When someone spews harmful false doctrine, it is disingenuous to do the following;
1. Keep quiet
People choose to be quiet because they want peace. Peace? At the expense of what? If we cannot defend the faith in these times of peace, if we cannot defend the faith because of the discomfort of disagreeing with supposed fathers or friends, will we defend the faith in the coming tribulation? People have died for defending the faith and standing against wrongs even from within. Thankfully, many of us don’t face the same threat. The only danger now is offending a Papa who should know better or some tension with friends who disagree with us. If we cannot defend the faith because of these flimsy excuses, then I wonder what our fate and faith would be when greater persecution arrives. Jesus rightly asked, “when the Son of man comes, will He find faith in the world?” (Luke 18:8)
“If racing against mere men makes you tired, how will you race against horses? If you stumble and fall on open ground, what will you do in the thickets near the Jordan?” (Jeremiah 12:5, NLT)
“If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.” (Proverbs 24:10 NLT)
“Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you.” (1 Peter 4:12-14, NLT)
”Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people.” (Jude 1:3, NLT)
2. Simply preach an alternative view
Others say, “just preach your truth”. Now, I want us to listen to the Bible on this matter. Are we to only preach the truth and let lies be? Listen to the Word of God. The verse below is part of the requirements for church leaders.
“He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong.” (Titus 1:9, NLT)
An Elder (which may loosely refer to or apply to a church leader) is required (emphasis on REQUIRED) to be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching. That is, he must be able to articulate sound doctrine. Also, he must be able to “show those who oppose it [wholesome teaching] where they are wrong.”
Contrary to popular opinion today, church leadership is not supposed to keep quiet over wrong doctrine. They must be able to show those who oppose sound doctrine that they are wrong and where they are wrong. This is Bible! The Lord has spoken. Let the Church say Amen.
The condemnation of false views lies in the canceling authority of truth. Truth is not an alternative view. We should not present it as such. Canceling lies is part of presenting truth.
3. Attack those who speak against the falsehood
Some will not expose false doctrine or false teachers. Worse still, they will not let those who expose false doctrine to do so. Personally, these people are more annoying than false teachers. It may be because they lack proper understanding of the biblical mandate. But when they have seen what God has said clearly, may they not be too proud to accept it.
I will wait on those who oppose public correction of false doctrine to bring a biblical exposition for their position. Kindly tag me in any such presentation. The notion of peace does not pass the biblical test. Christians may soon be required to defend the Bible under more uncomfortable contexts. Offending a “Papa” with gentle and respectful correction to a very poisonous doctrine they continue to preach, or disturbing a friend by openly correcting their “Papa” is nothing compared to the tribulation of our forebears and the coming ones. May we be found faithful.
Jesus said anyone who breaks the least commandment and goes ahead to teach others to do so will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. He criticized the Pharisees for not only avoiding the Kingdom but also preventing others from entering. Teaching others to do wrong and preventing people from doing what’s right is worse disobedience; because it multiplies sin. Those who will not do good themselves must not become multiplicators of wrong. That is a dangerous position to take, sincerely. If you will not walk in the good way yourself, obstruct no one.
“So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 5:19, NLT)
“What sorrow awaits you experts in religious law! For you remove the key to knowledge from the people. You don’t enter the Kingdom yourselves, and you prevent others from entering.” (Luke 11:52, NLT)
“What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either.” (Matthew 23:13, NLT)
May we be like Apostle Paul when he says “we can do nothing against the truth”. The truth is, God does not only permit public correction of false doctrine. He mandates it. And no one qualifies to lead God’s church if they lack this ability.
(That is why the people they defend correct or try to correct others too. So I wonder what exactly their problem is, sincerely. Let us be sincere ooo. We will account for our deeds ooo. Yooo.)
“We pray to God that you will not do what is wrong by refusing our correction. [8] For we cannot oppose the truth, but must always stand for the truth.” (2 Corinthians 13:7a, 8, NLT)
Conclusion:
As discussed above, I want us to know that the approaches below are all responses to false doctrine.
a. Keeping quiet is a response.
b. Continuing in your lane is a response.
These two display indifference. Apostle Paul says in Titus 1:9 that it is the person who has “a strong belief in the trustworthy message” who “will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong.” Indifference signifies a lack of conviction. Strong believers will teach truth and correct falsehood. Always remember the second part. It’s scriptural as we have seen (Titus 1:9).
There is more.
c. Attacking those who speak against falsehood is a response.
d. Correcting falsehood gently and respectfully is also a response.
Of the four options above, the biblically mandated response, especially if you know the truth, is the last one. Let us be guided, respectfully.
Shalom.
#heresies #falsedoctrine #teachers #church #elders #leaders #polemics
PS: This is not meant to beguile anyone who is not able to respond to false doctrine in the same measure as others. (Strive for that, but don’t feel guilty. God help us all.) It is intended to discourage intentional and dangerous silence by people who know or should know the truth, especially those in leadership positions and those who are secretly opposed to polemics (especially, not out of pure ignorance but out of dishonesty and hypocrisy which God will judge). It is meant to encourage biblical, humble, respectful, gentle and passionate polemics.