The Third episode in a 4-part series, “Holy Heresies: A Podcast About the Things We Believe Which We Shouldn’t Believe.” We’re Walking Through the Book “Counterfeit Christianity” by Roger Olson https://www.amazon.com/Counterfeit-Christianity-Persistence-Errors-Church/dp/1426772297 (https://www.amazon.com/Counterfeit-Christianity-Persistence-Errors-Church/dp/1426772297) Weeks 1-4 1. Intro to the Series, and Gnosticism 2. Trinity & Doctrine of the Trinity 3. Montanism and Marcionism - What do we do with the Bible? 4. Moralistic Therapeutic Deism – Reducing God
Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess. (Deuteronomy 5:33)
“Not even the least of the divine and holy mysteries of the faith ought to be handed down without the divine Scriptures. Do not simply give faith to me speaking these things to you except you have the proof of what I say from the divine Scriptures. For the security and preservation of our faith are not supported by ingenuity of speech, but by the proofs of the divine Scriptures...” - Cyril of Jerusalem
Episode Summary/For Further Exploration Why Do This Study? “Heresy” within Christianity isn’t limited to the pages and annuls of history. Rather, Heresies exist in various forms and haven’t lost any of their potency to corrupt our right, Christ-honoring understanding, faith, or worship. Just as we can use scripture wrong, we can carry incorrect belief, often without knowing. We will discuss a few heresies and how each of these have clung on through time and in which ways they may have latched onto our lives.
What is “Revelation?” Very Simply, the term “revelation” means the revealing, uncovering, or disclosure of something. Theologians divide revelation into “General” and “Specific” Revelation
What is the Bible? (From Bible Project) https://youtu.be/ak06MSETeo4 (https://youtu.be/ak06MSETeo4)
Antidotes to Heresies of Biblical Interpretation Antidote for Montanism, if someone declares to have a “new,” revelation does it answer “yes” to any of the following: 1. Does the prophecy promote the prophet over Christ? 2. Is the message inconsistent with the writings of the Apostles? 3. Does it promote schism/separation over unity? 4. Does it require a sacrifice of your intellect to accept a new idea? 5. Does it exalt anything other than Jesus into the role of messiah/leader/savior?
Antidote for Marcionism: Revere all scripture, Read AND study of ALL Scripture from start to end (not necessarily in one sitting or in order).
Final Thoughts: Check your practices, check your heart, and trust the history and traditions of the church as it relates to having “right” faith. Be willing to think hard and long over your beliefs, and test everything in a community of Christ-centered, Bible honoring, Christians. Learn these heresies so you know what is right and wrong, to remove obstacles from your own faith, and pursue Christ faithfully without hurdles.
Related Scripture Passages All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness… (2 Timothy 3:16 ESV) Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. (Joshua 1:8 NIV) For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:12-13 NIV) But he answered, “It is written, Man shall