Heresy Hunters - "My mind's made up, Don't confuse me with the facts"
Heresy Hunters have been extremely active in recent years, and every time I get on YouTube, I seem to find yet another new channel. Watch out - because their guns could well be pointed at your pastor, your church, and definitely at people and ministries you love and respect.
A couple of years ago, I was in dialogue with the webmaster of a Christian website who himself was somewhat of a "heresy hunter". We exchanged a series of emails, concerning some critical (slanderous) things that I found on his website about some Christian ministers who are personal friends of mine.
Here is a short summary of that dialogue.
WEBMASTER: Yes, but that man is a "false teacher"
A couple of years ago, I was in dialogue with the webmaster of a Christian website who himself was somewhat of a "heresy hunter". We exchanged a series of emails, concerning some critical (slanderous) things that I found on his website about some Christian ministers who are personal friends of mine.
Here is a short summary of that dialogue.
WEBMASTER: Yes, but that man is a "false teacher"
DJ: Actually, he is a theologian and a former seminary professor. What makes him false teacher?
WEBMASTER: But we know that he teaches error and heresy
WEBMASTER: But we know that he teaches error and heresy
DJ: Here is a copy of the doctrinal statement of his ministry (I attached it to the email). What he believes and teaches is actually the Historic Christian faith. What heresy is he teaching?
WEBMASTER: He is also a "false prophet" according to Deuteronomy
WEBMASTER: He is also a "false prophet" according to Deuteronomy
DJ: The way you are interpreting that passage was never understood, nor applied during Old Testament times (i.e. 1 mistake and you get killed). You are also mixing apples and oranges because New Testament prophetic ministry is very different from Old Testament prophetic ministry. (I sent extensive commentary to illustrate and support my point). I even shared that according to that interpretation, the Prophet Jonah should have been killed (i.e., because Nineveh wasn't destroyed).
WEBMASTER: Yes, but we know he is a "false teacher"...
In the end, it didn't matter what I said to him, sent him, etc., to try to enlighten his position; his mind was made up. He had heard someone else call this man a "false teacher" and was simply passing on what he had heard. It was more of a study in psychology than anything else. It wasn't like we could "reason" together.
This guy, however, was far nicer than many of today's heresy hunters. The kind of attacks that are being launched at other Christians is staggering even to the unbelievers. How ironic that non-Christians are being stumbled by the lack of love and charity that they see in the way that Christians treat one another.
Here's what I think we need to do - since it's God's kindness that actually leads us to repentance, we should be kind to people who are struggling. If we really believe that someone is a "heretic", before we begin to post slanderous remarks, maybe we should get their phone number and call them. I've discovered that it is much harder to slander people that I've gotten to know - regardless of how much I disagree with them.
I'll give an example - I am NOT a Calvinist. I believe that the way Augustinians/Calvinists understand predestination, free-will, and God's sovereignty is in error - both from the Scripture and from the way those Scriptures were understood/interpreted by the Early Church (i.e., the Church from AD100-AD300). However, I have many friends who are more Reformed (Calvinistic) in their theology. Should I be calling them heretics and/or false teachers? No way. We will continue to love each other, pray for one another and get on with the task of building God's Kingdom. I know that God is using all sorts of people who you and I may disagree with.
WEBMASTER: Yes, but we know he is a "false teacher"...
In the end, it didn't matter what I said to him, sent him, etc., to try to enlighten his position; his mind was made up. He had heard someone else call this man a "false teacher" and was simply passing on what he had heard. It was more of a study in psychology than anything else. It wasn't like we could "reason" together.
This guy, however, was far nicer than many of today's heresy hunters. The kind of attacks that are being launched at other Christians is staggering even to the unbelievers. How ironic that non-Christians are being stumbled by the lack of love and charity that they see in the way that Christians treat one another.
Here's what I think we need to do - since it's God's kindness that actually leads us to repentance, we should be kind to people who are struggling. If we really believe that someone is a "heretic", before we begin to post slanderous remarks, maybe we should get their phone number and call them. I've discovered that it is much harder to slander people that I've gotten to know - regardless of how much I disagree with them.
I'll give an example - I am NOT a Calvinist. I believe that the way Augustinians/Calvinists understand predestination, free-will, and God's sovereignty is in error - both from the Scripture and from the way those Scriptures were understood/interpreted by the Early Church (i.e., the Church from AD100-AD300). However, I have many friends who are more Reformed (Calvinistic) in their theology. Should I be calling them heretics and/or false teachers? No way. We will continue to love each other, pray for one another and get on with the task of building God's Kingdom. I know that God is using all sorts of people who you and I may disagree with.
Comments
Post a Comment