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What are we to do when religious denominations or religious para-church organization with which we fellowship departs from the truth and teaches doctrines opposite of what the Bible expressly teaches?
What is our responsibility when false teachers have entered into the church and many have been deceived into accepting false doctrines as the doctrines of God?
What admonition does the Bible, the word of God, give us for this situation?
There are many warnings from the New Testament writers about false teachers. Peter says that "there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them . . ." (2 Peter 2:1). John speaks of antichrists and deceivers in the last days. The book of Jude contains prophecies about mockers in the last days and false shepherds who have gone after the sin of Balaam. Paul warns the church of false teachers in many of his epistles, most notably in 2 Thessalonians. Deceivers have entered into the church since the first century and have led many astray, and we are warned that false teachers will deceive many in the church in the end time. John encourages us in Revelation chapter 3 verse 11 to "Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown."
Who could take your crown anyway?
The answer is false teachers that lead you into disobedience without your knowledge. In other words "don't lose your rewards for disobedience through ignorance or deception whereby you are led in a false way." We've been warned, and when we come to see deception from false teachers, now what are we to do?
One of the first things which must be clarified is with whom is our fellowship? The Bible shows us clearly. 1 Corinthians 1:9 says we were "called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." Philippians 1:5 explains that we have fellowship in the gospel. The truth of God binds us together, gives us a common ground and basis for our association and communion. Also, in Philippians 2:1, Paul shows that it is a fellowship of the spirit. As he says in Romans 8:14, those who are being led by the spirit are the sons of God. God's truth and spirit bind us together and serve as the basis for our association, our joint participation. John
agrees with Paul's writings by saying, "truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ." (1 John 1:3) Our fellowship is with God, through his holy word, guided by the holy spirit; we have this fellowship because we are the children of God. In the book of Ephesians, the apostle Paul admonished the church in Ephesus to "walk worthy of the calling with which you were called . . . endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Ephesians 4:1,3) In verse three, another meaning of the word translated peace is "harmony". Paul encouraged the church to maintain the unity and harmony that they had with one another because of their calling. In verse four he makes it clear that there is one body and one spirit; there is one mind into which we are called. God's church, the body of Christ is not divided. Paul asks in 1 Corinthians 1:13, "Is Christ divided?" with the obvious answer being "no, he is not." What are we to think in the presence of 1500 different and conflicting denominations and non-denominations that find little fellowship or harmony between them? Where is the unity? Jesus himself said, "If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand." (Mark 3:24-25)
Think with me for just a minute why we have over 1500 different denominations and creedal doctrines concerning Jesus and the message he taught? Which one of the 1500 is "the" faith once given to the saints and which reflects the Apostle's doctrine? Is your church following the "one faith" of Ephesians chapter 4, or is the church down the street whose doctrinal statement conflicts with yours? Confusing isn't it? How are we to make sense of the matter or better yet, can we? I have good news for you, because I believe it is possible through inspired study to reclaim the faith that was once given to the saints and which follows the pattern of worship prescribed for all mankind in I Chronicles chapter 28. More on that later.
Continuing in Ephesians chapter four, Paul says in verse 14 that we should no longer be like children, "tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive. . ." In the previous verses, Paul says that God provided ministers and teachers so that we all might "come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the son of God" (verse 13). We have received our instruction and understanding from God, and we should be mature enough spiritually to discern the truth, not being led astray by false teachers. We should be "speaking the truth in love" and growing up "in all things into Him who is the head--Christ" (verse 15). Paul told the Ephesian church that they should have learned the truth well enough from those God ordained to teach them that each and every one of them, the members of the church, could be well established in the unity of the faith, knowing the truth and clinging to it. We should be spiritually mature and able to rightly divide the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15), not being led astray, or away, from the truth.
