Unprofitable Theories, How To Discern When To Get Out

With so many opinions and information floating around in the world today, identifying the line between valid perspectives and unhelpful conspiracy theories has never been more difficult. Thankfully the Bible provides some guidelines for how to discern when to abandon a theory because it is unprofitable.

Here are the first 8 out of 17 ways to identify an unprofitable theory…

1. The theories can’t be confirmed

There is a good chance that you are caught up in unprofitable theories if the ideas and predictions can’t be confirmed, even if they can’t be totally disproven. Paul warns of devoting time and energy to myths in 1 Tim 1:3-4:

“As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths.…” (1 Timothy 1:3–4, ESV)

The Greek word Paul uses for “myths” literally means “speech, conversation,’ also of ‘narrative’ or ‘story’ without distinction of fact or fiction” (BDAG). In other words, it is a theory or explanation of reality that cannot be proven or disproven. If you are spending your time on such theories, you should walk away from them. The Bible is filled with actual truth that leads to healthy doctrine and that should be your focus (v. 3).

2. The theories are endless

There is a good chance that you are caught up in unprofitable theories if they are seemingly endless in their scope. In other words, it is not just one idea or position that you are taking, but it expands to include theories about nearly every other part of life. Paul specifically warns of this in 1 Timothy 1:4:

“… and endless genealogies…” (1 Timothy 1:4, ESV)

If there never seems to be an end to the new theories that you are discovering and investigating, then you should walk away from them. Only the Bible contains an endless resource of answers to what is going on in this world.

3. The theories are speculative

There is a good chance that you are caught up in unprofitable theories if they are always speculative and lead to more speculation. Paul, again, warns in 1 Timothy 1:4:

“… which promote speculations…” 1 Ti 1:4.

The word that Paul uses here for speculations specifically refers to an emotional response that causes great excitement and leads to strong opinions about what is happening and how to respond. Thus, if the research you are doing constantly leads you to emotional responses and speculation about how things will turn out, you should avoid it. The Bible is neither speculative nor sensational, which is why your focus should be on its sanctifying truth.

4. The theories are distracting

There is a good chance that you are caught up in unprofitable theories if they are distracting you from the truth of God and the providential responsibilities he has placed on your life. Paul’s warning in 1 Timothy 1:4 is again relevant:

“rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith…” 1 Ti 1:4.

If you feel a greater need to spread your perspectives about these theories than you do to spread biblical doctrine (v. 3), you need to walk away from them. A Christian is not a steward of a political perspective or personal opinion. He has been entrusted with the truth of the Gospel, which must be his focus.

5. The theories are Earthly-focused

There is a good chance that you are caught up in unprofitable theories if they are exclusively focused on the things of this world such as personal health, world politics, or financial threats. Paul warns of this in 1 Timothy 4:7:

“Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;” (1 Timothy 4:7, ESV)

The word Paul uses for “irreverent” is talking about any thoughts, theories, or ideologies that are “devoid of interest in divine blessing” (BDAG). In other words, they only view matters from a temporal perspective and do not take into account the sovereignty of God or the gracious care of God over creation.

6. The theories are silly

If there is a good chance that everyone around you would call your theories silly, particularly fellow believers, then you are involved in unprofitable theories. Paul mentions this specifically:

“Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;” (1 Timothy 4:7, ESV)

Again, the word here for “myths” means something that you can’t prove or disprove. And when Paul says that some of these theories are silly, he actually uses a Greek word that refers to the “gossip of an old lady” (BDAG). In other words, if what you are looking into seems superstitious or has the characteristics of an an old wives’ tale, it is the kind of silly thing you need to stay away from.

7. The theories are useless

There is a good chance you are caught up in unprofitable theories if they are useless. These theories are often useless in the sense that, even if they were true, there is absolutely nothing you could do about them. But in an even more significant sense, they are useless because they are of no spiritual value. Paul’s warning is, again, relevant:

“Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness….” (1 Timothy 4:7, ESV)

Paul’s warning to stay away from these time-consuming and mind-sapping theories is heightened by the fact that these ideas cannot help to train you for godliness. Knowing the latest threat in the political world, the greatest scandal in the health industry, or the most unhealthy kinds of food cannot help you to be more like Christ. Which means, you should always ask yourself, “Can these things help me be more like Christ?” If the answer is no, then you should leave them behind.

8. The theories claim truth apart from Bible

There is a good chance you are caught up in unprofitable theories if you hear people claiming to have truth that is accessible nowhere else but through them, or that the adherents of these opinions have had their eyes opened to the truth. Paul warns of worldly ideologies claiming to have spiritual knowledge in 1 Timothy 6:20:

“O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called ‘knowledge,’ for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you.” (1 Timothy 6:20–21, ESV)

Those who spread the theories that Paul is warning about always claim to have an exclusive knowledge that is hidden from everyone else. For the Christian, however, there is the confidence that God has revealed everything we need to know in order to avoid apostasy. To put it another way, how could online resources and human opinions do what only God’s word has the power to do, open our eyes to eternal truth.