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The article set off a firestorm for some individuals while bringing both conviction and blessing to others. The stormtroopers would not stay on point, as they continually tried to hijack the article to push their more important agenda on Ann Voskamp’s “heresies.”
Hijacking other people’s points is not a recent phenomenon, though social media has made it easier for the “quick to speak and slow to listen” crowd to push their agenda while disrespecting the time and effort of the writer who’s making his/her point.
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The singular purpose of that article was that it does not make sense to me to enter into a discussion with someone you disagree with by insulting them. I honestly cannot get my mind around that concept. Imagine sitting in front of a gay guy or an evolutionist or any other “form of heresy” person and insulting him/her. It seems to me that you would want to be kind while confronting them on their ideas and the dangers of their ideas.
The most sobering issue concerning heretical people is that they will be cursed (Galatians 1:6-10). Paul was clear that God would curse them to hell if they persist in their heresy. Of course, God will do the “cursing,” not us. My job is to persuade them, in tears, to reconsider and repent of their false teaching. Who is not brokenhearted over any person going to hell?
In the article Why Do You Criticize Ann Voskamp?, I talked about being made in the image of God (James 3:9-10) and being in the body of Christ, both of which should calibrate the heart of any “rebuker” as they “go after” false teachers. Those two things did not deter the theological stormtroopers from storming the “gates of my article” to make their points.
Since the dawn of the Internet, there is an unprecedented number of people standing on the public stage to talk about theology. I’m talking about good theology. I would like to think I’m one of those people, and I applaud this “new way” to talk about theology and will do all I can to perpetuate it.
The downside–because sin always gives us a downside–is that there is a growing number of Christians who talk without a social or moral filter; it’s unkind speech patterns, especially when they talk about theological problems and heresies.
It reminds me of what happened at the dawn of the civil rights movement in the 60s that we still see today: Black people were held down for so long that when they were given the mic (finally), in all their righteousness, many of them were more divisive than restorative. Being right to whatever degree that may be while being divisive continues today. Think: Black Lives Matter.
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There is a way to argue your points without hiding behind righteous anger when you’re, actually, sinfully infuriated by what a person is doing. And without alienating the very individuals who need to hear your rebukes, they won’t listen to you because you insulted their leader. Your goal is to compel them to your way of thinking, which leads to the second troubling thing about some of my article responders.
There were a few folks on Twitter who asked, “How do you confront without insulting?” (I’m interpreting the different tweets into one question.) That left me scratching my head. I wanted to say, “You mean to tell me that you don’t know how to make your persuasive theological points by being kind and not insulting, but so compelling with your arguments that you can both confront and persuade?”
An inability to compassionately confront others has ubiquitous fallout on every level of society. Imagine how problematic it would be if you did not know how to confront horrible ideas in a persuasive, compelling, compassionate, and theological way.
Below are seven examples. Notice how all the “bad people” in the scenarios are “heretical” because of their poor theology, among other things. You don’t become a bad (wrong) person without false theology. Though a “mean husband” is not considered a heretic, the truth is that he is a “form of a heretic” because he denies (by objective practice) the Bible’s control over him.
Heresy, stated simply, is a belief or opinion that is contrary to the Bible. And there is much stratification within that framework, from an atheist, agnostic, and unregenerate, to an immature Christian who believes and practices a life that is contrary to the Bible. The irony is how there is a little heresy in all of us. Ask an Arminian what he thinks about a Calvinist. Then talk to the Calvinist.
I stated above that, “An inability to compassionately confront others has ubiquitous fallout on every level of society.” Here are seven “small-time heretics” who are not walking in line with the Gospel (Galatians 2:14).
All of these people have “forms of heresy” in their lives, and all of them need to change to a biblio-centric way of living. They need a more sound theology. There is no doubt that their “public stage” is not as wide and far as Ann Voskamp’s, but a little heresy will spoil any person, family, church, denomination, or movement. And the practices and attitudes needed to confront heretical teaching apply to the biggest and littlest heretics among us.
Being different from others is a long list. Think about the people that are different from you, e.g., dumb, smart, fat, thin, slow, fast, poor, rich, fortunate, homeless, and heretics. Yeah, it’s easy to grab a Scripture or two and call people stupid, but is that all you got? Is that your game? Is that all you’re going to do?