In chapter five of Ephesians, Paul writes some words that have direct meaning for those who God has called into his church, the body of Christ, today. In verse one of chapter five, Paul says, "Therefore be followers of God as dear children." Who are we to follow? God. Let it sink in for a minute. We are responsible to God; He is the one who has called us into the fellowship of His body, and we should follow Him, not being led astray. This statement is directly in line with Paul's admonition to imitate him as he imitates Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). We should follow someone only as he or she is following God and His Word. If one who is a leader in the Body of Christ does not follow the teachings of the Bible we must not follow him or his movement with which he has been entrusted for direction. Jesus Christ is the head of the church, and we are to be in subjection to him (Ephesians 5:24). "We ought to obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29) Oh how my heart cries out for my close friends and family to begin to let that Scripture direct their lives and no longer lean upon their own understanding or the mistaken understanding of so many churches who have let the Word of God become secondary to their own experience. For too many their experience has become the barometer of truth instead of letting the Bible dictate what their experience is to be. If we obey then our experience will change and become reinforced by the Word of God. Amen!
Verse three of Ephesians chapter five says, "But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints." It is not proper for the filth of the world to be included with the church, the body of Christ. Jesus was found perfect and blameless, why would we want to corrupt his body or even the reputation of it by allowing uncleanness of any sort to be associated with it? Paul tells us that uncleanness, the filth of the world, should not even be named among or associated with the body of Christ. In 2 Corinthians 6:15 Paul says, "What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?" There is no part for uncleanness within the body of Christ, not even rumors of such things (please understand this principle applies not only to the natural world but the spiritual world as well.). Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:3 to not let it even be named among us. We should be far removed from such filth.
Ephesians 5:6-7 says, "Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore, do not be partakers with them." What are empty words? From the Greek, the word empty could also be translated "devoid of truth." So, Paul says do not let anyone lead you astray with words that contain no truth. Clearly, such people would be false teachers. Paul calls these false teachers "the sons of disobedience." Another way of translating these words from the Greek could be "those who stand in obstinate opposition to the divine will." These individuals do not want to do things God's way; they want to do it their own way. In verse seven, Paul warns us to not be partakers with these individuals. The Greek word for partaker used here is summetochos, and it means "partaking together with one; joint partakers of something." We do not want to be counted among them. For example, when Korah and his congregation rebelled, God told the children of Israel to separate themselves from Korah and his group so that He could destroy them (Numbers 16:21). Should we not separate ourselves from a rebellion against the truth, a rebellion against God's will? Let's continue in Ephesians chapter five to see what else Paul says.
In verse eight Paul explains that we were once part of the world, we were darkness, but now we are called out of the world and are light and should "walk as children of light." Again, we need to follow the calling of God and remain faithful. Ephesians 5:11 says, "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them." The Greek word translated fellowship in this verse is sugkoinoneo and it means "to become a partaker together with others, or to have fellowship with a thing." Paul is telling us to not be aligned with or have a partnership with those people who are instruments of darkness. He further tells us to expose or reprove them. The Greek word used here is elegcho and it means "to convict, refute, confute, generally with a suggestion of shame on the person convicted: by conviction to bring to the light, to expose; to find fault with, to correct--by word: to reprehend severely, chide, admonish, reprove--by deed: to chasten, to punish." In other words, we are to expose them and correct them, refuting their works since they are to have no part with us.
This is work for the courageous and not the faint of heart! So often many judge Bet Emet Ministries because of the God-given righteous indignation shown toward such error, hypocrisy, and deception as so often proliferates in the Body of Christ. Little to they know God's temperament toward such sin! As one who does understand because I have done the work necessary to discover correctly God's attitude toward such manipulation and deception, please let the truths enumerated in our newsletters as well as the tapes be your guide as we both join together to chide, refute, and shame such who practice such wickedness let alone lead others into deeper sin. We must cast out the leaven in a spirit of love. True love always confronts for the sake of others. True love is always redemptive, delivering from sin to obedience and blessing. If we at Bet Emet did not love God, His Word, or God's people we surely would not subject ourselves to ridicule and slander which comes in response to messages that call for the "presumed righteous" to repent in the face of the multitude of error being taught today from the majority of the houses of God in our land. Let us never forget to judge ourselves lest we be judged. The best place to judge ourselves in now as we submit ourselves to every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God and His Word. Amen!
