Bold Love And Loving Boldness
Love (accurately defined by God and that comes from God), cares about truth, and particularly about truth related to the gospel message from Christ. Truth is essential to the Christian faith. That idea has never been in dispute by genuine followers of Christ. A good majority of the New Testament is devoted to clarifying and defining sound doctrine (a fancy phrase that means "faithful teachings"). The New Testament also devotes much time and attendance to refuting ideas that contradict the truth of the gospel or attempt to distort the message of the gospel.
Anyone who promotes the idea that what one teaches doesn't matter is in direct contradiction with the teachings of the New Testament. This means that intentionally or unintentionally these are opposing the message from God delivered by the Apostles (messengers appointed by Christ to deliver His message). Love or unity without a basis in truth or a concern for sound doctrine is a false love and a false unity promoted by those who do not have a genuine desire to follow Christ or His teachings (according to scripture).
According To Scripture, Doctrine Matters
In his letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul is equipping Timothy to lead the church in Ephesus and take the mantle of his pastoral ministry. In this pastoral letter, he urges Timothy to charge the believers in Ephesus not to teach doctrine that swerves from the truth of the gospel (the message delivered by the Apostles) or to himself swerve from the stewardship of the truth of the message of the gospel.
As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions.
Paul tells Timothy exactly why he should care about doctrine (1Timothy 1:5) - to promote true love from: a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith. Sincere love cares about protecting, guarding and faithfully delivering the truth from God as a steward. With that motive in mind, Paul charges Timothy not only to teach sound doctrine, but also to refute and silence those who teach what is false.
Paul’s charge to Timothy is to shepherd the church with: love, concern for sound doctrine and a sincere faith. This is the standard for anyone in the Christian faith who holds the title of pastor or elder and desires to be faithful to the stewardship of that role and speak in the authority of Christ. Paul’s letter to Timothy is written both to equip him to faithfully serve in that role, as well as to discern those who are unfaithful to that stewardship. Paul has set an example for Timothy by his own example of faithful stewardship. In his letter, he also mentions two examples of unfaithful stewards (by name) so that Timothy may gain discernment as what to avoid.
This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.
While Paul doesn’t give specifics about what Hymenaeus and Alexander are teaching or practicing in this letter, it must have been known by Timothy already. He does give more specific details in his second letter to Timothy, but Paul here states that they are blaspheming (irreverently speaking or handling) the truth of the gospel that comes from God.
Who is Hymenaeus?
In his second letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul gives more specific details as to why he called out Hymenaeus by name, as well as another individual named Philetus. He states that they are involved in irreverent babble, teaching things like the “the resurrection (of the dead) has already taken place” and have swerved from the truth of the gospel as delivered by Paul and the other Apostles. Paul states that the work and fruit of these teachings is upsetting the faith of other members of the body of Christ (as opposed to building them up into the truth of the gospel).
Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”
Paul is instructing Timothy that doctrine matters and is to be handled with reverence because it is truth that comes from God. He instructs Timothy that false doctrine is misleading and harmful to hearers. Such persons who teach and promote false doctrine (like Hymenaeus and Philetus) must be dealt with or harm will come to the body of Christ.
Who is Alexander?
In his second letter to Timothy, the Apostle Paul gives more specific details as to why he called Alexander by name as a false teacher. He states that Alexander was opposing his message strongly. Paul was an Apostle (Christ appointed messenger) to preach the gospel as a steward of the faith as taught by Christ and with the authority of Christ. When Alexander “strongly opposed” this message, he showed himself to be false and was actually opposing Christ by undermining Christ’s authority (in that what Paul taught was the message from Christ).
Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message.
Paul is instructing Timothy that it is not only those who teach false doctrine but also those who oppose sound doctrine that are to be dealt with. In His first letter to Timothy (concerning Alexander), Paul publicly names him as a false teacher, and excommunicated him, “handing him over to Satan” as Paul states, to be taught not to blaspheme.
Who is Diotrephes?
The Apostle John also mentions one who causes division by name:
I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.
Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.
John calls out Diotrophes by name for the same reason Paul calls out Alexander - namely that he does not acknowledge the authority of the Apostles but rather exerts his own authority in an irreverent and blasphemous way. He also charges Diotrophes as one who puts out of the church those who acknowledge Apostolic authority.