An inability to “hold the gifts God gave you (sound theology)” with humility as you confront those who have not come to your enlightenment is a serious matter (1 Corinthians 4:7). I tell my students,
If you learn something wise, smart, or theological, also learn how to steward God’s kindness to you by your word choices.
I’ve seen this up close and personal in the biblical counseling (BC) movement. When some new counselor-types first hear of Jay Adams (or their favorite BC mentor), they follow, slurping all the Kool-aid provided. Soon after, they are whacking off the ears of every Malchus (John 18:10) in the land: Dobson, Crabb, Chapman, or any individual with less BC precision than them. They do this in the name of truth because they are guarding the truth while keeping God’s sheep from being persuaded by inferior psychology.
They offend many of God’s sheep while giving BC a bad rap. The former Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC, previously NANC) became a verb: You “NANC someone” if they get too close to the integrated psychology line. The “word policing” was so strong, you didn’t want to be around them. Ironically, this practice rarely pulls those “misguided folk” back from the line. If anything, the “clarion callers” convince them that they need to be where the NANC guy is not.
We have seen this played out on other stages too. If I were unregenerate and was looking at the gays and Westboro Baptist Church engaging each other, I would more than likely join the gays, though I’m against the gay lifestyle. There is a way to confront, and sinful anger redefined as righteous anger is not the way.
If you study the righteous anger of Jesus, you will see three things He accomplished when He cleansed the temple (Matthew 21:12-16).
Some of the critical responders to my Voskamp piece reminded me that it was satire, as though there are a biblical category and permission for this, or that satire is set apart from Scripture’s scrutiny. Maybe Christians should be less about Saturday Night Live and more about truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). Everything we do should be for the Lord’s fame (1 Corinthians 10:31). Here are four self-assessment questions I ask myself when thinking about rebuking someone whom I know or don’t know.
Self-Assessment Questions
On Elijah’s mocking, it is true; yes he did, for which I have two responses:
If you mock heretics and want to use Elijah as your example, what is your next move that will demonstrate the power of God in such a way that you convince the recipients of your mocking that you have truth and they do not? Don’t cherry-pick the first thing Elijah did (mocking) and never mention the end of the story (the fire fell from heaven) if you’re going to make the narrative normative for you.
If you’re going to rebuke someone, you must be self-aware. A practical way for me to stay self-aware is with Lucia (my wife). I have the Holy Spirit, a conscience (inner voice), and a loving wife who knows me, my likes and dislikes, plus my tendencies, especially when I attempt to spiritualize my sin so I can say un-redemptive things to other individuals.
Illustration: I let her read “That email I’m about to send to someone with whom I’m irritated.” Invariably, she would appeal to me not to hit the send (sin) button. She is always right. And, yes, I have ignored her and pressed the “sin button” to my shame.
Stunningly, I have the ability to ignore the Spirit of God, my conscience, and my wife. I think if a person has a healthy dose of self-suspicion and a few close friends, in addition to the Holy Spirit, he can make better decisions.
Also, you have a responsibility to steward the relationships that hear you speak. There are always less mature people around you; it’s imperative to present the clearest possible picture of Christ to them. Disrespecting others is not a habit I want to pass along to others, especially my children.
Paul warned us to be careful about how we steward our knowledge (1 Corinthians 8:2), and though he was talking about young converts, how much more do we want to be careful among those who don’t know our Jesus? That is the primary reason I will not allow critical comments on my Facebook page.
We have thousands of lost individuals and hurt Christians coming to us. The last thing I want them to see is argumentative, critical, Christians.
It is always best, when possible, to speak to the individual in person. Be sure to assume that you do not understand them fully. You want more clarification on what you’re hearing. This is wise and humble. Perhaps you’re not as clear as you think you are. With that said, you should always be ready to speak against theological problems or heresies. However, your first call to action is to make sure you understand and are applying the content of this article before you open your mouth.
Rick launched the Life Over Coffee global training network in 2008 to bring hope and help for you and others by creating resources that spark conversations for transformation. His primary responsibilities are resource creation and leadership development, which he does through speaking, writing, podcasting, and educating.
In 1990 he earned a BA in Theology and, in 1991, a BS in Education. In 1993, he received his ordination into Christian ministry, and in 2000 he graduated with an MA in Counseling from The Master’s University. In 2006 he was recognized as a Fellow of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC).