Paul further shows the seriousness of this matter in verse 12 when he says it is shameful for us to even speak of the things that these individuals do in secret. The indication here is that we should remove ourselves away as far as possible from such people. In verse 13 Paul explains that these things will be exposed, they will be made clear by the light, the truth of God, or, as he made clear in verse 8, those who are walking in the fellowship of the truth. In verse 14 Paul says, "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light." Could this be a warning to those of us in the church today who are spiritually asleep, who are not aware of what is going on? This could be an admonition to all of us who have been or who are sleeping to wake up and to call upon Christ to give us light, to illuminate and make clear his way for us. Now is the time to "be diligent to present yourself approved to God." (2 Timothy 2:15) In verses 15-21 of Ephesians 5, Paul exhorts us to walk carefully and wisely, using the time well because of the evil around us, being submitted to one another in the fellowship. As Paul says we are to esteem others better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3) and to exhort each other, even more as we see "the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25) This last Scripture is just example of severe misinterpretation as seen by the majority of teachers today. Upon study you will be persuaded as I that Paul was not taking about "the day" referring to the weekly Sabbath (Saturday), thereby encouraging the attendance of religious services; rather the day in focus is the "Day of the Lord" or judgment day where every man and woman will be judges and rewards given or taken away. Thus Bet Emet cries out in the darkness of deception and religious lies that "all" is not right that we have been told. It is paramount we repent in several areas of our lives (even religious lives) and begin to obey God both in our civil lives as well as our religious lives if we want to be assured of reward and not shame on "that day."
In verse 22, Paul begins to explain the marriage relationship, but, as he reveals in verse 32, he is making a point about the church's relationship with Jesus Christ. Paul explains that the wife is to be submitted to the husband because the husband is the head of the wife. He explains also that the head of the church is Jesus Christ, and it is to him that we as a church should be submitted and that we should be following. These verses are quite interesting in light of verse 32 and in reference to the preceding verses which talk about our fellowship with those who would deceive us. We are to be submitted to Jesus Christ. He is the head. He is the one we must follow and be obedient to. If we are worried about rebellion, it should obviously be rebellion against the head of the church--Jesus Christ. Just as a wife is to revere and respect her husband, the church is to revere and respect Jesus Christ (verse 33).
In Ephesians 5:26-27 Paul explains that Christ gave his life that he might "sanctify and cleanse it [the church] with the washing of the water by the word, that He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish." The word translated sanctify also has the meaning "to separate from profane things and dedicate to God." The church is to be pure, spotless, and without blemish. The church is the body of Christ, and it should not be marred or tarnished in any way.
The apostle Paul provides further exhortation for us about our responsibility in maintaining the purity of the body of Christ. In 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 we are told, "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?" The Greek word heterozugeo is translated "unequally yoked together with," and it means "to have fellowship with one who is not an equal." Obviously, Paul is referring to those who are spiritually unequal. The Greek word for unbelievers is apistos and it means "those who are unfaithful, not to be trusted, unbelieving." These are the ones who are not following the truth and who are not maintaining the unity of the fellowship of the body of Christ. There are two different words used in verse 14 which are translated "fellowship" and "communion." The first word, metoche, means "a sharing, communion, or fellowship." The second word, koinonia, means, "an association, fellowship, community, communion, or joint participation." Both of these words denote a group that has binding ties, in this case the election and truth of God.
In verse 17 of 2 Corinthians 6, Paul uses the writings of Isaiah and Jeremiah to say, "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you." The word translated "come out" is exerchomai and means "to go out of an assembly, i.e. to forsake it; to go forth from one's power, escaping from it in safety." Please read the last verse once again! Paul is saying that we should escape from those who are unbelievers, we should forsake them; we are to have no part with them. The church of God, the body of Christ has no part with the works of Satan (in a Jewish context meaning the flesh which opposes the truths of God). God told Israel to be separate, and he has also called us out of the world and its ways. What is your response when you are show error which concerns the practice of your faith? What is your spirit like when you encounter correction? Should we follow false teachers back into the bondage from which we came out of? Shouldn't we maintain the purity of Christ's body and keep the unity of the faith?
