Labelling people heretics
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The word translated (heretic) is (opinionated one ) in the Greek and when people start posting (opinions)..even myself...we in essence become (heretics)...
If we refuse biblical truth in favor of (opinions) after the second or third admonition we are to be refused and or rejected....
I suppose in some form or fashion we have all at one time or another slung this word without true regard for what we are saying...thanks for the reminder...
If we refuse biblical truth in favor of (opinions) after the second or third admonition we are to be refused and or rejected....
I suppose in some form or fashion we have all at one time or another slung this word without true regard for what we are saying...thanks for the reminder...
Did you hear about the guy called Mike who met another guy called Rick while crossing the Golden Gate Bridge?
When they discovered they were both born again Christians, they shook hands.
When they discovered they both went to a Fundamental church, they arranged to meet again.
When they discovered they both had wives who homeschooled their children, they arranged for their wives to spend Saturday together.
When they discovered that they both emphasized the distinction between the rapture and the day of the Lord, they arranged for their families to attend the next church pizza night.
When they discovered that neither of their wives had a tattoo and both of them had only one (usable) pair of ear piercings, they arranged for their families to go on vacation together.
Then Mike discovered that Rick and his wife had gone to a Christian college in Pensacola, FL, but...it was a different Christian college in Pensacola, FL from the one that Mike and his wife had attended.
"You heretic!" said Mike to Rick, and pushed him over the side of the Golden Gate Bridge.
When they discovered they were both born again Christians, they shook hands.
When they discovered they both went to a Fundamental church, they arranged to meet again.
When they discovered they both had wives who homeschooled their children, they arranged for their wives to spend Saturday together.
When they discovered that they both emphasized the distinction between the rapture and the day of the Lord, they arranged for their families to attend the next church pizza night.
When they discovered that neither of their wives had a tattoo and both of them had only one (usable) pair of ear piercings, they arranged for their families to go on vacation together.
Then Mike discovered that Rick and his wife had gone to a Christian college in Pensacola, FL, but...it was a different Christian college in Pensacola, FL from the one that Mike and his wife had attended.
"You heretic!" said Mike to Rick, and pushed him over the side of the Golden Gate Bridge.
Yes there is...
Titus 3:9-11 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
Otherwise bearing false witness (calling someone a heretic when they are not) is against the Commandments
Titus 3:9-11 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
Otherwise bearing false witness (calling someone a heretic when they are not) is against the Commandments
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Personally, the only time I post this word is when it appears in a comment I have quoted.............(see above) 
Why don't I use it? Please see the comment highlighted in red above....WHO, EXACTLY, DETERMINES WHAT BIBLICAL TRUTH IS? Me? You? Them?
Who, when speaking of "what a Scripture" means is doing anything OTHER than stating their "opinion?"
We can quote Scripture directly, and NOT offer an opinion as to what it is saying, and in that way I suppose we would NEVER be subject to being charged with being a heretic.........
Why don't I use it? Please see the comment highlighted in red above....WHO, EXACTLY, DETERMINES WHAT BIBLICAL TRUTH IS? Me? You? Them?
Who, when speaking of "what a Scripture" means is doing anything OTHER than stating their "opinion?"
We can quote Scripture directly, and NOT offer an opinion as to what it is saying, and in that way I suppose we would NEVER be subject to being charged with being a heretic.........
Is this the PROPER definition of "heretic?"
dictionary.search.yahoo.com
n. noun
adj. adjective
dictionary.search.yahoo.com
n. noun
- A person who holds controversial opinions, especially one who publicly dissents from the officially accepted dogma of the Roman Catholic Church.
adj. adjective
- Heretical.
..............or, this one?...............
[h=2]he·ret·i·cal[/h] adjective \hə-ˈre-ti-kəl\
CloseStyle: MLA APA Chicago
[h=2]Definition of HERETICAL[/h]1
: of, relating to, or characterized by heresy
2
: of, relating to, or characterized by departure from accepted beliefs or standards : unorthodox
— he·ret·i·cal·ly \hə-ˈre-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
See heretical defined for kids
.........or, maybe this one?............
