Heretics…
If you’re thinking of throwing around a term like this just remember the implications that it has both on how people view the person you’re calling a heretic and the way people view the person who is brash enough to do so.
There are countless people I do not agree with, whose interpretation of scripture doesn’t line up with mine, whose doctrine is a tad bit shady in my opinion but the last thing I want to do is take whatever platform I have to lead a crusade against such people. I believe that as Christians we are called to preach the Gospel to a lost and dying world not kill those who claim (and probably are) to be our bothers and sisters because of Jesus.
All you have to do is google search some popular Christian leader and you’ll find entire websites devoted to why that person is going to hell and anyone who follows that person is going to hell and that any Christian who isn’t exactly like the person doing the writting is going to hell. Meanwhile there are a whole lot of people walking around outside the very building that person sits in writting who are actually going to end up in hell because instead of getting on with the ministry of reconciliation they are too busy with the ministry of accusation.
I guess we’ve all just forgotten what Jesus said about people knowing we’re his disciples by the way we love one another. Or maybe I’ve just misinterpreted that.
I’m sure I’ll end up on someone’s podcast or website sooner or later as a false teacher or heretic because I’m trying to take Jesus at his word on that one. Oh well.
