Acts 15:5 – “But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, ‘It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.’”
Today we turn to consider who can rightly be called a heretic. There are various terms that might seem synonymous on the surface that all speak of people with a wayward understanding: Unbeliever, Idolater, Apostate, Immature, and Heretic. For our purposes let me give you an extremely brief definition of each of those terms:
An Unbeliever (or heathen) is someone who doesn’t believe in God at all
An Idolater is a believer in, and follower of, false religion
An Apostate is someone who once was a professed believer, but who has renounced and walked away from the true faith
The Immature are those believers who may be plagued with doubts, who perhaps struggle in areas of Christian morality, or who have a shallow understanding of various elements of the faith
Finally, a Heretic is someone who maintains a profession of faith in Christ, but who speaks against and opposes some truth of Christ as revealed in His Word
Herein we can observe the great danger of heresies: they spill forth from the lips of those who claim to be fellow brothers and sisters in Christ! The words of an unbeliever are easily disregarded when they contradict our Bible. A follower of some false religion is easy enough to spot as well, their idolatry rightly causes us alarm, and most Christians steer clear of their teachings. The immature often reveals their lack of depth through their character and ignorance about the Word, and so too their errors in doctrine, though still dangerous, are easy enough to identify and refute. An apostate is a little more dangerous, because they once claimed to believe the Gospel but due to their own corruptions they have turned away. Many Christians are curious as to the reasoning of such people, and sadly they might give an ear to hear their sinful musings. This is dangerous, because often times apostates have themselves been misled by the teachings of heretics, been lured by the lifestyle of unbelievers, or have become polluted in their minds by false religion.
James says – “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” (Jam. 5:19-20) But we need to take care when we reach out to those who have wandered. As Jude says – “And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.” (Jude 22-23) In our love for those who have wandered, may we take care that we ourselves not become defiled by the same lies that have shipwrecked our neighbors.
Of course the heretic is still the greater threat. An apostate has left the fellowship of the church and so their influence is greatly limited. However the heretic lives, and moves, and thrives within the fellowship (they are stains at your love feasts – Jude 12). Their arguments can’t be disregarded as rank unbelief or obvious idolatry; neither can you simply disregard their arguments as immature. Church history reveals that the most prominent heretical views were intelligently argued and deeply believed by those who propounded them. Who is the heretic? He is the snake in your midst! He is the wolf in sheep’s clothing! He is the devil masquerading as an angel of light! He is maybe the man sitting next to you, or possibly the man standing behind the pulpit preaching to you. Who is a heretic? He is a “supposed Christian”! To find the greatest danger to the church, we need not look outward, but rather within. O the importance of prayerfully studying the Word, watchfulness, and sobriety of spirit. God protect us from those who would mislead us from within.
Acts 20:29-31 – “For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.”
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