[h=2]heretic[/h] Line breaks: her|et¦icPronunciation: /ˈhɛrɪtɪk
/
[h=3]noun[/h]- 1A person believing in or practising religious heresy.More example sentences
- It clearly would cover any incitement of hatred by the religious against its heretics, apostates, or members of other faiths.
- He was also an ardent heretic and freethinker, maybe an out-and-out atheist, and a vocal defender of the ideas of Charles Darwin.
- The heretics Marcion and Valentinus believed that God was androgynous.
- Get more examples
• archaic paynim
View synonyms
- 1.1A person holding an opinion at odds with what is generally accepted.
- 1A person believing in or practising religious heresy.More example sentences
Here is a good working definition at least of what would be worse than a heretic....
Galatians 1:8-9 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
Galatians 1:8-9 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
When people start "naming names" and calling individuals false preachers and heretics, I see it as a form of persecution. There is more persecution coming from within the Church than from without. People speak out of ignorance when someone is speaking the truth and then condemn a person (for what they are preaching) out of their lack of knowledge or revelation (of said truth). Its rather sad, for example, when people are against "grace preachers" and condemn them and use such words as "hyper-grace" with a negative connotation (even if in the Greek its used for "super-abounding grace"). Or even worse, "greasy grace." When I read that, due to my understanding of grace(glory to God), was offended someone described God's grace in such a way. Persecution, unfortunately, is not directly equated to people from outside the Body of Christ, but rather from within. Brothers and sisters fighting, not realizing they are from the same blood (that of Jesus Christ), although not literal (though we could argue we all come down from Adam and Eve) we are children of God by the Spirit of Adoption. So, when people start "naming names", they ought to be careful, because they could just show a lack of knowledge that could lead to perishing. Not perishing as in loss of salvation, necessarily, but to be defeated in areas of life that Christ has made us victorious in, at the cross.
U
For you to say that it is "persecution" to accuse someone of being a false teacher, would not be biblical. The real problem is in knowing how to tell a true teacher from a false one.
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
Acts 20:28-30
[SUP]28 [/SUP]Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
[SUP]29 [/SUP]For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
[SUP]30 [/SUP]Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
In 2Peter chapter 2 where we are warned against false teachers, the whole chapter really does describe what a false teacher is.
2Peter 2
18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
A false teacher will usually try to convince people that they can sin, or transgress the Law of God, the Commandments, and still be saved. The entire chapter begins by explaining that if God did not spare Lucifer and all the fallen angels when they sinned, and if He didn't spare Sodom and Gammorah when they sinned, and the people in Noah's day, then what makes you think that He will spare you? Then the chapter finishes off by saying that these false teachers promise people LIBERTY in their sins, encouraging them to go back to their old evil ways.
hen in Matthew 7 where Jesus told His disciples to beware of false prophets, if you will just read everything that He said after that and even before that, He explains what a false prophet actually is. In verse 12 He starts out by explaining in general that we need to follow "the law and the prophets" by doing unto others what we would like to have done to ourselves", which is the whole law in general, in a nutshell. Then He says to strive to enter into the STRAIT GATE... again, this is talking about keeping the Law of God. Then Jesus said ye shall know them by their fruits. This is just as John the Baptist said when the Religious leaders of the day wanted to be baptised of him, and he said to bring forth fruit meet for repentance.
Then Jesus adds:
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
INIQUITY means lawlessness. These are Christians He is speaking of, who claim to cast out devils, and probably do things like miraculous healing, pay their tithe and etc... yet they do not keep the Law of God, His Commandments.
Then Jesus finishes off by talking about the house built on the rock verses the house built on the sand. He says that if you build on the rock this means to build on His WORDS AND SAYINGS. Now, a false teacher will claim we are "saved by grace" and do like the false teachers described in 2Peter, which is to make people believe they have LIBERTY while they go back to "wallowing in the mire" of sin.
In 2Peter 2:19 it talks about putting people back into BONDAGE. In the same context as in John chapter 8 when Jesus told the Religious Leaders that they were in BONDAGE to sin. He said the truth would make them FREE. False teachers claim we are free to SIN or transgress God's Law. False liberty.
