And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, "Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened." -- 1Kings 18: 27 (ESV)
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? -- Matthew 3: 7 (ESV)
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. -- Matthew 23: 27-28 (ESV)
The third group is the false teachers. Sadly, the church treats the false teachers like they ought to treat their brothers and sisters. We are to provide absolutely no consideration for these people -- none. They are slaughtering our brothers and sisters. The Bible says that their destruction was set long ago. The Bible does not however tell me that I am to play with wolves. I am not to coddle them, feel bad for them, or even pray for them. That's right. Our focus should always be on the sheep beloved not the wolves. I have no tolerance for them. I have contempt and disdain for them because they make merchandise of my brothers and sisters and use my God to do so. They pretend to hold the keys to the kingdom of heaven and then deny access to all seeking the Lord. They travel halfway around the world to make a single convert and then make him twice the son of hell that they are.
While we are on the subject, I try my best to save my outrage and derision for them and them alone. That includes snark and sarcasm, both of which can be excellent tools in highlighting error. Look at the three verse example just provided. The Bible actually says that Elijah was mocking the false prophets of Baal when he suggested that maybe their God was too busy on the toilet to answer them! John the Baptist mocked the Pharisees for coming to get baptized. Do you think brood of vipers was a genial term? Jesus Himself called those that were false in His day hypocrites and whitewashed tombs! Said that that their outward appearance was hiding their inner filth. There is no question that biblically our treatment of those who would speak false on behalf of God should not be better than those who are actually in the family of God.
I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. -- Romans 16: 17 (ESV)
Another translation says we are to mark them! False doctrine is what causes division within the body of Christ. Our unity is not based on people and personalities. It is not based on church buildings and seminars. It is based on the Gospel! It is based on doctrine so when someone comes along with false doctrine he is dividing people from the truth. We should not fear speaking against them and strongly if the Bible is on our side. Titus says we are to rebuke them! It will also improve our witness with the lost. For while the things of God are foolishness to them the things of hypocrisy are quite clear and evident. It is a disgrace when the lost have better discernment for false teaching than those in the church. Maybe not for someone advanced like a Joseph Prince but the lower hanging fruit? The unsaved realize that Kenneth Copeland and Mike Murdock only want your money while the church has made them millionaires. The world sees that someone like Osteen and his sugary message or Benny Hinn and his anointed sport coat healings are just shams. The church? Reflexively defends Osteen and even someone like Dr. Michael Brown calls Hinn a brother in Christ. It is truly sad beloved. If the world saw Christians band together to clean their own house? They would have far more respect for our message.
Beloved I understand this is not an easy topic. Sometimes social media seems like our only safe place. Nestled away in home, snug in our room. But our twitter feed and Facebook wall are living testimonies to our faith in Jesus Christ. When we type, we may as well be screaming. This does not even take into consideration if someone reposts what we wrote. Listen, I am not saying perfection. I am also not suggesting that everything is a show of faux piety. People can see through that too. I do not mind a funny joke, some secular song lyrics or even picture of my cat. I am just saying we have to remember our audience beloved:
