Lesson 06 of the Follow Me Series
Followers Have Discernment
Compiled and Edited Grady Henley
Key Verse:
1 Tim 3:14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
1 Tim 3:15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
INTRODUCTION:
We often make decisions based on what is observe with the natural eye. We observe a situation, perceive nothing a miss, and then we sometimes rush in where angels fear to tread. If this were not the worst of our actions, we have been known to compound our problems by acting upon what we hear. If we begin to listen and do so long enough, especially from someone with oratory skills, we believe this person is one way when in reality they are someone entirely different. Furthermore, some members of the human race commence following a smooth talker, mimicking their speech, and sending them money as well.
When we hear of those not in church acting as such, we often give it no second thought. The mature in the Lord consider those that send donation and offering to a preacher on TV as being somewhat of a foolish babe in the Lord. However, when one within the local body acts in like manner, we often wonder: “I wonder what they were thinking or were they even thinking! Don’t they know better? How could they be so gullible?””
The truth of the matter is lost people and those that do not follow the Lord as close as they should do not perceive situations and people with the same insights as do those that faithfully follow the Lord. This is not to say that faithful followers do not err. What it means is those that follow the Lord are more apt to see a situation or a person from a biblical perspective. Upon seeing such with the mind of Christ, we ought therefore to act as would the Lord and according to His word.
Why is it that some are easily deceived? Are we just naive enough to believe any and everything thrown at us? The answer may lie in the foe(s) we face. Our arch-enemy is the master illusionist. He can make things appear harmless on the surface. Webster defines illusion as: ‘An unreal image or appearance; a sensory impression which misrepresents the true character of the object perceived; an optical illusion; a false or misleading idea or concept; delusion.’ An illusionist is one that has mastered the technique of deception by way of illusions.
Did you note the word ‘sensory’ in the definition of the word illusion? Sensory refers to the five physical senses. Thus, the illusionist deceives us with fair speech or imagery.
James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Contemplate on what James said, in that there were people in his time, and ours, that, on the surface they seem to be religious. We find them everywhere talking the talk. However, what gives them away is their tongue. They talk too much and the things they talk about are unbecoming one that professes to be a faithful follower of the Lord. What they say contradicts sound bible doctrine. They seemed to be religious.
Seemed is the past tense of see. See is what we normally do with the physical eye.
The bible has much to say about people that are fooled into thinking something is harmless when in reality death is in the pot, 2 Ki 4:40. This short study is intended to hone our spiritual insight so that we may be aware of the devil, his ministers, and his devices. 2 Cor 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
I. SPIRITUAL BATTLES
There is a story in the Old Testament of Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, 2 Kings 5. Evidently, Gehazi was unaware of the spiritual conflict happening around him. I hope that if he had been cognizant, he would have acted in a different manner.
The story has been told repeatedly how Naaman had just been healed of his leprosy and offered to pay Elisha for the healing. The man of God would not hear of such a thing. However, the servant of the man of God, Gehazi, thought it would not do any harm to take the riches offered from this Syrian captain. Gehazi learned the hard way the error of acting upon his foolish thoughts, 2 Ki 5:27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.
Too many times born again children of God act as did Elisha’s servant in that we see only with the natural eye and thereby act. Gehazi took his eyes off the words of the man of God and instead looked at the money that was slipping away. A red warning flag should have been hoisted in the heart of Gehazi as he noted Elisha refusing the riches. Gehazi ignored the warning and hastened to the danger.
The mature man of God, Elisha, saw the evil in taking the money offered. This was same Elisha that asked Elijah to give him a double portion of his spirit, 2 Ki 2:9. When he asked for that special blessing, he asked so that he might be a tool for the most high God. Should he use that special gift for gain, it would make him a fool for Satan.
Sometimes it is a test of wills in that we see only what we choose. Should we admit there is evil staring us in the face, we must deal with it. Should we admit that there is sin in our lives, we must deal with it. Prov 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. If there is a false prophet in the local body, they must be dealt with as well. If there is sin in the house of God, it must be dealt with. Problems do not go away of their own accord. Unless we confront error with truth, the error will only grow. A little leaven will contaminate the whole lump.
Dealing with false teachings in our ranks, sin in the camp, finding that some are walk disorderly and causing divisions in the body of Christ, in the embryonic stage are easier to handle. If we could have double vision so that as we perceived the conflict before our eyes, we could discern that there is a spiritual battle raging behind the scenes, we would be better and stronger Christians, 2 Ki 6:15-18.
Before we can deal with these problems we must be able to discern where the problem lies, who is causing the divisions, or who is using the wisdom of the world to justify an old evil disguised as new age enlightenment or the “in thing.”.
II. THE SOURCES
Most problems originate from one or two sources:
(a) False prophets in the ranks.
(b) The wisdom of the world supplanting the command so God.
III. Balaam.
Were it not for the words of God, it would be impossible to determine who is and who is not a false prophet. Deut 18:22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hat spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.