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
Acts 20:28-30
[SUP]28 [/SUP]Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
[SUP]29 [/SUP]For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
[SUP]30 [/SUP]Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
In 2Peter chapter 2 where we are warned against false teachers, the whole chapter really does describe what a false teacher is.
2Peter 2
18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
A false teacher will usually try to convince people that they can sin, or transgress the Law of God, the Commandments, and still be saved. The entire chapter begins by explaining that if God did not spare Lucifer and all the fallen angels when they sinned, and if He didn't spare Sodom and Gammorah when they sinned, and the people in Noah's day, then what makes you think that He will spare you? Then the chapter finishes off by saying that these false teachers promise people LIBERTY in their sins, encouraging them to go back to their old evil ways.
hen in Matthew 7 where Jesus told His disciples to beware of false prophets, if you will just read everything that He said after that and even before that, He explains what a false prophet actually is. In verse 12 He starts out by explaining in general that we need to follow "the law and the prophets" by doing unto others what we would like to have done to ourselves", which is the whole law in general, in a nutshell. Then He says to strive to enter into the STRAIT GATE... again, this is talking about keeping the Law of God. Then Jesus said ye shall know them by their fruits. This is just as John the Baptist said when the Religious leaders of the day wanted to be baptised of him, and he said to bring forth fruit meet for repentance.
Then Jesus adds:
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
INIQUITY means lawlessness. These are Christians He is speaking of, who claim to cast out devils, and probably do things like miraculous healing, pay their tithe and etc... yet they do not keep the Law of God, His Commandments.
Then Jesus finishes off by talking about the house built on the rock verses the house built on the sand. He says that if you build on the rock this means to build on His WORDS AND SAYINGS. Now, a false teacher will claim we are "saved by grace" and do like the false teachers described in 2Peter, which is to make people believe they have LIBERTY while they go back to "wallowing in the mire" of sin.
In 2Peter 2:19 it talks about putting people back into BONDAGE. In the same context as in John chapter 8 when Jesus told the Religious Leaders that they were in BONDAGE to sin. He said the truth would make them FREE. False teachers claim we are free to SIN or transgress God's Law. False liberty.
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[TD][SIZE=+1]Blasphemia[/SIZE]
In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul wrote: All bitterness, anger and wrath, insult andslander must be removed from you, along with all wickedness (4:31; see also Colossians 3:8). The Greek word for "slander" in the passage is blasphemia. We know the word well — it is where we get the English word "blasphemy," and it was most commonly used in the New Testament to identify false and offensive statements about God.
In Classical Greek, it meant "to bring to ill repute," and "defamation, by which another person is damaged."1 It represented the strongest form of "personal mockery."2 In the New Testament, when it was directed toward another person rather than God, it referred to abusive speech that would injure the reputation of another
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Tell me, when someone calls someone a heretic and says their message is "of the devil" is that not speech "that would injure the reputation of another?" What happens if what they are preaching truly is the truth? Will that slander, not only hurt that of the person spreading the Gospel ("Good News") but those who listened to your (false) warning to not listen to their message (that would have benefited them, if true)? It is a form of persecution. If you were made fun of in school, did you not feel persecuted, let alone if it was for your beliefs? Persecution can be expressed in the form of slander, as it attacks both the messenger and the message.
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[TD][SIZE=+1]Blasphemia[/SIZE]
In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul wrote: All bitterness, anger and wrath, insult andslander must be removed from you, along with all wickedness (4:31; see also Colossians 3:8). The Greek word for "slander" in the passage is blasphemia. We know the word well — it is where we get the English word "blasphemy," and it was most commonly used in the New Testament to identify false and offensive statements about God.
In Classical Greek, it meant "to bring to ill repute," and "defamation, by which another person is damaged."1 It represented the strongest form of "personal mockery."2 In the New Testament, when it was directed toward another person rather than God, it referred to abusive speech that would injure the reputation of another
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Tell me, when someone calls someone a heretic and says their message is "of the devil" is that not speech "that would injure the reputation of another?" What happens if what they are preaching truly is the truth? Will that slander, not only hurt that of the person spreading the Gospel ("Good News") but those who listened to your (false) warning to not listen to their message (that would have benefited them, if true)? It is a form of persecution. If you were made fun of in school, did you not feel persecuted, let alone if it was for your beliefs? Persecution can be expressed in the form of slander, as it attacks both the messenger and the message.
