What Is a Heretic? Have I Been One? Who Defines Misinformation?

Mark Virkler's picture

Jesus said things that would be considered heresy if someone today said them. "He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life" (Jn. 6:54). This statement prompted me to do a deep dive into "heretics" and "heresy" in the New Testament.


I was shocked to find the word "heretic" is never found in the New American Standard Bible or Young's Literal Translation and occurs only one time in the Kings James Version!

  • KJV: Titus 3:10 - A man that is an heretic (G141) after the first and second admonition reject
  • NASB: Titus 3:10 - Reject a factious (G141) man after a first and second warning
  • YLT: Titus 3:10 - A sectarian (G141) man, after a first and second admonition be rejecting,
  • According to Greek dictionaries, the clear meaning of the Greek word numbered G141 is factious, schismatic, causing division.Well, that is a totally different picture than what I was imagining a heretic to be. Guess it is time to revamp my picture.

Another related Greek word: (G139 αἵρεσις - hairesis = which is sometimes translated heresies in the KJV, has as its definition, "choosing, choice"). It is translated 1 time in the NASB as heresies (2 Pet. 2:1) and in the KJV it is translated 3 times as heresies and 1 time as heresy. Most often this Greek word is translated as "sect" in the NASB.

The words "heresies" and "heretic" DO NOT show up even once in the Young's Literal Translation. Instead, the YLT uses the word "sect" and "sectarian."


Maybe we are overdoing it to be calling so many people heretics.

In the “secular” world, they use the word “misinformation” to describe the message of people who don’t toe the government’s official line, and these people are thrown off social media so only the government’s view is heard. It is not just communist China that does this; it appears most governments are currently doing this.

In the Church, a person who doesn’t fully agree with the views of the denomination are called heretics and banned from fellowship.

I have had both labels thrown at me (by some) since my pursuit of truth has caused me to live essentially outside the box. If we are going to have a narrow definition of what it means to be an evangelical, then here are six RESPECTED theologians of the past whom we need to now throw out as heretics. I encourage you to read this article as it contains exact quotes from these men about the things they believe.

The men are C.S. Lewis, Billy Graham, Martin Luther, William Barclay, John Stott, and St. Augustine. Their beliefs included inclusivism, rejecting biblical inerrancy, universalism, rejecting conscious eternal torment, and rejecting a literal reading of the creation story.

God has called me to give my life to restore the eyes and ears of one’s heart so they can hear and see God and experience communion with Him. This, of course, is heresy in the eyes of some fundamentalists.

You can only die once so you need to know what God has asked you to die for and give your life for that.

Defining a heretic as one who “causes divisions” is problematic since Jesus and Paul both caused divisions. How do we resolve this dilemma? I assume there must be something more than simply “one who causes divisions.” Let’s delve in and see what we can find out.

Jesus “caused divisions” so was He a heretic?

  • "Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three.” (Lk. 12:51-53)
  • The heart and lifestyle of Jesus are the key characteristics that made Him NOT a heretic. Jesus' heart's passion was not to be factious or schismatic. He had a pure goal which was to be sinless and complete His Father's mission for Him which was to lay down His life to restore fellowship with God's children. His teaching came from His Father’s initiative, so even though it was different, and some called Jesus a heretic, Jesus was NOT a heretic. These same principles also apply to the Apostle Paul.
  • Here is an excellent dramatized story of the interactions of a Jewish family that was divided, as some in the family believed Jesus was a heretic and some believed Jesus was the Messiah. See how this intense disagreement was resolved as they opened their hearts and minds to listen to a clear presentation of Scriptures that pointed to the truths about Jesus. It is powerful! You will enjoy it!

 

Journal and Dig Deeper

  • Lord, what would You speak to me about this topic?
  • Explore the contrasts between Christianity, phariseeism, and the New Age Movement in the book, Am I Being Deceived? by Mark and Patti Virkler


It’s Not Heresy! It’s Enlightenment!

