At the present time a number of �conservative� Reformed denominations are drifting theologically toward a dark and uncertain future. The decline is not primarily due to syncretism with culture or blatant ethical violations but rather is rooted in theological subversion from within. This subversion is coming from pastors, writers, popular speakers, seminary professors, and publishers all of whom claim to adhere to the Reformed faith. This situation makes our topic very relevant: Christ�s warning against false teachers. This warning is found in Matthew 16:6: �Then Jesus said to them, �Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.�� If we are to avoid making a shipwreck of the faith we must carefully heed this solemn warning from the lips of our Lord. As we study this warning we will consider: (a) the context and preliminary comments; (b) the dangers of false teaching; (c) the nature and manner of doctrinal subversion and (d) ways to stop doctrinal subversion. May God protect us from the leaven of false doctrine and help us to warn others regarding false teachings in religion.
Context and Preliminary Comments
There are a number of things that we need to discuss before we consider the command itself.
First, our Lord�s warning came after a confrontation with His chief enemies the Pharisees and Sadducees (Mt. 16:1-4). Interestingly, the warning was not immediate but occurred after the disciples had gone to the other side of Galilee (Mt. 16:5). This delay indicates that our Lord�s warning was the result of contemplating what had occurred earlier in the day. Our Lord�s emphatic statement was premeditated. It shows a very strong pastoral concern for the disciples. The disciples were concerned about how to get their next meal while the Lord of glory is contemplating the doctrinal integrity of the teachers in His church. Our Lord�s concern stands in sharp contrast to the lack of concern for doctrinal integrity that exists in many churches today. In modern evangelical churches the primary concern is on having a wonderful experience or on making worship relevant to our post modern culture.
Second, our Lord�s warning is directed to the twelve apostles. It is not directed to backsliders, new believers, unreliable professors or ungodly persons but to the cream of the crop. The twelve apostles had forsaken all to follow Jesus. These were men who were dedicated to the Savior; who had been under His personal care and training for quite some time. These were men who had absolutely no sympathy for the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. There is no indication whatsoever that the disciples were being influenced by any false teachers. Yet, it is the apostles who receive this strong warning.
The fact that our Lord�s admonition is directed to the apostles tells us that no one should consider himself to be immune to the influence of false doctrine. There is never a time in our walk with Christ when we can let down our guard. There is not one person who can claim a level of knowledge, sanctification or theological maturity that protects him from the doctrinal assaults of Satan. Even the most godly and knowledgeable believers are able to err in doctrine. In fact, the more we understand about God, Christ, faith and life, the more we realize how feeble our knowledge really is. Therefore, regarding doctrinal matters we must be very humble. We must be very prayerful and careful regarding the doctrinal achievements on which we stand. �Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall� (Pr. 16:18). And it is often pride and arrogance regarding one�s own knowledge, abilities and genius that has caused many a theologian and pastor to be seduced by Satan.
It is not an accident of history that many dangerous heresies originated with pastors or teachers who were the brightest, most creative minds in seminaries or colleges. Indeed, the greatest heresies that have caused severe havoc in Christ�s church have all come from respected ministers of the gospel; from men notable for their teaching ability or intellectual skills.
We can see the need for humility and watchfulness just by recalling the notable shipwrecks of the faith in our own day. A number of Reformed families, pastors and teachers (e.g., Scott Hahn, Franky Schaeffer, Gerry Metatics) have succumbed to the leaven of Roman Catholicism and the Eastern Orthodox Church. When we hear of people who were thoroughly Reformed in doctrine embracing soul-damning heresies we scratch our heads and wonder how? How could people depart from the purity of doctrine and worship of the Reformed faith and embrace works salvation and rank idolatry? The sad reality is that such departures happen more often than we think. Being Reformed or Presbyterian does not make a person immune to doctrinal apostasy. The fact that Jesus saw the need to warn His closest disciples coupled with the reality that doctrinal departures are common in our own day ought to humble and sober us. Let us not trust in our own hearts, or doctrinal attainments, or theological superiority to sloppy modern evangelicalism for Reformed people can and do embrace false doctrines. If Jesus� warning applies to the apostles, the leaders of the church, then it certainly applies to us.
The Dangers of False Teaching
Having noted the context and audience let us examine Christ�s exhortation to His disciples. Jesus said, �Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees� (Mt. 16:6). In verse 12, the leaven is identified as the teaching of Pharisees and Sadducees. Of all the things that could have threatened the apostles, such as political and religious persecution or threats to life and limb, our Lord concerns Himself with doctrine. Why is the Savior so troubled about doctrine? Such a concern is certainly not in vogue today. The attitude among most contemporary evangelicals is that doctrine is not practical. Doctrine doesn�t grow the church. Doctrine doesn�t meet people�s needs; it doesn�t feed the hungry or clothe the poor. Today we are even told that doctrine is bad because it divides rather than unites professing Christians. Also, we are told that in a post-modern culture people are not accustomed to words or doctrines but rather with visual images and experiences. Thus, to meet people where they are, teaching, preaching and doctrine must be placed on the back burner and replaced with drama, music, film, art and dance.
While most of modern Christendom has rejected the importance of doctrine and the centrality of preaching in public worship, correct doctrine was an obsession for both Christ and the apostles (cf., Ac. 20:28-31; Rom. 16:17; 1 Tim. 1:3-4; 6:3-4; 2 Tim. 4:2-4; Titus. 1:9; Mt. 1:9; Mt. 5:21-48; 7:15-27; 2 Jn. 9-11). There are many reasons why our Lord regarded doctrine so highly. (a) Correct doctrine is foundational to biblical Christianity. The system of doctrine taught by Scripture defines God, Christ, salvation, ethics, sin and everything a person needs for faith and life (2 Tim. 3:15-17). Without correct doctrine the object of our faith is false and all is lost. (b) Correct doctrine is crucial because false and man-made doctrine drives out, replaces and nullifies true teaching (Mt. 15:1-9; Col. 2:8, 20-23). The apostles had the responsibility to lay the foundation of the church by planting congregations and by delivering their inspired teachings and writings. If the shepherds became corrupted, so would their followers. Therefore, we can understand Jesus� very strong concern with purity of doctrine. We hope and pray that some day many of the modern evangelical churches will share that concern.