A false prophet that comes readily to mind is Balaam. Whom might you ask was Balaam? Balaam was a sooth-sayer hired by King Balak to curse Israel. King Balak was a pagan king from the land of Midian. Baal was the god the Midianites worshipped, Num 22:41. Thus, when you find Baal, Balaam, and Balak, you find a false trinity. Baal—false god. Balaam—false prophet. Balak—false king. This same evil trinity is found in the New Testament with the Anti-Christ, False prophet and the false image, Rev. 13.
If one observed Balaam’s actions and listened to his speech, you would think he was a man of God; a genuine prophet. His "Godly talk" attested to his religious status, Num. 22:8,13, 34,38; 23:12,28; 24:13. To the locals in his region, Balaam was a man that God spoke to and through, Numbers 22:9,12,20,32-35; 23:4,5,16,18-24. He was the most religious man in his neighborhood and if you asked anyone they would tell you that Balaam worshipped God in spirit and truth, Num. 22:31. He was always blessing the people of God, Num. 23:5,7-10,18-24; 24:2-9,15-19.
What more could be asked of such a man of such character and attributes? How about being right with God? Balaam is the opposite in character of Elisha. What Elisha refused, Balaam accepted, 2 Pet 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; Jude 1:11.
Though Balaam is not the only false prophet that God spoke in and through, he is usually the foremost. There are other instances in the bible where God revealed Himself to pagans. This was done to Ambimalech in a dream, Gen. 20:6, 7, to Pharaoh, Gen. 41:25, Nebuchadnezzar before his conversion, Dan. 2:4, to Pilate's wife through suffering in a dream, Matt. 27:19, to King Saul, 1 Sam. 19:23,24, and to Caiphas, Jn. 11:51, 52.
Some think that because an individual seems to have great powers or a large following that God is "using" him!” Well might God be using him and his likes, but have you contemplated just what and how they are being used? Have you considered that God may be elevating them so that we can look at them and know what we ought not be and whom we ought to avoid?
The truth of the matter is, under a close examination these professors in the ranks with Balaam are not possessor of the Lord. It will surprise many to find that they are not believers. Just because someone talks godly does not make one godly. God uses pagans, false prophets, and a spiritual frauds, for His purposes. Spiritual frauds are quite capable of quoting the words of God. They sound pious and true, but are very wicked. It takes a discerning spirit to see these for what they are.
ILLUSTRATION:
One good example found in our day of a false prophet is a preacher in a pulpit professing the bible to be the words of God. This hireling will take the written word of God in his hand, a King James Bible, hold it over his head and say to his congregation that the bible is the inspired words of God in all its simplicity and truth. Here is the illusionist at work! The congregation heard his testimony, heard him read from the KJ Bible, saw him lift it up for all to see. Therefore, it is easy to conclude that their pastor is a King James Bible believer. Right! Not necessarily. If you question him closely, he might just reveal that when he speaks of the inspired bible, he is referring to the ORIGINAL AUTOGRAPHS! What he said and what he believes are two things. He professed that the inspired bible is the original autographs. When he does such, he is referring to something that he has not seen or read for the ORIGIANL AUTOGRAPHS do not exist. How, therefore, could he know what or where the words of God are found if he does not have them or has never read them? This false prophet fooled the people and he did it very easily.
Just because God spoke through a false prophet does not mean such a one was a true to the commands of the Lord any more than Balaam's donkey was a believer. If speaking through a person or animal makes them a believer, then Balaam’s donkey fits to a tee, Num. 23:21-30.
The deception of a false prophet appearing to be from God was so prevalent in Old Testament times, that God established another screen for true prophets, in addition to accurate predictions: "Do they lead you to worship other gods," Deut. 13:1-5?
Regardless of what the bible says about Balaam and his like, professing churches today still tolerates the Balaams. Why? Because the Balaams of the world tell people what they want to hear. They quote the bible. They use the Bible. The Balaams of the world know more bible than their followers. If their followers knew the words of God, they would not be following the Balaams of the world.
Do not get side tracked into believing these false prophets are doing some good and just because they do one good thing it is OK to follow them. The greater issue is their erroneous doctrinal teachings, from which the Bible commands us to separate.
Inclusivism because of areas of agreement can never take precedence over our obligation to separate because of error.
Faithful follower of the Lord should use the weapons of truth given to us by the Lord, so that we identify and deal with every Balaamite fraud in the spiritual arena in which we live.
http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Introduction/balaams.htm
IV. BEAWARE OF THE COUNSEL OF GAMALIEL, Acts 5:38-39.
If a false prophet as Balaam is not the source of division and problems within the body, the next biblical place to look is for someone who places the wisdom of the world over the words of God.
Such a one will be a follower of the wisdom of Gamaliel. The counsel of Gamaliel, superficially speaking, sounds good. It will take a closer inspection and examination of his wisdom to detect the potential damage underlying his words. It takes the discernment of the Holy Spirit to reveal his evil. If the local body can not discern Gamaliel and his teaching, the results of what he proposes will be seen in envy, strife and ill will, James 3:13-17.
