How do you avoid being deceived? It’s a good question.

A case study in deception

The other night I was watching a Netflix documentary, How to Rob a Bank. It was about Scott Scurlock, the so-called Hollywood Bank Robber.

Scurlock robbed 18 banks between 1992 and 1996 to the tune of almost $2,000,000. Before Scurlock robbed banks, he was producing and selling methamphetamine, but he ultimately decided that was too risky.

The most insightful thing about the documentary, though, was not learning how to rob a bank but learning how to avoid becoming deceived.

The documentary showed different stages during Sculock’s life when he was selling drugs or robbing banks. During those times, the documentary would quote from Sculock’s personal journals. In his journals, Scurlock would talk about God in a way that showed Sculock must have totally rationalized away the rank immorality of his robbing banks.

He had become deceived.

The problem with deception

The problem with deception is if you are deceived you do not know it–that’s the very definition of deception. If you know you are deceived you would be aware, which is the opposite of being deceived. So, what do you do?

Because deception is a mental form of crossing the Rubicon, it’s best to never get close to the bank. In other words, prevention is worth a pound of cure, or better, 10,000 pounds of cure. With that in mind, here are four ways to avoid being deceived.

Get plugged into a good church

When God said it was not good for man to be alone, I don’t think He was speaking only about loneliness. We need each other for other reasons. Others can often see what we cannot see ourselves or what we used to be able to see but can no longer see.

Community–and more specifically getting plugged into a good local church–is a great way to avoid becoming deceived. If you are connected in real relationships in a church and you are robbing banks, my guess is someone is going to challenge you.

And then, when you offer up all your lame excuses about why there is nothing wrong with robbing banks–i.e., the money is ensured, no one really loses any money, and insurance companies make too much money already–someone is likely to call “BS” and remind you of the Eight Commandment (“You shall not steal”), which God did not qualify with disclaimers about greedy insurance companies.

Pursue discipleship

Being actively involved in a discipleship relationship with a more mature Christian is a great way to avoid becoming deceived. The Great Commission is not just about getting people saved but also about “teaching them to obey all [Jesus] commanded.” See Matthew 28:18-20. The world has caught on to this concept and calls it “life coaching.” But regardless what you call it, it is Biblical and a great hedge against becoming deceived.

I had a crazy idea once when I was a sophomore in college. It was actually a somewhat noble ideal. However, it was not wise, and had I acted on it it could have damaged my relationship with my father. I thought I had heard the Lord, but the more mature Christian discipling me told me I was wrong. Thankfully, I followed his advice. I see clearly now what I couldn’t see as clearly then and that he was definitely right.

Listen to those who know you best

If a husband, wife, parents, or other family members keep challenging your idea, plan, or conduct, it’s a good warning you might be on the road toward deception. These are the people who know you best—you should listen.

It’s odd though how we are least willing to hear the truth from the people who know us best. We are dismissive because we know them well enough to find reasons to convince ourselves they don’t really know or understand. Maybe they are not a Christian or the right brand of Christian. Maybe they have their own problems which we know all too well. The reality, however, is that God’s voice is often loudest in those nearest to us; we are wise if we listen.

Spend time in the Word and prayer

Spending time in the Bible and prayer is a great prophylactic against becoming deceived. The Holy Spirit will work through the Word to challenge our wrong beliefs when given enough time. I say “given enough time” because the conviction that something is wrong in our thinking sometimes comes as gentle nudges at first.

When it concerns our conduct, the initial conviction is more likely a shout. However, as our hearts get harder that voice gets harder to hear.

Still, the more time we spend in the Word and prayer, the more likely we will feel the nudge and hear the shout before we become numb to the former and deaf to the latter.

Given all the foregoing, it shouldn’t be surprising that Scurlock lived in an elaborate tree house in the forest. He was not involved in a church, nor was he being discipled. Scurlock had very few relationships. He was journalling. But while journalling is a great spiritual exercise, you’ll not find it listed above as a way to avoid becoming deceived.

Jesus is the model

Jesus was the least deceived person who ever lived. He was never deceived.

Jesus was not deceived by Satan misquoting scripture to Him (Matthew 4:1-11). He was not deceived by flattery (Matthew 22:18), and He knew what was in man (John 2:24-25). Jesus was nobody’s fool.

As those who are called to be conformed to His image, we should do all we can to avoid becoming deceived. GS