Now that we understand the importance of biblical doctrine we need to ask the question: Why does our Lord single out the Pharisees and Sadducees? One reason is that these groups were the two dominant religious parties in Israel. The Pharisees were very popular with the people, while the Sadducees held sway in the aristocracy. Another reason for the warning is that in God�s providence these two groups are representative of the two main heretical tendencies that are found throughout history.
The Pharisees� doctrine was dangerous because they founded their authority upon oral law or human traditions and as a result were legalistic, self-righteous and formalistic. The Pharisees believed that in addition to the written law there was also an authoritative oral law passed down through history by various leaders, prophets and rabbis. While they formally accepted the authority of the Old Testament, their traditions in practice were more important than the Bible because they were used to interpret the Scriptures. As a result they held to a number of heresies.
They believed in salvation by law-keeping. Consequently, they denied salvation by grace through faith alone. They, in practice, denied the doctrine of original sin and depravity. The Pharisees also redefined the law externalizing it so that (in their mind) an outward, formal obedience to the law could be achieved. They �fenced� the law with all sorts of silly man-made rules and regulations so that sanctification consisted in ritual observances instead of learning and obeying the law itself. In the New Testament there are many references to the absurd detailed legalism of the Pharisees: the tithing of herbs (Mt. 23:23; Lk. 11:42); the wearing of tassels and phylacteries (Mt. 23:5); the obsession with ritual purity (e.g., Mk. 7:1ff.); frequent fasting (Mt. 9:14); and, silly and arbitrary rules surrounding oaths (Mt. 23:5). As Jesus said they strain out a gnat and swallow a camel (Mt. 23:24). The Pharisees took pride in their Jewish heritage and greatly over-emphasized their privileged status as Jews (Rom. 2:17ff.) at the expense of the necessity of saving faith and conversion. Their religion was very external; good works were placed on display to be seen and praised by men (Mt. 6:1-6, 16; 23:5). Their religious leaders loved pomp, status and power (Mt. 23:6).
Yet for all their talk of the law; love of ceremonies and religiosity, the Pharisees are strongly condemned by Christ. By their traditions they nullified God�s law (Mt. 15:3ff; Mk. 7:8-9). The Pharisees and their followers will not enter the kingdom of God (Mt. 23:13). They are blind leaders of the blind (Mt. 15:14), hypocrites (Mk. 7:6), whose hearts are far from God (Mt. 15:8). They are full of inner corruption (Mt. 23:27ff) and are guilty of persecuting the true people of God (Mt. 23:34-35). Thus, they are designated as �the synagogue of Satan� by Jesus (Rev. 2:9). Our Lord had a good reason to say the apostles, �Look out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.�
The Sadducees doctrine was also dangerous because of their willingness to subject the Bible to finite reason, pragmatism and skepticism. While the Pharisees added to God�s word, the Sadducees detracted from it. They were the modernists of their day. The Sadducees did not place the Old Testament historical and prophetic books on the same level with the five books of Moses. They did not believe in the resurrection of the body, in the existence of angelic beings, or even that man had a soul or spirit (Ac. 23:8). The Sadducees attempted to sway people to their own position by using clever arguments that made a mockery of the Scriptures. When they tried such skeptical reasoning upon our Lord concerning the resurrection (Mt. 22:23-33; Mk. 12:18-27; Lk. 20:27-28) Christ rebuked them saying that they did not know the power of God or the Scriptures. He even quoted the Pentateuch (Ex. 3:6) which they accepted as authoritative to prove the resurrection. The Sadducees were worldly political pragmatists. Because they rejected the after-life and the rewards or penalties of a final judgment, they had no problem making compromises politically, ethically or pragmatically to keep their present power, pleasure and prestige. John the Baptist calls the Sadducees �a brood of vipers� (Mt. 3:7). While the Sadducees had some strong disagreements with the Pharisees, both groups found a common enemy in Christ and the disciples (Ac. 4:1ff). Of all men who subtract from the Scriptures and who are skeptics, rationalists and pragmatists our Lord says, �Look out and beware of their teaching.�
The infinite wisdom and omniscience of Jesus is displayed in how suitable the Savior�s words are as a beacon of warning to God�s people throughout all church history. When we examine the history of the church we see these two great corrupting influences at work over and over again. The names of the parties may change and the theological peripheral details may be different, yet the underlying philosophy of corruption is the same.
The general philosophical principles of Pharisaism which consists of a love of human tradition, a secondary yet superior source of authority in an oral tradition, a zealousness for the traditions of the fathers, a large body of authoritative man-made rules and a system of salvation of salvation rooted in human merit are all crucial elements of the Roman Catholic Church. In the papal church the religion of Christ and the apostles has been swallowed up by ritualism, pomp and ceremony. The Word of God is overshadowed by a mountain of human inventions: the priesthood, the mass, the confessional, indulgences, worship of Mary and the saints, etc. The necessity of conversion has been replaced by baptismal regeneration and salvation by works. True spiritual worship has been replaced by outward man-made rituals: candles, surpluses, the crucifix, statues, holy water, the altar, and the sign of the cross�none of which are authorized by the Bible.
The mantle of the Pharisees with their love of human traditions, their love of outward rituals and the rejection of salvation by grace alone through faith alone has sadly fallen upon a good portion of professing Christendom today. There is not only the Roman Catholic Church but also all the Eastern Orthodox churches, high church Episcopalians, Coptic, Ethiopian and Latin rite congregations. In some areas these communions have surpassed the Pharisees by their rank idolatry and elaborate priestly garments and rituals.
Given the history of the Christian church, Jesus� warning is just as relevant and important today as it was nearly two thousand years ago. Because of our sinful natures there has been many a professing Christian who has been drawn to tradition, ceremonies, rituals, human merit and the outward shell of a religion. A religion that on the outside is like a white-washed tomb but inside is rotten, corrupt and dead. They hold to a form of religion but deny its power. They profess Jesus with their lips but their hearts are far from Him.
