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Biblical Examples of Unbiblical Practices to Avoid

Scripture itself identifies practices that, though appearing in the biblical narrative or even among God's people, are explicitly condemned and serve as warnings rather than models. The Bible functions not only as a record of faithful obedience but also as a catalog of human failure, with clear prohibitions against repeating certain behaviors even when they appear in the text.

Traditions That Nullify Scripture

Jesus confronted the practice of elevating human tradition above divine command. In Mark 7, he rebuked the Pharisees for using the tradition of corban—dedicating resources to the temple to avoid supporting aging parents—thereby canceling "the word of God" through their traditions [16]. This was not an isolated case but represented a pattern where religious customs displaced scriptural obligations [16]. The principle extends beyond first-century Judaism: Ezekiel warned the exiles' children not to "walk in the statutes of your fathers," recognizing that even plausible-sounding traditions require scrutiny rather than automatic acceptance [14]. Paul similarly instructed Titus to reject "Jewish fables, and commandments of men that turn from the truth" [6], indicating that religious practices claiming biblical warrant may actually contradict biblical teaching.

Ascetic Regulations and Food Laws

The early church faced pressure to adopt practices that appeared spiritual but lacked divine authorization. The Jerusalem Council addressed Gentile believers, instructing them to "abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood" [9]—a limited set of restrictions, not the comprehensive Mosaic dietary code. Yet false teachers later promoted more extensive prohibitions. Paul warned Timothy against those who "forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods" [12, 13], calling these "doctrines of demons" despite their ascetic appeal. The apostle distinguished between legitimate spiritual discipline and misguided self-denial, urging Timothy to "refuse profane and old wives' fables" and instead "exercise thyself unto godliness" [12, 13]. Physical asceticism, when elevated as the path to holiness, becomes an unbiblical practice even when cloaked in religious language.

Paul's instruction that circumcised believers should not seek to reverse their circumcision, nor uncircumcised believers undergo it, addressed actual practices in Corinth [15]. Some Christians, in reaction against Judaism, pursued surgical procedures to remove circumcision marks, while Judaizers insisted Gentile converts must be circumcised [15]. Both extremes violated the gospel's teaching that in Christ, such physical markers hold no spiritual significance.

Alliance With God's Enemies

Scripture repeatedly forbids alliances with those opposed to God's purposes. Israel received explicit commands: "Make no covenant with them" [5], referring to the Canaanite nations. The rationale was practical and spiritual—such alliances "lead to idolatry" and "provoke the anger of God" [5]. The historical record confirmed this warning: "They mingled with the nations and learned their works... and served their idols, which became a snare to them" [5]. This pattern extended to intermarriage, treaty-making, and religious syncretism, all of which Scripture identifies as "ensnaring" and "defiling" [5].

The New Testament applies this principle to Christian conduct. Paul commanded believers not to be "unequally yoked with unbelievers" [5], and the psalmist prayed, "Don't incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice deeds of wickedness with men who work iniquity" [4]. The concern is not isolation but contamination—participating in practices that compromise faithfulness to God.

Flattery and Deceptive Speech

Scripture identifies flattery as a practice to avoid, even though it appears throughout the biblical narrative. "Saints should not use" flattery, nor should ministers employ it in their teaching [2]. The wicked use flattery toward others and even toward themselves in self-deception [2], while hypocrites use it toward God and those in authority [2]. False prophets and teachers particularly employ flattery to gain followers [2]. Proverbs warns of its danger: flattery can lead to moral compromise and spiritual destruction [2]. The instruction is direct: "Avoid those given to" flattery [2], recognizing that "seldom gains respect" despite its short-term effectiveness [2].

Strife and Contentious Behavior

Christ modeled the avoidance of strife [1], yet contentious behavior repeatedly appears among God's people. Paul identified strife as "a work of the flesh" and "an evidence of a carnal spirit," noting that it "existed in the church" at Corinth [1]. The sources of strife include hatred, pride, wrath, a contentious disposition, tale-bearing, drunkenness, lusts, and "curious questions" [1]—the latter referring to speculative theological disputes that generate heat rather than light. The difficulty of stopping strife once begun provides reason for avoiding it altogether [1]. Similarly, malice "springs from an evil heart" and is explicitly "forbidden" [3], incompatible with genuine worship of God [3]. Saints are called to avoid malice and even pray for those who injure them [3], rather than harboring resentment.

Self-Will and Excessive Anxiety

Stubbornness and self-will, though common human tendencies, are "forbidden" in Scripture [8]. These traits proceed from unbelief and pride, manifesting in refusal to hear God's messengers, walk in his ways, or receive correction [8]. The pattern includes "rebelling against God" and "resisting the Holy Spirit" [8], making self-will not merely a personality trait but a spiritual rebellion.