Paul also has included instruction for us in his epistles to the church in Thessalonica. 1Thessalonians 1:6 shows that we are followers of the apostles and God. Paul clarified this relationship when he admonished us to imitate him as he imitates Christ. We are bound to God and the truth, and there is nothing wrong with following the direction of someone else who is following God. But we are each responsible for our own salvation individually (Philippians 2:12). In verse 12 of chapter 2, Paul tells us to have "a walk worthy of God" who calls us. Looking in chapter five, we are told to pursue what is good (verse 15) and to test all things, holding onto that which is good (verse 21). Paul continues in verse 22 by saying, "Abstain from every form of evil." He tells us to stay away from it, do not have anything to do with it (even if it is religious evil and untruths masquerading as Biblical truths). In 2 Thessalonians 1:12 he explains that the name of Jesus Christ should be glorified in us. Can Christ's name be glorified if his people are polluted by the presence of unbelievers, those who have departed from the truth and are not walking in it? Can Christ's name be glorified if his people are polluted by observing and adhering to a religious system that is a mixture of paganism and Judaism passed off as truth? I dare say not!
In 2 Thessalonians 3:6 Paul writes, "But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us." The word for withdraw used here, stello, also means "avoid; to remove one's self; withdraw one's self; to depart; to abstain from familiar intercourse with." We are not to be associated with those individuals who walk disorderly, who have turned away from the teachings of God as found in His Holy Scripture. The word for disorderly means "walking outside of the prescribed boundaries." These prescribed boundaries would be delineated by the word of God, the tradition we received from the apostles. Did you hear that? Is your church following the tradition of the Apostles or is it following some man and his doctrine? Is it following a denomination's doctrine that can be proven to oppose teachings in the Bible?
Let us not forget that in Matthew chapter 7, verses 21-23 Jesus tells many who believe that they are "right" with God to depart because they practice the work s of "iniquity." The Greek word for iniquity is defined in the Strong's Concordance as "those who are not subject to Jewish Law." Let me ask you, are you subject to Jewish Law or do you practice a "lawless" faith? Are Yahweh's commandments a pattern for your life or have you been taught that the "Law" was done away and we are no longer under law but grace only? Does your church submit to Jewish Law? Does your church disregard Matt. 5:17 where Jesus tells all to "quit thinking I have come to destroy the Law." Does your church teach you to submit to Jewish Law or is it like so many churches today that are infected with dispensationalism that you have been told that the "law" was done away with in Christ? On a more personal level let me ask you: Did you celebrate Easter or Passover this last year; did you observe Rosh HaShannah, the Day of Atonement, and Tabernacles? Do you know the Sabbath is not Sunday no matter what your pastor says? Did you give 33% of your tithe last year to the widows, orphans, sick, lame, and blind as Jewish Law and the Bible commands? Did you allot the other 33% of your tithe to observe and celebrate the Festivals of the Lord and teach your children the proper worship of Yahweh that surrounds His Holy Days? Did your other 33% of your tithe which was given to your church go to propagate more false teachings coming from your pulpit instead of financing Yahweh's Kingdom as taught by truly anointed men of God? Jesus told us that "Greater works we are to do than he every did." We are deceived to want to see physical eyes opened and deaf ears opened in the miracle services that continually beckon us and our money. Let me ask you, is it not at these miracle services that many tithe to the ministry and thus rob Yahweh in ignorance as the ministry does not give the money to the designated areas in Holy Scripture? Are we not accomplices to robbery and not know it? Now listen closely. Did not Jesus say that in order for us to believe, that he would heal a cripple physically to reveal the "greater works of God" that are done spiritually (for example...forgive sin)? Spiritual miracles are always greater than physical miracles. With this understanding, Bet Emet understands that the greater works than Jesus did are being done through straightforward teaching that "opens the eyes of the spiritually blind, opens the ears of the spiritually deaf, and raises the spiritually dead to obedience" who have innocently trusted in the commandments of men to the neglect of the commandments of God. How can we continue to negate the very words of Christ in Matt. 5:17 where he says "quit thinking I have come to destroy the Law." I believe it is about time to reconsider what we have been taught and what we have listened to and begin to let the Scriptures, rightly divided linguistically, culturally, and historically, be our authority for our faith and practice. Can you think of a better idea?
