Heresy And The Heretic

Heresy And The Heretic

Do we really know what the words “heresy” and “heretic” mean when used in Scripture?

It’s possible that we don’t, because our understanding comes from the way churches most often use the words. They use “heresy” when referring to any religious opinion or dogma contrary to that church’s teaching, and “heretic” to identify a person who holds it. But these words – derived from the Greek words hairesis and hairetikos – mean far more than the corresponding English words imply.

The word hairesis actually means “choosing” 1; therefore, in Scripture, heretics are people who demand that people “choose sides” on a particular issue. Contrary to the common thought, a heresy does not have to be “false doctrine”; it can also be a “self-willed opinion which leads to division and the formation of sects.” 1

The word “sect” in Scripture is the same word as heresy; it denotes a “division developed and brought to an issue” as the result of a “predilection either for a particular truth, or for a perversion of one.” 2 Thus we see that a person can actually be a heretic about the truth. Many well-intentioned people are heretics and don’t even know it!

What Is False Doctrine?
Simply put, false doctrine is teaching which is contrary to the foundational truths of the Christian faith. 3 While Scripture does not give us a list of the foundational truths, it does give us a criterion for determining what false doctrine actually is – it speaks of “destructive heresies” (2 Pet. 2:1 NIV), of doctrine that leads to “shipwrecked” faith (1 Tim. 1:19).

Thus, we should avoid labeling teaching which we merely disagree with as “false doctrine” unless there are clearly destructive results plainly seen. The attitude which says “separate from any teaching or practice we do not agree with” is the attitude of a heretic!

Heresies That Are Not False Doctrine
Divisions are called heresies or sects by Scripture. Many divisions that we see in the Church today resulted from issues which seemed vital to those who fought about them, but which – after the heat of battle is long gone – are seen as relatively unimportant! For example, one of the dividing issues among Protestants at the time of the Reformation was the exact significance of the “communion” bread and wine. To be forced to “choose sides” about such a difference among Protestants, was the sign of heresy at work!

Often the problem arises out of words, particularly among those who think verbally. Scripture warns us “against quarreling about words.” It would not do so if there were no such tendency! Such quarreling “is of no value and only ruins those who listen” (2 Tim. 2:14). For convenience, religious leaders often invent words, terms, or phrases to summarize what Scripture teaches. While this may be a very useful practice, if we lose sight of the Scriptures from which these words or phrases were inferred and then demand that others use them, we become heretics. For example, the expressions “eternal security” and “lose your salvation” produce angry quarrels, but when we stop pushing the term or phrase and look at the Scriptures on which they are based, there is usually no conflict! 4

How Do Heresies Arise?
We rightly interpret Scripture by taking a verse from one context and carefully fitting it together with verses from another. Scripture calls this “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15 KJV) and the person who does it is called “a workman ... who correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15 NIV). Heresies arise when we draw conclusions that appeal to us from certain Scriptures, ignore those Scriptures that do not fit our conclusions, and then try to force our conclusions on others.

Another way we can act heretically is to take the conclusion of another person, rephrase it saying, “That’s the same as saying ...”, and proceed to demolish our perversion of his conclusion. This may be a good way to win arguments but it is no way to win agreements! Our religious flesh enjoys controversy. Galatians 5:19-20 refers to “discord ... dissensions, factions” as “obvious acts of the sinful nature.”

Dealing With Heretics – With Ourselves
We ourselves may be acting as heretics when we react emotionally against a teaching that we do not like, and insist that the other person agree with our interpretation. We are being heretical unless their teaching is truly destructive of the faith. The scriptural command that “the Lord’s servant must not quarrel” (2 Tim. 2:24) is far too often violated by zealous believers who think they are acting for the Lord.

We can avoid acting as heretics if, when disputes arise, we try very hard to fit the verses of our opponent together with ours to form one accurate interpretation. After all, there is no conflict in Scripture! We are to act as “completely humble and gentle ... bearing with one another in love” (Eph. 4:2).

We may also be causing unrest in the church by teaching non-foundational things to which others strongly object, or by “harping” on a pet theme. When this occurs, elders are responsible to step in and take action to resolve the problem (1 Pet. 5:1-3), and we are to “submit ... out of reverence for Christ” (Eph. 5:21). A heretic would adopt the attitude, “I am speaking the truth, have the right to do so, and will continue to dispute.”

Dealing With Heretics – With Others
“The Lord’s servant must be kind to everyone... those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 2:24-25). Even if the truth we are contending for is foundational, we must be patient (Eph. 4:2-3). For example, there were some in Corinth who were saying, “There is no resurrection of the dead” (1 Cor. 15:12), and thus were opposing foundational truth. The Apostle Paul beautifully and patiently reasoned with them (1 Cor. 15:3-58).

What if true patience produces no results? Those who prove to be “rebellious” must be silenced, because they are “teaching things they ought not to teach.” We are to “warn a divisive person once, and then ... a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him” (Ti. 3:10). The heretic may be thought of as a “wonderful Christian” but God says of him: “You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful” (Ti. 3:11). The purpose of such shunning – to be administered with gentleness, patience, prayer and without strife – is to restore him, not get rid of him.

The Role Of Heresies
God does use heresies (1 Cor. 11:19 KJV), but they are much less useful when they cause needless division. The Spirit would produce unity and we are to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3). Yes, we are “to contend for the faith” (Jude 3), the foundational truths, but we are to do so without being contentious. And without becoming heretics!

END NOTES
1. Vine, W. E., Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, vol. 2, p. 217, Oliphants, 1964.
2. Vine, vol. 3, p. 335.
3. Creeds are attempts to list the foundation truths of the faith. John Ritchie attempts to list and discuss them in his book, The Foundation Truths of the Faith, John Ritchie Limited.
4. Grace & Truth Magazine, “Eternal Security: God’s View and Man’s” (Jan. ’03) p. 8.

By Alan H. Crosby