Excessive anxiety about earthly matters is similarly prohibited: "Be anxious for nothing" [7]. God's providential care and his promises should prevent such worry [7], and trust in God should free believers from it [7]. Jesus taught the uselessness of anxiety—it cannot add a single hour to one's life [7]—and warned that it obstructs reception of the gospel [7]. The instruction to "cast your care on God" [7] presents an alternative to the unbiblical practice of anxious striving.

The Form Without Power

Paul warned Timothy about those "having a form of godliness but denying its power," instructing him to "turn away from such as these" [10]. This describes religious practice that maintains external observance while lacking transformative reality—a pattern Scripture consistently identifies as unacceptable. Ecclesiastes warns against approaching God carelessly, noting that God prefers obedience to the "sacrifice of fools" [11]. The prophets repeatedly condemned ritual divorced from righteousness, with Isaiah declaring that God found Israel's assemblies burdensome when accompanied by injustice [11].

The biblical record thus distinguishes between practices that appear in the narrative and practices Scripture commends. The presence of a behavior in the text—even among believers—does not constitute endorsement. Scripture's own prohibitions, applied across both testaments, identify which practices to avoid regardless of their historical occurrence or religious appearance.

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Strife — Christ, an example of avoiding -- Isa 42:2; Mt 12:15-19; Lu 9:52-56; 1Pe 2:23. Forbidden -- Pr 3:30; 25:8. A work of the flesh -- Ga 5:20. An evidence of a carnal spirit -- 1Co 3:3. Existed in the church -- 1Co 1:11. Excited by Hatred. -- Pr 10:12. Pride. -- Pr 13:10; 28:25. Wrath. -- Pr 15:18; 30:33. Frowardness. -- Pr 16:28. A contentious disposition. -- Pr 26:21. Tale-bearing. -- Pr 26:20. Drunkenness. -- Pr 23:29,30. Lusts. -- Jas 4:1. Curious questions. -- 1Ti 6:4; 2Ti 2:23. Scorning. -- Pr 22:10. Difficulty of stopping, a reason for avoiding it -- Pr 1”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Flattery — Saints should not used -- Job 32:21,22. Ministers should not use -- 1Th 2:5. The wicked use, to Others. -- Ps 5:9; 12:2. Themselves. -- Ps 36:2. Hypocrites use, to God. -- Ps 78:36. Those in authority. -- Da 11:34. False prophets and teachers use -- Eze 12:24; Ro 16:18. Wisdom, a preservative against -- Pr 4:5. Worldly advantage obtained by -- Da 11:21,22. Seldom gains respect -- Pr 28:23. Avoid those given to -- Pr 20:19. Danger of -- Pr 7:21-23; 20:5. Punishment of -- Job 17:5; Ps 12:3. Exemplified Woman of Tekoah. -- 2Sa 14:17,20. Absalom. -- 2Sa 15:2-6”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Malice — Springs from an evil heart -- Mt 15:19,20; Ga 5:19. Forbidden -- 1Co 14:20; Col 3:8; Eph 4:26,27. A hindrance to growth in grace -- 1Pe 2:1,2. Incompatible with the worship of God -- 1Co 5:7,8. Christian liberty not to be a cloak for -- 1Pe 2:16. Saints avoid -- Job 31:29,30; Ps 35:12-14. The wicked Speak with. -- 3Jo 1:10. Live in. -- Tit 3:3. Conceive. -- Ps 7:14. Filled with. -- Ro 1:29. Visit saints with. -- Ps 83:3; Mt 22:6. Pray for those who injure you through -- Mt 5:44. Brings its own punishment -- Ps 7:15,16. God requites -- Ps 10:14; Eze 36:5. Pun”
  4. Psalms “Don’t incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice deeds of wickedness with men who work iniquity. Don’t let me eat of their delicacies. -- Psalms 141:4”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Alliance and Society With the Enemies of God — Forbidden -- Ex 23:32; 34:12; De 7:2,3; 13:6,8; Jos 23:6,7; Jdj 2:2; Ezr 9:12; Pr 1:10,15; 2Co 6:14-17; Eph 5:11. Lead to idolatry -- Ex 34:15,16; Nu 25:1-8; De 7:4; Jdj 3:5-7; Re 2:20. Have led to murder and human sacrifice -- Ps 106:37,38. Provoke the anger of God -- De 7:4; 31:16,17; 2Ch 19:2; Ezr 9:13,14; Ps 106:29,40; Isa 2:6. Provoke God to leave mean to reap the fruits of them -- Jos 23:12,13; Jdj 2:1-3. Are ensnaring -- Ex 23:33; Nu 25:18; De 12:30; 13:6; Ps 106:36. Are enslaved -- 2Pe 2:18,19. Are defiling -- Ez”