The Greek word paradosis is translated "tradition" and it refers to "a giving over which is done by word of mouth or in writing; objectively, that which is delivered, the substance of a teaching; of the body of precepts." So, this is not referring to the traditions of men, but the word of God which was delivered through the mouths and pens of the apostles.
In verse 14, Paul tells the church in Thessalonica to note those who do not follow the teachings he has delivered. After noting such individuals, the church members are not to keep company with them. Paul says to not be counted with individuals who reject the teachings of God which he is delivering. In verse 15 he says that we should not consider those who are walking astray as enemies, rather, we are to admonish them as brothers. We should warn and exhort these individuals so that they might return to the fellowship of Jesus Christ.
Romans 16:17 provides an admonition similar to that of 2 Thessalonians. Paul states here, "Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause division and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them." Too often we think these type of Scriptures apply only to cults, but that is not the case. One of the important things to notice here is the source of the divisions which are being created. They are coming from those who are deviating from the doctrines delivered to the church: the doctrines of God which are from His Word. The divisions do not come from those who are remaining loyal to their calling by avoiding those who are not being loyal to the Scriptures. Paul tells us to avoid these people. The Greek word Paul uses is ekklino and it means "to turn one's self away from; to keep aloof from; to shun." In other words, Paul is saying, stay away from those individuals. This is hard for our culturalized mind to comprehend, but the Scriptures are the standard that God has set for you and I; He did not ask our opinion or advice in telling us what is required of us for fellowship with Him through His son.
In 1 Timothy 6 Paul provides us with more instruction about what we are to do when false and deceptive teachers enter in among us. In verses 3 through 5 he says, "If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself." The word Paul uses for "teaches otherwise" is heterodidaskaleo and it means "to teach other or different doctrine." Did you hear that? This seems clearly to speak to today, because we have definitely seen this occur; we have received other doctrine (over 1500 different and conflicting ones at present). What are we told to do? Verse 5 says, "From such withdraw yourself." Do you understand that means to leave your fellowship if they lead you into error and seek out those who fear God and are submitted to His Word as their sole authority!
Withdraw in this verse is from the Greek word aphistemi and it means "to remove; to stand off; to go away; to depart from." Isn't Paul speaking directly to us and our situation at this present time? Definitely so if your church teaches and models the Sabbath as Sunday, the tithe collected for the expenses of the church instead of distribution to the widows, orphans, sick, lame, and blind, and the remaining parts of the tithe being distributed equally between the teaching levite, janitors, and choir along with the festival tithe which is yours. So few understand or submit to the festival tithe since they belong to congregations that have replaced God's Holy Days and Festivals with pagan holidays which are been remodeled and had the name of "Jesus" affixed to them. Such is blasphemy to God's truths of Holy Scripture.
In verse 11 of 1 Timothy 6, Paul says, "But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness." The word translated flee, pheugo, carries the meaning "seek safety by flight; to escape safely out of danger." Paul is telling us to run away from the evil and unrighteous because fellowshipping with them is dangerous. We are to pursue, or follow, to run after "righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness," the attributes of God.
Paul provides even more admonition for us in the epistle to Titus. In Titus chapter two, Paul explains the qualities of a sound church. In verse 8 he says that if we exhibit these characteristics, "one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of [us]." The word for opponent, enantios, means "one who is against, opposite, or contrary." If we are submitted to God and following him, remaining in our fellowship with God, it is very clear who the contrary one, the opponent, is, and he or she will not be able to condemn us.
In Titus 3:9-11 Paul says, "but avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned." The word translated here as reject is paraiteomai and it means "to shun; to avoid; to refuse; to decline." The word for a divisive man is hairetikos and it means "a heretic; a follower of a false doctrine." Paul is telling us to admonish, or correct, someone who is going astray, following a false doctrine, and then to avoid such a person, to not have association with him/her. We are to remain separate (this is true holiness).