Those that adhere to Gamaliel believe he is the wise man in the Bible! They will use his instruction when assessing the latest idea or movement, regardless of who is using it or how, to penetrate the churches.
Gamaliel is often preferred above Paul. If the writings of the Apostle Paul clearly condemn something, his word is pushed aside in favor of Gamaliel's. Paul is not alone in this. Gamaliel is wiser than the Lord Jesus Christ in the estimation of some. Where Christ says, "Beware of false prophets," Gamaliel says, "Leave them be; just watch and wait. Say and do nothing. And if they survive and flourish, they will prove to be from God."
A. The Liberal Appeal
The notorious liberal, Harry Emerson Fosdick, made a famous historical appeal to the counsel of Gamaliel. In an infamous sermon of 1922 (entitled, "Shall the Fundamentalists Win?"), Gamaliel was extolled as the personification of tolerance and magnanimity. Fundamentalists were urged to abandon their narrow and cantankerous unreasonableness and to adopt the great Gamaliel's intellectual liberalism.
In recent decades, however, evangelicals have also been heard to press the counsel of Gamaliel as a reason for doing nothing about a range of new trends, including contemporary music in worship and charismatic worship. The ministry of warning has been strangled, and the people of God exposed to wild experimentation, all because the wisdom of Gamaliel was used instead of Thus saith the Lord.
Who, then, was this man Gamaliel? Was he a good and faithful wise man? Did he speak from God? Is his celebrated counsel as wonderful as many seem to think?
Gamaliel was a leading Pharisee, a doctor of the law, and a member of the Jewish Sanhedrin, who possessed great influence between A.D. 20 and 58. He believed firmly that God's favor was secured by virtue of being born a Jew, and by meticulous obedience to the ceremonial law. As a leading Pharisee, he would have been swamped by self-righteousness and vehemently hostile to salvation by grace through faith.
If the ministry of Christ in the smallest degree had affected Gamaliel, he was nevertheless among those who loved their position and the esteem of men far more than the praise of God. We must remember that he was one of those of whom Christ had said they were of their father the devil, John 8:44.
B. Gamaliel's Intervention, Acts 5:35.
Upon reading of Gamaliel’s intervention to save the apostles, it seems as if his wisdom saved them. Perhaps it very well did. God is not above using a pagan to save someone. Pharaoh’s daughter was used to save Moses.
C. His Do Nothing Approach.
Gamaliel's "do-nothing" counsel would certainly bring to an end all law enforcement, if adopted by any State. Equally, there would be no discipline in the church. God repeatedly commands in His Word that right conduct should be approved and wrongdoing should be restrained. The Sanhedrin had a duty to establish the truth (using the Scriptures) and act accordingly.
If the apostles were teaching correctly, Gamaliel should have been supported and encouraged them. If they were teaching falsehood, Gamaliel should have been excluded them from the Temple, and the people warned. Gamaliel and his colleagues should have sided either for or against the apostles. Gamaliel's counsel was a total abdication of responsibility. He said, in effect, "Time will tell. In the meantime, it does not matter whom they mislead."
It must be admitted Gamaliel made two correct statements: first, that the work of men comes to
nothing, and secondly, that the work of God cannot be overthrown. However, he failed to note that the fall of the false might not take place for many centuries! Has Islam fallen yet, or Rome, or Hinduism? By Gamaliel's test, perhaps we should conclude that new spiritual movements are of God. Nevertheless, Gamaliel forgot that God does not judge the false immediately. Some false institutions will last until Christ destroys them at His Coming.
D. True Only at Final Judgment
The counsel of Gamaliel is true only when set in the context of eternity, and the final judgment. In the meantime, we have a duty to exercise discernment by the clear guidance of the Word. To substitute the do-nothing counsel of Gamaliel for discernment leads to one of two consequences, as we have noted. Either we fail to support something which is right, or we say and do nothing about something which is harmful and dishonoring to God. Gamaliel's counsel is foolish, selfish, and hideously costly to the cause of Christ.
By doing nothing, Gamaliel fought against God, because he failed to support God's cause. He even failed to act when the apostles were beaten and charged not to speak in the name of the Lord.
Gamaliel's absurd counsel was not due to his being a foolish man, for he was a renowned scholar and thinker. His reasoning was the product of fear. He was afraid of the reaction of the crowds in Jerusalem.
The other members of that hastily convened Jewish Council imagined that they possessed the social standing and moral authority to get away with whatever their murderous instincts dictated. Gamaliel knew better, realizing that the death of the apostles could put the Council itself at risk. So he warned, "Take heed to yourselves what you intend to do."
E. Counsel of Fear
The Temple police sent to arrest the apostles, as related in Acts 5, dared not use violence "for they feared as people, lest they should be stoned" (verse 26). The people sympathized with the apostles because of their power to heal.
