Ti.3:10 - A man that is a heretic after the first and second admonition reject;
I am formally announcing my freedom in Christ to identify heretics solely based upon my interpretation of Scripture and my subjective application of those guidelines to whomever I sincerely feel meet those criteria. But of course that is what everyone else does. Those who defend teachers as non-heretics do it based upon their own subjective guidelines as will I also now do. I have hesitated to place that moniker on several men in deference to brothers who seem to have an affection for them and their teachings and also to avoid being lumped in with some rather caustic and prideful discernment bogs. But today I declare a personal policy of freedom in my assessments as well as a genuine attempt at humility and loving correction without diluting the core of my observations.
Let me first establish what I believe are the Scriptural definitions of a bone fide heretic. Now one can teach heresy and not be a heretic because my definition of heresy is something that is not true according to Scripture. So, for example, I believe that women should not be pastors according to Scripture, so teaching that they can is heresy. But the person that teaches that is not a heretic just because of that view, a heretic must espouse and teach something that is within the confines of core gospel truth. Something that either dismantles gospel truth or leads to the same. So if I say that “limited atonement” is heresy I do not mean that those who teach it are heretics, I mean that I strongly believe that is unbiblical but surely doesn’t dismantle any gospel truth. So follow me on this principle.
Here are the teachings that I believe define a heretic:
- He teaches that the Scriptures are in any way deficient and partially authoritative in matters of life and faith. Any departure from inerrancy identifies that person as a heretic. Now sometimes their verbiage is very esoteric and mercurial, but it is still heresy.
- He teaches that the purpose of the cross was not the atonement. Some teach some victory over evil and either downplay or reject altogether the atonement at Calvary. That is heresy.
- He teaches that Jesus was more human than divine and that His mission was to get everyone to emulate His life rather than to embrace His death.
- He teaches that a literal, eternal, place of torment known as hell does not exist. This rips at the fabric of the cross and suffering of our Savior and leads to universalism
- He teaches universalism, that all will be saved eventually. That man is a heretic.
- He teaches salvation by works be they good works, ceremonialism, baptism, or anything else but “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved”.
- He teaches such a watered down, self help, and humanistic gospel that has the capacity to make any “converts” as illegitimate.
- He teaches that money is somehow connected to the gospel and God will make a believer rich.
These are generally some of the aspects of who I consider to be a heretic, someone whose teachings are significantly divergent from the core of the gospel and of Biblical teaching. I cannot discern who is or isn’t saved, but it is possible to be saved and drift into heretical teachings and become a heretic. There are now men who muse about heresy without actually coming out and espousing the doctrines they speak about as possibilities, these men are heretics.
Now almost any position in eschatology is admissible and usually not a candidate for heresy. But these present day heresies deal with the essence of the gospel or subjects that could lead to different gospel renderings. But the raging controversy now centers around more important redemptive issues that the end times chronology. The saving power of Jesus Christ is now questioned by placing upon sinners without faith, and surely sinners whose profession is so shallow that it results in no corresponding works that substantiate Christ’s presence in their lives.
These types of issues have also resulted in heretical lifestyles among Christians and Christian pastors alike. What do I mean when I say “lifestyle heretics”? I mean there are Christian teachers now who live and teach a lifestyle whose very manifestation and behavior is Biblical heresy. They have almost no standards of separation about their lifestyle, and swearing, drinking, smoking, and questionable behavior is accepted and practiced. “Perfecting holiness in the sight of God” is no longer applicable as was once understood, and they teach a guiltless, libertarian, and conviction less lifestyle that is heretical in practice. Those that teach such things are also heretics.
But, you say, doesn’t that greatly expand the list of men who would be classified as heretics today. Yes, absolutely. As a matter of fact much of the church is now engaged in and believes in some form of heresy. Heresy in many forms has invaded the pulpits of evangelicalism and millions of sinners, indistinguishably lost or saved, are merrily following such false teachers. And we who have ears to hear must speak clearly and with conviction about these teachings and at the same time admit that we ourselves are in need of a revival of God’s Spirit.
I now consider men like Joel Osteen, Brian MacLaren, Doug Pagitt, Rob Bell, Rick Warren, Robert Schuller, Ken Copeland, and many others and all who espouse their ministries as heretics. I do not have knowledge about their spiritual standing before God personally, but their teachings are dramatically unbiblical. The emerging, emergent, purpose driven, seeker sensitive, church growth, and many combinations of these are all heretical and are falling away from Biblical Christianity. So you may mark me down as an old time Christian who refuses to accept the modern and new teachings. I am seeking a personal and church wide revival which I openly admit is needed by all of us, but I must be clear about what is happening within the church. Much of what is being taught is not even worth discussing, it is what I call “flat earth” meaning that the absurdity of their teachings are in the same category as arguing with someone who claims the earth is flat.
There is little productivity in any dialogue regardless how polite and respectful, and I believe my view has been honed by many such discussions. Our objective is seeking Christ, remaining faithful to His Word, preaching the gospel of Christ, guarding ourselves against error, and teaching those under our authority and ministry to reject heresy and its teachers. Heretics are multiplying rapidly and it behooves us to identify them clearly while recognizing that they themselves are not our enemies, it is the one who has deceived them who is the enemy of our souls.
Stand guard, remain humble, be strong in faith, and worship Christ Jesus.
The end is upon us.
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