Let's dig through the scriptures:
[1Ti 1:18-20 ESV] 18 This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, 19 holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, 20 among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
Notice here that Paul calls them out by name. For all we know, those two men could have been standing in the assembly when this epistle was read to everyone. Ouch Paul, we aren't supposed to call out those who teach false doctrine... what are you doing man?
[2Ti 2:15-18 ESV] 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.
O man.... He did it again.... Ouch Paul. Ok... maybe it was just Paul doing this, maybe Paul was making a mistake in this area. The other apostles wouldn't do anything of the sort, surely.
[3Jo 1:9-10 ESV] 9 I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. 10 So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.
I thought John was like the apostle of love? But here he is calling out Diotrephes by name? What gives? Shouldn't John have gone to him 1 on 1 first and tried to work things out first before spreading such slander about this man?
[Eph 5:11 ESV] 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
How are we to expose the unfruitful works of darkness that come from public pulpits if we can't talk about them. Aren't we commanded to expose them? Which is it, are to expose them, or to not expose them? It seems like it's saying to expose them? It doesn't say go and burn their church down and put them in jail, but it does say expose them, does it not?
[Mat 7:15-16 ESV] 15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
If there was a pack of wolves just over the next hill, and I was coming from that direction and ran into you and your herd of sheep, would I be in the wrong to tell you, "Hey, theres a pack of wolves over the hill, you best not be going that direction kind sir. I don't want you and your precious flock to be eatin alive! Blessings!" Is it wrong to warn you about the wolves? Should I have sung you a nice melodic psalm and told you, "God bless you! Be at peace! All is well in the world good sir!" and been on my merry way?
[1Jo 4:1 ESV] 1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
We are told that it is the last time, and that there are going to be many false prophets out there. Ok got it. We are told to test the spirits and see whether they are from God or not. Ok got it. Now after you have done all this, and you find out that someone is a false prophet, you should keep it to yourself and not tell anyone because it might offend some. Ok got it. Wait.... what???? Where did that come from? Should we be careful about making false accusations? Definitely. Should we keep quiet because some may be offended by the truth? God forbid.
[Gal 1:6-9 ESV] 6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-- 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
There's an eternal price to pay for preaching a false gospel. If some person is preaching a false gospel, and people we know are following after him, they are in great danger. The most loving thing to do would be to try our best to show them that this person is preaching a false gospel, that he is misleading them.
[1Ti 5:20 ESV] 20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.
I've said before, and I don't want to take it back, that I think this verse is referring primarily, if not solely, to elders in the church. That being said, people who are in positions of authority, "pastors," "teachers," those who call themselves "apostles" and "prophets," fall into this category. When they publicly sin by teaching false doctrine, they open themselves up to being publicly rebuked for their sin. One could almost say that the scriptures command it. You may say... well that's not your job Travis... Ok, fine, that's your opinion. But it's certainly someones job, whether you think it's mine or not. If you would step up to the plate and do it, then I wouldn't have to =D. Would make my life a lot more simple.
[2Ti 3:1-5 ESV] 1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
And last but not least, here is one more set of verses. I will let someone else's post from another thread speak on this one, as long as he doesn't mind.
[Tit 1:9-13 ESV] 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. 10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,
Greetings,
It appears that Paul is referring to Believers here.
Pull the Believers up for listening to such rot! so that they will be sound in the faith and so they stop listening to and buying such rot!
my paraphrase:
Don't pussyfoot around with the flock, keep them alert to filth and deception. It is the faith that needs to be preserved, for them and for those who will follow.
The world is full of evil and liars and deceivers, it's true, so warn with power and firmness (never once without love being the motive and care) so that the flock are made to sit up and take note that such rot and listening to it is a NO-GO Zone!
Not, dear members of the congregation, sorry to bother you but i am a bit sad today because , well, I don't want to upset you, but, well, please don't take too much notice of anyone who isn't part of our loving congregation.... and don't forget we're having a raffle this week. The prize is a surprise and I'll give you a hint... it is good listening sermons stuff, by a very popular speaker from Crete!
See you all next sunday.
NO!
Rebuke them for their foolishness in even considering the option of thinking of listening to brutish deceivers (who fit the descriptions Paul gave).
Not, it's probable not a very good idea to keep going that direction because the bridge has collapsed and you might get hurt... NO!
STOP!!! DANGER!!! STOP!!!
People will lose interest in trying to deceive those who refuse to listen to them.
It's not the Cretans and other liars who need rebuking, it is us, the household of God, the 'Israel' of Faith.
Always ever be at repentance, always ever, reject the world and it's dirty lies and listen not to those who speak them. Do not sniff petrol, it will damage your brain, we would say very sharply (as in with determination to cut the idea off) to our children and children anywhere (if we care). Same goes here, Paul is instructing one who is to guide and oversee the flock, the little children he so often refers to.
It is not a case of yelling and getting aggressive and brutal in punishment, but as with a sword, to deliberately act in such care and love as to cut the briers from the babes and set them free, to also cut the temptation to go into the briers off. It is a constant 'job'.
Bless you ....><>
Many people are full of hate and they throw stones to make themselves feel better. These people do no good for anyone. But the truth of the matter is that the world, and more specifically what is called the church, is full of ravenous wolves who need to be identified and exposed. Most of these ravenous wolves, that are of the most dangerous, operate from pulpits and "Christian" ministries:
2 Corinthians 11
13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
Blessings!
Travis
