Not A Heretic Hunter

We live in an age where no one likes to be challenged or corrected. I do not like to be wrong, but I have told congregations to go home and study the Word after a sermon to be sure I know what I am talking about. If I do not, do not leave me in my ignorance, but bring Scripture, not your feelings, cultural norms, sectarian rulings, or what your granny or Dr. Goodwords on TV has to say. Bring scripture in context rightly interpreted.

In some cessationist groups, if you feel like the pastor might be mistaken you could be met with “Don’t go up against God’s man” or “Touch not God’s anointed” threats with illustrations of what happens if you do. I sat under such a person for a few years. He would say things like people who believe ____ end up divorced. It might be really ridiculous, but that threat of divorce was dropped on you. Sadly, his wife had an affair and they divorced. Considering how I was treated there, I should rejoice and at first I did laugh because his threat boomeranged on him. Then, I repented and I have prayed for their reconciliation knowing that God would have to do a great work in him for that to happen.

In Charismatic circles, you get called a heretic hunter with various threats like you are on the verge of blaspheming the Holy Spirit or some other fearful threat. I believe that the Spirit can do anything He wants, but there are things He will not do because of His character and mission as well as His history in the Word. If the person’s theology and actions do not match up with His then I have no fear of grieving or blaspheming Him, but rather honor Him by exposing error perpetrated in His name.

As for being a heretic hunter, I really do not hunt for things. Indeed, when I was a Baptist I had my hands full overcoming traditions, eisegesis and other issues to pay much attention to other groups. Yes, there were things I would bring up about various groups when I was teaching on a passage that spoke to various errors of interpretation, but I seldom had sermons dedicated to a group. I wrote a new member’s class curriculum and in that I compared Baptist teaching on baptism and such to other groups. I had enough “family” issues so to speak. As an Associate Pastor, I did have one member who tried to keep me abreast of the current heresies, but at the time I considered all Charismatics heretics so I did not have the time to deal with specific preachers and issues. He would talk. I would listen and would usually forget most of it after he left and went on to exegete for my next message or zip off to a ministry call.

Now, that I have come to realize that not all Charismatics are nutcases or heretics I do have to be aware of which are and which are not. Do I take delight in pointing out errors? Not really. It is just a necessity.

Proverbs 24:17  Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: 

Some folks in the pew are just mistaken. They are sincerely misled by leaders who teach error. They are not enemies. They are victims so you are gentle with them and seek to teach them the truth. Some leaders are also just mislead people who trusted a bad mentor.

2 Thessalonians 3:14  And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 

15  Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. 

Some need to be shunned until they get right, but they are not enemies.

Philippians 3:17  Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 

18  (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 

19  Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 

Romans 16:17  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 

18  For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. 

And then there are those who are enemies of the Cross, Christ and the Church that we must call out as Paul did. We are also to mark those who are the right example as well as those who are not.