Rebuking Heresy

This morning on TOL, I had admonished an individual teaching a doctrine that was unScriptural. Another person, broke out laughing and rebuked such arguing as being un-Christ-like. The following is my response to him.

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In today's culture, too many people think that it is wrong to argue over God's Word. They might feel that this disagreement and 'harshness' is un-Christ-like and should not be done.

God's Word says differently.

2 Timothy 4:1-3
(1) I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
(2) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
(3) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

The mindset of many Laodicean christians is that we need 'unity' among believers. They quote verses like John 17:11, 21, and 22 where Jesus prays to the Father that the body of believers would be one as Christ and the Father are one. The problem with these unanchored brethren is that they base this importance for unity above the rest of God's Word. The Neo-Evangelical is willing to church-up with the Roman Catholic and Presbyterian because they want to show the warm and gushy feelings of love towards these individuals.

This practice not only is far from what Scripture teaches, but cuts totally against the grain of the truth found in God's Word.

The Bible teaches for the true Christian to seperate themselves from the World (2 Corinthians 6:14-18), the lusts and desires of the flesh (Romans 8:1-13), and the Devil (James 4:7). The Bible also teaches that the Christian needs to confront, rebuke, and even separate ourselves from ungodly heresies.

2 Timothy 4:2
(2) Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Titus 1:13-16
(13) This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
(14) Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
(15) Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
(16) They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

2 Timothy 3:1-7
(1) This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
(2) For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
(3) Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
(4) Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
(5) Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
(6) For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
(7) Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Beloved57 holds to, and teaches doctrine that is not taught in Scripture. This makes him a heretic. Is he saved? I don't know! God's Word tells us not to judge (Matthew 7:1). BUT in the same breath, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ commands for us to DISCERN!

Matthew 7:15-20
(15) Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
(16) Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
(17) Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
(18) A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
(19) Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
(20) Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

The problem is that too many christians are so fearful of being judgmental, that they flee from their duties of discernment.

This is sad.

While Jesus Christ showed tenderness and compassion to the Lost, He was also quick to rebuke and chasten those who claimed to be of God, and yet taught false doctrines. The true Child of the Living God should reflect the same, with real discernment that can only come from God's Holy Spirit.

God's Providence

This morning, while my son and I were spending some quiet time together, we started discussing the difference between a recession and a depression. One article I read defined a depression as,

...a downturn of three years or more with a 10 percent drop in economic output and unemployment above 10 percent...
Another definition says a depression is a sustained recession during which the populace has to dispose of tangible assets to pay for everyday living. For some families, that's happening now.

I explained to Jeremiah that if we are truly in a depression, then our reliance on God will need to be stronger than it is now. This is when I stumbled across this verse in Deuteronomy 9.

Deuteronomy 9:6
(6) Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.

God has promised to provide for our needs.

Philippians 4:19
(19) But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

He does so, not because I am so wonderful. God supplies my needs, not because of my own righteousness. God takes care of my needs because of His Goodness and His Righteousness.

Are we going to go through a depression like the one my mother and grandparents went through in the 1930's? I don't know. Yet, I do know, is if we keep our eyes on Jesus Christ and continue to follow after Him, He will in fact provide for our needs.