The need to �look out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees� is a very important warning today for the Reformed community. There are ordained pastors who claim to be Reformed that are spreading Romanizing germs throughout the world. There are those who have rejected the attainments of the Reformation concerning hermeneutics and thus advocate �interpretive maximalism.� This �new� hermeneutic is used to circumvent the authority of Scripture (i.e., divine warrant) by giving the interpreter great flexibility in deriving principles of worship and ceremony from the Bible that are not really there. A number of ancient fathers and medieval theologians did much the same by their spiritualizing or allegorizing of the text of Scripture. The problem with interpretive maximalism and its ancient counterpart is that the historical-grammatical meaning of the text is set aside and replaced by the presuppositions and artistic impressions of the interpreter. A method of interpretation that is so subjective and flexible tells us more about the interpreter than it does about the text of Scripture itself. With this fluid, subjective methodology James Jordan, David Chilton, Peter Leithart and their followers are pointing people to Rome, Canterbury and Constantinople while others such as John Frame are pointing people toward Las Vegas and Hollywood.
There are many pastors and popular speakers within the Reformed community that have openly rejected sola Scriptura or the regulative principle in matters related to worship (e.g., John Frame, Douglas Wilson, Steve Schlissel, Steve Wilkins, James Jordan, etc.) Once the authority of Scripture is set aside in the area of worship, the leaven of human tradition enters in and fills the void. Thus, in Reformed churches today there is a return to the corruptions of Rome (e.g., the liturgical calendar, robes and vestments, candles, sacramentalism, intricate liturgies and so on). James Jordan even argues for the sign of the cross and the use of cathedrals. There are men who are so in love with popish trash they argue that �Reformed is not enough.� They say that we must not be limited by the Reformed symbols but rather go back to classical Christianity (i.e. the corrupt medieval sacramental paradigm).
Have such men been recognized as distributors of the leaven of the Pharisees, as mediums for the germs of Rome? No! They are as popular as ever. In fact, few men in the Reformed community have been willing to fight against this dangerous leaven. Sadly, those who have protested this heresy have suffered great abuse themselves. Tragically, as men strike at the very heart of the Reformed faith, pastors, elders, seminary professors and congregants declare: �I see no danger. I hear nothing contrary to sound doctrine. Quit making a mountain out of a molehill. These are good Reformed men of God.� This flight from reality, rejection of the obvious and false application of Christian charity reveals that the leaven has subtly and silently been spreading among the Reformed churches for years. �A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so (Jer. 5:30-31).
One can even find the Pharisaical leaven of human merit as a co-instrument of justification in the Reformed community today. There is the rising popularity of the Romanizing germs of Norman Shepherd who rejects the imputed righteousness of Christ and replaces it with the works of faith, faithful obedience or covenantal perseverance. Has this heretic been excommunicated for sowing the seeds of Pharisaism and Romanism in the body of Christ? No! He is more popular as a speaker than ever. His Romanizing doctrines were published by a Reformed publishing house (Presbyterian and Reformed) and endorsed by Reformed seminary professors (e.g. Richard Gaffin, Jr., Joel Nederhood). His views are being advocated by some of the most popular �Reformed� conference speakers in the country (e.g. Steve Schlissel, Andrew Sandlin, etc). Once again men who want to eradicate this Pharisaical leaven are told: �Don�t be so harsh and unloving. This new paradigm is not dangerous or heretical. This new teaching is a breath of fresh air.� To this all too common kind of remark we ask: �Are we supposed to sit on our hands and do nothing while the gospel is redefined in a Romanizing manner? Are we to site idly by when the followers of Jordan and Shepherd are lead directly into the apostate and heretical Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox communions? No! We cannot remain silent. We must beware of false prophets (Mt. 7:15). We must try the spirits to see whether they are of God (1 Jn. 4:1). We must sound the same trumpet that Christ sounded, �Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.� If we warn the church in the same manner as the Great Shepherd, when whole families who are under the sway of these corrupting teachers join the Roman Catholic Church or the Greek Orthodox Church their blood will not be on our heads.
Church history is also full of examples of the relevancy of our Lord�s warning regarding the leaven of the Sadducees. Throughout history the church has had to deal with religious teachers who were skeptics and rationalists; who in some manner denied the authority of Scripture (e.g. Gnosticism, Marcionism, Arianism, Pelagianism, Socinianism, Unitarianism, Deism, Modernism). Since the 1870s modernism has virtually destroyed the Christian witness of all the old mainline Protestant denominations. All the central tenets of the faith (e.g. the plenary inspiration of the Bible, the vicarious atonement, the resurrection, the doctrine of hell, the necessity of conversion, the virgin birth, miracles, the moral law, etc.) have been rejected, redefined or watered down in order to fit in with an unbelieving secular humanistic worldview. These infidels wear the mantle of the Sadducees with pride.
Is such leaven still a danger among Reformed churches today? Yes, it certainly is! The Christian Reformed Church has largely apostatized in only the last thirty years. Almost everyone who has attended a conservative Reformed seminary knows at least a few students who started out thoroughly orthodox but at some time were seduced by the lies of someone like Karl Barth. Doctrines that were immediately rejected only a generation ago such as process theology and annihilationism are growing in popularity in neo-evangelical circles. Crucial doctrines such as six-day creationism are commonly denied today in so-called conservative Presbyterian seminaries (e.g. Westminster Seminary near Philadelphia). Some seminaries that were once strongly committed to biblical inerrancy have denied the plenary inspiration of Scripture (e.g. Fuller Seminary). The leaven of the Sadducees is as much a threat to Bible-believing Christians today as it ever was. �Take heed, and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.�
The Nature and Manner of Doctrinal Subversion
When Jesus warned the apostles regarding the teaching of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, he used the word �leaven�. Why did our Lord say leaven when the word doctrine would have been much easier for the disciples to understand? Christ used the word leaven for a particular reason. He wanted His people to understand why false doctrine is so dangerous. He does this by comparing false teaching to leaven.