Jude gives us further instructions in his epistle. He discusses false teachers who enter into the church and "turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ." (verse 4) In verse 18 he tells us there will be mockers in the last time. He says they are "sensual persons who cause divisions, not having the Spirit." (verse 19) Jude points out that they are the ones causing divisions. If we follow Paul's instructions and separate ourselves from such deceivers, we are not creating division, we are remaining faithful to our calling. These false teachers do not have the spirit of God, and are therefore not considered sons of God (Romans 8:14); they are not even part of the body of Christ. So, even if they say they are Christians, they are not because they do not have the spirit of God. If they did have the spirit of God, they would be following God and walking appropriately. Since they are not members of the body of Christ, separating ourselves from them, in essence, removing them out of our fellowship, is not rebellion or division; it is a necessary action to maintain the unity of the faith.
Jude continues in verses 20 and 21 saying, "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." Those of us who are truly of the body of Christ, the ones God has called out of this world, and who are being led by the spirit of God are to continue growing in grace and knowledge (2 Peter 3:18), building ourselves up in the faith. We are also to keep ourselves in the love of God. The word translated keep, tereo, means "to attend to carefully; to take care of." We are to be working out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).
John tells in 1 John 1:3 that "that which we [the apostles] have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ." According to this passage, John says that the apostles, the physical leaders of the church, the ministers, are able to have fellowship with us, the members of Christ's body, because they deliver the truth, the things that they have seen and heard. It seems that their fellowship with us, or ours with them, is dependent upon what they are teaching. This application is congruent with the many things Paul says which we have already covered. John goes on to say that the fellowship that we have is actually with God and Jesus Christ. We need to diligently endeavor to remain in that fellowship, the fellowship that really matters.
When Peter and the other apostles were told not to preach in Jesus' name they said, "We ought to obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29) Is that a fair assessment of your attitude when confronted with the many challenges toward the practice of your faith that have been show to violated God's will in His Holy Scriptures? Again, the instruction is clear: our allegiance is to God, first and foremost. Jesus Christ is the head of his church, his body, and we are to be in subjection to him. 2 Corinthians 8:5 shows that the Christians in Corinth first gave themselves to God and then to the apostles. They made sure they were in subjection and obedience to God first, and then they submitted to the apostles as they followed God. It is fine and right to follow the example and teachings of individuals as long as they are following God, but if they stray from that which was once delivered, should we not follow God rather than those individuals?
In Acts 19, it is recorded that Paul visited Ephesus. In verse 8, Luke explains that Paul taught in the synagogue for three months. Verse 9 says, "But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus." Verse 9 seems to indicate that some of those to whom Paul had been preaching rejected his instruction after having first accepted it. The Moffatt Bible translates this verse as, "But as some grew stubborn and disobedient, decrying the Way in presence of the multitude, he left them, withdrew the disciples and continued his argument every day from eleven to four in the lecture-room of Tyrannus." So, some turned away from the truth and were speaking against it, causing divisions and confusion. What was Paul's response? Not surprisingly, it was exactly along the lines of his instruction in his epistles to the Corinthians, Ephesians, Titus, etc. Let me ask you: Do really and truly believe that obedience is greater than any sacrifice you can bring God? Are you courageous enough to obey Paul in this regard? Paul removed himself and the disciples, those who were receiving and holding onto the truth, from fellowship with the dissenters; he separated them, marked them off from the unbelievers. Verse 10 shows that they continued meeting in a place outside of the synagogue for two years.
In Romans 8, Paul gives us encouragement for times when we face persecution and trials. He says in verse 31, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" Paul asks in verse 35, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" In verses 38 and 39 he continues, saying, "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Nothing can come between us and God's love. Only our sins separate us from God (Isaiah 59:2; Hebrews 6:4-6). We can and should maintain our fellowship with God and with one another, being like minded and unified in the faith. We need to hold fast to the Head, Jesus Christ, because that is the source of our spiritual nourishment and growth (Colossians 2:19). "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:9) We are called into the fellowship of Jesus Christ, and there is no place for the fellowship of demons with it (1 Corinthians 10:20).