U
Well of course, if the person being accused is really teaching truth, then it would be wrong to falsely accuse them.
On the other hand, we have the example of Jesus Himself here:. when He warned His disciples to BEWARE of the DOCTRINE of the Pharisees....
Matthew 16:11-13[SUP]11 [/SUP]How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
[SUP]12 [/SUP]Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
On the other hand, we have the example of Jesus Himself here:. when He warned His disciples to BEWARE of the DOCTRINE of the Pharisees....
Matthew 16:11-13[SUP]11 [/SUP]How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
[SUP]12 [/SUP]Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Unfortunately there are well meaning Christians who are too legalistic and wrongly condemn and label others with derogatory terms. Like expelling a "heretic" for changing his view from pre-trib rapture to post-trib rapture.
Then there are well meaning Christians who are so easy going that they will refuse to question anybody's wrong opinion. They will welcome the wolf because he is wearing a sheep skin.
In between these two extremes is where we should be. We should know the Bible so well that we can recognize what is Scriptural and what is error.
There are core beliefs which we must believe or our Christianity is meaningless. If Jesus is not God then Christianity is nonsensical. So we must believe that.
Then there are beliefs that are important, but we will not lose our salvation if we do not understand them properly.
Then there are topics that are not 100% clear and will not affect our salvation. But we should discuss them.
For example the rapture. I believe there is no definitive answer.
My belief here is that God wants us to live every moment as if he is about to come, yet live our lives as if He is delaying His coming.
If we will go through the tribulation, I can explain to the pre-trib person where he or she got it wrong.
If we are ruptured pre-trib then I don't think anyone of us will be too bothered with the technicalities as we look upwards to our Saviour in the clouds.
But nobody should be considered a heretic even for being an amillennialist.
Then there are well meaning Christians who are so easy going that they will refuse to question anybody's wrong opinion. They will welcome the wolf because he is wearing a sheep skin.
In between these two extremes is where we should be. We should know the Bible so well that we can recognize what is Scriptural and what is error.
There are core beliefs which we must believe or our Christianity is meaningless. If Jesus is not God then Christianity is nonsensical. So we must believe that.
Then there are beliefs that are important, but we will not lose our salvation if we do not understand them properly.
Then there are topics that are not 100% clear and will not affect our salvation. But we should discuss them.
For example the rapture. I believe there is no definitive answer.
My belief here is that God wants us to live every moment as if he is about to come, yet live our lives as if He is delaying His coming.
If we will go through the tribulation, I can explain to the pre-trib person where he or she got it wrong.
If we are ruptured pre-trib then I don't think anyone of us will be too bothered with the technicalities as we look upwards to our Saviour in the clouds.
But nobody should be considered a heretic even for being an amillennialist.
D
I think the admin team and the moderator team does a very good job managing the members. They are not heavy handed and prefer to correct or admonish people before a ban is considered, in general. If you feel the word "heretic" is being used inappropriately you can click on the report button in the lower right of every post. It is a triangle with an exclamation mark.
The rules are clearly posted on the home page and can be seen here:
http://christianchat.com/rules.php
The rules are clearly posted on the home page and can be seen here:
http://christianchat.com/rules.php
i've been called a heretic, but sticks and stones, might break my bones, but being called names is something they did to Jesus, and He told us to not let it bother us. if the life i've been living is wrong in the eyes of the world, i don't want to be right in the eyes of the world. i see the blessings of the Almighty, and have a personal relationship with Him. the things He has taught me in my experience with Him is undeniable. Christ Jesus is saying come up here, the world is saying come down here. i choose Christ Jesus.
D
Dunno about you guys, but I'm never going to accuse anyone of being a heretic no matter what they say. It's not my place to play judge, jury, and executioner. One or Two admonitions if I see a false teaching, then I just drop it. The Lord deals with people like that in his own way and on his own time, he doesn't need me to point anyone out for him.