&quotThis is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned."

Verses 9 and 10 in particular appear to be saying that people who contend and argue over issues like doctrine should be warned (at the most twice) and then after that, we should have nothing to do with them.

For about two years now, I have been urgently warning Christians that there is wrong teaching in our doctrine today. The &quotWord of Faith", or &quotFaith Movement"' or &quotHealth and Wealth" teaching (they're all the same) is becoming more prevalent in our churches. A lot of the people that I talk to on the subject are not really aware of what is being introduced into our teaching, so consequently, don't understand the seriousness of the problem and in turn see me, at best, as some sort of alarmist or, at worst, as a contentious trouble maker who is intent on quenching the 'new move' of the Holy Spirit.

These same people seem to think that it doesn't matter, as long as we are seeking the Lord and praying, God will somehow protect us from any wrong teaching. They have an unusual ability of simply brushing off false teaching as inconsequential, despite the numerous warnings that God has so graciously given in His Word to us. Maybe God was just overreacting and was perhaps a little off balance on the days that He inspired His Word to be written for our instruction with regard to false teaching and false teachers. Really, a little bit of error wouldn't make that much difference, would it? And besides, no one person has the complete truth, so we are bound to make errors somewhere along the track, aren't we?

On a number of occasions when I have attempted to make people aware of what is happening in our churches today, I have been challenged, with the Scripture quoted above, on my stand for what I believe the Lord has revealed to me, and what He has called me to do about it. When I first encountered this challenge from a Christian who was fearfully concerned about my relationship with God and my seeming non-submission to those He has placed in authority in the Church, I must confess that I was a little shaken. But the Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth prompted me that something didn't add up.

The command in Titus 3:9-10 to "...avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless." and, &quotWarn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him." seems to be saying, &quotno action required" as far as false doctrine goes. But that is contrary to what the rest of Scripture appears to be saying to me. There seems to be a discrepancy in my understanding of what Scripture says.

If these verses in Titus are really saying what everyone supposes that they are saying, then I do not have a leg to stand upon. If I see or hear heresy being preached, then I should just be quiet, because if I speak out it will cause trouble. I will be, as the Scripture says, a 'divisive' person who should be rebuked in no uncertain terms and then avoided like some contagious disease. The Scripture claims that if I speak up I am warped, sinful and self-condemned. But, as I have said, that doesn't appear to fit with the rest of Scripture that urges us to watch for erroneous teaching and heresy.

For example in 1 Timothy 1:1 we read,

&quotPaul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope. To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work--which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm."

The apostle Paul wrote two letters to Timothy and one to Titus which were considered God breathed and, therefore, were recorded in the cannon of Scripture. In his first letter to Timothy, Paul's primary concern was false teaching. The letter begins with a salutation, but once the preliminaries are over, he urges Timothy not to leave Ephesus as there was certain work to be carried out there. The work was that he was to challenge false teaching! Amazingly, this appeal by Paul to Timothy is nearly the same as the one to Titus where genealogies and arguments about the law were involved. However, Titus is 'apparently' urged not to get involved in disputing wrong teaching, whereas Timothy is told to rebuke it in no uncertain terms.

But wouldn't Timothy's stand against wrong teaching cause division? Wouldn't he classify as being a divisive person, a trouble maker? Yes he would, according to our interpretation of the letter to Titus.

Does God's Word contradict itself? No, it does not, as we shall see. When Scripture appears to contradict itself, then we should diligently do some thorough research to find the cause of the seeming contradiction. Usually, we will find that it is man who is the cause of the contradiction.

Once again, in the first letter to Timothy in chapter 5 and verse 19 we read,

&quotAgainst an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality."

Here, in the above Scripture, Timothy is again charged to be contentious and divisive. If an elder in the church is found to be sinning in some way against God, he is to be rebuked openly so that others in the position of leadership will be aware that God does not tolerate sin. False teaching, as clearly illustrated in Scripture, is sin. God is not partial either. Just because the person is a friend or holds some position and authority in the Body doesn't mean he shouldn't be called to account. God understands how cronyism can affect righteous judgment.

In the second letter that Paul wrote to Timothy, in chapter 4 and verses 1 through to 5 we read,

&quotI charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry."

Here again, we see a contradiction to our interpretation of Titus 3:9-10. In this portion of the second letter to Timothy we are encouraged to be contentious and divisive. Be prepared to reprove and rebuke with longsuffering those in the congregation who chase after false doctrine, those who desire to listen to preachers who bring a message that agrees with what they want to hear. Preachers will come with very inspired and holy sounding messages but they will be full of lies from Satan himself. These 'preachers' of the 'gospel' will cause the people of God to turn aside from truth and believe the stories that they have made up rather than believe the Word of God.