God clearly told the Israelites to be a separate nation and to not fellowship with their heathen neighbors (Exodus 33:16; Deuteronomy 7:6; Ezra 6:21;10:11; 1 Kings 8:53). In Deuteronomy 12, God explained to the Israelites why they were to remain separate from the heathen nations. In verse 30 and 31 God says, "Take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, 'How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.' You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way. . ." These words are applicable to us today. We are to worship God in spirit and truth (John 4:24), not according to pagan customs and practices. In the book of Proverbs, Solomon says, "My son, do not walk in the way with them [sinners], Keep your foot from their path." (Proverbs 1:15) He also says, "Do not enter the path of the wicked, And do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on." (Proverbs 4:14-15) These proverbs are quite clear: do not follow unrighteousness, remove yourself from those who are walking astray. We don't even want to be counted among them. Solomon also says, "The way of the Lord is strength for the upright, But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity." (Proverbs 10:29) We should follow the paths of the Lord; His way is the right way. Those who deviate from the ways of God bring destruction upon themselves.
In Psalm 94, David speaks of God as the refuge of the righteous. This psalm contains much instruction and wisdom for us today. I will not quote all of it here, but I encourage you to read it, thinking about how David's words apply to our situation today. In verse 20, David asks, "Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law, Have fellowship with you?" The obvious answer is no. God is faithful to protect and preserve us, and he will deal with those who are following after unrighteousness.
We should follow the admonition of Jesus Christ in Luke 11:35-36 and make sure that our whole body is full of light and not darkness. This applies to us individually in our own lives; we should be becoming perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48). Also, it has a larger application: we should be striving to keep the body of Christ full of light and not darkness. Our fellowship should glorify the name of God.
We are told in several places to rejoice when we are persecuted for adhering to God's way of life. Jesus said we are blessed when men hate us and exclude us and call us evil (Luke 6:22). Peter says that we are blessed when we are reproached for the name of Christ (1 Peter 4:14). If we suffer with Christ, we will be glorified together (Romans 8:17). We are told in Philippians that it has been "granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for his sake." (1:29) " All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:12) 1 Peter 3:14-15 says, "But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. 'And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.' But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear."
Paul tells us in Acts 20:30 that false teachers would rise up from among us, "speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves." Warnings such as this are spread throughout the New Testament. Paul spoke at some length regarding our responsibility as a church, as the body of Christ, when false teachers and deceivers try to lead us astray. Other New Testament writers also spoke about what we are to do. The instructions given in the Holy Bible regarding what we are to do when faced with false teachers and brothers who are walking astray tell us to avoid them and to not associate with them. By fellowshipping with these individuals, the name of God is tarnished. There is one faith, one baptism, one body, and it is not divided. There is a unity, a harmony, of the faith, and we are to maintain it. We are not to be counted among those who are not walking after the truth which has been delivered to us. It seems quite clear what our responsibility is when the situation arises where false teachers are among us and when brothers walk astray: we are to avoid them, have no fellowship with them, be separate from them, maintaining the unity of the faith. God's house, his church, cannot be divided against itself; it will not stand if it is. God is not the author of confusion. We are to avoid those who cause divisions and teach false doctrines. This much is clear. We must exercise spiritual discernment in order to determine if such actions are appropriate in the present time. Are individuals walking astray and teaching false doctrines as the word of God, bringing shame upon the name of Christ? We are to note those who are walking disorderly, correct them, and be separate from them. That is our responsibility in this matter. We are not to invite such a person into our house or even greet him/her (2 John 10). We must maintain the unity of the faith that was once given to the saints and which was handed down faithfully into the early part of the fourth century until it was eradicated by the paganism of Rome.
God gives us encouragement in his holy word: "Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I come quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown." (Revelation 3:10-11) "The God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you." (Romans 16:20) "God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:9) "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)