"..Christians nowadays simply don't care about the prevalence of false doctrine, nor do they take seriously their duty to fight against apostasy. Instead they want a friendly atmosphere of open acceptance for everyone, tolerance of opposing ideas, and charitable dialogue with the apostates." - John MacArthur (the Truth War)
Not that I agree with everything John teaches, but he is spot on in this comment.
Proverbs 29:24 Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.
"On the first discovery of the theft, the person wronged Jdg_17:2, or the judge of the city (marginal reference), pronounced a solemn curse on the thief and on all who, knowing the offender, were unwilling to give evidence against him. The accomplice of the thief hears that curse, and yet is silent, and so falls under it, and “destroys his own soul.” Albert Barnes commentary
"Bewrayeth it not - Which he is bound to do for the publick good." John Wesley
H5046 Strong's Concordance
na^gad
naw-gad'
A primitive root; properly to front, that is, stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively to announce (always by word of mouth to one present); specifically to expose, predict, explain, praise: - bewray, X certainly, certify, declare (-ing), denounce, expound, X fully, messenger, plainly, profess, rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, X surely, tell, utter.
Total KJV occurrences: 370
If you will not testify against a thief and you fall under the same curse pronounced by the judge, how much more so would it be if you know someone is teaching false doctrine and you do not testify against the doctrine and its teacher?
In our own criminal justice system we have accessory before or after the fact if we help a crime to be committed whether we are present or not. It is also called aiding and abetting the crime which can get you the same punishment as the perpetrator.
Proverbs says we should boldly oppose the error unless we are partner with the thief or to make application, partner to the false doctrine and its teacher.
Thus if we, and especially pastors, are not boldly testifying against the false doctrines and teachers are we not aiding and abetting the lies? Silence is often viewed as condoning an action or thesis and the person(s) involved.
Like one of my professors, I tend to be a walking question mark. Indeed, he was one that stood with me when some wanted to kick me out college because I questioned the son of two favored professors. I had honest questions. I have no desire to go to Guyana or a compound in Waco.
I often got into debates with my own denomination in which I served in three different shades of that denomination. They trained me how to use a proper hermeneutic and then got upset when using that hermeneutic I found discrepancies in its teachings.
I have gotten the "touch not mine anointed" and don't go up against God's man" warnings. With my childhood traumas I am often tempted to go along to get along, but I want to be right and teach truth. If Jesus was in His earthly ministry today and calling out the modern Pharisees and Sadducees, he would be called a heretic hunter and told not to go up against God’s men.
I am sure that I have a few Charismatics that are declaring and decreeing against me and calling me not so nice names because I have pointed out some major errors in their teachings. I remember hearing Jimmy Swaggart back in the day call out a slew of groups and then said that the Pentecostals were next. He was at least equal and not just finding fault with everyone but his own group. He had his sins, but in this area I can show him some respect.
We are to be in one mind and one accord. We are to speak the same thing. We can only do that if we are all walking in the Spirit so that we are in the truth in all areas for He came to lead us into ALL truth, not just essentials.
Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
These are my life verses and call to ministry. I do relate to Peter. Indeed, I prayed that I might be like Peter and Paul. I am, but I am like them in their weaknesses and I was thinking strengths when I prayed. Then again, Paul said when he was weak he was strong so maybe my prayer was answered, but not how I wanted.
I have a great passion for the brethren to be strengthened. Peter had to have his changes and be turned around. He was saved at that point so he did not need to be converted in that sense of the word. He did have to be humbled and ultimately filled with the Spirit at Pentecost.
Strengthening the brethren entails getting them to go into the right direction and Peter did have to set the Jews straight when he was chastised for going to Cornelius and seeing God save Gentiles. Still, he had the fear of man even after Pentecost for which Paul called him out on his hypocrisy caused by that fear.
There have been times when I have had the fear of man keep me quiet, when I should have spoke out and other times I could not keep quiet. Hurts in ministry have made say like Jeremiah that I would not say anything again, but then like David while musing the fire burned within me and I had to speak.
At my age, many would be content to putter and tinker warming a pew and staying away from any controversy enjoying retirement. I cannot be that person. As long as I have breath, I have to serve. Indeed, my motto is now until disability or death, I will serve. Depending on the disability, I may just have to find a new avenue of service.
So I have to seek to minister truth. That means that while I know my own sins and failings, I cannot be partner with a false doctrine or its teacher and not boldly call it out standing firmly against it. I have plenty of biblical examples for that type of action. Jesus called out the Pharisees and Sadducees regularly and was not a ‘heretic hunter” or “critiquer.”
I have no agenda, but to find truth and proclaim it. We hear a great deal of talk about prophets, but the prophets were usually bearers of bad news and calling out sins and sinners. Talk about healing and prosperity came after judgment and repentance. Most of what we hear today is about prosperity, happiness, health, advancement, etc.
Some are called to be apologists taking the truth of the Word and presenting it to the unbeliever. It is really a defense of the Gospel, not saying we are sorry as we often use the word apology. A polemicist
debates or argues for or against a specific doctrine or opinion. Lawyers engage in polemics in a trial. You have defense and prosecutor. In a church setting, a polemicist would argue for or against things like Calvinism, Arminianism, tithing, time of the Rapture, gold dust, angel feathers, etc.
The Apostle Paul was both as he was an apologist to the Pagans and a polemicist seeking to keep the Church right in their doctrine. Indeed, most of his writings are polemic teachings. I have had to do both in my years of ministry and even some before I entered ministry. I believe polemics is my strong suit or gift, if you please. I believe that is because to have a strong church and strong believers we have to deal with the myths, lies, sentimentalism, materialism and mysticism that has entered into the Body.
Jude says that we are to contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints. We have failed to do that and the enemy has sown many tares that are tearing up the Body as well as tearing many unbelievers away from the arms of Christ that are open to them. This must stop or we may as well close the doors for we do not know what the Body is supposed to do. We are to do spiritual warfare against the powers of darkness even when they use ecclesiastical titles. We have been AWOL or on R&R too long. May God help us!! Maranatha!!
