Mostly because it’s not “well enough.” I thought I could, for a while, until I read Ephesians 5:11 again.
. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
Don’t you know that you’re not supposed to spread gossip? Yes. Anything I’d be looking at is already public knowledge. No worries, I’m not digging up dirt on anyone that’s not already out there. I just want to know how many there are to avoid. I know there’s a lot, but I don’t know exactly how many, and even in this research project, I probably won’t learn about everyone.
I don’t want to be a lost sheep. Seems selfish, but I also don’t want anyone else to be taken away and confused.
“Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. 2 Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done,” declares the Lord. 3 “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. 4 I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the Lord. -Jeremiah 23:1-4
Now we will be at the point of examining people individually. I’ll start with the obvious ones, because I don’t know very many, and then I’ll get into the new ones that I don’t know about.
Are you worried about being swayed by their false teaching? When you’re in scripture you can pick it out from what’s true…most of the time… some of these guys and girls are quite sneaky. Another reason to dig into this. I don’t want to be confused.
One more thing. Aren’t you supposed to live at peace with everyone?
16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[a] Do not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[b] says the Lord. -Romans 12:16-19.
The big thing here is if it is possible. These folks want to confuse people. I’d rather not confuse people. Polar opposites. Hard to be at peace with that.