For most Christians today, the challenge of learning how to
discern orthodox from heretical doctrine has apparently not been
faced. Either they treat doctrine as minimally important and so
regard charges of "heresy" as rude and unloving, or they treat
doctrine as all-important and so regard anyone who disagrees with
them in the slightest as a heretic. In short, most believers seem
to think either that there are almost no heretics or that almost
everybody outside their own little group is a heretic.
The cause of doctrinal discernment, then, is in serious
jeopardy. Although anticult and discernment ministries are
mushrooming everywhere, many of them operate on the basis of an
excessively narrow understanding of orthodoxy. Consequently, such
groups are charged deservedly with "heresy hunting" and discredit
the practice of doctrinal discernment. At the other extreme -- and
often overreacting to such heresy hunters -- are those within the
Christian community who reject any warnings of heresy among
professing Christians.
In this two-part article I will attempt to set forth a balanced
approach to the issue of doctrinal heresy. In this first part I
will present a biblical case for the practice of discerning
orthodox from heretical doctrines. In the second part I will offer
guidelines for doctrinal discernment.
In order to make this article as useful as possible, I will
avoid making references to specific heretical or suborthodox
groups, doctrines, and practices. This is so it may be read without
conflict by persons in religious groups which discourage reading
literature that criticizes their beliefs. In addition, I will avoid
quoting and citing sources other than the Bible so that what I say
can stand as much as possible on its own. A bibliography of
recommended reading will be provided at the end of Part Two.
My own theological convictions are those of Protestant
evangelicalism. Most of what I have to say in this article,
however, is compatible with other Christian traditions as well....
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