Amazingly in Titus 1:7-13, which is just previous to the verses that appear to condemn being contentious for the truth of the Word of God, we read,

&quotSince an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless - not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach - and that for the sake of dishonest gain. Even one of their own prophets has said, &quotCretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons." This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith."

There is nothing new under the sun. As in the days when Paul wrote to Titus, so shall it be in the days prior to the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Here, Paul is encouraging Titus to refute and rebuke sharply those who would bring a word contrary to the Scriptures. Shouldn't it be obvious to all who read Titus 3:8-11, as translated in the NIV version of the Bible, that something is clearly wrong? With so many other Scriptures to substantiate that we should stand up and fearlessly defend the truth of the Word of God, even if it does cause trouble and division, why is it that people will grasp hold of the one verse that seems to say, "Sit down and be quiet."? In the above Scripture it is the false teacher who must be silenced, not the protector of the truth. If they are not silenced, or exposed, then their teaching will spread like gangrene throughout the body of believers, causing many to wander from the Truth and ultimately lose their salvation.

It becomes extremely obvious that Christians have wandered from the Truth when we read the next Scripture that I am tendering in support of my stand for vigourously defending the Word of God and for perhaps appearing to be contentious and divisive. If Christians can stand and tell me that I do not have the authority to correct wrong teaching, or that even if I did, once I have brought it to the attention of Church leadership I should simply let the matter rest, then I really do question what it was Paul was talking to Timothy about at the closing of his second letter to him.

In 2 Timothy 4:14-18 we read,

&quotAlexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion's mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

1 Timothy 1:20, Paul tells us that Alexander, and another person by the name of Hymenaeus, were handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme. Is this the same Alexander? Perhaps, or perhaps not, but in any case, he is the same type of person. He opposes Paul's message. Paul is here warning that this man should be shunned, not because he was a contentious type, but because he proclaims a message contrary to the message of Paul. People who should have been defending and supporting Paul deserted him to handle the situation by himself. Where were his mates in his hour of need? Perhaps the issue was not important enough to them or perhaps they were fearful of the consequences of standing up for something that, God has clearly shown in His Word, is important. Paul forgives them, and hopes that God has also. However, he finds his strength not in his mates, but in God who has called him to the task at hand. God has called him to a purpose, and it is He who will empower him to proclaim the message, despite the opposition from those around him. It is He who will deliver Paul from every attack and, ultimately, bring him safely into His Heavenly Kingdom, which will finally be his reward for serving God without compromise.

Furthermore, we read in Jude 1:3-4,

&quotDear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord."

My whole concern has been about teaching that has come into the Body of Christ. If there was no wrong teaching, then I wouldn't be making noises. I too, love unity and harmony. However, if I am wrong about what I believe to be false doctrine, and if I am wrong about what I have brought to the attention of the leadership of the Church, that false teachers are among the flock, then why can't someone tell me or show me Scripturally where I am wrong? I am open to be corrected. But if I am right, then the above Scripture tells us to contend for the faith when certain men are secretly introducing heresy, not to ignore it and pretend that it won't matter.

The word translated 'contend', in Jude 3, comes from the Greek word 'epagonizomai', (ep-ag-o-nid'-zom-ahee) which means 'to struggle', 'to compete for a prize', 'to contend with an adversary', 'to endeavor to accomplish something', 'fight', 'labor fervently', or 'strive'.

That doesn't sound like we should just sit by and be silent for the sake of peace and unity. It sounds to me like God is very concerned about false teaching being propagated among His followers and that we should do something about it. It also doesn't mean that once you have brought the false teaching to the attention of those in a position of authority and leadership in the Body of Christ, then you have done your bit and you should now let the matter rest and let God deal with it. No! If the problem persists, we are to contend fervently for the truth. It is a struggle according to the Greek text.

Finally, I will mention Romans 16:17, which states,

&quotNow I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple."

