What happens when heresy rises up in the church?
Some people leave; other stay. Regardless, those who leave and those who stay are still united by the Blood of Christ and still Christians. I think the Lord’s heart on this would sound something like this: don’t judge those who stay and don’t judge those who leave.
I have many friends who have left the denomination. Part of me is saddened because they are good people and I will miss them. My blessing runs with them, though, and I bless their new call. After all, it’s all about populating the Kingdom of God.
As for me, and others who have yet to be lead away, my job is to be content and minister on. I’ve been in the denomination for nearly 30 years now – 15 years as a paid lay person/minister and 15 years as an ordained person. Very early on I wanted to leave. Now that God has developed a deeper sense of his will and timetable in my heart, I no longer yearn – like a runner posed and ready to bolt at the sound of the gun – to leave the church. If and when my time comes I’ll be ready. Until then, there is work to do. Not unlike the Second Coming.
So how are we – those who have remained – to poise ourselves in the face of rising theology and praxis which flies in the face of Christian Orthodoxy? First we need to be cautious. This is a real danger – not unlike a tiger sticking its head into a house. Paul writes the church at Romans:
I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. Romans 16:17-19
He writes, “Stay away from them.” He doesn’t say, “Leave them,” nor does he say, “Befriend them.” This is a tone of cautiousness. Be careful. Be aware of who they are, what they have the potential to do, and don’t fall into the same trap as they have. Through it all we’re to maintain a disposition of peace.
Here’s Paul once again:
17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:17-21
Now, just in case your inner warrior or Biblical Jihad rose up in you after reading this passage – you know, the whole misguided idea of giving your enemy water and food because somehow in God’s mysterious ways Jesus will change your water into the wine of God’s wrath – let me offer to you something that may sober you up. This quote (about the coals being heaped on the heads of those we bless) is taken from Proverbs 25:21-22 – and it’s from a really, really long time ago. In that day and age it was well known that Egyptians – when charged guilty of a crime – often carried a basin of hot coals around on their heads as a visible symbol of their admission of guilt and repentance.
Yeah.
So Paul is saying that, as we give water to our enemies who thirst and as we give food to our enemies who hunger – or, in other words, as we love our enemies – they just might “get it,” turn around, and look for a basin of heaping coals to put on their heads as a sign of sincere and public repentance.
That puts it in an entirely different perspective.
I have often wondered why Church needs to be diversified. Why does Judas have to be at the Last Supper anyway? Why didn’t Barabbas go to the cross? I mean, life would be so much easier without them. While Jesus doesn’t exactly answer the question, he does acknowledge the problem exists. Hear the Master’s words:
24Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
27"The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'
28" 'An enemy did this,' he replied. "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'
29" 'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. 30Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.' " Matthew 13: 24-30
Living in a mixed Church is… it simply IS. We are consoled by the assurance that this hasn’t taken God by surprise. He will make it right one Day. In the meantime, we – who have yet to be called out – are given certain chrisms with which we are to clothe ourselves; disposition of love, absence of judgment, and peace. We are to remain cautious; and never compromise the Faith of the Church and everything for which it stands.
In a distant way, this sort of posturing reminds me of Jesus when he was here.
I have many friends who have left the denomination. Part of me is saddened because they are good people and I will miss them. My blessing runs with them, though, and I bless their new call. After all, it’s all about populating the Kingdom of God.
As for me, and others who have yet to be lead away, my job is to be content and minister on. I’ve been in the denomination for nearly 30 years now – 15 years as a paid lay person/minister and 15 years as an ordained person. Very early on I wanted to leave. Now that God has developed a deeper sense of his will and timetable in my heart, I no longer yearn – like a runner posed and ready to bolt at the sound of the gun – to leave the church. If and when my time comes I’ll be ready. Until then, there is work to do. Not unlike the Second Coming.
So how are we – those who have remained – to poise ourselves in the face of rising theology and praxis which flies in the face of Christian Orthodoxy? First we need to be cautious. This is a real danger – not unlike a tiger sticking its head into a house. Paul writes the church at Romans:
I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. Romans 16:17-19
He writes, “Stay away from them.” He doesn’t say, “Leave them,” nor does he say, “Befriend them.” This is a tone of cautiousness. Be careful. Be aware of who they are, what they have the potential to do, and don’t fall into the same trap as they have. Through it all we’re to maintain a disposition of peace.
Here’s Paul once again:
17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:17-21
Now, just in case your inner warrior or Biblical Jihad rose up in you after reading this passage – you know, the whole misguided idea of giving your enemy water and food because somehow in God’s mysterious ways Jesus will change your water into the wine of God’s wrath – let me offer to you something that may sober you up. This quote (about the coals being heaped on the heads of those we bless) is taken from Proverbs 25:21-22 – and it’s from a really, really long time ago. In that day and age it was well known that Egyptians – when charged guilty of a crime – often carried a basin of hot coals around on their heads as a visible symbol of their admission of guilt and repentance.
Yeah.
So Paul is saying that, as we give water to our enemies who thirst and as we give food to our enemies who hunger – or, in other words, as we love our enemies – they just might “get it,” turn around, and look for a basin of heaping coals to put on their heads as a sign of sincere and public repentance.
That puts it in an entirely different perspective.
I have often wondered why Church needs to be diversified. Why does Judas have to be at the Last Supper anyway? Why didn’t Barabbas go to the cross? I mean, life would be so much easier without them. While Jesus doesn’t exactly answer the question, he does acknowledge the problem exists. Hear the Master’s words:
24Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
27"The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?'
28" 'An enemy did this,' he replied. "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?'
29" 'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. 30Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.' " Matthew 13: 24-30
Living in a mixed Church is… it simply IS. We are consoled by the assurance that this hasn’t taken God by surprise. He will make it right one Day. In the meantime, we – who have yet to be called out – are given certain chrisms with which we are to clothe ourselves; disposition of love, absence of judgment, and peace. We are to remain cautious; and never compromise the Faith of the Church and everything for which it stands.
In a distant way, this sort of posturing reminds me of Jesus when he was here.
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