Christians should avoid false teachings because they lead to spiritual harm and misrepresent the true gospel.
The avoidance of false teachings is critical for Christians as these teachings distort the truth of the gospel and can harm souls. John instructs believers not to receive false teachers or bid them Godspeed, as engaging with them can imply endorsement of their misleading doctrines. The danger lies in the fact that accepting a false gospel can lead others and oneself into spiritual ruin, as illustrated in Matthew 23:15, where Jesus rebukes the Pharisees for making proselytes who were 'twofold more the child of hell.' This highlights the serious implications of being aligned with falsehood, necessitating the protective measures of guarding the true doctrine of Christ.
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