The Christian Mandate to Expose Heresy and Heretics

'"I urge you brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they decieve the minds of naive people." Romans 16:17

Often we hear about how the modern church lacks the power that the early church had as recorded in the New Testament. It is true, The Holy Spirit was moving powerfully among the brothers in the early church. There is something else I have noticed as I read through the New Testament. Much of what the apostles wrote was in defence of the truth of the gospel and refuting false teachings. Paul exhorted Timothy to teach what he had been taught and told him of the future time:

"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear." 2 Timothy 4:3

Because of this it is absolutely vital that we preach the gospel and teach sound doctrine accurately. Often that means we need to expose heresies and those who are preaching them. Paul called out Demas and Alexander in 2 Timothy 4 and the apostle John called out Diotrephes in 3 John 9. We need to start calling out the heretics and start naming names.

Paul said that people would surround themselves by MANY teachers. Jesus also said there would be MANY false teachers (Matthew 24).

You may think I am going out on a limb somewhat but I really believe that we need to be prepared for the possibility that the significant majority of preachers today fall into the "FALSE TEACHER" category. That would mean it is literally a spiritual jungle out there. And it may be hard to find someone who is a true follower of Christ who preaches the gospel. Jesus described his church as a 'little flock.' (Luke 12:32). That doesn't mean there aren't huge churches who truly teach the gospel. But the Prosperity Gospel, Word/Faith movement, and the Emergent Church draw huge followings. Their message all has something in common;

THEY APPEAL TO THOSE WHO AREN'T ACTUALLY BEING SAVED!!

It is exactly as Paul described in 2 Timothy, they surround themselves with teachers who tell them what they want to hear...and it is NOT the gospel.

I would be remiss if I didn't give an honorable mention to the other extreme...dead orthodoxy. This found commonly in the old denominations steeped in rituals that while perhaps, doctrinally accurate, no longer have any meaning. Jesus described this in Revelation 2:4 as having forsaken their first love. This also appeals to those who aren't truly saved because it makes people feel like as long as they belong and attend, they're OK.

Finally and this is paramount, we need to be as the Bereans in Acts 17:11 and "search the scriptures" every day to see if what we are being taught is what the Bible really teaches.

May God bless you all.