Taking Orders from Drunk Drivers
One telltale sign of false teachers in the church is that they appeal to something other than God’s Word as the standard. Regarding the false teachers in Ephesus, Paul said that they desired “to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions” (1 Timothy 1:7). In contrast, those who preach the gospel of Jesus Christ understand what the law is for:
“Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient…” 1 Timothy 1:8–9.
The law is not for the just. Or as Paul says in Galatians 5:23, there is no law, no prohibition against things like love, joy, peace, or kindness. God gave his law to define sin and to expose it as utterly sinful (Rom. 7:13).
So one way to recognize false teaching is to pay careful whenever someone makes a moral truth claim. What is the behavior they condemn? Who are the ones they urge to repent? And what standard are they using? If it’s not God’s Word, they don’t know what they’re talking about.
For Example
Here’s a current example from the Church of England. In December, the House of Bishops of the Church of England issued a pastoral statement regarding civil partnerships. In that statement, the bishops clearly defined marriage as a relationship that exists between a man and a woman. They said things like …
“Marriage, defined as a faithful, committed, permanent and legally sanctioned relationship between a man and a woman making a public commitment to each other, is central to the stability and health of human society.”
And,
“Sexual relationships outside heterosexual marriage are regarded as falling short of God’s purposes for human beings.”
And,
“For Christians, marriage – that is the lifelong union between a man and a woman, contracted with the making of vows – remains the proper context for sexual activity.”
Up to this point, the bishops have accurately summarized what the Bible teaches about sexuality. But on January 30, 2020, the two bishops who authored the pastoral statement issued a public apology. Whenever you hear people apologizing, start looking around for the moral standard. The question is always by what standard?
Here’s what they said:
“We as Archbishops, alongside the bishops of the Church of England, apologise and take responsibility for releasing a statement last week which we acknowledge has jeopardised trust.
“We are very sorry and recognise the division and hurt this has caused.”
To understand what’s going on here, pay attention to who is apologizing, for what, and to whom. The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Archbishop of York are publicly humbling themselves and begging for forgiveness from those who engage in sexual activity outside of heterosexual marriages.
Their offense? It turns out that the real sin that must be confessed is upholding a biblical sexual ethic.
According to what standard? According to the hurt feelings of those living in sexual immorality and practicing homosexuality.
In 1 Timothy 1, Paul indicates that false teachers do two things. They find creative ways to interpret Scripture to mean the opposite of what it says so they can excuse the very behavior that God’s Word condemns. And they find ways to wield God’s word against the righteous.
It’s like a drunk driver got pulled over, but found a way to ticket and arrest the police officer. One wonders why the police officer is sitting in handcuffs in the backseat, begging for forgiveness. Doesn’t he know that he’s the one with the badge and the gun?
We shouldn’t be surprised that people twist God’s Word. That’s been happening ever since the serpent asked Eve, “Did God really say … ?” But we should be wise enough to know how to defend against such tactics. Police officers shouldn’t take commands from drunk drivers, and Christians should resolve never to apologize for saying or doing anything unless it violates God’s Word. And just to be clear, God’s Word is not the same thing as the feelings of those who are living in rebellion to God.
As soon as the two Archbishops issued their public apology, they lost all ability to actually help anyone. Not only does their apology elevate the godless standard of men above the authority of God’s Word, but it also implies that forgiveness comes from sinners and not from God. But “the mercy of the wicked is cruel” (Prov. 12:10), so they can issue apologies for days and they won’t find any mercy there.
There is only one lawgiver and judge (James 4:12), and he gave his Son Jesus to die for sinners, while they were still sinning. He graciously invites rebels and lawbreakers everywhere, saying, “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7).
If we genuinely care about people, we will refuse to be held captive to the tyranny of their feelings and lusts. Instead, we will stand on the authority of God’s Word, warning people that sin is deadly, and assuring them that God’s mercy is great.
Photo by Matt Popovich on Unsplash