Mark a person who causes divisions. Watch them! I have been labeled divisive. But notice what it is that this Scripture claims to be the cause of the division and offense. False doctrine!!!. It is the false teaching that causes the problem, not the standing up for truth. According to the Scriptures, the divisive person is the one who brings or allows teaching that is contrary to sound doctrine. It is the heretic who is divisive! The division comes when someone stands up for the truth, it will divide, but it is still the wrong teaching that causes the division. Hebrews 4:12 tells us,

&quotFor the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

The cause of the divisiveness is wrong doctrine. Just because someone comes with 'good words' and 'fair speeches' doesn't mean he is preaching truth. I have often been challenged because of my concern about the content of the Faith Movement message. People tell me that they have watched numerous messages from the likes of Kenneth Copeland and Benny Hinn and don't see what all the fuss is about. Faith Movement preachers are men with 'good words' and 'fair speeches' who's messages are sprinkled with poison that will kill. And it's not good enough to say that it doesn't matter. God says very plainly, in His Word to His people, that it does matter and we are to do something about it. We do nothing to our own peril. If you are in leadership, then you do nothing to the peril of the followers that God has allowed you to have authority over. You will be a shepherd who allows wolves in sheep's clothing to fellowship with the flock, and you will be held accountable.

I think that by now we have established that there is a discrepancy in what we read in the NIV version of Titus 3:10, which says, &quotWarn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him." and what is being encouraged in other parts of the Bible. Let us endeavour to discover why.

The original Greek sentence of Titus 3:10 says, &quotanthropos hairetikos meta mia deuteros nouthesia paraiteomai".

Following below are the meanings of the above Greek words, in their order.

Anthropos (anth'-ro-pos) a human being - man.

Hairetikos (hahee-ret-ee-kos') a schismatic, a heretic.

Meta (met-ah') denoting accompaniment, association.

Mia (mee'-ah) one or first.

Deuteros (dyoo'-ter-os) afterward, again, second (time).

Nouthesia (noo-thes-ee'-ah) calling attention to, mild rebuke or warning, admonition.

Paraiteomai (par-ahee-teh'-om-ahee) deprecate, decline, shun, avoid, refuse, reject.

The King James Version of the Bible has the correct translation for this particular verse which it renders as, &quotA man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject." This is vastly different from the NIV which renders the Greek as, &quotWarn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him."

There is an enormous difference between warning a divisive person because of his contentiousness and warning a heretic because of his false teachings. By all means, we should avoid foolish controversies, but if the controversy is being caused by a person who is bringing false doctrine into the Body of Christ, then we are expected to call attention to the erroneous message and rebuke the offender. If he persists in his error, then we are to reject him in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is clearly the command as coming from the Lord.

Like most Christians, I have come to prefer the ease of reading a 'modern' translation of the Bible, rather than trying to plough through the somewhat archaic language of the King James Version. However, I am becoming greatly alarmed, as I go to the original Hebrew and Greek texts, to find that most, if not all, of these 'modern' or 'contemporary' versions are translations that water down the true meaning of critical Scriptures. Also, most of the new translations are coming from secular sources, from people who have no love or concern for the truth, or purpose, of God's Word. We need to be very careful, as we are warned to be in Scripture, of destructive teaching coming into the Body of Christ. The enemy is at work in an insidious way, because his time is running out. He will be going all out to ensnare and lead astray as many people as he can before the Lord returns. Scripture warns us very seriously to watch and pray. Be aware of the enemy's tactics. As Christians, we are living in the most exciting time in history since Creation, but we are also living in the most dangerous time. We have been warned of gross deception, we need to believe God's Word and take heed.

Another problem that we, as Christians, have, is convincing unsaved people that all the multitude of translations that are available today are essentially saying the same thing. Here is a clear example that they don't. What we have discovered here is not just that one translation is saying the same thing, only in different English words, they are saying totally different things.

For the sake of comparison, I will include here a number of translations of Titus 3:8-11.

King James Version: &quotThis is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. 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."

New International Version: &quotThis is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned."

New Revised Standard Version: &quotThe saying is sure. I desire that you insist on these things, so that those who have come to believe in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works; these things are excellent and profitable to everyone. But avoid stupid controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. After a first and second admonition, have nothing more to do with anyone who causes divisions, since you know that such a person is perverted and sinful, being self-condemned."

New King James Version: &quotThis is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned."

Good News Bible: &quotThis is a true saying. I want you to give special emphasis to these matters, so that those who believe in God may be concerned with giving their time to doing good deeds, which are good and useful for everyone. But avoid stupid arguments, long lists of ancestors, quarrels, and fights about the Law. They are useless and worthless. Give at least two warnings to the person who causes divisions, and then have nothing more to do with him. You know that such a person is corrupt, and his sins prove that he is wrong."

As can be seen from these examples, all, except the King James Version, are a far cry from God's original intention. 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us to,

&quotStudy to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

This verse is encouraging us to work hard at studying and understanding the Word. It is not just that we should read the Word, we should study it so that we will be able to rightly present it to our hearers.

