Many kinds of lies deceive people into believing the wrong thing or not believing the right thing. Some believe "an oracular utterance, or rumor, or a letter" (2 Thes 2:2) without testing the Spirit (1 Jn 4:1). Some don't hold fast to the traditions we've received in the Bible (2 Thes 2:15). Others don't hold fast to the traditions we've received by word or letter through the Church (2 Thes 2:15). If we don't go by the Bible, we'll be deceived, for "ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ" (Catechism, 133, St. Jerome). If we only go by the Bible, we can still be deceived. We need the Church, "the pillar and bulwark of truth" (1 Tm 3:15.)

To avoid being seduced "no matter how" (2 Thes 2:3), we need to know Jesus personally and give Him our lives. We need the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, Who guides us to all truth (Jn 16:13) and protects us from deception (1 Jn 2:26-27). We also need to know and live the Bible. God's word is truth (Jn 17:17). Finally, we need the Church. Many Spirit-filled, Bible-believing Christians disagree on important truths. We need the Church to protect us from our human weakness. We need Jesus the Truth (Jn 14:6), the Spirit of truth (Jn 16:13), the word of truth (Jn 17:17), and the pillar and bulwark of truth (1 Tm 3:15), the Church.

Rescript:  †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 25, 2008

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