What is it about leaven or yeast that makes it the appropriate word to describe what false doctrine can do to the church? Leaven does two things that make it the perfect choice to describe how false teaching operates. First, leaven works insidiously. Its influence on the lump of dough is subtle. It works quietly as it penetrates the whole loaf. Second, leaven�s nature is to grow and spread. Once it is introduced into the lump of dough, if left alone, it will change the character of the whole lump. These aspects of leaven as descriptions of how false doctrine operates are true in individuals and especially in corporate bodies such as individual churches or denominations.
Many of us have known men who have apostatized doctrinally. What usually occurs in such situations is that a person is introduced to false doctrine and some point of that false system will be accepted. It can be anything from a Romanizing concept of justification to a sacramental view of baptism to some aspect of full preterism. What occurs after a false doctrine is firmly planted in a person�s mind is that it slowly, imperceptibly penetrates that person�s entire theological outlook and worldview. The man who has accepted some aspect of full preterism in the long run ends up denying several crucial Christian doctrines such as the resurrection of the body, the rapture, the final judgment and the second bodily coming of Christ. These doctrines are not openly denied but are denied through heretical redefinition. A person may adopt baptismal regeneration. After a time such a person often will end up adopting several interrelated heretical views. As a result crucial doctrines such as election, regeneration, the atonement, conversion and perseverance are heretically redefined. False doctrine works like leaven penetrating and perverting a person�s entire theological system. Then tragically, we may discover that an acquaintance or close friend has converted to Romanism or has simply stopped attending church. Beloved, be on guard: �Look out and beware.�
Throughout history the truth and urgency of our Lord�s warning is observable in how false doctrine has worked as leaven in churches. There are a number of important things to note regarding this topic.
First, the leaven almost always comes from teachers within the church. The Pharisees and Sadducees were leaders among the covenant people. Historically, the men who have done the most damage to Christ�s church have not been wicked political rulers but rather pastors, seminary professors and Christian scholars. Jesus said, �Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep�s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves� (Mt. 7:15). Paul warned the Corinthians of such men when he wrote: �For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And do not marvel for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light� (2 Cor. 11:13-14).
The most effective way to leaven the church is to use men who are respected religious leaders. Historically the men who have been used by the devil to corrupt the church have often been very articulate, intelligent and morally upright (at least outwardly). False doctrine has not come from dullards but from shining intellects, from men who are very popular and �pious�. In recent years, Satan has used men that have been well known for teaching solid, orthodox doctrine for many years. Thus, when these men introduce subtle but dangerous heresies their views are readily accepted by many. And when these men are challenged by orthodox teachers many come to their defense saying, �How could pastor so and so be teaching false doctrine when we know he has championed the Reformed faith for years? How dare you accuse our dear brother of heresy!� This tactic has been very effective. It has resulted in the orthodox party (who are simply defending the Reformed faith) being accused of being unloving, obsessed, obnoxious and deluded.
Second, the men who have introduced false doctrines have done so in a subtle, insidious manner. They do not openly proclaim that their new doctrine is unorthodox or unconfessional. They do not admit that their teaching is a radical departure from the truth. They do not voluntarily resign their position as pastor-teacher or elder but rather maintain their positions of authority in order to leaven the church. Their books, tracts and lectures are written in a way to disarm people�s suspicions and give their supporters enough quotes to throw the people who see something is wrong off guard. Those who spread false teaching almost never show their true colors unless they have already gained a large following and sense victory or unless they know that church authorities do not have the guts to discipline heterodox ministers.
How do the false teachers work subtly or insidiously on the flock? They do a number of deceitful things. (1) They often will proclaim their complete faithfulness to the church�s standards. One author who has done much to destroy biblical worship in Presbyterian churches begins his book by proclaiming his hearty acceptance of the Westminster Standards and the regulative principle of worship. Then he almost immediately sets forth several arguments against the regulative principle. The men who are spreading the Auburn Ave. theology and the so-called objectivity of the covenant will say that they adhere to the five points of Calvinism and believe that those who are elect cannot fall away. However, they also teach that people who have been regenerated, who have had their sins washed away by Jesus� blood and are truly united to the Savior can apostatize and go to hell. These men can be selectively quoted to appear completely orthodox or quoted to appear heretical. Heresy is hidden between statements of true doctrine. No Presbyterian session would invite a Roman Catholic priest to speak on justification. However, they very well may ignorantly invite someone like Norman Shepherd or Steve Schlissel. �Look out, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.�
(2) False teachers use stealth, ambiguity and deceit in setting forth their new theories. They hide behind equivocations and redefinitions of old theological terms. Modernists, for example, would proclaim belief in the resurrection of Christ. They simply redefine the resurrection in a non-miraculous, secular humanistic manner. Norman Shepherd will insist that he completely rejects any role for works or human merit in salvation. But, he defines faith as �faithful obedience� which is just a subtle way of saying that faith and good works are co-instruments in a person�s justification. A sloppy, difficult, ambiguous and even contradictory use of language gives false teachers plausible deniability. If they are called on the carpet, they can always plead innocence based on a misunderstanding of their use of terms.
(3) False teachers will often argue that they are not denying anything essential to the faith but are merely clarifying peripheral unsettled matters of the faith. They will argue that there is a sense in which their teaching is new paradigm or a new perspective. However, it certainly does not rise to the level of heresy. This tactic worked for Pelagius when he appeared before a synod in Palestine (A.D. 415). Pelagius was very evasive at this synod; he gave very ambiguous answers as a deliberate tactic and was even willing to condemn the teachings of his disciple Celestius as foolishness even though their doctrines were identical. Augustine said of this synod: �It was not heresy, that was there acquitted, but the man who denied the heresy.�1 When the new �paradigm� of the Auburn Ave. theology came upon the scene some of its advocates said that it was taking Reformed churches back to the original intent of the Westminster Standards, which have been perverted over time by a Greek mindset. Then, we were told that there were some differences with the Standards, but they were of no consequence. Then, we were told that �Reformed is not enough�. That is, we need to fine tune and improve the Standards. The tactics of equivocation, of emphasizing points of agreement, of speaking out of both sides of one�s mouth, or emphasizing that nothing of consequence is being changed are all means by which the false teacher clothes himself with sheepskin. Tragically, many people who are untrained in theology and even a few who are knowledgeable are deceived by such tactics.
