What is Heresy?

1 Corinthians 11:17-19: Now in this I declare unto you, I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

     Throughout the history of the Body of Christ, Satan has attacked us through a form of corruption known as ‘heresy’. The word ‘heresy’ is translated from the Greek word ‘heiresis’, which means sect (religious party), or faction. In the days of Jesus’ earthly ministry, heresy took many forms. There were the sects of the Pharisees, Sadducees, Zealots, Herodians, Essenes, and a host of others. Today the term ‘heresy’ is no longer used to identify sects. Satan has watered this down as well, by changing the practice to sound ‘nicer’, by calling sects by the term ‘denominations’. In the Body of Christ, we literally have thousands of such divisions; Baptists, Catholics, Lutherans, Episcopalians, Four Square, Assemblies of God, Methodists, etc…
     Our Lord never meant for things to be so, and condones no such divisions, nor those who promote such practices.

Titus 3:10-11: A man that is a heretick after the first and second admonition reject; knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

     Not one of these groups can possibly receive all of God’s blessings and favor because heresy is an act of the flesh.

Galatians 5:19-21: Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness revellings, and such like; of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.

     This is simple, straightforward, and should cause much hesitation when involving one's self in denominationalism. We are told in plain language that not only are those who do such things walking in the flesh, but also that those who do such things won’t inherit the Kingdom of God. This should be cause enough to separate one’s self from all such divisions. As a matter of fact, we are commanded to disfellowship with all those who promote heresy, divisions, or schisms within the Body.

Romans 16:17- Now I beseech you brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

     Furthermore, we are commanded not to form groups which set disciples apart from each other.

1 Corinthians 1:10-13: Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

     Clearly, not only are there supposed to be no divisions, but there is supposed to be one universal doctrine, the pure doctrine of Christ. The apostles clearly taught this.
     Can we find any such divisions which were praised or even merely condoned in Scripture? The answer is no, we can’t. Are Catholics to be found in Scripture? Are Baptists named? How about Lutherans, Episcopalians, Methodists, etc…? The only such term to be found associated with the Disciples of Christ is that of ‘Christian’; which means one born of Christ. Isn’t this the only distinction that any disciple should allow one’s self to accept?
     In addition there are more complaints and issues that our Lord has with our heresies. Any and all such divisions work directly against the Unity of Christ, purpose of Christ, and are proof of sin within the Body of Christ.

John 17:20-23- Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and they in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

John 10:16- And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.

Restorethechurch.org