In these days of theological confusion and ecclesiastical
compromise, what is the Biblical position for the Bible believer
to assume toward heretics and false religious teachers? Are we
to patronize them, associate with them, accept their sponsorship,
increase their numbers, send them converts, add to their prestige,
follow their leadership, identify our churches with them, obliterate
important Biblical distinctions with them??? The Bible's answer
is clear.
1. Try them...I John 4:1, "Beloved, believe
not every spirit, but trv the spirits, whether they be of God;
because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
2. 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."
3. Rebuke them...Titus 1.13, "This witness is
true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in
the faith."
4. Have no fellowship. ..Ephesians 5:11, "And
have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but
rather reprove them.
5. Withdraw thyself...II 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 ye received of us." (See
also I Timothy 6:3-5).
6. Turn away from them...11 Timothy 3:5, "...Having
a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such
turn away."
7. Receive them not...II 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. " To
our day false teachings are fostered by misplaced hospitality.
8. Have no company with him. . 11 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.
"
9. Reject them...Titus 3:10, "A man that is an
heretic after the first and second admonition, reject."
10. Be ye separate...II 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."
The above adapted from an article by: G. Archer
Weniger, D.D.
Contend For The Faith...The Bible teaching is plain.
God's people and God's churches are forbidden to make common
cause with modernism. Heresy is to be exposed. The ecumenical
movement is controlled by heretics. Ecumenical evangelism ignores
the Scriptural teaching on sound doctrine, in order "to
reach lost souls." What a farce! We should be interested
in lost souls, but compromise is not God's way. Jude was interested
in "the common salvation", but he also contended for
"the faith."
Jude 3, 4, "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write
unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write
unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for
the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there
are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained
to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God
into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord
Jesus Christ."
Tract # c-503 Order From:
Tabernacle Baptist Church
1011 34 th. St. P.O. Box 3100 Lubbock, TX 79452