Faithful Steward Ministries and FSM Women's Outreach

Obviously, in today’s “Christian” church (at least to my knowledge) the practice of burning folks at the stake for heresies is no longer practiced. No, we live in an enlighted age and we are far more mature we (evangelical churches) just ostracize them, not necessarily for true heresy (The Disappearance of Heresy) but for any disagreement against church rules. Interestingly this is the very thing Jesus warned us about in Matthew 15 and Matthew 23. The opposite is true and has invaded many a so-called evangelical church and that is the The Heresy of Indifference.

To be sure there are those out there that do fall clearly under the category of Biblical Heretic so let’s define it:

HERETIC, herʹe-tik, herʹ-ē̇tik, HERETICAL, hē̇-retʹi-kal (αἱρετικός, hairetikos): Used in Tit 3:10, must be interpreted according to the sense in which Paul employs the word “heresy” (1 Cor 11:19; Gal 5:20) for “parties” or “factions.” According to this, the Scriptural meaning of the word is no more than “a factious man” (ARV), an agitator who creates divisions and makes parties. Weizsäcker translates it into German ein Sektierer, a sectarist,” The nature of the offence is described in other words in 2 Thess 2:6, 11.

James Orr et al., eds., “Heretic, Heretical,” The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia (Chicago: The Howard-Severance Company, 1915), 1377.

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heretic: One who espouses a view that is not consistent with an official church teaching or doctrine. .

Donald K. McKim, The Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms, Second Edition, Revised and Expanded. (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2014), 145.

A heretic by these definitions is anyone who exposes an opinion differing from that of the establishment (church). One can quickly see how this could lead to many bad decisions and issues.

Better definitions to look at are the following because they rely on Scripture alone to point out errors, not tradition or other writings.

“Heresy is a gross and dangerous error, voluntarily held and factiously maintained by some person or persons within the visible church, in opposition to some chief or substantial truth or truths grounded upon and drawn from the holy Scripture by necessary consequence.“

George Gillespie, A Treatise of Miscellany Questions, ch. 9.

HERESY. The church of Christ hath, in all ages, been persecuted and divided by heresies. Indeed, the apostle Paul saith, that “there must be heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” (1 Cor. 11:19.) Our Lord himself speaks of the Nicolaitanes, Rev. 2:15. The Scriptures do not tell us in what their heresy consisted, but evidently in a departure from the truth, and probably in practices unsuitable to the purity of the gospel of Christ. But the last days’ dispensation, we are told, will be distinguished by great departures from the faith; and, we may truly say, already do they appear. (1 Tim. 4:1, &c.)

Robert Hawker, The Poor Man’s Concordance and Dictionary to the Sacred Scriptures (London: Ebenezer Palmer, 1828), 355–356.

BIBLICAL WARNINGS:

FALSE BRETHREN

2 Corinthians 11:13 – For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:26 – on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers;

Galatians 2:4 – Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery—

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Co 11:13–Ga 2:4.

FALSE TEACHERS

Mt 7:15–20 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears…

Ga 1:6–9 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from…

1 Ti 6:3–5 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which…

2 Pe 2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

1 Jn 4:1–3 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and…

To divorce forgiveness of sins from the actual living of the Christian life, is nothing but rank heresy!

Pithy gems from Martyn Lloyd Jones #3; https://www.gracegems.org/2019/11/Pithy%20gems%20from%20Martyn%20Lloyd%20Jones%203.html

List of Heresies – Web Page by Monergism FAQ

DEVOTIONAL

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RELATED:

FALSE DOCTRINES AND FALSE TEACHERS: HOW TO KNOW THEM AND HOW TO TREAT THEM – By William S. Plumer

Misreading Scripture Alone: How We Ended Up Heretics – Page by Mathew Block

Heresies – Page by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Do not be led astray by all kinds of strange teachings! – (J.C. Ryle, 1816-1900)

Secretly, quietly, insidiously, plausibly – (J. C. Ryle, “Pharisees and Sadducees“)

Heretics: Modern & Ancient – Page by Tim Challies

The Heresy of Worshiptainment – Page by Mike Livingstone

Religious entertainment!

The Making of a Heretic – Page by Dr Michael S Horton