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©FOUNDATION
A MAGAZINE OF BIBLICAL FUNDAMENTALISM
Dennis W. Costella, Editor; Karel Beyer, Production Manager; Matt
Costella,
Copy Editor
M.H. Reynolds, Jr. (1919-1997), Founding Editor
Exposing Error:
 |
Is It
Worthwhile?
by Harry A. Ironside |
OBJECTION IS OFTEN
raised even by some sound in the faith-regarding the exposure of error
as being entirely negative and of no real edification. Of late, the hue
and cry has been against any and all negative teaching. But the brethren
who assume this attitude forget that a large part of the New Testament,
both of the teaching of our blessed Lord Himself and the writings of the
apostles, is made up of this very character of ministry-namely, showing
the Satanic origin and, therefore, the unsettling results of the
propagation of erroneous systems which Peter, in his second epistle, so
definitely refers to as "damnable heresies."
Our Lord prophesied, "Many false prophets shall
rise, and shall deceive many." Within our own day, how many false
prophets have risen; and oh, how many are the deceived! Paul predicted,
"I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in
among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men
arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
Therefore watch." My own observation is that these "grievous wolves,"
alone and in packs, are not sparing even the most favoured flocks.
Undershepherds in these "perilous times" will do well to note the
apostle's warning: "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the
flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers." It is as
important in these days as in Paul's-in fact, it is increasingly
important-to expose the many types of false teaching that, on every
hand, abound more and more.
We are called upon to "contend earnestly for the
faith once for all delivered to the saints," while we hold the truth in
love. The faith means the whole body of revealed truth, and to contend
for all of God's truth necessitates some negative teaching. The choice
is not left with us. Jude said he preferred a different, a pleasanter
theme-"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the
common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort
you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once
delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares,
who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men,
turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only
Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ" (Jude 3, 4). Paul likewise
admonishes us to "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of
darkness, but rather reprove them" (Eph. 5:11).
This does not imply harsh treatment of those
entrapped by error—quite the opposite. If it be objected that exposure
to error necessitates unkind reflection upon others who do not see as we
do, our answer is: it has always been the duty of every loyal servant of
Christ to warn against any teaching that would make Him less precious or
cast reflection upon His finished redemptive work and the
all-sufficiency of His present service as our great High Priest and
Advocate.
Every system of teaching can be judged by what it
sets forth as to these fundamental truths of the faith. "What think ye
of Christ?" is still the true test of every creed. The Christ of the
Bible is certainly not the Christ of any false "-ism." Each of the cults
has its hideous caricature of our lovely Lord.
Let us who have been redeemed at the cost of His
precious blood be "good soldiers of Jesus Christ." As the battle against
the forces of evil waxes ever more hot, we have need for God-given
valour.
There is constant temptation to compromise. "Let us
go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach." It
is always right to stand firmly for what God has revealed concerning His
blessed Son's person and work. The "father of lies" deals in half-truths
and specializes in most subtle fallacies concerning the Lord Jesus, our
sole and sufficient Savior.
Error is like leaven of which we read, "A little
leaven leaveneth the whole lump." Truth mixed with error is equivalent
to all error, except that it is more innocent looking and, therefore,
more dangerous. God hates such a mixture! Any error, or any
truth-and-error mixture, calls for definite exposure and repudiation. To
condone such is to be unfaithful to God and His Word and treacherous to
imperiled souls for whom Christ died.
Exposing error is most unpopular work. But from
every true standpoint it is worthwhile work. To our Savior, it means
that He receives from us, His blood-bought ones, the loyalty that is His
due. To ourselves, if we consider "the reproach of Christ greater riches
than the treasures of Egypt," it ensures future reward, a thousand-fold.
And to souls "caught in the snare of the fowler"—how many of them God
only knows-it may mean light and life, abundant and everlasting.
[Dr. Harry Ironside (1876-1951), a godly Fundamentalist author and teacher for many
years, served as pastor of Chicago's Moody Memorial Church from 1930-1948]
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