It's funny to think about how many "communities" are based on esoteric knowledge, hobbies, or interests. I'm in no way disparaging this, but there are groups of people who spend the better part of their entire existence involved in groups, events, and research that many people don't even know exists. There are hierarchies, leaders, politics, dirty pool, back-room deals, infighting, traditionalists, and progressives. Somewhere, there is a "foremost expert" on the Mothman, and somewhere else, there are people who want to be the foremost expert.
There are groups of Christians who, we might say, specialize in certain areas of theology that many people would think odd or not even know existed. Good people spend the bulk of their lives studying and working in one area of theology. Some men may be particularly well versed in eschatology (the study of last things), or others may be very knowledgeable in church history. For the most part, Christians recognize and agree these are noble pursuits and are thankful for those who have this gift of expertise. One area that gets a bad rap is "discernment ministry," where people dedicate their time to defending the faith. When I was a kid, I heard it called "heresy hunters."
Standing against false doctrine is essential work because the truth of Christianity is constantly under attack (Titus 1:9-11). Christianity is not defined by the culture or the times but by the Bible. The faith that we have received needs to be preserved and protected, according to the Bible. Discernment is a feature, not a bug. Jude 3-4 tells us that from the beginning, men "crept in unawares" to turn the doctrines of God's grace into tenets of loose living. The Bible, which testifies of Jesus, was twisted to deny Jesus as God, Lord, and Saviour. To be a Christian is to be discerning, to stand, defend, and protect the doctrines once received from those who attempt to change the historic principles found in the Scriptures.
However, one must be careful not to be consumed and thus become a full-time polemicist. The "communities" of discernment ministries focus on pointing out how people are wrong. It's a pastor's job to defend the truth, but it's not his only job. Jude wanted to write about the "common salvation," but he couldn't because of the false teachers. He wanted to talk about Jesus and His grace, but he had no choice but to defend the truth about Jesus from the heretics who tried to distort it. When people spend most of their time looking for polemics fodder, they get bitter, angry, and often self-righteous because they look for the bad, then find it. I went on a hike with a guy with the uncanny ability to spot a snake. He saw one in the leaves and it took me nearly a minute to spot it. I was thankful for his eye. But what if we got to the summit, he missed the view because he was looking around for snakes?
Christians are called to stand for the truth. To contend for the faith once delivered. But if that's all we do, or if that's all we are known for, are we really "great commission" focused? We cannot compromise on vital gospel truths, not even for a minute (Galatians 2:5), but how can we teach new Christians if we cannot tolerate someone not holding to everything we believe to be true (Matthew 28:20; Romans 14-15)? So we must fight for the faith and be patient and longsuffering with those who don't know the truth or know better. What's the balance? I'm not advocating a "third way" that makes everyone wrong but me.
Some books in the Bible are controversial. Galatians, for sure, was written because false teachers had deceived the churches. It's very likely that in Colossians and 1 John, both were written to fight against a proto-Gnosticism that was gaining ground among God's people. The pastoral epistles, and Jude, deal more with the reality of false preachers and the need to act. Jesus was patient with the disciples, who were often wrong, but was harsh with the priests and Pharisees, who should have known better and were teachings of falsehood.
No one at the church I pastor has an issue with being deceived by Kenneth Copeland. But that's not to say I've never talked to people that haven't. I knew what he believed and was able to warn and defend the truth, but if I spent hours listening to Copeland and preaching against him, what good am I doing to the people who 1) never hear him, 2) never come in contact with him, 3) aren't deceived by his teaching? Dealing with this type of situation, simply preaching the truth prepares the people to discern against an error they may encounter. There is so much heresy and false teaching in the world. How could you possibly correct everything everyone is teaching?
Many of the other texts concerning false doctrine involve people in the church. Titus 1:9, Acts 18:28, and 2 Timothy 2:24-26 deal with trying to convince a person with the wrong doctrine to repent and believe the truth. A real person who is teaching lousy stuff in their midst. What do you do when they don't listen and keep dividing? Eventually, you must stop trying, deal with the matter in church discipline and move on (Titus 3:8-11).
The main goal is to defend the truth and protect the people in your church, not to go to war with everyone who attacks every church. The ultimate goal is for everyone in the church to be able to spot a snake in the grass for themselves (Hebrews 5:13-14; Philippians 1:9-11). I heard a famous pastor online talking about "the problem of the church today…." I thought, "maybe for your church, but that's not a problem where I am a member." Not every error is a problem in every church.
I write this because of a situation in a church I've never been to, with a pastor I've never met. His primary focus was to point out heresy and false teachers. That's what he was known for and he was really good at it. But not only did this man destroy his ministry, but he also destroyed his family. I wonder if he was looking to correct everyone for so long, he became angry and bitter against the world, as if there was no truth, no good, no sound Christians anywhere? If I'm not fighting for the truth because I love it, love God's people, and love Christ, then I'm just pugnacious. A man will fight for those he loves. But a man can also fight because he likes to fight. May the Lord help us all to see the difference. Perhaps that's the best way. Love your neighbor, the church you are a member of, and the Lord and His truth.
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