John states that when he comes, he will bring up what he is doing (assumingly to the whole church), to protect them from divisive characters like Diotrophes who oppose sound doctrine.
John also makes a delineation between those who do what is good (submit to and obey sound doctrine) as those who know God, and those who do what is evil (oppose and disobey sound doctrine) as those who have not seen God and therefore are false.
John’s teaching in his letter affirms that doctrine matters as it pertains to the gospel, and delineates between what is true and what is false.
How the church should handle the truth according to scripture
The Apostle Paul in his pastoral epistle to Titus, instructs him what to teach the church that agrees with sound doctrine and the truth of the gospel, as well as what to avoid.
Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
Take note that Paul instructs Titus to warn a person twice and then have nothing to do with them if they persist in stirring up division by teaching and practicing what is: false, unprofitable and worthless. In this letter, Paul affirms that doctrine matters both for the health and the growth of the body of Christ as well as a warning to those who contradict what is true.
Similarly, Paul, in his letter to the Romans, instructs the church to keep watch for those who cause division by teaching and practicing what is contrary to sound doctrine. This implies that the church should not neglect to discern, or to ignore what causes division, but rather to be watchful and alert, making proper distinctions.
I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
Take note that Paul instructs the Romans not only to be watchful and make distinctions, but also to avoid those who contradict the truth of the gospel. This instruction is that the church should actively discern, warn and avoid those who practice and teach such things. Paul is affirming that doctrine matters.
Jude affirms the teachings of the Apostles in his letter to the churches.
But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
Jude is affirming the teachings of the Apostles that predicted that false teachers would infiltrate the church, therefore they should be watchful and build themselves up in the truth of the gospel, acting and behaving as people who have received the mercy of the gospel of Christ.
Remembering the example of Christ
We must remember the example Christ set for us as well. Jesus knew from the beginning that Judas would betray him. Though He mentioned many times to the disciples that one of them would betray Him, none of the disciples suspected it would be Judas. Jesus treated Judas as one of His own, even serving him and washing his feet, knowing the whole time that he would betray Him. While Jesus may not have been as intimate a friend of Judas (as He was with James, Peter and John), the way Jesus treated him caused none of the disciples to suspect Judas.
When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you?You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
While the Apostles taught how the church should respond to false teachers and how to be mindful and alert concerning the warnings that the church would be infiltrated by false teachers, the example of Jesus concerning those in the church who may be false should teach us how to behave towards them, though they may not yet have proven to be false by their teachings or actions. We should not be a poor example as people who move and act suspicious of everyone, but we should follow the Lord’s example and serve with love and humility all who claim to belong to Him. This we should do without neglecting the warnings or exhortations of Christ and the Apostles concerning the reverent and proper handling of the truth of the gospel.
Summarizing the exhortations of scripture
The teachings of scripture through the authority of the Apostles are clear that doctrine matters. The words and phrases: teaching, doctrine, truth, and knowledge of God permeate every epistle in the New Testament by defining, clarifying and stressing the importance of them concerning the gospel message - which bears good fruit for protecting, equipping and building up Christ’s body.
Those who neglect, distort, oppose or contradict the truth as laid out through the Apostles (by the authority of Christ) are in fact denying Christ and those He sent (Matthew 10:40, John 13:20, Luke 10:16, 2Peter 2:1).
Shepherds, elders and members of the body of Christ should follow the exhortations of the Apostles and be watchful, discerning and make proper distinctions concerning the teachings and practice of those claiming to be in the body of Christ. When confronted with opposition and with false teaching it must be dealt with accordingly as stewards of the household of God with reverence, humility and submission to the commands of the Lord. In some cases, those who teach or practice what is false may even need to be called out by name as an example to the body of those who cause division, to preserve and protect the body of Christ. As faithful stewards, this must be done with love, out of pure motive, sincere faith and a good conscience as those who stand in the very presence of God.
The heart of shepherd, as a faithful steward and servant of Christ, exercises bold love towards those he wants to build up into the image of Christ by preserving and training in the truth of the gospel. This may mean exercising loving boldness by calling out and holding accountable those who attempt to distort, oppose or blaspheme the truth.
Love (accurately defined by God and that comes from God), cares about truth, and particularly about truth related to the gospel message from Christ.
