Then he said when he used to drink he never could determine he was drunk until he was.
The same occurs in cults -- people don't determine to join a cult -- they build reasoning upon faulty foundations, and end up in a mess. How many times do you hear, "my [church] is not a cult." People on the outside can see what appears obvious, but those inside have built up rationale.
Wait, if we are all heretics, and heretics are to be stoned, does that mean everybody must get stoned? Hmm, sounds kind of poetic. Might make a good song or something?
We would not feel so all alone.
Jesus objected to being called good, saying only God is good.
Matthew wrote that Jesus also said:
They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men.
But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ.
But the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
Mtt 23:6
We are so accustomed to big names, that we forget the faith was once lived out one-on-one.
Early Christianity did not use football stadiums and mass mailings -- it depended on each individual member. They knew the fragility of carrying God's treasure in earthen vessels.
We should expose false teachers and false prophets because they bring in destructive heresies.
Jer. 2:7
"I brought you into the fruitful land To eat its fruit and its good things. But you came and defiled My land, And My inheritance you made an abomination.
"The priests did not say, `Where is the LORD?' And those who handle the law did not know Me; The rulers also transgressed against Me, And the prophets prophesied by Baal And walked after things that did not profit.
"Therefore I will yet contend with you," declares the Lord.
13 "For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, To hew for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns That can hold no water.
17 "Have you not done this to yourself By your forsaking the Lord your God When He led you in the way?
19 Your own wickedness will correct you, And your apostasies will reprove you.
35 Yet you said, 'I am innocent; Surely His anger is turned away from me.' "
Notice how the Lord says He was with the people earlier, and they had waves of faithfulness. God sent prophesy to correct the errors, and bring people back in repentance. He did not toss the people with the bathwater, but persisted toward their repentance.
But if someone is consistently teaching false teachings the loving thing to do is to warn people.
We can apply
hate the sin, love the sinner. Call out specific errors, instead of defaming the person. There will always be errors -- which I think was the point in "all heretics."
Many people have good intentions, or allowed human reactions in, and are only heretical in making bad decisions or allowing corrupt influences.
Hiring staff too rashly. Taking on a board of directors that does not understand the intent of the ministry.
On Bentley's new wife's dream --
I would see that dream very differently; often people jump to overly-optimistic conclusions about dreams. Using it to pump up the viewing public seemed inappropriate, when there was not much evidence of clarity.
Even if the nose meant discernment (for an elephant the trunk is also ability, like a hand)-- dancing wildly seldom goes with discernment. I would see it more like an alert -- e.g., the massive church has been given loads of ability to discern, and yet they are being careless.
But that was her dream, and it's up to her to decipher it.
If a church leader is not first hearing from God in the daytime, then they might hear at night when their mind is quieted. If they do not listen to the dream, the parishioners will tell them. If the parishioners do not speak up, then the world and critics will bring the dross to the top.
