For all of those who have yet to grasp this Biblical concept -
---------
It Is Right To Name Names?
Many mistakenly believe that it is wrong to expose error and to name the guilty teachers; but they are wrong according to the Bible.
Paul named Peter publicly. Peter was guilty of unscriptural practice. ��But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed...But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of the Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?� (Gal.2: 11-14). The whole issue revolved around salvation by the law or by grace. When the integrity and purity of the gospel is at stake, then we have no choice when it comes to the matter of exposing error and naming names.
Paul named Demas for loving the world. �For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world� (II Tim. 4:10). Those who forsake the cause of Christ for worldly living and pleasure should be named and exposed.
Paul named Hymenaeus and Alexander. Paul told Timothy to �war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some have put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme� (I Tim.1: 18-20). God�s true servants should war a good warfare, and name those who have departed from the faith that was once delivered to the saints. Paul is not here discussing the faith of salvation but the faith was a system of doctrine. These men had made shipwreck of it and Paul exposed them and called their names.
Paul named Hymenaeus and Philetus. He told Timothy to �study� that he might be able to �rightly� divide �the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth as 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: 15-18). False doctrine overthrows the faith of some, so those who are proclaiming it must be exposed.
Paul named Alexander the coppersmith. �Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words� (II Tim.4: 14-15). It is clear that this is not a personality problem, but a doctrinal problem. Alexander had withstood the words and doctrine of Paul. He was an enemy to the truth. Godly pastors face the same problem every day. They stand and proclaim the truth, and then their members go home and hear this truth disputed by radio and TV preachers. Often times these false prophets are sending their publications into the homes of members of true churches. Then the man of God is supposed to keep his mouth shut, according to many. Only a coward will be silent when the truth of the Bible is under attack.
John named Diotrephes. �I wrote unto the church; but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the pre-eminence among them, receiveth us not� (III John 9). He related how this man had prated again him �with malicious words� (v10). He further said, �Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God, but he that doeth evil hath not seen God� (v.11). It is not wrong to name those whose doctrine and practice is contrary to the Word of God.
In fact, the whole Bible abounds in examples of false prophets being named and exposed. All this modern day talk about love, used as an excuse for not exposing error, is not really biblical love but is really sloppy agape.
Jude exposed �the error Balaam� (Jude 11). John exposed �the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.� (Rev.2: 14). This gets right to the heart of the matter, concerning the doctrine of separation. Balaam never did curse Israel even though he wanted the wages that he was offered to do so. The men of Israel committed �whoredom with the daughters of Moab ...and bowed down to their gods� (Num.25: 1,2). Why did they do this? Because Balaam taught Balac how to break down the barrier of separation between the Moabites and the Israelites. We know this to be so because it is plainly stated in Rev.2:14 and Num.31:16. This sin resulted in 24,000 men of Israel dying under the judgment of God.
Nathan identified the man. There was a man in a very high place who was a secretly an adulterer. Surely a lowly unpopular prophet could not rebuke this man who held the highest office in the land. Nathan went right into the presence of David, revealed the sin in a parable form, and then told the enraged David, �Thou art the man� (II Sam.12: 7).
Hanani named king Jehoshophat. In many ways Jehoshophat was a good king, but he mistakenly forgot to practice religious separation. He caused his son to marry wicked king Ahab�s daughter. (See II Chron.18: 1; 21:1-6). He made an alliance with Ahab and went to the battle of Ramoth-Gilead with him (II Chron. 19:2). We have a question for those who insist on working with charismatics, Catholics, and members of the National Council of Churches. �Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord?�
Yes, it is right to expose error and to name those who are in error.
It is right to �earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints� (Jude 3). It was once delivered and it has never been recalled for revision. We had better beware of �false teachers ... who privily shall bring in damnable heresies� (II Pet.2: 1). Faithful messengers will warn the sheep of these heretics, and identify them by name. It is not enough to broadly hint of their identity, for the young lambs will not understand and will be destroyed by the wolves.
How do we correctly apply this though? Without a Biblical guideline we could all end up carrying around a list of names. At some point we will all end up on somebody else's list. There are people on this site that would put many if not most of us on this list.
I believe, this responsibility falls under the umbrella of ecclesiastical discipline which is generally done by elders.
In a setting like this, the reality is that their should be a published statement of faith and a moderation staff that proactively monitors the forums to ensure adherence to that statement.
In the absence of a clear statement of faith (doctrinal guidelines) and proactive moderation, you are pretty much left with a self policing community. In which case, your observation is correct that it might very well reduce to "all ending up on somebody else's list"
Having said that, obviously the Bible itself is the test of orthodoxy and orthopraxy. Anyone "teaching" here should be willing and able to substantiate their claims Biblically.
Ultimately, an environment like this that allows the promotion of all kinds of doctrinal error ends up being Christian in name only.
When the apostles were at the helm you only had one truth. Although Peter did get reprimanded it was just one more example of him not standing tall rather than a doctrinal dispute.
Today you have thousands of different opinions as to what doctrinal truth is
In biblical times elders were distiguished by the signs following them showing God's approval of them
Very few authentic miracles going on these days that is a direct reflection of God's lack of approval of the church
I figure if I can witness signs following with what I believe, if someone else is not then I figure there is a problem with what they believe in.
He is the truth but if what we believe about the 7 foundational doctrines in Heb.6 1-2 are not the truth......... then the one speaking in our ear is not Christ but another spirit who is transforming himself to appear to be Christ.
BTW are you up late or early?
Had a bunch of bad storms around here that keep setting of the tornado alarms since 3 am