History repeats itself. Just as self-preservation and self-interest was the motive behind Gamaliel's original counsel, so it is often the reason for its use today. A new idea, program, or book hits a town or a market and is soon the rage. A pastor finds his members engaged in this new rage.
Here is the pastor dilemma: "If I oppose this," he reasons," I may lose members in my church. Worse, the advocates of this new phenomenon may push me aside. On the other hand, if I encourage this new phenomenon too openly and too early, I will certainly meet with disapproval from others."
What can this "dishonest steward" do? How will an insincere, indecisive, unprotecting pastor handle such a dilemma? Does he turn to the words of the Lord and speak against this new rage? Fortunately, for the unworthy pastor, the words of a proud, self-righteous, Pharisee will come to his rescue. The counsel of Gamaliel is available for any pastor or elder interested only in self-preservation and peace at any price.
F. Who Finds Gamaliel’s Wisdom Appealing?
Who are these who appeal so much to the counsel of Gamaliel? They are like him. They do not want the counsel of God, but a safe, easy, and congenial solution. Even with the entire Bible open before them, nothing is to their taste or of any value except for the words of an unregenerate Pharisee.
Gamaliel, to support his plea to do nothing, mentioned the cases of two rebel leaders who had been killed (apparently by the Roman authorities), with the result that their influence soon waned. The obvious implication was that the Romans had also put Jesus of Nazareth to death, and his following would doubtless die out in the same way. Gamaliel further warned that if the movement was from God, to kill the disciples would be to fight against Him.
Therefore, Gamaliel employed two arguments.
· Number One: If God is not behind the disciples, they will disperse without our interference.
· Number Two: If God is behind them, we will be guilty of fighting Him.
How frequently these arguments are heard today! If God is not behind the gimmicks, the worldliness, and the hysterical and occult practices coming into present-day Christianity, they will die out in time. Therefore, forget all pastoral responsibility and let them be.
On the other hand, if you act against them, you may find you are quenching and blaspheming the work of the Spirit of the living God. Therefore, keep off! Do not interfere! Stand on the "touch line." See which way the wind blows. Do whatever is most advantageous and favorable to yourself and see how matters unfold.
G. A Test of Pastors!
The most useful purpose of the counsel of Gamaliel to present-day believers is that it serves as an indication of the depth and reliability of those who function as pastors, leaders, and Bible teachers. The use of the counsel of Gamaliel in defense of a "do-nothing" or "run-with-the-tide" approach to any new fad is a sure sign of a person who has an inadequate respect for Scripture as the authoritative judge of all matters. A pastor using the counsel of Gamaliel will tell you more about his character than his sermons.
It is only to be expected that Gamaliel should be held in high regard by today's "evangelical" Bible commentators. If the present array of new-evangelical, ecumenical evangelicals can endorse the Pope, then why not Gamaliel? What is the difference? Both stand tenaciously for works as the basis of salvation, and both reject grace. Both uphold a mediatorial priesthood imagined to be vested in themselves, and both reject the simplicity, which is in Christ. The similarities could be continued at length. Just as the Pope is now widely accepted as a true man of faith, so Gamaliel, a Christ-rejecting, proud Pharisee, is regarded as a saintly protector of the apostles. Fellow believers -- be warned and beware of the counsel of Gamaliel!
* Adapted from an article by Dr. Peter Masters: SWORD & TROWELL, The Metropolitan Tabernacle, Issue: 1995, No. 3.
http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Introduction/bewareof.htm
V. TIMES OF REVELATION
From the two above examples we therefore see the need for faithful followers of the Lord to possess the spirit of discernment. One of the gifts of the Spirit to the local church was such a gift. This particular gift was given so that false teachings from false prophets could be manifested for what they were.
If one should do a research on this particular gift, they would find that folks hold varying opinions regarding this gift and to whom and for how long it was given. Some believe this gift ceased with the completion of the New Testament canon. Others profess it was active until the entire bible as we know it today was in wide circulation. Some believe it is still given.
Regardless of what folks believe about this gift, one thing we know and that is the ability to discern whether a Spirit is the Spirit of God or of Satan is given to anyone. 1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. We all have this command and promise, how be it, we do not all use it. Spiritual insight is something all believers need; many have and few use. Able to see a situation or a person for what they are can save us much misery and woe.
Consider an episode in the life of Paul, Acts 27:10-24. He had spiritual insight that this particular voyage was in danger. However, no one paid him any mind. They thought of him, as did the philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, Grecian, as a babbler, Acts 17:18. Those listening to him where blinded by the wiles of Satan and had no mind for the things of God.
In like manner, the men of Sodom perceived not whom it was they were desiring to know. Pilate cared not for the things of God, and neither did the Jews at the times of Jesus and His death.
Centuries later, men still makes eternal decisions based on their personal perspectives while disdaining the words of God as idle tales. How often do we hear of a lost soul elevating their opinion over the bible? When asked to go to church or if they are saved, their reply is “Well, I believe…” When they reply in such manner, they elevate their limited experience gained in their years here on God’s green earth over the bible. They do not care what God had to say about either subject. All that is important is their opinion. Those of us that follow the Lord know our opinion carries little weight in a matter when compared to Thus saith the Lord.
