False Teachers

W. Carl Ketcherside

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     The party spirit breeds exclusiveness and intolerance. These are symptoms of sectarianism. In order to maintain intact its structure every faction must develop a species of legalism. This becomes the criterion by which the worthiness of men is measured. It is of the essence of the party spirit that it places an interpretation upon the word of God, then substitutes the interpretation for that word. The next step is to exalt this interpretation to the place of divine revelation and demand obeisance to it as the will of heaven. Most of those who contend so freely for the authority of God's word in these days are really contending for a recognition of their views and opinions as authority. This is dogmatism and it is one of the worst foes of the freedom to which we have been called in Christ Jesus.

     The Roman Catholics have an "infallible interpreter." Each of our factions has an "infallible interpretation." The first recognizes as authority the word of God and tradition; the second seeks to impose tradition upon the word of God as authority. The penalty for dissent in each case is the same excommunication. He who disagrees with either an infallible interpreter or an infallible interpretation must be branded as a "heretic" and driven forth. One must never question that which is infallible.

     Those who are animated by the party spirit exhibit it in their attitude toward and treatment of those who by honest conscience disagree with them. In reality the party recognizes no room for honest difference of opinion. The scriptures are so plain and they have the explanations so detailed and pat that anyone who does not concur with the party presentation is dishonest and insincere. It is amazing to listen to preachers of "The Church of Christ" harangue the "sectarians" on how plain and simple is the word of God. To hear them one would think it would be impossible for anyone to have a single point of disagreement. But they seldom take time to explain how it happens that there are more than two dozen parties in the non-instrument branch of the Resto-

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ration alone. That movement is currently the most divided one on the American religious scene. They are split over everything from the method of carrying the Lord's Supper to the congregation to the method of carrying the gospel to the world!

     There is no satisfaction in relating these sordid facts. One becomes nauseated at heart in his contemplation of them. But we must face up to reality. We will not better ourselves by developing an "ostrich complex." We would prefer that such matters relating to our sorry state could be kept concealed but that would be hypocritical. Let the truth be known and then we can start to remedy our present plight. We suggest that one way by which we may do so is to correct our spiritual vocabulary and bring it into line with fairness and justice. It is important to speak where the Bible speaks but it is just as important to speak as the Bible speaks. It is especially so when the opposite course will malign or stigmatize a brother.

     Let me illustrate what I mean by referring to the expression "false teacher." This is a term of opprobrium hurled at every conscientious dissenter from the narrow party programs. Among those who believe in one container for the fruit of the vine every sincere person who expresses a contradictory view is a "false teacher." Among those who oppose Bible classes any person who voices an opinion in favor of them is a "false teacher." All who do not oppose colleges, orphan homes, missionary societies, or instrumental music are "false teachers" as viewed by some. So mixed and muddled is the situation that every person in the disciple brotherhood is a false teacher as viewed by many of his other brethren.

     We do not believe that the Holy Spirit employed this term in any such ridiculous fashion. A man can be wrong about a lot of things and not be a false teacher in the scriptural sense of that expression. No man who loves God and is earnestly seeking to serve Him to the full extent of present knowledge is a false teacher even though he is mistaken about some matters and expresses his views about them. The factional spirit with its arrogance and defiance prompts men to glibly hurl epithets at many whose spirit is better than that of their accusers.

     I have recently read a document purporting to be on fellowship but which was actually written to justify and defend division. The author uses the term "false teacher" at least five times and this is just five times as often as it appears in the new covenant scriptures. The Greek pseudodidaskalos occurs only once, in 2 Peter 2:1. About a year ago I did extensive research on the implication of this term and this led to a complete revision of my application of it. I was startled at my previous factional usage of the expression and I realized that I had done much harm through my ignorance. I should like to share with you some of my conclusions.

     The word pseudo carries with it the idea of deliberate and intentional falsehood. The teacher under consideration is not only lying but he is conscious of the fact that he is lying. He utters premeditated falsehood with the purpose of beguiling or deceiving unwary or unstable souls. He is frequently motivated by love for gain or prestige. This is brought out in the context where the term occurs. The following things are affirmed of the pseudodidaskalos: (1) They will secretly introduce destructive sects; (2) They will even deny the Lord that bought them; (3) They will induce many to become licentious; (4) They will cause the very way of truth to be reviled; (5) In their greed they will exploit their hearers with false words.

     To categorize every brother who does not see all things just as we do as a "false teacher" is an insult to the Father of spirits whose children we all are. For example, I am opposed to the use of instrumental music in the corporate worship of the community of saints. On this subject many brethren seriously and honestly disagree with my views. They sincerely feel that I am mistaken in my interpretation of the scriptures as related to this problem. But I do not brand them as "false teachers." I think they are mistaken on this point just as I have been (and no doubt still am) mistaken on many points. None of us know all there is to know, but

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surely we are not all "false teachers." So love and respect these brethren who differ with me. I regard them as my brothers because our relationship was not established on the basis of a position as relates to instrumental music but by the new birth.

     It is altogether possible that as God looks at it the renunciation of fellowship and denial of brotherhood constitutes one of our gravest sins. It strikes directly at the heart of the family and sets the children to warring with each other. Perhaps division has done more injury to the cause of the Lord than any of the innovations that have been introduced. It should not he forgotten that few divisions have been caused by those things which were credited with causing them. Family ties are severed by lack of genuine love. So long as fervent love exists not even a major problem will create schism. When love grows cold even a minor matter will create a split. We have been torn asunder because of "the will to divide." We have willed to separate over every difference instead of to remain together in spite of them and to work out our difficulties in love.

     It is lack of brotherly affection which prompts us to say and think the worst about a brother. We label and brand each other because by so doing we salve our own personal pride, and inflate our ego. Behind all such manifestations is fear--blind, unreasoning fear--not fear of the other man, but fear of our own inward littleness, fear that what we have will not stand the acid test. By designating those humble souls who question and challenge us as "false teachers" we can be rid of the responsibility of facing them and of listening to what they say. We can exclude them, drive them forth, and turn a deaf ear to them. It was thus that the Sanhedrin acted toward Stephen just before they stoned him to death as a "false teacher."

     We are divided over more than a score of things. Regardless of how right we may be about those things we are wrong to be divided from our brethren. There is no authority in God's word to separate from our brethren. Those who separate themselves are classed as "sensual, having not the Spirit." Those who claim to recognize God's word as authority should show that passage where God demands that we divide the body of believers. We have repeatedly practiced it! Where is the chapter and verse for brethren breaking up into warring and opposing camps? Every command is to live in harmony and to maintain unity.

     It is as wrong to put away our brothers for every cause as it is for a man to put away his wife for every cause. The same God who decreed in the first creation that a man and wife should be one flesh, has decreed in the new creation that we all be one spirit. It is as sinful to rend the fabric of the spiritual family as to destroy that of the fleshly family. To maintain domestic union we must make allowances for each other, we must be patient and longsuffering. So long as love exists we do not separate regardless of how difficult our problems become. Should not the same conditions obtain in the Lord?