Beware of Heresy
I don't know if there's ever been a time in our world more prone to heresy and Bible teachings based on opinion and half-truths than right now.
Here's one thing I do know: As believers, you love Jesus and trust Scripture. A recent survey from Ligonier Ministries and Lifeway Research of evangelicals confirmed this. These evangelicals were defined as those who agreed with these four statements:
These foundational truths are essential, regardless of denominational affiliation. However, the survey also shared some alarming statistics from these same evangelicals:
Every book in the New Testament except one warns against false teachers and their heretical teachings. The only exception is Philemon, which is a charge to a slave owner to forgive and embrace his slave who had abandoned him—as an equal—because of their mutual faith in Christ. This was still a radical rebuke of the culturally accepted practices and teachings of the day.
As your pastor, I have a responsibility to charge you to know God's Word, to help you grow in what you know, and to equip you to apply it. My job is not to tell you what you want to hear, but to tell you the truth. I've jokingly said, "One day I'll preach heresy, and it's your job to catch it." In no way would I ever intentionally preach heresy—if I did and became aware of it, I would quickly admit it and correct it. But the point of my jest is that as believers, we must take every teaching, receive it, and then examine it: Does this actually align with God's Word?
We live in a time when you can find a preacher to tell you exactly what you want to hear. There's a "pastor" for any belief you'd like affirmed. Sincere people who hold "the Bible as the highest authority for what they believe" desire to live out their beliefs, but they often struggle to know what the Bible really says. This is why we're so committed to discipleship groups, emphasize weekly church attendance, and including a five-day devotional with every sermon we post. We want you to "Know His Word"—it's one of our core values as a church.
Across the nation and world, Gen Z (ages 13–28) is attending church at a higher rate than any other age group. These are young people without deep foundations, hungering for truth. The same stats that show Gen Z attending more than the rest also prove that those older than them are often not present to guide them, protect the church from false teaching, disciple them, encourage them, and spur them on to lead the church into an ever-changing world. See Christianity Today Study
We need parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents—as well as young men, young women, and children—who know what they believe and why they believe it. We need to raise up pastors, discipleship group leaders, missionaries, and marketplace leaders who love Christ, have surrendered to Him as Lord of all, know the truth, and boldly proclaim it.
There has never been a time when the truth was more needed than now. Be someone who boldly proclaims what is true.
Here's one thing I do know: As believers, you love Jesus and trust Scripture. A recent survey from Ligonier Ministries and Lifeway Research of evangelicals confirmed this. These evangelicals were defined as those who agreed with these four statements:
- The Bible is the highest authority for what I believe.
- It is very important for me personally to encourage non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior.
- Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin.
- Only those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior receive God’s free gift of eternal salvation.
These foundational truths are essential, regardless of denominational affiliation. However, the survey also shared some alarming statistics from these same evangelicals:
- 53% agreed with the statement, "Everyone sins a little, but most people are good by nature." Yet Jesus didn't agree, saying, "No one is good except God alone." See Mark 10:18.
- 47% agreed that "God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam." Jesus said "no one can come to the Father except through me." See John 14:6.
- While upwards of 98% of evangelicals agreed that "God created marriage to be between one man and one woman," 32% of regular churchgoers believe people should be able to choose their gender identity regardless of their biological sex. But in the beginning, God created them "male and female" See Genesis 1:27 and Genesis 2:18-25, you can also see Jesus reaffirming this in Matthew 19:4-5.
- 35% agreed that "Christians should not allow their religious beliefs to influence their political decisions." This is a direct lie of the enemy. Your faith and belief in Christ should influence EVERY decision you make—I don't care what qualifier you put on it, "political" or otherwise. Jesus is not Lord of parts of your life; He is either Lord of all or not at all. If the Bible is the highest authority for what you believe, why would it not also be the highest authority for every aspect of your life? We should promote policies that promote righteousness, because "righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people" See Proverbs 14:34. When you vote, you should be convinced in your mind and heart that your vote aligns with Scripture. If you'd like some Scriptures that address politics and governance, here is a good starting place.
- 31% disagreed with the statement "Every Christian has an obligation to join a local church." Perhaps this was due to the wording of the question, but I think it points to the heart of so many believers who pursue faith in isolation and forsake biblical community. "Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit" See Hebrews 10:25.
Every book in the New Testament except one warns against false teachers and their heretical teachings. The only exception is Philemon, which is a charge to a slave owner to forgive and embrace his slave who had abandoned him—as an equal—because of their mutual faith in Christ. This was still a radical rebuke of the culturally accepted practices and teachings of the day.
As your pastor, I have a responsibility to charge you to know God's Word, to help you grow in what you know, and to equip you to apply it. My job is not to tell you what you want to hear, but to tell you the truth. I've jokingly said, "One day I'll preach heresy, and it's your job to catch it." In no way would I ever intentionally preach heresy—if I did and became aware of it, I would quickly admit it and correct it. But the point of my jest is that as believers, we must take every teaching, receive it, and then examine it: Does this actually align with God's Word?
We live in a time when you can find a preacher to tell you exactly what you want to hear. There's a "pastor" for any belief you'd like affirmed. Sincere people who hold "the Bible as the highest authority for what they believe" desire to live out their beliefs, but they often struggle to know what the Bible really says. This is why we're so committed to discipleship groups, emphasize weekly church attendance, and including a five-day devotional with every sermon we post. We want you to "Know His Word"—it's one of our core values as a church.
Across the nation and world, Gen Z (ages 13–28) is attending church at a higher rate than any other age group. These are young people without deep foundations, hungering for truth. The same stats that show Gen Z attending more than the rest also prove that those older than them are often not present to guide them, protect the church from false teaching, disciple them, encourage them, and spur them on to lead the church into an ever-changing world. See Christianity Today Study
We need parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents—as well as young men, young women, and children—who know what they believe and why they believe it. We need to raise up pastors, discipleship group leaders, missionaries, and marketplace leaders who love Christ, have surrendered to Him as Lord of all, know the truth, and boldly proclaim it.
There has never been a time when the truth was more needed than now. Be someone who boldly proclaims what is true.
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