(4) False teachers speak the language of love, peace, cooperation and the need for Christian unity. They label those who oppose this teaching as unloving, unkind, as disturbers of the peace of the church, as men who twist things all out of proportion. They will argue that there is a world of sin, evil and poverty out there and that Christians fighting against other Christians is counterproductive and foolish. In order to fight the real enemies of the church (we are told) we must be tolerant of minor, inconsequential, difficult doctrines.
This tactic was very effective in the modernist takeovers of the mainline denominations in the early part of the twentieth century. The modernists argued that fighting over doctrine slowed the missionary endeavors of the church and was a bad witness to the world. The modernist pleas were very effective in lulling the vast majority of people in the pews who were doctrinally conservative into doing nothing or even siding with the liberals. The liberals were successful in labeling men who were fighting for the truth of the gospel as unloving, fanatical, angry, deluded men. Men who were conservative such as Dr. Eerdmans at Princeton Seminary sided with the modernists against Dr. Gresham Machen because he believed that Machen was the one who was guilty of harming the denomination (the P.C.U.S.A.). After the liberals neutralized the moderates, gained a lot of adherents and got the votes they needed on seminary boards and ecclesiastical courts they revealed their true colors by persecuting orthodox, confessional men of God.
The men of the modern Auburn Avenue heresy and their defenders have used similar tactics. They argue that we should not fight against one another when the real enemy is secular humanism and its fruits in society; that it is uncharitable to accuse other ministers of heresy when they are simply clarifying and advancing certain doctrines; that these men have been outstanding defenders of Christianity for years; that attacking their teachings is hurting the body of Christ and is a bad witness to the world. These false teachers are very clever. They want their teachings to leaven the church quietly and insidiously. They do not want anyone to raise suspicions or expose their teachings for what they are. These men and their apologists have been very effective at raising a smoke screen to obscure their real intentions. Beloved, �take heed and beware�. The man who converts to Roman Catholicism, leaves the Reformed church and worships the virgin Mary is not the greatest threat. It is the men who depart from the faith, who hide their intentions, who remain in the church who are dangerous. Their doctrine works like yeast in the body corrupting this man here, that family there, this elder over here and that seminary student over there. It is our biblical duty to refute those who contradict (Titus 1:9); to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3); to exhort men to teach no other doctrine (1 Tim. 1:3) than the one received from Christ and the apostles.
Leaven has a natural tendency to leaven the whole loaf. The historical pattern is quite clear. False teaching moves from bad to worse and false teaching if left unchecked eventually penetrates the whole body. The corrupt Pharisaical church in Jesus� day did not arise overnight. The process of apostasy took centuries; false teachers brought in their human innovations slowly. A human tradition was added here and a ritual was added there until the true religion was obscured under a large edifice of human theological ideas, rules and regulations. Some of these human traditions can be seen in the Babylonian Talmud which consists of thirty-four large volumes of fine print. The Pharisees did not purposely set out to destroy biblical religion. They simply wanted to improve upon it and protect it with their own ideas. They did not ask the people to abandon the Old Testament or their cherished doctrines. They just wanted the people to accept a few �minor improvements� to fence the law, to make religion better. Their perversion of the church was slow, virtually imperceptible and progressive, until eventually it permeated the whole lump.
The corruption of the Roman Catholic Church occurred in a similar manner. Small changes were made in the government, worship and doctrine of the church. These little additions were often done for pragmatic yet sincere reasons. Each generation, however, inherits these human traditions, attributes an added sanctity to the practices which are now quite old and adds some new innovations of their own. If we isolate each addition or change, it may seem minor. It may not look like a big threat to the church at all. But, if we examine how little changes add up over time and accumulate we can observe how minor, almost imperceptible, changes eventually have disastrous consequences for the church. There is a progressive growth of corruption until the whole lump is leavened. (For example, the full-blown doctrine of the supremacy of the papacy developed over a period of one thousand years). The people are often taken in by the fact that changes are so minor. But, as each change is accepted and becomes an indispensable tradition that people are used to, expect and love, the more difficult it becomes to return the church to its biblical foundation (i.e., doctrine and practice based on Scripture alone). Therefore, when someone bids the church to accept a �minor� addition to Scripture or some new doctrine we must not be careless or apathetic. We must understand the nature of leaven. We must understand that even small additions will have disastrous consequences. Because leaven spreads its effect so slowly and imperceptibly people are often not even aware of what is happening to their church; that the rope of sola Scriptura has been cut and the church has begun to drift from its biblical moorings. Thus, once again, we must note the importance of Christ�s warning: �Watch out and beware�. Small changes and additions to what God has authorized in His word have a trajectory that is deadly. They lead to apostasy and judgment.
The leaven of the Sadducees works like the leaven of the Pharisees but to a different end. Full blown modernism did not arise overnight. The main line denominations took almost two generations to become apostate. The leaven of the Sadducees has small beginnings. In modern times it usually begins with new theories regarding the early chapters of Genesis. A literal Adam and Eve are replaced with poetic metaphor. The six days are said to be billions of years. Evolutionary theories are accepted. People are told that Christianity needs to be harmonized with the findings of modern science. Then scientific theories are applied to textual research. Then miracles are denied and all is lost: the virgin birth, vicarious atonement, the resurrection, etc. Biblical Christianity degenerates to the point where churches are the enemies of every major teaching in the Bible. We must be on guard against even small changes or accommodations to so called science. We must guard the integrity of the doctrine of Scripture with every fiber of our being. J. C. Ryle writes:
Beware of the very small beginnings of false doctrine. Every heresy began at one time with some little departure from the truth. There is only a little seed of error needed to create a great tree. It is the little stones that make up the mighty building. It was the little timbers that made the great ark that carried Noah and his family over a deluged world. It is the little leaven that leavens the whole lump. It is the little flaw in one link of the chain cable that wrecks the gallant ship, and drowns the crew. It is the omission or addition of one little item in the doctor�s prescription that spoils the whole medicine, and turns it into poison. We do not tolerate quietly a little dishonesty, or a little cheating, or a little lying. Just so, let us never allow a little false doctrine to ruin us, by thinking it is but a �little one,� and can do no harm. The Galatians seemed to be doing nothing very dangerous when they �observed days and months, and times and years.� Yet St. Paul says, �I am afraid of you.� (Gal. iv. 10, 11)2
We must be aware of even small additions or detractions from God�s word. The church must guard itself against every deviation from the truth. False doctrines have a tendency to progress from bad to worse, from a small departure to an apostate system.
