Hi Decon, here are a few words of biblical wisdom concerning,
"vanilla twist, cafe blend cracker jack box dogma."
FALSE DOCTRINES AND FALSE TEACHERS:
By William S. Plumer
I. False teachers exercise much craftiness and deceitfulness in spreading false doctrines.
Peter said they should "
secretly bring in damnable heresies." And Paul warns the Ephesians that they "no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the
techniques of deceit" (Eph. 4:14).
II. False teachers are commonly boastful.
There was not a spark of genuine modesty about them. So in modern times, if base flattery will answer a purpose, it will be resorted to; yet when another course seems admissible, their mouths are filled with vain conceits They boast of converts never made, of charities never bestowed, of good never done, of works never accomplished. In this respect, they have a close resemblance to those pests of society—dealers in quack medicines.
III. The very same people at times display fierceness and bitterness.This uniform result is the fruit of unsanctified affections. In the days of Micah, the false prophets bore the same mark. "This is what the Lord says to you false prophets—"
You are leading my people astray!", You promise peace for those who give you food, but you declare war on anyone who refuses to pay you." (Micah 3:5). Here is the whole story: T
hey lead souls astray. That is their trade; They propose war against those
who don't support them.
How shall we treat false teachers when they arise?
1. As soon as we discern their false teaching, it is our duty to
refuse to hear them or to read their books. Never was more wholesome or beneficial advice given than that of Solomon: "Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causes to err from the words of knowledge" (Prov. 19:27).
2.
While the Scriptures call on us to feed the hungry and to be kind to the poor, they forbid us to hold such fellowship with
false teachers, as implies sympathy with them or connivance at their wicked teachings. Thus the loving and blessed John says: "If someone comes to your meeting and
does not teach the truth about Christ, don't invite him into your house or encourage him in any way.
3.
False teachers must also be firmly and meekly resisted in all their attempts to lead men astray. When even Peter was betrayed into deception concerning false doctrines, Paul withstood him to the face, and rebuked him sharply. Jude "exhorted" his brethren "earnestly to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints" (verse 3).
There is such a thing as truth.
Truth is light. It makes manifest. It is one. It is harmonious. No truth contradicts any other truth. In truth are no jars, no discords, no contradictions. Like its Author, truth is simple, eternal, immutable. It came from God, who cannot lie, cannot deceive, cannot be mistaken, cannot be outsmarted. Truth is the opposite of fiction, fable, falsehood. One is from above; the other is from beneath.
Attribute:
FALSE DOCTRINES AND FALSE TEACHERS