  1. What Is a Heretic? Have I Been One? Who Defines Misinformation?
  2. Shall We Remove the Words "Heretic" and "Heresy"?
  3. What Is the Key Trait of a False Teacher?
  4. What Is the Key Trait of a True Teacher?
  5. God’s Highway of Holiness Is SAFE
  6. Roadblocks Removed on His Highway of Holiness
  7. As I Travel God’s Highway, Revelation Is Ever Brighter
  8. A New Day Dawns as the Morning Star ARISES in Our Hearts
  9. Using e-Sword to Explore the Words "Heretic" and "Heresy"
Add new comment

Add new comment

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Results

Results 361 - 370 of 490

Pages

Intimacy With God Through Journaling [Kindle Edition]

by Janet Gilham

It is a joy to celebrate the release of another new ebook of two-way journaling by one of our students, Janet Gilham! It was an honor to write the forward to this book, which contains 28 days of journaling. This makes it ideal to use for a month of your daily devotions. Each journal entry reveals the heart of God toward you and thus brings warmth and healing to our wounded hearts.

Price: $3.99
Intimacy with the Holy Spirit eBook

Intimacy with the Holy Spirit eBook

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 223 Pages

This book leads you in meditating on and journaling about several hundred verses that discuss the Holy Spirit. You will grow in intimacy with the indwelling Holy Spirit, and the anointing within you will increase! You will exclaim as the disciples did on the Emmaus Road: “Did not our heart burn within us…while He opened to us the Scriptures?” (Luke 24:32)! In addition to being led to journal through these verses, you will read numerous two-way journal entries from Mark Virkler, as well as a powerful five-page prayer at the conclusion of the book.

Price: $10.95

Journaling Questions e-booklet

100's of journaling questions arranged in categories

Jumpstart your two-way journaling! People often ask me, do you have good journaling questions I can use in my dialogue with Jesus? The answer is yes! Predicting the date of His return is not going to work out well. So how about hundreds of GREAT two-way journaling questions you can ask the Lord!

Price: $6.95
Lamad Faculty Handbook eBook

Lamad Faculty Handbook eBook

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 78 pages

This book presents lamad (revelation-based learning) standards  for teachers and curriculum writers. Lamad is a Hebrew word found in the Old Testament and it is translated "to teach" or "to learn."  It is a kind of learning that involves the Holy Spirit granting divine revelation to the heart of man. Thus it goes beyond western rationalism as a learning methodology.

Price: $7.96

Meditation: How to Study the Bible in the Presence of God ebook

Click here for Kindle version.

This book is our more academic version of this topic, designed more for the theologian.

Our practical, hands-on, user-friendly version for personal or group use is Hearing God Through Biblical Meditation.

Price: $2.99
Naturally Supernatural eBook

Naturally Supernatural eBook

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 161 Pages

A step-by-step guide on “abiding in Christ” or how to let go and let God live naturally and powerfully out through you. Disarmingly simple. Mind-blowingly powerful.

Price: $14.95

On Things Above ebook

by Murray Dueck | 232 Pages

On Things Above by Murray Dueck is an amazing book of 52 prophetic activations. I have hungered to see such a book as this for many years. It is one thing to be prophetic yourself; it is another to teach someone else how to become prophetic. Murray will teach you how to be more prophetic.

Price: $16.00
Operations Manual eBook

Operations Manual eBook

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 134 Pages

We have helped hundreds of churches establish Schools of Ministry or church-centered Bible schools over the last 25 years. This manual draws together insights and approaches for how to do it easier, faster and better. Enjoy as you build on the success of those who have gone before you.

Price: $55.96
Overflow of the Spirit - PDF eBook Cover

Overflow of the Spirit PDF eBook

284 Pages | Instant Download & Pay No Shipping! | by Mark Virkler and Charity Kayembe

Mark and Charity have teamed up again to write a book on how to easily manifest the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit. It took us several years to break through all the confusion and present a clear, simple understanding of how to release the nine-fold manifestation of the Holy Spirit everywhere you go and with everyone you touch. It is not hard! It can’t be since these are gifts of the Holy Spirit, not things you have to work for.

Price: $15.99

Playtime with Jesus eBook

Helping Kids Know God | Jessica De Krijger

The goal of this little booklet by Jessica De Krijger is to help young children, ages 3 and up, learn how to start hearing God's voice for themselves. It is never too early to teach your children that they can hear from God. They are primed to do this. God's Spirit is urging them to come to Him. So reinforce this call with this beautiful full-color booklet which you can read to your children. Discover more at the Playtime With Jesus Website.

Price: $3.20

Pages