Heresy

In my studies today, I came across a subheading over Scripture that said, "Destructive Doctrines"—a short phrase with eternal implication. The reality is the practice of false teaching has been around since the beginning of man and time. Heresy was at the root of the fall of Adam and Eve—the first sin. The word heresy is rooted in the Greek word "hairesis," which in our language means a choice or a disunion. It is also rooted in the Greek word "hairéomai," which means to make a choice or having an option; progressing to having a preference because of an opinion or a sentiment. How tragic is it that the God of all creation makes man with the ability to choose, and when given the opportunity, most men choose to turn away? Yes, I have been spending much time studying and writing about the foundational need for the Word and warning of false teachings and heresy, and until the Lord leads otherwise, I shall continue. This subject is one that nowhere near enough sermons are preached upon and far too little study has been made. By way of testing this theory, let me ask a simple question. "Did you know the proper meaning of heresy?" So what is my point, you ask? The point is this. We, as children of God, are being constantly bombarded with lies, theory, twisted words, subliminal messages, and much more on a constant basis. With our televisions we allow sin and the acceptance of it to be pumped into our homes and thinking, "Oh, it doesn't hurt anyone" or "I don't believe that" or "Well, it doesn't affect me"; all excuses for partaking. We listen to music lyrics where both men and women are glorifying sexual immorality, drug use, rebellion, and more. Almost every form of media implies that drinking and partying are the ways to have fun. Need I say more? On the news all we hear are political debates, the immoral agenda, acceptance of all behaviors, and how wrong it is to hold people accountable. We have made the choosing of any way of satisfying our flesh or heresy completely acceptable, and even encouraged: "It's all good." In the Christian realm we can listen to any number of opposing teachings all day long. One says grace covers all sin—past, present, and future. Another preaches the law, and still others offer even more choices for grace. Some preach Jesus is the only way, and others preach there are other ways. Some preach health, wealth, prosperity, and joy as if God owed them to us, and others preach the need for humility, meekness, and poverty as if Christ never came. If that were not enough to confuse folks, in the midst of many of these messages are condom commercials, commercials with scantily clad men and women running up the beach, and every other form of lewd advertising. You see it yet? Heresy is nothing new. It is going on around us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and in most cases we knowingly or unknowingly support, accept, and even defend it. In Ephesians, chapter 5, Paul begins by calling us to be "imitators of God" and to "walk in love," and then he quickly warns us not to walk in the ways of the world, to not even allow certain behaviors to be named among you. In verses 11 through 14 he goes on to say this: "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light." Let me end with this. It is not wrong to be set apart from the world. It is not wrong to believe the entire Word of God. It is not wrong to resist evil. It is not wrong to trust God. It is not wrong to stand for truth in love. It is not wrong to love your enemies nor to not have cable or listen to ungodly music, or to discipline your children. It is not wrong to take a stand against evil. Pastor Gene Burroughs, Missio Dei Ministries, Navarre, FL