Heresy of the Heart
Is it possible to dot all our doctrinal “i’s” and cross all our doctrinal “t’s” when it comes to orthodox Christian belief and still be a heretic? That’s the question, I want to consider with you today.
It’s a question that can only be answered by understanding what heresy is, so let’s see if we can set forth a few definitions that we can agree on . . .
First, heresy is teaching that is contrary to the historic, orthodox interpretation of the Bible.
Second, heresy is teaching that leads the hearts of God’s people away from the teaching and life of Jesus.
Having served as a pastor for almost forty years, I’ve learned that it is possible to teach all the “right” doctrines, and still lead people away from God and His kingdom. In fact, Jesus himself criticized the religious leaders in his day of doing this very thing. And his primary criticism centered on their obsession with right doctrine while ignorant of their own hardness of heart.
Here are some things of which Jesus accused these misguided religious leaders:
Straining out gnats while swallowing camels. (Matt. 23:24)
Jesus applied these words to those who emphasized strict biblical obedience but whose hearts were lacking compassion, mercy, and a world in which God’s justice reigned.
Traveling land and sea to make one convert and then making that convert into twice the son of hell than they were. (Matt. 23:15)
Religion at its worst: ultimately making people into converts rather than disciples.
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. (Matt. 15:9)
Relying on inaccurate interpretations of the Bible that undermine rather than affirm the ways of Jesus and the kingdom of God. It doesn’t matter who the interpreter is or how well known. It’s easy to align with a particular doctrinal camp and be mislead away from the heart of Christ.
Believing eternal life is found in the scriptures rather than Jesus. (Jn. 5:38-39)
Bibliolatry is the worship of the Bible, rather than the author of the Bible. Jesus, not a book about him, is the truth, the way, and the life. All scripture ultimately points us to Jesus, who is the fulfillment of everything recorded in the Law and the Prophets. Jesus is the Word of God. (Jn. 1:14)
There is a lot more I could say, but let’s leave it at this for now. I continue to grieve over those Bible teachers who make doctrine the end-all of our Christian faith, and who believe that believing right leads to living right. The truth is, we can be right and still be wrong. Jesus calls us to follow him, not a doctrine about him.
It’s time for a reformation of the heart, where right doctrine matters, but lifestyles that reflect the grace and mercy found in Jesus matter most of all!
In Christ,
Dan