2Tim. 3:13 – “But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.”
In my last article I detailed the speed by which heresies are prone to spread, but today I’d like to break down their spread in a little more detail. A disease that ends in death often begins with a mere tickle in your throat, but there are various and growing symptoms that progress before the disease has run its course. And it is much the same with heresy.
False doctrine begins in our ignorance to the danger of it – no one willingly contracts a virus. And that erroneous doctrine starts off rather small. In the beginning they are mere questions and criticism that are posed by the inwardly unstable. These fain humility, wanting to be seen as those who are merely trying to discover the truth through their inquiries, but it is not long before their pride rears its ugly head. Soon he, who first only questioned the truth, will suggest a plausible alternative to that truth. And what a deep thinker this man is thought to be! Others will surround him, and laud him, and fan the flame of his arrogance. “It’s just a suggestion,” he might say, “It’s just an idea.” But when his “idea” meets little or no resistance, and the church amicably allows such suggestions to flourish, it will not be long before his “idea” becomes an acceptable alternative to the truth.
At this point treatment for the disease is often too late. Where medicines could have thwarted the disease early, now drastic measures are required. Early treatment is the only means to avoid amputation! Once false doctrines gain a standing as acceptable alternatives, your fight is no longer against one man’s idea – it is now against the collective mindset of the people. Fighting against heresy at this stage makes you a public enemy, as Satan will often twist your defense of the truth, and cause you to seem old-fashioned, naïve, bigoted, or too strict. Your attempt to stand for the truth, although it is necessary, will often further entrench the imposter in his opinion. He will fain abuse at your hands – not having grounds to defend his argument against the Word, he will rather point to your demeanor, your actions, and your manner of speech. You will be called harsh, and critical, and unloving. And as the watching world hears these accusations, they will think it only right to come to the aid and support of the one they view as under attack. Thus what was once a mere question grew into a new suggested idea, which grew into an acceptable alternative, and now grows into an indisputable belief. Ironically, although it began with a question, for you to question this heresy will make you to be seen as a monster.
From this point it is not a large leap before this new doctrine is considered one that is indispensable to the faith and essential to be maintained by all. The “truth” has changed in people’s minds and so any dissenting opinions must be ridiculed or silenced. Those who cling to the “old” and Biblical doctrine should be removed from the church, they should be put-away, and even imprisoned if possible. History tells us that even being put to death is not out of the question for holding the line against heresy.
What a tragic turn, when the only remedy against spiritual sickness is outlawed, and the illness itself is sanctioned and even required! We must be on our guard early against heresy, because evil men and imposters only grow worse and worse. Their misunderstandings and erroneous beliefs will only grow more refined, and yet more vile. As they themselves are tricked by the enemy of our souls, they will sweep others into the very same trap, deceiving others as they themselves have been deceived.
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