What constitutes heresy?

[David Michael Harris]

Sounds good in theory, but I guarantee someone will muck it up after a page or two by posting something like "I believe women should not wear pants".

Sad, people are like that. I can understand though, I was going to post how my wife looks great in jeans or some stylish trousers, but I can understand how that could be misinterpreted. Maybe islam is right and women should wear the burka.

NOT.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

Pauls letter to Titus 2:11-13 ESV​

Thing is we are all SO different.

 

[Tom Bryant]

I will get specific. I consider the following to be heretical:

1. Denying the divinity of Jesus Christ.[ Jehovah's Witness]

2. Denying the virgin birth of Jesus Christ.

3. Denying the incarnation.

4. Denying the doctrine of the Trinity [one GOD, three persons].

5. Denying the human nature of Jesus Christ [one person, two natures]

6. Denying the necessity of the death of Jesus Christ as atonement for our sins.

7. Denying the efficacy of the atoning death of Jesus Christ.

8. Denying the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.

9. Denying the visible return of Jesus Christ in the Power and Glory of the Godhead.

10. Denying the bodily resurrection of all the dead.

11. Teaching that there are multiple god's in the universe. [Mormonism]

Good list because they are all things plainly taught in Scripture and are foundational to any understanding of Biblical Christianity.

 

[Salty]

I have not read all the posts (hope that doesn't make me guilty of heresy!), but for example the Church of Christ believes that Baptism completes salvation. Would than COC believe that Baptist are heretics?

Most Christians believe in the Trinity, but "Oneness" (ie Pen Asy World) does not, would that make them hectics?

Seventh Day Adventist do not believe in Hell, are they guilty of heresy.

So, as John earlier asked, who determines the core doctrines.

Remember, I Cor teaches ..."if a man have long hair it is a shame unto him..." oh my goodness!

Salty

 

[Johnv]

Most Christians believe in the Trinity, but "Oneness" (ie Pen Asy World) does not, would that make them hectics?

We shoudl be careful to note that not all pentecostals are "oneness" pentecostals. For example, Foursquare churches are pentecostal, but are not oneness. They affirm the trinity by faith and practice.

 

[preachinjesus]

I have not read all the posts (hope that doesn't make me guilty of heresy!),

heretic!...oh wait, nevermind...:thumbs:

but for example the Church of Christ believes that Baptism completes salvation. Would than COC believe that Baptist are heretics?

My uncle-in-law (that works right?) is COC and he believes everyone is a heretic but those attending his church. Worse, he believes we're all not ending up in Heaven. COC believes everyone but them are heretics. They're crazy.

Most Christians believe in the Trinity, but "Oneness" (ie Pen Asy World) does not, would that make them hectics?

Oneness Pentecostals are heretics.

Seventh Day Adventist do not believe in Hell, are they guilty of heresy.

Actualy, Seventh Day people believe in Hell but are annihilationists.

This is their direct belief statment from their website: The unrighteous dead will then be resurrected, and with Satan and his angels will surround the city; but fire from God will consume them and cleanse the earth. The universe will thus be freed of sin and sinners forever.

Annihilationism isn't heresy.

So, as John earlier asked, who determines the core doctrines.

Directly, the Bible and what it explicitly teaches. Indirectly, as they have been affirmed by the Church since Acts 2, the resultant councils and synods, and the general teaching carried through to today.

 

[David Michael Harris]

The Lord knows those who are His.

I would say that those you mentioned are in error. I had one run in with the Church of Christ people. And one of them dared to say I was not the Lords.

Trinity denial speaks for itself.

No hell. I would like to believe them but I do not see it in Scripture, besides, a very dangerous doctrine as you lose the fear of God.

Long hair? What length? Or just in a feminine way? What about Nazarites? Book of Numbers 6

 

[Johnv]

Directly, the Bible and what it explicitly teaches.

Interesting. Perhaps that's a reasonable rule of thumb. If it's an EXPLICIT teaching in scripture, then it might be considered core, but if it's IMPLICIT, then is can be considered noncore.

Of course, some people will still claim that, for example, that the ban on women wearing pants, or a ban on consuming alcohol, is explicit, when, in fact, it is not (in those cases, they're not even implicit, but people make docrines out of them anyway).

A good example is our own custom of baptism. We practice adult, believer's immersion as a prerequisite for membership in our churches. Yet this neither explicit nor implicit in scripture as a church membership requirement.

Just brainstorming there.

 

[kyredneck]

I will get specific. I consider the following to be heretical:

1. Denying the divinity of Jesus Christ.[ Jehovah's Witness]

2. Denying the virgin birth of Jesus Christ.

3. Denying the incarnation.

4. Denying the doctrine of the Trinity [one GOD, three persons].

5. Denying the human nature of Jesus Christ [one person, two natures]

6. Denying the necessity of the death of Jesus Christ as atonement for our sins.

7. Denying the efficacy of the atoning death of Jesus Christ.

8. Denying the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.

9. Denying the visible return of Jesus Christ in the Power and Glory of the Godhead.

10. Denying the bodily resurrection of all the dead.

11. Teaching that there are multiple god's in the universe. [Mormonism]

Hallelujah! I am 100% bona fide true blue non-heartick!

Thanks OR.

 

[pinoybaptist]

To me heresy is teaching ANYTHING as scripture that is not taught in God's word, or denying what IS in there.

Then there are lots on this board. Eternal redemption is over and done, yet they talk about it like it's still to be obtained by Christ for the sinner with the latter's cooperation. That is a denial of what is written in there.
Hebrews 9:12.

 

[kyredneck]

...wow....Pinoy, looking at your avatar really surprises me; I would've never figgered you as being the bashful type!

 

[pinoybaptist]

...wow....Pinoy, looking at your avatar really surprises me; I would've never figgered you as being the bashful type!

It's supposed to be a happy chimp. I guess it got so frustrated it ended up covering its eyes.
lol.