BY Argie Simonis
I have a burdance from the Lord for a long time to write this and I will try to be very careful with this matter, because it is easy to create misunderstandings. Let me also emphasize that I will not talk about specific denominations or churches, but about teachings. This is very important, and everyone can draw their own conclusions.
Let's start with the definition of heresy, as I found in Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary:
Heresy is "the observance of a religious opinion contrary to the doctrine of the Church" and
"disagreement or deviation from a dominant theory, opinion or practice". ~
I think this is a good starting point because we have two key elements. A dominant position and an opposite position. As far as religion is concerned, any belief or practice that is contrary to the official position of the Church is considered heretical.
So we must be very careful before rushing to characterize someone as a heretic, but at the same time we must always be vigilant so as not to be carried away by any kind of wind of heretical teaching.
I will list red flags that we must watch out for so that we can distinguish right from wrong, right teaching from heresy.
First of all, I want to emphasize that a heretic is not necessarily someone who does not follow specific ceremonies or decrees of the Law, because the Law prophesied the end of himself and the conclusion of a better will:
"Now we know that what things soever the law said, it said to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;" Rom. 3:19-21
The apostle Paul believed everything that was written in the Law and in the prophets, but he went beyond them to something better, in the New Testament that Jesus put into effect. He was even accused of being a heretic:
"But this I confess to you, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:" Acts 24:14
The Pharisees did the same to Jesus himself, when they accused him of not keeping the Sabbath, which was one of the 10 commandments:
"Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God." John 5:18
The same thing happens when they accuse the Lord's disciples of eating ears of corn because they were hungry:
"But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, Behold, your disciples do that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath day." Mat. 12:2
Paul also explains this shadow of the things to come here:
"Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." Col. 2:17
After reading these, one will surely ask: What is heresy after all?
I will list some very important points which are red flags and we should be able to recognize them in order to protect ourselves and others from this danger.
- 1. I have mentioned it in some of my older posts, and I consider it the number one red flag:
"And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:Of sin, because they believe not on me;" John 16:9
So any teaching that promises salvation through other means, such as through works, rituals, or a person who is "the messenger of God" on earth is considered heretical.
"Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me." John 14:6
-2. The denial of God directly or indirectly, as well as the denial that Christ came in the flesh, or also the teaching that Christ came only as a Spirit:
"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privately shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction." 2Peter 2:1
"Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son, the same has not the Father: he that acknowledges the Son has the Father also." 1John 2:22-23
"Hereby know you the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:" 1Ιωάν. 4:2"And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof you have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world." 1John 4:2-3
"For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." Jude 1:4
---- I will start first with the Deity of Jesus: ----
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1
"But to the Son he said, Your throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom." Hebrews 1:8
"And Thomas answered and said to him, My LORD and my God." John 20:28
"And we know that the Son of God is come, and has given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life." 1Ιωάν. 5:20
Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Spirit, the Helper, was different from Himself. The Father would send the Helper (Paraklitos), the Spirit of truth, after the departure of Christ. The Spirit would speak through them about Jesus (John 14: 25–26, 15: 26–27, 16: 7–15).
The Holy Spirit is a person, he was present in Creation, as is the Son (the Word) (Gen. 4: 2-3), He has emotions and we must honor Him as the Father and the Son:
"And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby you are sealed to the day of redemption." Eph. 4:30
"But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?" Acts 5:3
"Then the Spirit said to Philip, Go near, and join yourself to this chariot." Acts 8:29
"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death." Rom. 8:2
"But all these works that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will." 1Cor. 12:11
"But God has revealed them to us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God." 1Cor. 2:10-11
"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" Hebrews 9:14
The Holy Spirit has life (Romans 8: 2), He has emotions (Ephesians 4:30), He has a will (1 Corinthians 12:11), He is omniscient (1 Corinthians 2: 10-11), He is eternal (Hebrews 9:14) and is omnipresent (Psalm 139: 7). A simple power could not possess all these characteristics, but the Holy Spirit possesses them.
Finally, I would like to emphasize that what the devil always wants but will never obtain, is the worship and adoration that belong exclusively to the One and only God. Anything else that occupies this position is considered idolatry and is condemned by His Word.
These 3 general categories or "red flags" are the basic criteria for recognizing heretical teachings. Once we find them we do not need to enter into further discussions or disputes over minor issues.
"As I sought you to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that you might charge some that they teach no other doctrine, Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do." 1Tim. 1:4
"But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself rather to godliness." 1Tim. 4:7
I hope this study will help identify and remove them from the body of Christ and from your heart.
"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;" 2Cor. 10:5
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