices. Charismatic or authoritative figures can shape the beliefs of their followers, sometimes leading them astray from biblical truth. These leaders’ teachings become a source of authority that supersedes the scriptures, creating a stronghold of wrong belief. This primarily happens when the followers neglect to read and study the Bible for themselves, putting too much trust in leadership to interpret the scriptures for them.
Paul addresses this issue of disunity again a few chapters later.
1 Corinthians 3:1-8 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?
5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
Ultimately, strongholds must be dismantled through renewing the mind, as described in Romans 12:2.
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
By aligning our thoughts and beliefs with the truth of God’s word, we can break free from the chains of erroneous doctrines and experience the transformative power of the gospel. However, we must be careful of what we are renewing our mind to. It must be the Holy Scriptures alone. Not books and sermons about the Bible. Not our favorite theologians’ beliefs and doctrines. The Bible alone is unleavened bread, sincere milk, and spiritual meat. Our hunger must be for pure truth, not the diluted opinions and interpretation of men.
1 Peter 2:2-3 As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
God is telling us through Peter that we should be desiring His word like newborns crying for milk every few hours. We should never go very long with exposure to, and intake of God’s word. His word alone is sharp enough and precise enough to surgically remove any false doctrine we may have fallen prey to.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
Dismantling strongholds of wrong beliefs requires a steadfast commitment to the unadulterated truth of God’s word. By immersing ourselves in the scriptures, allowing them to renew our minds and transform our hearts, we can break free from the chains of false doctrines. It is essential that we prioritize the direct study of the Bible over secondary sources, ensuring that our understanding is rooted in divine revelation rather than human interpretation.
As we grow in our knowledge and application of God’s word, we become equipped to discern truth from error, and to live out our faith with integrity and conviction. The word of God is indeed the sword of the Spirit, sharp and powerful, capable of cutting through deception and leading us into the fullness of His truth and grace. May we continually hunger for His word, allowing it to shape our lives and guide our steps in paths of righteousness.
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