A. Why Should Faithful Followers Discern?
There are several reasons why believers should discern the spirits, 1 John 4:1, 6.
· Expose false teachings and teachers, Eph. 5:11.
· Confront and rebuke false teachers, Titus 1:9, 13.
· Separate ourselves from those who persist in following those false teaching, Rom. 16:17, Titus 3:10.
We do not do these things to elevate self. We do it so that we may bring one into the truth and not compromise it. If we do not follow through with all that the scriptures command, we are disqualified for service, 2 Tim. 2:20, 21. Worse still, we identify with their false teachings, 2 John 10, 11. If those were not reasons enough to discern between good and evil, consider that if we follow evil spirits we will find self in dangerous situations.
If we cannot discern the truth from error, the wolves disguised in sheep clothing may already be devouring the local congregation wherein we are members. This is reason enough for us to closely examine new and old teachings and teachers.
1. The wiles of Satan and his ministers.
These false ministers go about sowing their seeds of discord several ways. Sometimes their ruse is to join a church body and immediately seek an office. They are so anxious to disperse the body that if they are not allowed to hold a position, they start rumors and murmurings to draw attention unto themselves and how that this particular body will not allow them to use their gifts.
Still another ploy is to join a church body and be covert. This they do by attaching themselves to new convert and begin drawing the babe in Christ away from the clear teachings of the gospel.
This is why those that join the body from other churches should be set-aside for a while.
Contrary to popular belief, it is scriptural to verify the testimony of a professing believer. The church at Ephesus was noted for trying those that professed to be an apostle, Rev 2:1-2. Paul stated that if a man desired the office of a bishop, he must be set aside and proven so that he could do the work, 1 Tim 3:6. Novices were not to lead a church.
When it comes to keeping the local church body free of errors, one thing is abundantly clear and that is it is impossible to separate the teachings from the teacher. Therefore, the local church should make no effort to sidestep certain personalities or soften positions taken by false teachers. The local church body should pattern their labors after the bible and not after the precepts of man.
2. Accent the positive when possible.
Conservative fundamentalist thinking has been accused of negativism and of delving into personalities in its polemic against unbelief. Today there is a new teaching among fundamentalists and that is they are encouraged to not even touch on the negative aspects of doctrine.
Regardless of what the world and those in fellowship with the world preaches, the bible has no such hands-off policy. The bible is very blunt about dealing with false teachers and pulls no punches.
Consider how the bible describes these false teachers in these phrases and passages:
false prophets, Mt. 7:15; 24:24 heresies, 2 Pet. 2:1
false teacher, 2 Pet. 2:1 false apostles, deceitful workers, 2 Co. 11:13
doctrines of devils, 1 Tim. 4:1 tradition of men. Col. 2:8
Evil workers, Ph. 3:2 another gospel, 2 Cor. 11:4; Gal. 1:6
Anti-christs, 1 Jn. 3:18 evil men and seducers, 2 Tim. 3:13
deceivers, 2 Tim. 3:13 every wind of doctrine, Eph. 4:14
Those that cause divisions, Rom. 16: 17 Blind leaders of the blind, Mat 15:14
Does the above list sound like children of God? Are those listed above sincere bible believers and followers of the Lord? Should a saint of God desire to have communication with or be accounted as one of their number? 1 Cor 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
3. Exercise discernment.
The exercise of discernment is necessary today. The difficulty is that many teachers on the contemporary scene seem to affirm a biblically sound doctrinal statement (i.e., the inspiration, infallibility, and inerrancy of Scripture; the Trinity; the full deity and humanity of Christ; etc.).
They seem (There is that word seem again) to affirm the gospel and speak often about evangelism and bringing the lost to Christ. Their teaching is replete with scripture references and is sometimes couched in very scholarly terms, giving the appearance of a well thought through biblical position. Regardless of what they seemed to be, a more in depth analysis reveals that, in practice, they depart from their professed orthodox position. What they say they believe and what they actually teach are often miles apart.
4. Believers are commanded to defend the faith.
Opposition and heresy from without and within have made defense of the faith an imperative. Today we live in a world where believers are enamored by personalities. If the ‘in crowd’ at some Christian school, in name, is doing it, it must be OK. If a big named religious leader says it the thing do or see, the world will take up the gauntlet.
B. Avoid Fellowship
The Bible never tells us to fellowship with false prophet and ignore their destructive heresies. To act in such a manner would be compromising our biblical convictions. Instead, the bible teaches that sound doctrine cannot be perpetuated through compromise, 1 Cor. 15:33, and that compromise cannot be avoided without separation, 2 John 10, 11. Once you are determined that you will not compromise on the truth, be ready to stand up to the ridicule and attacks.
