Pointers for understanding, identifying & dealing with snakes

Effective deceptions are subtle. Bold faced lies can be easy to spot and dismiss, so deceivers will generally use smooth words, flattery, and innuendo to cloak their machinations.

They rely on the assumption of good intent, and use hedge statements which allow for plausible deniability.

They are, in a word, slippery.

You see this addressed repeatedly in Scripture:

The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords. (Psalm 55:21)

To keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress. (Proverbs 6:24)

For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting. (Romans 16:18)

Smooth words are often drawn weapons used to deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

One of the marks of a mature believer is that they are no longer “carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftine…