Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: June 10, 2007
“THE GREATEST PROBLEM IN THE CHURCH”
A Review & Response (Part 3)
Ben Justice
This brother seems to have a problem with publications marking and exposing
false teachers and calling them by name. He refers to such as “writing up and
publicly condemning your brethren.” In fact, he writes the following:
Often these publications use the lack of Biblical authority as the basis for criticizing the beliefs
and practices of others. While approved example is a valid hermeneutic, my question for these
brethren is, where is the Biblical example for writing up and publicly condemning your brethren? I
don’t read where Paul wrote a cover article for the “Jerusalem Journal” criticizing and condemning
Peter for refusing to eat with the Gentiles (Gal. 2:11ff).
This brother contradicts himself. How is it that he can ask, “. . . where is the
Biblical example for writing up and publicly condemning your brethren,” and then
in the very next sentence give the example of Paul publicly condemning Peter? I
want to ask, “How does this brother know that Paul condemned Peter in the first
place?” The answer is obvious: THERE IS THE EXAMPLE. He stated, “I don’t
read where Paul wrote a cover article for the ‘Jerusalem Journal’ criticizing and
condemning Peter . . .” What about the book of Galatians itself? Such was
circulated throughout the churches of Galatia (maybe even to other places).
Today, we can still read about it. Apparently, this brother doesn’t know his Bible
very well. Either that, or he has deliberately ignored many examples where
erring brethren and false teachers were written up and condemned. Note the
following:
FROM PAUL:
“Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith
have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander; whom I have delivered
unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme” (I Tim. 1:19-20).
“And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus; Who
concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and
overthrow the faith of some” (2 Tim. 2:17-18).
“For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, . . .” (2 Tim. 4:10).
“Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: . . .” (2 Tim. 4:14).
FROM JOHN:
“I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the pre-eminence among
them, receiveth us not” (3 John 9).
FROM JESUS:
“But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate”
(Rev. 2:6).
“But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the
doctrine of Balaam, . . .” (Rev. 2:14).
“So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate”
(Rev. 2:15).
“Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman
Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to
commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols” (Rev. 2:20).
How does one explain Rom. 16:17, which declares, “Now I beseech you, brethren,
mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have
learned and avoid them.” In order for this verse to be obeyed, it necessitates
specifically identifying and naming those who cause the divisions contrary to the
doctrine of Christ. What if I tell you, “I have marked this brother because of
false teaching and I am avoiding him. I am letting you know so you can also
mark and avoid him. However, I can’t tell you his name.” It is utterly impossible
to mark and avoid false teachers if you don’t who they are! The plural pronoun
“them” in the above passage proves that these are to be specifically identified.
Paul did not say mark “it” but mark “them,” meaning those who perpetuate false
doctrines. So, this brother can whine and complain all he wants about certain
brotherhood periodicals writing up and condemning false brethren. However, he
is fighting against God.
How does one explain Eph. 5:11, which says, “And have no fellowship with the
unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” The word “reprove” literally
means “expose.” Again, we see the word “them” — reprove “them.” Granted, it
is italicized, but it is nonetheless understood. You can’t expose false teachers
unless you identify who the false teachers are.
We hope and trust that this brother will not only correct his error concerning
what he claimed I wrote about Mack Lyon, but also come to realize that many
things he has written is contrary to the teachings of the Scriptures.
Liberalism and digression are plaguing the body of Christ. It is rampant
everywhere. It certainly didn’t use to be this way. But, since such is the case,
of necessity there will be a lot more marking and exposing. Some brethren may
not like it, but that is their problem.
As far as Mack Lyon is concerned, unless someone can show me where I have
said something untrue, what I presented in 2005 continues to stand.