Fleeing heretics

Today I was reminded of a story I read some years back when studying early Church history. Irenaeus tells a story that he says was told to him by Polycarp, who was a disciple of the Apostle John. The story goes that John was in a Roman bathhouse (nothing strange or wrong with that, it was the custom of the day). While setting in the hot steam he realized that Ceinthus was sitting on the other side of the room. John jumped up and fled the immediately. When ask by Polycarp why he was running, he said he was afraid that God would bring the bathhouse down upon Ceinthus and he would be killed too.

Cerinthus was a heretic. As if often the case with false teachers, he was very popular with the people of his day. Also like most false teachers, he was quickly forgotten. Cerinthus taught that Jesus was not divine. He taught that Jesus was simply a man. He said that “the Christ” came upon Jesus at his baptism and then left him before the crucifixion. John was there for the whole ministry of Jesus. He know the resurrected Christ and he wanted nothing to do with this heretical teaching. Paul taught in Galatians 1:10 “If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”

There are so many issues that divide Christians today that are not worth the fight. However, for key doctrines (the Trinity, the divinity and humanity of Christ, the substitutionary atonement, the bodily resurrection of Jesus, the authority of Scripture, God’s plan of salvation, you get the idea) we should not act as if they do not matter.

I get very annoyed with those that use the Gospel to further their own desires. I am appalled by those that take advantage of others or abuse others claiming authority from God. I get a little angry with those that sound good, but are leading people down the wrong path. I like John don’t want to even be in the same room with them, for God may bring the building down. Please don’t get me wrong, I am happy to talk with, learn from, and teach anyone that is willing. The problem is many are not concerned with how they make others feel or what others may believe, all they are concerned with is furthering their own agenda.

How do you define success in ministry? Too often we think if the numbers are growing or a building is being built then God is blessing said congregation. However many cults grow exponentially, but are from the devil. Always test what any teacher/preacher says by the word of God. False teachers are often only out to serve themselves; they are crafty and effective speakers; they create divisions in the church.

Romans 16: 17-18 says, “Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.” Often they become preoccupied with themselves. Pride is the root of their sin, as it is for most every sin we can conceive. More status, prestige, and publicity come to people who teach new or strange things than those who follow the truth laid out in Scripture. They often are guilty of singling out one point of doctrine, distorting it and then exaggerating it until it stands out from the others. In their zeal for their new idea, they make converts who are equally zealous. They try to force their view on everyone else. We must be suspicious of teachers in the church who encourage such devoted followings and who focus exclusively on one doctrine. We also must be very cautious of teachers that take a dictatorial leadership approach.

Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.  Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’” (Matt. 7:21-23)