What is a heretic? First, a heretic is one who brings teaching which seems orthodox (straight or sound), but is in fact heterodox — or counter to what is sound teaching. But one who proffers heresy is often successful in his or her teaching for several important reasons.
First, usually before becoming heretical, the person used to be orthodox on the essentials of the faith, and he or she gained a significant following — especially people who then became emotionally tied to and devoted to the teacher.
But slowly, such a teacher cleverly nips away at the truth — often imperceptibly by those who lack discernment — and despite the attempted corrections of the discerning. As the teacher slips past cautionary warnings from others, he or she gains confidence to further assert heretical positions.
Secondly, a heretic is successful because this person is highly adept with language — a master of persuasion and a virtual expert at using sophistry to put the orthodox in a defensive position. For example, on a vital matter of truth, the heretic accuses the orthodox of being harsh, uncaring, narrow, and provincial in his views — while portraying himself as genuine, caring, sympathetic and understanding.
This results in the heretic gaining a stronger foothold with his teaching; he becomes a champion for the cause of those who agree with him. Those emotionally attached to him come to his defense, and he wins the argument (or so it seems).
This leads to a third apparent victory for the heretic; heresy isn’t merely false teaching, but it’s also teaching which causes division. Both Paul and Peter address this in their epistles:
“I urge you, brothers and sisters, to keep your eye on those who cause divisions and put stumbling blocks or offenses in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people” (Rom. 16:17-18).
In Titus 3:10, Paul urges,
“Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, 11 knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned” (the word translated “factious” is where we get our word “heretic” from). Let us carefully note what Paul also declares with apostolic authority in v.11.
And there’s no mincing words from the other major apostle, Peter:
“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. 2 Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; 3 and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep” (2 Peter 2:1-3)
Accordingly, heresy is teaching designed to bring a wedge between parties and gain control over the church and its teaching. It is treacherous and demonic.
Another example — used frequently by heretics such as Andy Stanley — is to equate the orthodox teachers with the Pharisees. And who likes the Pharisees, anyway? So the charge is a “gotcha” charge — an emotional ploy to get people on his side of the argument and to discredit the orthodox.
However, when Andy Stanley levels such a charge, most people completely fail to see that he himself is a religious leader, akin to the Sadducees, who were the theological liberals of their day.
But he is also a Pharisee, because Stanley has voluminously elevated his own non-biblical teaching for years, just as they did — and Jesus frequently rebuked them for doing so — charging them with undermining the Word of God (e.g. Mark 7:9-13).
Stanley did the above recently when Albert Mohler sought to correct Stanley’s continued advancement of the homosexual agenda, through the clever use of emotional language. He has stubbornly refused all correction from orthodox teachers.
For this reason — and because of his widespread influence and charismatic personality — Stanley is every bit as dangerous as the worst heretic in the history of the Church — Arius. It is way past time for all evangelical leaders — shepherds of the flock — to condemn him soundly and warn the church against him. Here is the warning; here is the urgent call for discernment.
And here is the urging to uphold sound doctrine to honor the risen Lord Jesus.
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