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HERESY, the SIN in the BELIEVERS’ CAMP
What Is Heresy?
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers AMONG
you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves
swift destruction. -- 2 Pet 2:1
Dr. Alan Cairns defines heresy as "A deliberate denial of revealed truth, together with the acceptance of
error (2 Pet. 2:1). The basic meaning of the Greek word hairesis is "choice,' giving the meaning of heresy as a self-willed
opinion in opposition to Biblical truth, Such opinions frequently give rise to sects or parties . . . a heretic, therefore . .
. is to be cut off from church fellowship (Titus3:10).” -- Dictionary of Theological Terms
We are not talking about trivial or petty convictions or differences, although such things could develop into
heresy, if push came to shove. However, primarily, false prophets and false teachers are connected with heresy. Whatever
heresy is, it is opposite of unity in and through Bible doctrine. Heretics disrupt unity and cause division in the camp-rather than those who expose that heresy for what it is. The root word for "heresy" is "choice." Heretics choose odd ball
doctrines and choose to draw disciples after them and try to build a party or sect with their heresy. Some heresies are
worse than others; some are "damnable" heresies; others are merely divisive annoyances that disrupt the church's unity,
stability, and work. The heresies that deny Christ are the worst. Paul had problems with some who denied the resurrection.
Then, there are those that deny the Bible and deny or symbolize hell. Others, like Heretic Joey Faust, mess with and
gainsay the continuous, eternal salvation of the believer and the finished work of Christ. Damnable heresies usually
impact on the doctrine of salvation and the finished work of Christ.
How Does Heresy Compare to Other Sins?
. . . Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies . . . –Gal 5:20
Heresy is in the same class as idolatry, witchcraft, and sedition, so it must obviously be a very grievous
sin. I know when we think of heresy, we usually think of Mormons, Catholics, or JW's but that is not always a correct
view in that these cults may have started out as heresies but are now cults. The Catholic Church is an apostasy or a falling
away from the faith. The heresies of today may ultimately culminate in the cults of tomorrow.
Where Do We Find Heresy?
For there must be also heresies AMONG you . . . -- 1 Cor. 11:19
But there were false prophets also AMONG the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you,
who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift
destruction. -- 2 Pet 2:1
Unfortunately, the Bible indicates that heresy is usually found in the believers' camp, AMONG God's people.
That is where most false cults really started--in the believers' camp. The founder of the Church of Christ started with
Alexander Campbell, who hung out a lot with Baptists until he got a foothold and branched out on his own. Miller,
the originator of the Seven Day Adventist movement was a Baptist. Mormon Joseph Smith started out in a Protestant
church. Many of the Original JW's were believers, found in the original Millennial Dawn movement.
How and Why Does Heresy Develop?
. . . there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies . . . –2 Pet. 2:1
. . . Nor I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and
to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath
purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not
sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after
them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day
with tears. --Acts 20:27-31
How does heresy happen? Well, soil that is most fertile is soil that has not had ALL the counsel or the whole
counsel of God preached. Often, heretics come in or are bought in through or by someone either first hand or second hand.
At first, their unscriptural doctrines are tolerated because of friendships, associations, fellowships, and too much
attendance to good manners. Sometimes, heretics are invited into normally sound groups to speak or fellowship by
ignorant and stupid leaders or even lay people. Many novice and uninformed Christians are like the Athenians, who like
some new thing and will gravitate to the sensationalism of the day.
Nevertheless, why does it happen? It happens because Christians and churches do not obey the scripture
command to admonish heretics two times and then REJECT them. If the heretic does not shape up, he is to be rejected
without any fellowship (without so much as a Bible prescription as how to establish them as heretics). The Bible expects
the believer to know who is and who isn't a heretic. Why such a harsh reaction? Because heretics INFECT the believers''
camp and proselytes followers from believers' churches and camps. Often, they will mimic the other things that believers
believe, so that this one area of heresy will not be so noticeable.
Sometimes, heretics and false teachers rise up from within our own selves. Heretics often infiltrate various
movements, Paul warned about both ways with tears for three years. Heretics are always evangelistic, but some
Christians who get involved and ruined by them are not always so evangelistic. Nevertheless, heretics and false
teachers are grievous wolves, who prey on our people to draw away disciples after them.
Are There any Redeeming Results from Heresy?
. . . For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest
among you. -- 1 Cor. 11:19
Is there any redeeming thing in the fact that there must be and will be heretics among us? Yes, there is. Heresy
creates an opportunity for faithful, Bible believing Christians to contend for the faith. Exposing the heretic's error and
false teaching by Bible believers, makes the faithful to stand out, when they expose the heretics. "Approved" believers are
made manifest to all; and, of course, the heretics are made manifest to all as well. When this happens, not even many of
the most gullible and credulous of believers will fall for or chance embracing their heresies. This is why swift response is
so vital to our churches, before heretics can get a foothold.
What Should be Done about Heresy?
A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject . . . --Titus 3:10
As the Bible and even Alan Cairns points out, they should be rejected from church fellowship (and interchurch fellowship as well) after the second admonition. We are not to play around with them Judgment should be
swift without a "wait and see" mentality.
What is the end of Heretics?
. . . there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies . . . and bring
upon themselves swift destruction. -- 2 Pet 2:1
What is the end of such heretics? Some kind of destruction in inevitable in those persons' lives. If they are saved,
they will lose rewards at the judgment seat of Christ and will be ashamed there. They will in this life also suffer
chastisement, even more so than those caught up in other sins. If they are unsaved, they will spent eternity in hell fire and
the Lake of fire.
-- by Herb Evans July 7, 2005
WHAT THE Bible SAYS ABOUT A GODLY ATTITUDE TOWARD HERESY!
by Dr. G. Archer Weniger
In these days of theological confusion and ecclesiastical compromise, what is the Biblical position for a
Fundamentalist to assume toward heretics and false religious teachers? Are we to patronize them, send them converts, add
to their prestige, follow their leadership, identify our churches with them, and obliterate important Biblical distinctions
with them? The Bible’s answer is clear. Try them… 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." Mark them… 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." Rebuke them… Titus 1:13 "This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in
the faith" Have no fellowship… Ephesians 5:11 "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather
reprove them." Withdraw thyself… 2 Thessalonians 3:6 "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he
received of us." Receive them not… 2 John 10, 11 "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him
not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." Have no
company with him… 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." Reject them… Titus 3:10 "A man that is an heretick after the first and
second admonition reject" Be ye separate… 2 Corinthians 6:17 "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye
separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you"
From Pastor Mike Walls’ E-mail