Exposing Error: Is it Worthwhile?
By the late Dr. H.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 chapter 2 verse 1 of his second epistle so definitely refers to as “damnable heresies.”
Our Lord prophesied, “many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many” (Matthew 24:11). 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” (Acts 20:29-31).
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” (2 Timothy 3:1) 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” (Acts 20:28). 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 “earnestly contend for the faith … once delivered to the saints” (Jude 3), 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, where 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 of 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”? (Matthew 22:42) is still the true test of every creed. The Christ of the Bible is certainly not the Christ of any falseism. 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 (2 Timothy 2:3). 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” (Hebrews 13:13). 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 subtile fallacies concerning the Lord Jesus, our sole and sufficient Saviour.
Error is like leaven, of which we read, “a little leaven leaventh the whole lump” (1 Corinthians 5:6). 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 Saviour, 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 in Egypt” (Hebrews 11:26), it insures future reward, a thousandfold. And to souls caught in the “snare of the fowler” (Psalm 91:3) – how many of them God only knows – it may mean light and life, abundant and everlasting.
THE GOSPEL STANDARD:
Box 1660, Halifax, N.S. Canada B3J 3A1 (March 1992)