Ways to Avoid Doctrinal Subversion
Jesus� warning was given to the apostles and inscripturated so that His church throughout history would have an understanding of the dangers of false teaching. There are a number of things that we need to consider in order to protect ourselves from theological subversion.
First, believers have a responsibility to study the Scriptures. This involves not only a careful daily, Bible reading program but also the diligent use of study aids. Christians should learn the science of hermeneutics or biblical interpretation. False teachers take advantage of professing Christians lack of Bible knowledge and a lack of understanding on how to interpret �difficult� passages. Cults, for example, are notorious for taking passages out of context and ignoring the analogy of Scripture. Many heresies have arisen because one or two passages are interpreted in a manner that contradicts many clearer passages. To protect God�s people from false teachers Isaiah declared: �To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them� (8:20). Every teaching or opinion is to be judged by Scripture. Thus, our Lord rebuked the false teaching of the Sadducees saying, �You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures...� (Mt. 22:29). Paul commended the Bereans because they did not accept Paul�s new doctrine simply because he said it was true but �searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so� (Ac. 17:11).
Second, believers must stand upon the theological achievements of their spiritual forefathers. Throughout the history of the church, battles have raged over many important doctrines. These battles have produced corporate sanctification, a more careful exegesis of biblical passages and a clarification of many doctrinal issues. It is our responsibility to learn systematic theology to inoculate ourselves from false teachings. A multiplication of cults and heresies always accompanies times of theological ignorance. Anyone familiar with the history of the church knows that many of the same heresies appear (with minor variations) over and over again to threaten the church. People who do not have a grasp of theology are the most vulnerable to attack. Thus Paul compares new believers to babies because they do not yet possess the spiritual discernment necessary to steer a path through false doctrine and subtle temptations. Because our time is one of great theological ignorance it is also one in which declension and heresy is spreading rapidly.
We must take full advantage of the many wonderful doctrinal books and creeds that have been produced by the Calvinistic wing of the Reformation. Every family should own a copy of the Westminster Standards, the Three Forms of Unity and the first six ecumenical councils of the church.
Third, Christians must place themselves in a church that is Reformed confessionally and truly Reformed with regard to its leadership. If a believer is to grow into maturity he must sit under exegetical, theological, applicatory preaching. Paul says that God has appointed some men as pastor-teachers in the church to equip and edify the body of Christ so �that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting...� (Eph. 4:14).
The importance and centrality of preaching has been largely lost in our day of church growth gimmicks, rock and roll worship, drama and story-telling comedian pastors. All of these things may make the �worship� service a lot of fun. But, they do not bring the spiritual maturity that people need to stand up to subtle heresies. Evangelical churches are entering a new dark age of ignorance and superstition because their concept of Christianity rotates around having an experience instead of learning about faith and life through diligent, doctrinal teaching and study.
Fourth, there must be a restoration of biblical church discipline in �conservative� Reformed denominations to protect the flock from all false prophets and doctrinal deviants. There are a number of things that need to be done in this regard.
(1) Presbyterian churches must return to a strict subscription to the Westminster Standards. In �conservative� Presbyterian denominations, pastors and elders are required to take an ordination vow stating that they �sincerely receive and adopt the Confession of Faith...as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures.�3 The purpose of strict confessionalism is threefold. (a) It is necessary to hold onto the corporate doctrinal attainments of the past (e.g., the trinity, the two natures of Christ in one person, the atonement, justification by faith alone, the new birth, etc). (b) It is a public confession of who we are, of what we believe as Reformed Presbyterians. It is an organized summary of the doctrines which we believe are fundamental principles of Christianity. It is the system of doctrine by which we unite in church fellowship. (c) It is a doctrinal statement carefully constructed to exclude men with certain theological views from the church (e.g., modernism, Sabellianism, Nestorianism, Arianism, theistic evolution, day-age theories, non-sabbatarianism, will-worship, etc).
Today there is such a loose practice of subscription among most Presbyterian and Reformed churches that pastors and elders are permitted to openly hold non-confessional heretical opinions on crucial doctrines such as creationism (e.g., day-age, theistic evolution, framework hypothesis, etc), justification (e.g., the imputation of Christ�s righteousness is denied, neo-legalism or the Norman Shepherd heresy; covenant faithfulness as co-instrument of justification), the atonement (e.g., Arminianism, the Auburn Ave heresy), the sufficiency of Scripture (the regulative principle of worship is widely rejected in �Reformed� denominations today; the acceptance of so-called modern Charismatic prophecy), the sacraments (e.g., baptismal regeneration, sacramentalism, paedocommunion), the covenant of works, sabbatarianism, the distinction between the visible and invisible church, perseverance, union with Christ, personal regeneration and the second commandment (e.g., pictures of Jesus are used to instruct children ). There are so many examples of pastors and elders who are teaching and practicing things contrary to the Westminster Standards one could reasonably conclude that a number of these �conservative� Presbyterian denominations are already on the path toward apostasy. It is a sad and tragic time when presbyteries and general assemblies allow pastors and elders to subvert and overthrow the very doctrines they have sworn to uphold. Why is this travesty of justice allowed to occur? There are a number of reasons: (a) some men have an unbiblical, humanistic, permissive concept of love; (b) some men do not think doctrine is very important; (c) some men are �go along to get along� cowards; and (d) some denominations develop �good old boy� networks of bureaucrats who historically have been incompetent theologically and pragmatic socially. It is time for Presbyterian denominations to stop ordaining and allowing liars and theological perverts into the ministry. If a man has an exception to a minor, non-essential point in the Confession (e.g., the Pope or the papacy being the man of sin in 2 Th. 2:3ff.) then he must plainly state his exception to the Standards and have that exception recorded by Presbytery.