If our lives and our churches are ever going to be pleasing unto the Lord, we can not ignore false teachers within the local church body, for we are plainly told to NOTE them, MARK them, and AVOID them, Rom. 16:17-18. Just who was Paul referring to when he used the pronoun them? He referred to those who brought in contrary doctrine. Why the warnings? Because these false teachers serve only themselves, not Christ, and deceive the simple (naïve) with smooth talk, Rom. 16:18. The naïve are those that failed to ask the Lord for wisdom so that they could discern and learn, James 1:5. Job 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
1. One that failed to discern and had fellowship.
February 14, 1929 dawned like any day for Dr. R. Schwimmer. Who might you asked was Dr. Schwimmer? He was for all intent the only innocent man to die in one of America’s most noted massacres. It is still a matter of historical debate as to Schwimmer's reasons for being at the garage on 2122 Clark Street that fateful Valentine’s day. It is generally assumed he was a friend or relative of one the members of the Bugsy Moran gang. Whatever the reasons for his appearance, it could not have been on a worse occasion. http://www.btinternet.com/~dreklind/threetwo/valentine.htm
Did Dr. Schwimmer fail to discern with whom he was having fellowship? He was supposedly an educated man. Why would he hang out with the criminal elements of society? He failed to discern and ended up slaughtered with those he chose to be like.
2. Why have fellowship with sin and sinners?
When we read of people like Dr. Schwimmer and their peculiar habits of hanging around noted gang members, or those that live their lives on the edge, we often think: “Why are they being so foolish? Do they not see the danger?”
We sometimes spend so much time looking at them that we fail to consider our ways, Hag 1:5, 7, and we fail to count the cost, Luke 14:28, of our actions. Do we have fellowship with bad characters? Do we have unconfessed sin in our lives? Do we have accursed things hidden among our stuff, Josh 7:12? If we expect to have the Lord’s blessing in our lives, we must get rid of it, Josh 7:13.
3. How can you profess to love someone when…
“How can you profess to love someone, and then you say and act…”
Such questions and accusations usually spry from the weak in Spirit. They consider such language as just being too harsh. When they hear such strong language, the first words off their lips are, "What about Christ's command to 'love one another' and 'the mark of a disciple being love? And doesn't the bible say in 1 Cor. 13:13, that love is the highest of the spiritual virtues, even above faith and hope?"
To that we give a hearty “Amen!” However, love certainly cannot be higher than truth! In fact, doctrine and truth are prerequisites for Biblical faith, hope, and love. Without sound doctrine there can be no faith, hope, or love.
Love rejoices in the truth, 1 Cor. 13:6, because without truth, love cannot exist, 1 Pet. 1:22. Moreover, the bible teaches that love is the result (i.e., the fruit) of sound doctrine, not vice versa, 1 Tim. 1:3-5; 1 Pet. 1:22. Our priority must always be on truth. Therefore, "love as the mark of a true disciple" cannot be determined by the gauge of our agreement with one another. Instead, it must always be remembered that love is a biblical doctrine in and of itself: LOVE in the TRUTH and love in word and deed, 2 & 3 John, Eph. 4:15. It is not easy to love in deed. It is easy to love in word. 1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
C. The Gospel Priority.
Those who have not matured in the faith and into the person that the Lord wants them to be. will not allow the matter to rest regarding how one is to deal with false teachers. If they cannot have their way over the love issue, these babes in Christ will then make saving the lost the top priority of the local congregation. These seem to think that as long as one preaches the bare minimum: the gospel, we should uphold that one and not criticize their labors in other areas.
What does the bible say about such? The answer is found in 1 Cor 5:6-8. If we allowed their stand on one issue to overrule the their false teachings on the many other, this action be one of compromise and accommodation, and thereby be a contradiction of the clear teaching of Scripture.
Furthermore, such a stand blurs the clear two-fold function of the Church. The Church's function
is not only the propagation of the faith, but its preservation. Obviously, if the faith is not preserved, it cannot be passed-on to others. Because the bible in the book of Jude told us that faith was delivered once to the saints, Jude 1:3, and that it was our responsible to earnestly contend it. This alone means it is our responsibility to pass this faith on to the next generation.
Therefore, whenever anyone in a professing church elevates the propagation of the message to the neglect of the preservation of it, then they are defeating the very purpose of their existence, and must be challenged.
"If [a particular teaching is] valid and Biblical, then its proponents have nothing to fear from a factual and Scriptural analysis of its tenets; and if its precepts are in fact false and dangerous, then lovers of God and truth will be grateful when error is exposed."
PsychoHeresy: * Much of the content above was paraphrased from two primary sources: Neoevangelicalism Today, by Robert Lightner; and Biblical Perspectives, "The Myths Of The Third Wave," by Robert Dean. http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/
VI. WHO MADE YOU THE JUDGE?
by Franklin C. Huling, MA ©Fundamental Evangelistic Association
Is it right to judge is a question that puzzles many sincere Christians. A careful study of this subject makes it clear that it is a believer’s duty to judge. Whether we like it or not, we all make judgments.
