Heresies, HERETICKS, and False Prophets

I stand amazed with how many on social media unscripturally cast the mantel of "heresy" so readily on everyone THEY DEEM a "heretick". Interesting thing is, the word translated "heretick" is only used ONE TIME in the New Testament - "A man that is an HERETICK after the first and second admonition reject."(Titus 3:10) What even makes this more interesting is the way the Holy Spirit moved Paul to record this admonition to Titus. Paul didn't NAME ANY SPECIFIC NAMES, just spoke of the generic - "a man". The original word translated "a man" means 'a human being, whether male or female'. The original word translated "heresy" is used only 9 times in the New Testament, 5 of those times being translated by the English word "sect", and in those instances a "sect of the Pharisees". One of the times the original word is translated "heresies", Paul told those at Corinth - "For there must be also HERESIES among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you."(I Cor.11:19) Peter used the same word in II Pet.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."

Paul did mention "Demas" by name, saying of this man, "For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia."(II Tim.4:10) Paul also mentioned "Hymenaeus and Philetus" by name - "But shun profane [and] vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some."(II Tim.2:16-18), Paul followed up naming them and their error with this grand truth: "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity."(Vs.19) You must interpret Paul’s words in light of what the Apostle John wrote concerning false prophets and those carried away by them - "They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, AND THE WORLD HEARETH THEM. We are of God: HE THAT IS OF GOD HEARETH US; HE THAT IS NOT OF GOD HEARETH NOT US. HEREBY KNOW WE THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH AND THE SPIRIT OF ERROR."(I Jn.4:5,6) The Apostle John KNEW who he was writing about, yet HE DID NOT NAME ANY NAMES. WHY NOT NAME NAMES, writing in God’s Word, “John Doe is a false prophet, a heretick, or promoting HERESIES? Because he didn’t have to do so! John was convinced all who were "of GOD HEARETH US", and equally convinced that those who were "NOT OF GOD HEARETH NOT US", EVEN IF HE DID NAME THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO HE KNEW WERE FALSE PROPHETS.

When Paul encountered in one of his fellow laborers and Apostles what was in fact HERETICAL ACTIONS on his part, in essence promoting what was in fact HERESY, a false gospel that one could not be saved unless they were circumcised after the law of Moses, HOW DID PAUL REACT? Go read in for yourselves in Galatians 2. Paul didn’t call Peter a “HERETICK”, he certainly never accused Peter of being one that preached a FALSE GOSPEL, and he DID NOT EVEN IMPLY that Peter was a FALSE PROPHET. He withstood Peter TO HIS FACE, and declared PLAINLY and DOGMATICALLY to Peter what PETER HIMSELF had professed to believe and preach – THAT ONE CANNOT BE JUSTIFIED BY THE LAW OF MOSES, ONLY BY THE BLOOD AND RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST, HIS VERY OBEDIENCE UNTO DEATH.

How can we neglect the words and actions of our blessed Lord when it comes to “heresies”, “hereticks”, and “false prophets”? Christ chose and placed AMONG HIS OWN one who was in fact a “heretick” and a “false prophet”, JUDAS ISCARIOT. This man LOOKED and ACTED the part of one of Christ’s CHOSEN APOSTLES, even so much so, that the disciples were clueless of his heretical state. Even when our Lord told them that ONE would deny him that sat around that table, CHRIST DID NOT NAME HIS NAME. Our Lord definitely “practiced what He preached” – “So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? BUT HE SAID, NAY; LEST WHILE YE GATHER UP THE TARES, YE ROOT UP ALSO THE WHEAT WITH THEM. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.”(Matt.13:27-30) We are so prone to want to “go and gather them up”, i.e., pull up what we consider “tares”. Yet by seeking to tear out the “tares” (who we are convinced to be “TARES”), we sadly “root up also the WHEAT with them.” Those “tares” are right where that are supposed to be, performing the task to which they were foreordained by Him who worketh all things after the council of His own will.