(2) Presbyterian churches must bring ecclesiastic sanctions against those who teach false doctrines and damnable heresies. This point is the logical corollary to the previous consideration. The procedures that lead to sanctions must be biblical, diligent, swift and consistent. A confessional standard that is not backed up by sanctions is over the long run worthless. A modern loose subscription inevitably leads to church courts that are arbitrary and inconsistent in their application of discipline. In other words, judicial decisions end up being based more on the make-up of a commission than on Scriptural or confessional principles. Sola Scriptura is replaced with human wisdom, tradition and pragmatism.4
(3) Presbyterian churches must speak out publicly and write position papers against all false doctrines that are making inroads in the Reformed community. In our day when theological wolves wander among the flock many pastors and elders do absolutely nothing to stop them. Even worse many leaders in various churches are defending the wolves while condemning the shepherds who have sounded a warning against them. Ministers and church governors have a responsibility to nip heresy in the bud. It is unbiblical and foolish to wait until heretical views have a strong foothold in the church before taking action. There is no doctrinal or ethical neutrality. Error must be fought against and stopped or else it will spread like a deadly cancer through the body.
Fifth, heads of households must train and catechize their children so that they will able to discern between good and evil; good doctrine and bad.5 When prelatical apologists were sent by the Church of England throughout the countryside of Scotland in the seventeenth century to turn the Presbyterians into good Episcopalians, the prelates were amazed at the biblical and theological knowledge of these rather poor Scottish peasants. In town after town, the prelates were soundly refuted and turned away by simple folk who had a solid grasp of Reformed theology. Sadly, today we have a different situation�popular �Reformed� speakers advocate doctrines that are blatantly unscriptural and irrational and unlearned church goers accept them willingly.
If heads of households build up a good Reformed library; study; learn as they ought and then teach their children the truth, the false prophets among us would not even receive a hearing. They would be fired and sent packing to Rome or Constantinople where they belong.
Conclusion
We live in a time of great declension for many Presbyterian and Reformed churches, a time of toleration for error and syncretism with the surrounding culture. Therefore, we must carefully note and heed the many warnings and imperatives regarding purity of doctrine and false teachers in Scripture (e.g., �note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned and avoid them� [Rom. 16:17]; �charge some that they teach no other doctrine� [1 Tim. 1:3]; �guard what was committed to your trust� [1 Tim. 6:20]; �hold fast the pattern of sound words� [2 Tim. 1:13]; �shun idle and profane babblings� [2 Tim. 2:16]; �exhort and convince those who contradict� [Titus. 1:9]; �beware of false prophets� [Mt. 7:15], etc). This point is especially important because there are neo-legalists among us who occupy positions of influence, who subvert whole households and churches with carefully crafted heretical doctrines, with simultaneous affirmations of Reformed truth and dangerous heresies.
It is time for every Reformed believer, every pastor, elder and deacon to take a stand for the gospel and fight for the truth. Does not Paul refer to the church as �the pillar and ground of the truth�?6 (1 Tim. 3:15) Doesn�t this mean that the church has a responsibility to believe, teach, propagate, uphold and obey what God has revealed (the Bible and the whole truth of Christianity including the whole body of inspired precepts and doctrines). The church has a responsibility to keep as a sacred treasure biblical doctrine. She must not modify, ignore, corrupt, add to or detract from the authoritative, unchanging doctrine of Scripture. �The grand test is, does she hold by the truth of God? Is she in her belief and practice a witness for this? Or does she gainsay and pervert it?�7 One of the church�s most important responsibilities in upholding the truth is warning people regarding false teachers and deviant doctrines. We must continually be on guard against the leaven of the Scribes and Pharisees. May God enable us to faithfully carry the banner of truth in order to preserve our precious covenanted reformation unto future generations. Amen.
Matthew 13:39-43: Jesus says, �The Harvest is the *END OF THE AGE and the harvesters are *ANGELS*. As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the *END OF THE AGE*. The Son of Man will send out His *ANGELS*, and they will weed out of His kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. *THEN the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father!�
I Corinthians 15:22-24: �For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ the firstfruits, then when He comes, those who belong to Him. Then the **END** will come, when He hands over the Kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.� And so when Jesus comes again at the *END OF THE AGE* He will hand over the Kingdom to God the Father!
Mark 13:10 Jesus says, �The *AGE TO COME* is Eternal Life!�I Timothy 6:19: In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the *COMING AGE*, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life!�
Matthew 24:3,9-13: The disciples asked Jesus, �What will be the sign of your Coming and the *END OF THE AGE*?? Jesus answered�.. {During the 1260-dayGreat Tribulation} �Then *YOU* will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and *YOU will be hated by all nations because of Me. At that time many will turn away from the Faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of *MOST* will grow cold,{THE GREAT APOSTASY} but he {The Called, Chosen & Faithful-Rev 17:14b} who stands firm to the *END will be saved. This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to *ALL NATIONS*, and then the *END will come!�
And then we find just before the beginning of the 1260-day Great tribulation that there will be saints saved by the blood of Jesus from *EVERY Tribe, Language and Nation:
Revelation 5:9: �You {Jesus} are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from *EVERY Tribe, Language, People and Nation!�
Just after the coming of the 4 Horsemen in Revelation 6:1-8 just after the start of the 1260-day Great tribulation; we see this scene in Heaven:
Rev 6:9-11: When He {Jesus} opened the 5th seal, I saw the souls of those who had been slain {Just like Jesus} because of the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, �How long until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?� The each of them was given a *WHITE ROBE*, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed. Rev 7:9,13,14,15a,17a: �After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from *EVERY* NATION, TRIBE, PEOPLE AND LANGUAGE, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb {Jesus}. They were wearing *WHITE ROBES*�
Then one of the {24} elders {Rev 4:4} asked me, �These in *WHITE ROBES*�who are they and where did they come from?�� And he said, �These are they who have come out of the Great Tribulation; {Martyrs just like Jesus} they have washed their robes and made them WHITE in the *BLOOD OF THE LAMB* {Jesus}. They are before the throne of God and serve him day and night... The Lamb {Jesus} at the center of the throne will be their Shepherd.� Revelation 7:9 above shows that the Great Tribulation will be mainly for Christians in **EVERY GENTILE** nation and not just **JACOB'S TROUBLE** which absolutely contradicts the main thesis of the pre-trib fairy tale.