The Lord Jesus Christ commanded us to make righteous judgment, John 7:24. He told one man, Thou hast rightly judged, Luke 7:43. To others, our Lord said that they judge right from wrong, Luke 12:57. Since we are commanded to judge, then why where we told in Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. Is this a contradiction? Furthermore, verse fifteen of Mat. 7 tells us: Beware of false prophets, Mat 7:15. How then, can I be aware of something if I am prohibited from estimating the value, the testimony, etc. of a matter without violating the Mat. 7:1? If we must be aware of something, we must know why. Wherefore, how could we "beware" and how could we know who the "false prophets" are if we did not judge?
A. Standards.
1. What is the standard for judging?
If we leave verses one and fifteen in context what we find is the Lord is giving us the standard and telling us what and how to judge. To the Law and to the Testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them, Isaiah 8:20. False prophets are recognized by their fruit, Mat. 7:16, for if the fruit of their ministry does not follow the fruit of the Spirit, the word of God reveals them for what they are. In reality, all we do is align our thoughts with “Thus saith the Lord” or “Behold, it is written…”
2. Official fruit inspector.
There are many gifts mentioned in the bible. These gifts were given to individuals so that the local body of believers could all benefit. These gifts are helps for the pastors and lay members.
There is however, one false calling that many usurp by force and in so doing they make it something that it is not. There is within any local body a clique that assumes the role of “Official Fruit Inspector.” These rebels assume they are manifesting a fruit of the Spirit and they are. However, it is not the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Take care to note that the command in v. 15 of Mat. 7 was to be aware of false prophets. It is not a command for me to look at someone that is actively working within the local church body and compare God’s will for their lives to mine and say something to the effect that because Bro. So-And-So is not doing things exactly as I, he is in error. By his refusal to do things as I, this proves he is a false prophet. Such thinking would be error on my part. I am not to compare God’s will for my to His will with another.
The thing which we all must be aware is if the fruit of the Spirit is not manifested in our lives and testimony, there is nothing left to manifest but the works of the flesh, Gal 5:19-21. Official Fruit Inspector is not a fruit of the Spirit. If it is not a fruit of the Spirit, it must be a work of the flesh. The Holy Spirit cannot produce His fruit in our lives, 1 Cor 12:6-7, 11, Eph 2:2, 3:20, (Phil 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.) while we work a work of the flesh, James 3:1-12.
B. Some Are Marked For What They Are, Rom 16:17-18.
There are folks in any local congregation that manifest many and some all of the works of the flesh. Some hate a brother or sister. Some cause variances and strife. Some are envious!
We judge the false prophets by the standards given to us by the Lord. If a brother or sister has the fruit of the Spirit in their lives, who am I to judge God’s will for them? John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
1. Who causes the strife?
Though we are not to judge the works of another within the local body, it is our responsibility to walk circumspectly, Eph. 5:15. If we are walking circumspectly, it will then be rather easy to identify those that walk as fools.
God wants us to know His Word. That was why He preserved and inspired it. Knowing His word is the litmus test used to discern good from the evil. Notice also that it is the false teachers and those that walk as fools that cause “divisions," and not those protesting their actions.
Those that cause divisions do not serve the Lord as they profess, but their own belly. Their belly could be their ego’s or their pocketbooks. It was for these reasons that Paul told us to avoid those who walk contrary. All they seek to magnify is themselves. These silver-tongued devils deceive the simple with fair words, Rom 16:17-18. That apostolic command could not be obeyed were it not right to judge.
2. How do we deal with them that refuse?
As was stated previously we:
1. Mark them and leave them alone, 2 Cor 6:14-18.
2. Turn away from them, 2 Timothy 3:5.
3. Withdraw ourselves from their presence, 2 Thessalonians 3:6.
4. Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them, Eph 5:11.
5. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good, Romans 12:9.
6. Prove all things and hold fast to the good, 1 Thessalonians 5:21.
It would be impossible to obey these injunctions of God's Word unless it was right to judge! Nothing is "good" in God's sight that is not true to His Word. Note as well that nothing is said about loving a false prophet or teacher back into the fold. 1 Cor 14:38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
Our prayer for such people is for them to get their hearts right with God. Such will be difficult for them to do, for the first thing they must do is admit the error of their ways. Many would rather face God in judgment rather than admit the error of their ways here on earth.
C. Misunderstood and Misused Scripture
Examining the entire passage of Mat. 7:1-5 we understand that it is addressed to a hypocrite, not to those who sincerely want to discern whether a teacher or teaching is true to God's Word.
This passage is not prohibiting honest judgment. Rather, it is a solemn warning against hypocritical judgment. The last statement of this Scripture commands sincere judgment: Then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. If we take a verse or a part of a verse out of its setting, we make the Word of God appear to teach the very opposite of what is taught, 2 Peter 3:16. Let this be a warning to us never again to take a text of scripture out of its context.
