NOTING AND TURNING AWAY FROM DIVISIVE BRETHREN “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple” (Rom. 16:16-17). These were among Paul’s final written words to the brethren in Rome. To Titus, Paul wrote, “Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned” (Tit. 3:10-11). Jesus warned His disciples, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees” (Matt. 16:6). He was specifically referring to their doctrines (vs. 12). John, sometimes known as the apostle of love, commands, “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds” (2 John 10-11). The wise man reminds us that, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven…” (Eccl. 3:1-8). There comes a point where must recognize the need to pluck what is planted, kill, break down, weep, mourn, gather stones, refrain from embracing, lose, throw away, tear, speak, hate and wage war. We are in just such a time. Make no mistake, we are in the midst full frontal attack against PERCEIVED “traditionalism,” “creedalism” and “legalism” in churches of Christ. Many who consider themselves members of the church that belongs to Christ, both subtly and secretly, as well as, aggressively and openly, are using practices such as a weekly observance of the Lord’s Supper, instrumental music in worship, the CENI hermeneutic (Command, Example, and Necessary Inference), the contribution, social drinking, etc. etc. etc., as wedge issues to divide brethren from one another and promote their idea of “necessary change” to advance their doctrines. These ideas are couched in terms such as “freedom from legalism,” “escape from bondage,” “liberated from traditionalism,” etc. They are often promoted under the umbrella of grace. They often result in fellowship with seemingly good men, who do some good things, bearing some good fruits, but who teach doctrines contrary to doctrine of Christ. They often argue generations of misunderstanding of the gospel for the sake of promoting a “new” way to look at things. The print these ideas in printed books, e-books, from pulpits, behind computers, on Facebook, on Twitter, via email, in small and secret groups, in homes, and amongst congregations. Some have even “left” what they deem “traditional” churches of Christ to find doctrinal kindredness in their new found “freedom.” Though extremely disheartening, this is natural and to be expected to some degree (cf. 1 John 2:19). Jesus did promise some division, did He not (cf. Matt. 10:34-39)? However, the real problem is that some have not left, or only left in body, but not in spirit. Many linger and continue to promote their heresies. Many continue to promote them through influence they have that still remains where they left, a problem only exasperated in our modern information era via means of social media, communication at the speed of light, easy to publish and print books, etc. Many have been promoting these wedge issues for years under the guise of open-mindedness and have already driven their wedges deep and firm. All that remains is to reap the inevitable division they have already sown, unless we choose to begin to fight back. We might have been negligent to allow these doctrines to gain such traction among us, but we would be remiss to not fight now that we see them bearing fruit before our eyes. While longsuffering is always a critical concern, as we must preach the word with all longsuffering (2 Tim. 4:2), the leavening effect of such divisive heresies must be equally as significant a concern. To deny that brethren are dividing from one another in this current apostasy is just naive. It is happening widespread. Preachers have been fired, teachers have been silenced, churches have been divided, brethren find themselves in disagreement over issues they once agreed upon, elderships have dissolved and fellowship has been severed. I am sadly and personally aware of instances of each of these. The number of such instances is only increasing. Knowing that these same heresies and widespread apostasies have risen many times in history among God’s people, this is why we are called to be discerning and contend (Jude 3). This is why we must not dismiss the warnings of those who are discerned as merely being alarmist and unkind. We must ask the tough questions. Is this man and his doctrine causing division? What happens if we let this man continue to cause division? How many more souls will be lost if we continue to allow his leaven to spread unchecked? The first line of defense is elders in the church. Such men, when indeed qualified, should be have this degree of discernment. Having just given the qualifications to Titus, Paul said that an elder, among other things must hold “fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict” (Tit. 1:9). He goes on to explain, “For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcisions, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain” (Tit. 1:10-11). Elders, are you fulfilling your duty? Unfortunately, some are not. Some are actually giving shelter to some of this teaching. Paul warned the Ephesian elders that “from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves” (Acts 20:30). Men are rising up. Men are speaking perverse things. Men are drawing away disciples after themselves. Some of these men are elders, who are shaping and encouraging younger preachers to promote their doctrines. Some of these elders have been influenced by preachers who have promoted such error. It is bad enough that such leaven impacts a single congregation of God’s people, but this error spreads far and wide. Our modern mobility allows for such leaven to spread through family members, moving about from church to church, relations that transcend local boundaries and all the conveniences of modern communication. Shall we sit idly by as it happens or shall we resist these heresies, steadfast in the faith? When Jesus says, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16) but men say, “He who believes and is NOT baptized is saved” – they are teaching a doctrine contrary to what we have learned and are causing division. When James writes, “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” (Jas. 2:24), but men say, “Man is justified by grace ALONE through faith ALONE in Christ ALONE” – they teaching a doctrine contrary to what we have learned and are causing division. When Paul writes, “Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern” (Phil. 3:17), but men teach that “Apostolic examples are not binding” – they are teaching a doctrine contrary to what we have learned and are causing division. I can list others, but suffice it to say, we are facing division—the question is how much and who? We can continue to harbor, encourage, tolerate, put up with, cajole and even ignore false teaching among us, until its leaven so permeates the whole that all that remains in the aftermath is shattered relationships, congregations and fellowship. Or we can make a choice to follow the inspired commands cited at the front of this article, having made every effort to restore those who are overtaken in a trespass in the spirit of gentleness (Gal. 6:1) and turn those sinners who have wandered from the truth from the error their way, saving their souls from death (Jas. 5:19-20). The one choice we cannot make is to pretend that this apostasy is not upon us and ignore the leaven that is so rapidly spreading among us.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Jun 2013 22:57:13 +0000
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