Rev 12:11: �They {THE TRIBULATION MARTYRS} overcame him {Satan} by the *BLOOD OF THE LAMB* and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.�
Rev 12:11 and Rev 7:14b above contradict the belief that the tribulation saints will be saved by **WORKS ALONE** and will not be saved by the **BLOOD OF THE LAMB**. like the present church saints; and will not be in the **LAMB�S BOOK OF LIFE**. However, in Revelation 13:8 we read: �All inhabitants of the earth will worship the Beast {666}�.*ALL* whose names have not been written in the **LAMB�S BOOK OF LIFE**!� Which absolutely confirms that the Tribulation saints who do not worship the Beast will be in the **LAMB'S BOOK OF LIFE**!!
Matthew 24:29-31: Jesus says, "Immediately after the distress of those {1260} days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky...At that time the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great gloryy. And He will sen His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the 4 winds, from one end of the heavens to the other!" Mark 13:22 adds "He will gather His elect:angel: from the ends of the earth!"
Now are there are some evil Satanic preterists:devil: who take away from God's Word and ridiculously believe that everything in Matthew 24 & 25 and Revelation 6-22 has already taken place.
However we read in Revelation 22:16,18,19: "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you:angel: this testimony {All of Revelation} FOR THE CHURCHES...I warn everone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God wiill add to him the plagues {Including eternal Hell} described in this book. And if anyone TAKES WORDS AWAY from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the Tree of Life and in the Holy City {The New Jerusalem}, which are described in this book!!!":applause:
I have questions concerning the degree to which we should take this.
Do you believe that everyone who does not believe in every truth that you do is a false teacher? Even if they are "fully convinced in their own mind" and are following the core doctrines of the faith?
I guess I just want to know how far it goes. Jesus had to correct the apostles, Paul had to correct Peter, the apostles had to correct the churches, does that mean they were apostate? In this day and age where we have thousands of denominations, is only one doctrine going to make it? I know it might sound like I'm being contentious here, but I really am just honestly asking, this is a very delicate subject. Once a person is considered a false teacher, is he/she someone that we still love and are trying to convert to the truth, or is he considered a heretic and shunned? If she's/he's teaching something to be false, does that mean he/she is going to hell with everyone who believes them?
It just sounds like a recipe for a disaster if applied the wrong way. I will think you're a false teacher, and you will think I'm a false teacher, etc and there will be no unity. One of us would be wrong, or both of us, and maybe someone else is right, etc again. How far does someone have to agree with you to avoid being called a false prophet? That Jesus is the divine Son of God and died to save us from sin in it's various forms? Or is it down to smaller things like communion and how many times we go to church?
I think the early reformers had it right when they said: "In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity."
...and for me that solves the false teacher debate, and I can still consider people brothers and sisters in Christ, even if we do not agree on everything.
This sister follows the Biblical command that women are not to be teachers over men. Notice, that she posts articles written by men of the faith. So, I highly doubt she will respond to your questions Mark.
An article like this should help you gain a better understanding. I largely viewed your questions as rhetorical in nature since you seem to be consistently advocating for your point of view.
If you still believe that you don't understand this topic as you should or would like to, I suggest you turn directly to the pages of the Word and let the Spirit speak to you.
Hopefully she would not be teaching me, the bible would. God used female prophets and judges and leaders in the past, but either way, someone's opinion/exposition is not "teaching".
I agree that women should not be in religious authority positions over a man, that is a biblical example throughout the bible that can't be argued against very well, but according to the chapter you're referencing, women can only be saved by having children, and I assume that is something lost in translation. That would be "saved by works", and would not make sense with the rest of the bible, or Paul's own writings. Men can't be saved by circumcision, but women can be thru childbirth? And how does Paul reconcile this with the verses where he advocates remaining single and celibate(1 Cor. 7:8)? Wouldn't be be condemning single women to be lost? No, I think what Paul says there must be judged by what he says everywhere else, it's a blatant contradiction to the rest of his writings, and there must be another explanation.
I believe men and women are given the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and "teaching" is one of them. That all might sound a little convoluted, but it's the only way I've found to explain the apparent contradictions, because as I'm sure you know, salvation by works is a nono, and silencing all women everywhere is not consistent with women God has lifted up and the work of the holy spirit. One verse is not enough to overrule the entirety of scripture.
As far as your comments, I've already been reading up on this, as recently as hours ago, and I believe it supported me in my position(big surprise, eh?), but I'm open to listening. I love to hear any other viewpoints. Comparing scripture with scripture is how we learn truth and learn to defend it. I never assume I'm 100% secure in my beliefs, I'm only human, and trusting in our own understanding is dangerous ground.
I agree, God's infallible word is absolute truth. The problem arises when "men" interpret it through human understanding. There are too many denominations/doctrines to think otherwise. My basic question is, are you confident enough in your own interpretation to condemn other people's interpretations? I know some of them are easy to point out the error, but some are not. Which is why I believe the early reformers came to this conclusion:
"In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity."
I hope that makes more sense. The "essentials" are the only ones I'm confident about rebuking error.
I believe Mark if on is relying on their own understanding to interpret the bible they are false teachers.
God's word is truth, there is no interpretation of his word except by his word alone. Scripture interprets scripture, everything else is false teaching.
I'm still confused. How do you discern when someone is using their own understanding? How do you know you aren't doing what you say their doing? I guess that's my concern. If we can say "they're blind"...maybe we're blind, and obviously, we just can't see it? Again, I don't think that counts for every case, but you never have any questions? You never learn you were wrong about something?