1. Inconsistency.
Many who piously quote, "Judge not," out of its context, do so in order to defend that which is false to God's Word. They do not see their own inconsistency in thus judging those who would obey God's Word about judging, that which is untrue to the Bible. It is tragic that so much that is anti-scriptural has undeservedly found shelter behind a misuse of the scripture just quoted.
The reason the professed church of Christ is today honeycombed and paralyzed by satanic modernism is because Christians have not obeyed the commands of God's Word to judge and put away and separate from false teachers and false teaching when they first appeared in their midst.
Physical health is maintained by separation from disease germs. Spiritual health is maintained by separation from germs of false doctrine. The greatest peril of our day is not too much judging, but too little judging of spiritual falsehood.
2. Purging is sometimes necessary.
God wants His children to be like the noble Bereans who searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so, Acts 17:11. If the children of the devil do not leave voluntarily, as is generally the case, God's children are commanded to "purge out" 1 Cor 5:7, those unbelievers.
God's people have disobeyed His Word about this for fear of hurting or driving someone away that the disobedient, 2 Thes. 3:6,14-15, have gotten control in most denominations. Therefore, those who purpose to be true to Christ and His Word are commanded to "come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord," 2 Cor 6:17, regardless of property or any other considerations. When we obey God's Word, we can trust Him to take care of all the consequences of our obedience.
D. Limitations of Human Judgment
There are certain areas wherein we are to with hold judgment. Some of these areas are:
1. God forbids our judging our brethren concerning the eating of certain kinds of food, keeping of days, etc. Rom. 14, 1 Cor. 10:23-33, and Col. 2:16-17 cover this subject.
2. Do judge the motives of other, 1 Cor. 4:1-5. Only God can see into the heart and know the motives that underlie actions.
3. Do not judge who is and who is not saved, The Lord knoweth them that are His, 2 Tim. 2:19. We cannot look into anyone's heart and say whether they have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. We would do much better to test self according to 2 Corinthians 5:17: "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." If this change has not taken place, our profession is vain.
SPEAKING OUT:
"For there is some danger of falling into a soft and effeminate Christianity, under the plea of a lofty and ethereal theology. Christianity was born for endurance; not an exotic, but a hardy plant, braced by the keen wind; not languid, nor childish, nor cowardly. If walks with strong step and erect frame; it is kindly, but firm; it is gentle, but honest; it is calm, but not facile; obliging, but not imbecile; decided, but not churlish. It does not fear to speak the stern word of condemnation against error, nor to raise its voice against surrounding evils, under the pretext it is not of this world; it does not shrink from giving honest reproof, lest it come under the charge of displaying an unchristian spirit. It calls sin sin, on whomsoever it is found, and would rather risk the accusation of being actuated by a bad spirit than not discharge an explicit duty. Let us not. misjudge strong words used in honest controversy. Out of the heat a viper may come forth but we shake it off and feel no harm. The religion of both Old and New Testaments is marked by fervent outspoken testimonies against evil. To speak smooth things in such a case may be sentimentalism, but it is not Christianity. It is a betrayal of the cause of truth and righteousness.
If anyone should be frank, manly, honest, cheerful (I do not say blunt or rude, for a Christian must be courteous and polite); it is he who has tasted that the Lord is gracious, and is looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God I know that charity covereth a multitude of sins; but it does not call evil good, because a good man has done it; it does not excuse inconsistencies, because the inconsistent brother has a high name and a fervent spirit; crookedness and worldliness are still crookedness and worldliness, though exhibited in one who seems to have reached no common height of attainment." - HORATIUS BONAR (1808-89) This tract is available from the Fundamental Evangelistic Association.
http://www.fundamentalbiblechurch.org/Info/fbcprice.htm
CONCLUSION:
The New Testament has much to say on judging. Such was why we are commended to study to show ourselves approved unto God. A righteous discernment means to distinguish, to decide, to determine, to conclude, to try, to think and to call in question. That is what God wants His children to do as to whether preachers, teachers and their teachings are true or false to His Word. The And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; that ye may approve things that are excellent, Philippians 1:9-10.
A wrong idea of love and lack of knowledge and judgment causes God's people often to approve things that are anything but excellent in God's sight. The epistle to the Heb. 5:11-14 tells us that mature believers, that is, those who are of "full age, " are those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
The other side of the word judge means to make a judgment; to condemn, to sentence and to punish. This is what God intended for His church to do and that was why he gave us these lessons on judging, Rom. 12:19.
Christians should guard against the tendency of the flesh to assume a critical and censorious attitude toward those who do not share our opinions about other matters than those, which have to do with Bible doctrine and moral conduct. Rather than "pick to pieces" our brethren in Christ, it is our privilege and duty to do everything we can to encourage their spiritual edification. We ought to love and pray for one another and consider ourselves lest we be tempted, Gal. 6:1. If they refuse, we are to leave them alone.
Edited by Grady (Doc) Henley
This lesson was compiled from various sources. Credit is given and the web page inserted within the context of the lesson.
