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Heresy

Discussion in '2004 Archive' started by russell55, Feb 23, 2004.

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  1. Heresy is any teaching that disagrees with what I think the bible is saying.

    14.3%
  2. Heresy is anything that disagrees with whatever creeds/confessions I adhere to.

    46.4%
  3. Heresy is anything that disagrees with one of the fundamentals of the faith.

    17.9%
  4. Heresy is anything that denies any defined, established Christian doctrine.

    3.6%
  5. Heresy is anything that doesn’t interpret all portions of the literally.

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  6. Other, and I will explain below.

    17.9%
  7. Other, but I won’t explain.

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. russell55

    russell55 New Member

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    Two questions regarding your opinion on heresy. I also welcome any comments explaining why you voted as you did.
     
  2. russell55

    russell55 New Member

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    One more thing...I'd like to avoid any discussion of particular doctrines that you might feel are heretical. Let's stick to discussing how heresy is determined.
     
  3. russell55

    russell55 New Member

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    And that should be "Heresy is anything that doesn't agree with a literal interpretaion of a portion of scripture." I don't know how I mangled that so terribly!
     
  4. Brother Adam

    Brother Adam New Member

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    That's a pretty darn good question. I used to think it was anything that didn't agree with my interpretation of scripture.

    The question must be asked in order to figure out what is truth and what is heresy: What is the authority by which truth should be determined?

    We can't say "scripture alone" if we define it as "Whatever I'm lead to believe scripture tells me is absolute truth". That will lead us solely into Chaos.

    But, I would say we should first consider that there is no "authority" above scripture. The buck stops there, or so to speak.

    When considering scripture and what it teaches we must also look to:

    -Context the passage is written in.
    -The intent the author is trying to make given the culture of the time.
    -Consider the message of scripture as a whole.
    -Give time in prayer over what we seek to know.
    -Ask those who have wisdom for their imput (pastors, scholars, teachers, others)
    -Consider what history has taught about the doctrine in question.

    That is what I can think of so far.
     
  5. Johnv

    Johnv New Member

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    I think the second question of the poll is interesting. Does adhereing to something that's heretical mean you're not saved? What if we find that one of our own Baptist teachings was wrong? Are we then not saved?
     
  6. Caretaker

    Caretaker <img src= /drew.gif>

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    1) Any teaching which is contrary to the basic tenents of the Christian faith, could be heresy.

    ie. denial of the virgin birth, sacrifical death, resurrection, ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ.


    2) Any teaching which is extra-Biblical or in opposition to scripture could be heresy.

    ie. the prophetic revelations and writings of the Book of Mormon, and the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price, Faith and Practice by Mary Baker Eddy, the Watchtower publications.

    A servant of Christ,
    Drew
     
  7. Precepts

    Precepts New Member

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    I believe it's heresy to deny the inclusion of doctrine and way of making an issue out of a non-issue. Else how can one determine heresy by omitting the Doctrine of God?
     
  8. russell55

    russell55 New Member

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    Here's another question: Does a belief have to be more than just wrong (however "wrong" is determined is immaterial, really) to be considered heresy? Does it have to be of a certain importance or significance to make a true heresy list?
     
  9. HankD

    HankD Well-Known Member
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    You know the old barb:

    Ask 10 Baptists a question and you will get 12 opinions.

    Heresy is in the eye of the Inquisitor.
    IMO, there can be no truly objective answer because the definition of heresy is subjective and prejudicial.

    What is one man's "heresy" is another man's "salvation" and vice versa.

    HankD
     
  10. Artimaeus

    Artimaeus Active Member

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    Heresy, IMHO, alwaus implied something which, if believed, would result in a person NOT going to heaven because that belief was contrary to what is necessay for salvation. Two can disagree without one being a heretic. One can be wrong but not a heretic.
     
  11. vaspers

    vaspers New Member

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    Thanks for raising this issue R55. To me, a heresy would be a belief that is blasphemous, that is damning, a belief that mocks God, that directly opposes the saving teachings of the Word. For example, begging Jesus to inflict wounds and bleeding on you so you can "atone" for the sins of others, ala Anne Catherine Emmerich. Or saying God has no Son, as in Islam. Or that salvation is based on good works, as in most secular people.
     
  12. russell55

    russell55 New Member

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    Actually, there seems to be a surprising consensus in the responses. Split evenly between "Heresy is anything that disagrees with one of the fundamentals of the faith " and "Heresy is anything that denies any defined, established Christian doctrine, " and those two things seem to me to be pretty equivalent statements.

    Surely there is truly objective answer even though we may not know it. Does our defining it subjectively and prejudicially mean it doesn't have an objective definition?
     
  13. vaspers

    vaspers New Member

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    Where did the word "heresy" come from? Is it in the Bible? Anybody got a good technical English dictionary with deep etymological background info in it? Let's get a good scholarly definition first, then we can be on the same page here.
     
  14. HankD

    HankD Well-Known Member
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    That there is an objective answer with God Himself is a given.
    But for most of "professing Christendom" the answer is at least skewed by the "traditions of men" (IMO).

    For example, the mode of Baptism and significance of the Lord's Table.

    For the Church of Rome the doctrine of the "real presence" (the bread and wine are transubstantiated into the actual Body and Blood of Christ) is a great "truth".

    For Baptists it is a heresy.

    HankD
     
  15. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    Acts 24:14 "But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets"

    Defined: "a choice", i.e. specifically a party or abstractly disunion. Heresy is the Greek word which the English translators opted NOT to translate but just transliterate into English letters. Common meaning is "sect"
     
  16. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    Titus 3:9-11 "But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject; knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself."

    Defined: "a schismatic"; factious, divisive. Same root as heresy and also not translated in the AV1611
     
  17. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    Interesting side note: The preface to the use of the word "heretic" by Paul gives a list of areas where a man's doctrine becomes "heresy" (i.e., divisive, schismatic to the body)

    Foolish questions
    Genealogies
    Contention
    Striving about the Law (legalism)

    Heresy, therefore, is more an ATTITUDE and ACTION than just about holding bad doctrine.

    And, if the BB is any measure of it, rampant in our circles today! :rolleyes:
     
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