Warning: I don't want you to be misled. Some consider me to be a false teacher, and this is written by a former believer, not a current believer.
Recently, one commenter to my writings has expressed disapproval of me and my writing, and it started me thinking, "How a Christian respond to someone that they feel is living in sin, spreading error, or is weak in the faith?
1But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them-bringing swift destruction on themselves.
~2Peter 2:1
It is pretty clear that the leadership of the early Church warned believers to be on guard against false, false teachers, and, according to II Peter, these false teachers bring destruction on themselves. I think the writer of II Peter believed that this destruction they bring on themselves would be coming from God, and not at the hands of vigilantly believers seeking to do God's dirty work for Him.
The message from II Peter is aimed at the believers. The writer is not talking to the false teachers he is talking to those who might potentially be affected by these false teachers.
14 that we be not now little children, moving as waves, and be not borne about with each wind of teaching [and be borne about with all wind of teaching], in the waywardness of men, in subtle wit, to the deceiving of error.
~Ephesians 4:14
8See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
~Colossians 2:8
16 This is what the LORD Almighty says:
"Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you;
they fill you with false hopes.
They speak visions from their own minds,
not from the mouth of the LORD.
~Jeremiah 23:16
There is literally NO QUESTION that the Bible opposes false teachers, false prophets, and false doctrine. But how does the Bible suggest that believers to deal with these false teachers, and non believers?
1. Follow a Progressive Discipline Plan
15"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' 17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector. ~Matthew 18:15-17
First, attempt to talk privately with the person who you feel is wrong, and attempt to correct them .
Second, if they refuse to listen take one or two witnesses and again attempt to correct their errors.
Third, tell it to the church. I assume here there are prayers and perhaps social pressure that might impact the thinking of the errant brother or sister.
Four, finally, if they still refuse to listen the church, the believers, the called out, are to treat this brother the way you would treat a pagan or a tax collector.
But what does it mean to treat someone as a pagan or tax collector?
1. Avoid them.
Perhaps the best way to answer this is to find examples in the scriptures of how Jesus treated pagans and tax collectors. Remember that the pagans were people who were not God-followers. They were outsiders, they were "those people", they were trouble-makers, they were unclean, sinful, untrustworthy, disreputable, and enemies of the Children of Israel.
The only thing worse was being a "tax collector". The tax collectors were Jews that collected tax for the Roman government. The Romans were an occupying oppressor and anyone collecting tax for them was not just a tax collector but they were also traitors, sell-outs, and guilty of complicity with the Romans to extort money from family and countrymen. These tax collectors often used force and pain to steal from their brethren.
I am not sure how most Christians would view me: I may be considered a pagan, a false teacher, or a dishonest creep like those Edited to Remove Profanity ----Edited to Remove Profanity ----Edited to Remove Profanity ----Edited to Remove Profanity ---- tax collectors, but how did Jesus treat these very bad folk?
But how did Jesus himself treat pagans and tax collectors?
Jesus went to dinner parties at their homes of these pagans and tax collectors.
Jesus invited them to his teaching events.
Jesus actually used a pagan as an example of great faith
On the cross Jesus forgave a pagan's sins and sent him to paradise.
2. The Bible tells believers to avoid false teachers
17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.
~Romans 16:17
14 If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. 15Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
!II Thessalonians 3:14-15
I have had a number of comments from one reader responding with annoyance, and perhaps some degree of anger over articles I have written. I have urged this reader to stop reading my stuff, and asked her to stop reading, and avoid stuff that annoyed her. This is Biblical advice, I think. 3. The Bible tells believers not to judge those weak in the faith. Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. Romans 14:1
1 You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment?
~Romans 2:1-3
Perhaps you have heard the old Christian saying, "Condemn the sin, and not the sinner." I think a careful study of the scriptures will show that the main thrust of the teachings advocate for opposing sin, refuting false doctrine, but not to do God's job for God. God is in charge of the judging stuff. 14And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
~1Thessalonians 5:14
Instead of judging, Christians are urged to:
warn the idle
encourage the timid
help the weak, and
be patient with everyone.
3 The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. 5 One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone.
~Romans 14: 2-7
Clearly, Paul is discussing how Christians should respond and relate to other people with whom they have Biblical disagreements. Paul points out that one person might consider one day more important than another; and another person might believe that we should esteem every day alike: By bringing this difference to the attention of the Church Paul is letting all Christians know that he is not just talking about calendar disputes, he is talking about principles and not just this one specific issues. What the Apostle Paul says has application to more than just eating meat, or how to consider holidays.
The Apostle Paul goes on to say that we should allow each person be fully convinced in his own mind: Here, Paul seems to be willing to leave controversial issues up to the conscience of the individual. Obviously, Paul is not saying to ignore false teaching. This section is not about how to deal with false teachings, this is about how to deal with those you consider to be false teachers.
Well, what is a Christian to do with someone won't reconcile?
Well, this is America so you can do what you want.
You can tell them that they are annoying, that they need to grow up, that they are purposely spreading lies, that they may be stupid, if that is what you want to do. I am not sure that is the best way to convert someone, but bash away if you want.
Or you could treat them like the people Jesus loved, lived for, and for whom Jesus died to save.
You could engage these weak brothers or sisters, or these false teachers seeking to build a deeper relationship.
You might consider praying for them and continue to offer reconciliation, and
You could remember how Jesus reconciled you.
"False Christians,Teachers and Prophets".
