|
Proclamations of Faith |
|
by David A. DePra |
| Regarding Heresy: |
| The Truth sets us free. Heresy and error keep us in bondage. Heresy |
| is a lie about God which keeps me from experiencing the freedom |
| found in Jesus Christ. |
| There is a big difference between being mistaken about God, and |
| believing lies about Him. |
| If I believe a lie about someone, it is going to affect my relationship with |
| them. I'll approach them and act toward them under a certain |
| conditioned premise. So it is with God. |
| The reason the Truth about God sets us free is that when we see the |
| Truth about Him we know that He is love, and that there really isn't |
| anything we need to be afraid of. |
| Everyone, including teachers of God's Word, make mistakes in what |
| they say and how they say it. But there is a big difference between |
| making mistakes and teaching heresy. When mistakes which are |
| taught become error which is defended, we may indeed be hearing a |
| false teacher. |
| If I believe a lie, then there is something in me which corresponds to it. |
| It may not be an "evil" thing, but there is something in me whereby the |
| lie was able to gain control. |
| Just as a "said faith" regarding the Truth not real faith -- and cannot |
| benefit us -- so is a "said faith" regarding error not real faith. It's damage |
| can be minimal. That is why some Christians are able to believe some |
| of the most crazy things and seem unharmed by it. |
| All heresy contradicts God's written Word. But moreso, it contradicts the |
| nature and character of God Himself. |
| All heresy will somewhere deny or distort what God did through the |
| Redemption of Jesus Christ. |