  6. Titus “Titus 1:14 (Webster) — Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men that turn from the truth.”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Care, Overmuch — About earthly things, forbidden -- Mt 6:25; Lu 12:22,29; Joh 6:27. God's providential goodness should keep us from -- Mt 6:26,28,30; Lu 22:35. God's promises should keep us from -- Heb 13:5. Trust in God should free us from -- Jer 17:7,8; Da 3:16. Should be cast on God -- Ps 37:5; 55:22; Pr 16:3; 1Pe 5:7. An obstruction to the Gospel -- Mt 13:22; Lu 8:14; 14:18-20. Be without -- 1Co 7:32; Php 4:6. Unbecoming in saints -- 2Ti 2:4. Uselessness of -- Mt 6:27; Lu 12:25,26. Vanity of -- Ps 39:6; Ec 4:8. Warning against -- Lu 21:34. Sent as a punishment to”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Will and Stubbornness — Forbidden -- 2Ch 30:8; Ps 75:5; 95:8. Proceed from Unbelief. -- 2Ki 17:14. Pride. -- Ne 9:16,29. An evil heart. -- Jer 7:24. God knows -- Isa 48:4. Exhibited in Refusing to hearken to God. -- Pr 1:24. Refusing to hearken to the messengers of God. -- 1Sa 8:19; Jer 44:16; Zec 7:11. Refusing to walk in the ways of God. -- Ne 9:17; Ps 78:10; Isa 42:24; Jer 6:16. Refusing to hearken to parents. -- De 21:18,19. Refusing to receive correction. -- De 21:18; Jer 5:3; 7:28. Rebelling against God. -- De 31:27; Ps 78:8. Resisting the Holy Spirit. -- ”
  9. Acts “Acts 15:20 (BSB) — Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood.”
  10. II Timothy “II Timothy 3:5 (BSB) — having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!”
  11. Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Ecclesiastes 5:1 cross-references: Genesis 4:3, Genesis 28:16, Exodus 3:5, Leviticus 10:3, Joshua 5:15, 1 Samuel 13:12, 1 Samuel 15:21, 2 Chronicles 26:16, Job 11:2, Job 22:12, Psalms 50:8, Psalms 89:7, Proverbs 10:19, Proverbs 15:8, Proverbs 21:27, Isaiah 1:12, Isaiah 66:3, Jeremiah 7:21, Hosea 6:6, Malachi 1:10, Acts 10:33, Acts 17:11, 1 Corinthians 11:22, Hebrews 10:26, Hebrews 12:28, James 1:19, 1 Peter 2:1”
  12. 1 Timothy (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Timothy 4:7: refuse--reject, avoid, have nothing to do with (Ti2 2:23; Tit 3:10). old wives' fables--anile myths (Ti1 1:4, Ti1 1:9; Tit 1:14). They are "profane," because leading away from "godliness" or "piety" (Ti1 1:4-7; Ti1 6:20; Ti2 2:16; Tit 1:1-2). exercise thyself--literally, "exercise thyself" as one undergoing training in a gymnasium. Let thy self-discipline be not in ascetical exercises as the false teachers (Ti1 4:3, Ti1 4:8; compare Ti2 2:22-23; Heb 5:14; Heb 12:11), but with a view to godliness or "piety" (Ti1 6:11-12).”
  13. 1 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Timothy 4:7: But refuse profane and old wives' fables,.... Either Jewish ones, the traditions of the elders; or those of the Gnostics, concerning God, angels, and the creation of the world; or those doctrines of demons, and which forbad marriage, and commanded abstinence from meats before mentioned; which are called profane, because impious and ungodly, and old wives' fables, because foolish and impertinent; and which were to be rejected with abhorrence and contempt, in comparison of the words of faith and good doctrine. And exercise thyself rather unto godliness; either to th”
  14. Ezekiel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ezekiel 20:18: I said unto their children--being unwilling to speak any more to the fathers as being incorrigible. Walk ye not in . . . statutes of . . . fathers--The traditions of the fathers are to be carefully weighed, not indiscriminately followed. He forbids the imitation of not only their gross sins, but even their plausible statutes [CALVIN].”
  15. 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 7:18: not become uncircumcised--by surgical operation (1 Maccabees 1:15; JOSEPHUS [Antiquities, 12.5.1]). Some Christians in excess of anti-Jewish feeling might be tempted to this. let him not be circumcised--as the Judaizing Christians would have him (Act 15:1, Act 15:5, Act 15:24; Gal 5:2).”
  16. Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 7:13: 7:13 The result of such traditions was to cancel the word of God. • only one example among many others: It was not an isolated instance; see, e.g., Isa 1:10-20; 58:1-14.”
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