I am not necessarily advocating that the Authorised King James Version of the Holy Scriptures is the only version that we should use in seeking God's purpose for our lives, but what I am saying, and can't emphasise strongly enough, is that it is the original Hebrew and Greek texts to which we must look to get a proper perspective and meaning to what God has had written for our instruction.

The word 'study' used in the above Scripture comes from the Greek word 'spoudazo' (spoo-dad'-zo), which means 'to make effort, be prompt or earnest, be diligent (forward), endeavour, labour, study'.

The English 'rightly dividing' comes from the Greek word 'orthotomeo' (or-thot-om-eh'-o), which means 'to make a straight cut, to dissect (expound) correctly (the divine message), to rightly divide'.

There is a strong emphasis, in this Scripture, upon making a real effort to correctly understand what it is that God is saying in His Word to His people. There has been a counter-emphasis in recent times that down plays the importance of academically understanding Scripture. A relationship with the Holy Spirit is more important than doctrine, we are told. However, it is a trap to think that we can just gloss over the Scriptures and expect the Holy Spirit to lead us into all Truth. Peter may have been a simple type of man but he wasn't stupid, and certainly Paul wasn't. Paul was an academic, as was Luke.

A great portion of the New Testament is made up of letters that were written by the Apostle Paul, and as Peter said in 2 Peter 3: 15-17,

&quotBear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position."

Be careful in these last days of 'unlearned' men and women who come in the name of the Lord who downplay academic understanding of the Scriptures. Particularly, in the Pentecostal and Charismatic scene, we have a great number of people who have been thrust into a position of leadership and who have raised up teaching ministries based, not upon their qualifications to teach, but upon their zeal to serve God. Check out their credentials to be in a position of teaching the Word of God. You may be surprised.

Finally, I want to make comment on how I believe that we as Christians have been conditioned into complacency with regard to false doctrine coming into our teaching. I have been accused on a number of occasions, since the onslaught of the Toronto Blessing movement, of being 'one eyed' or 'narrow' in my outlook regarding false doctrine. I am wrongly expending all of my energies in worrying about heretics and false prophets and teachers when my gifts could be better used in other areas to edify and encourage the Body, so I am told.

Practically since my salvation in 1982, God has placed upon my heart a burden for His people who have been led astray by false religion and false teaching in the Church. I hate to see my friends lied to, whether intentionally or unintentionally. If someone proclaims something that is contrary to Scripture, I am immediately vigilant and planning a strategy to counter the teaching. It is part of my character and my motivation. I will not rest until the problem is resolved, one way or another. Amazingly, I have found that, even though this is a ministry of the Lord (to be discerning, to receive words of knowledge, to desire to uphold the truth of God's Word, to help prevent the people of God from being led astray, etc.), I am accused of being critical, extreme and off balance on good days, and of being grossly misled and deceived by the devil on bad days.

Another thing that continually amazes me is that if someone's gifting and ministry is in evangelism, that person is never accused of being off balance or extreme, even though he only ever talks about reaching the lost for Jesus. He can expend all of his energies, for years, on finding ways to reach the lost and is never ever looked at in a negative manner. Even if he should neglect his wife and children because he is always involved in the affairs of the Church, he is never ever told that he should just slack off a bit and give everybody a break. He is exalted, usually to a position of leadership, because he has such a 'passion' for the lost. I am not knocking this, I am merely contrasting the two situations.

What about the pastor? He lives and breathes the Church, day in and day out, year after year and nobody ever accuses him of being off balance or extreme (except perhaps his wife or his worldly pre-salvation mates). He even wants everyone to come to prayer meetings when they would rather be in bed asleep, or he encourages everyone to come to two meetings on a Sunday, but nobody ever accuses him of being 'one eyed' or 'narrow' in his outlook. No! He is held up in great esteem, and rightly so. As I have said, I am not knocking this, I am merely contrasting the different situations.

But, why is it that if someone has been chosen of God to focus on the prophetic areas of ministry to the Body, he is denounced as contentious, divisive, or a trouble maker whose only interest is in seemingly opposing everything that the pastors and teachers and evangelists are trying to accomplish?

Of course I am going to appear off balance. But so are the pastors, the evangelists and the teachers. Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:24 said,

&quotDo you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it."

The competitors who go and represent our country in the Olympic Games are people who are extreme and totally one-track-minded. They live and breathe the particular sport that they compete in. What about the footballers? No one accuses them of being offbeat and extreme. And they compete for a prize that doesn't last. We are striving over eternal issues.

Sure, God has given me a passion in my heart for the sheep that are in danger of being led off to the slaughter by wolves in sheep's clothing, the same as He has given the evangelist a passion for souls that have not yet come into the Kingdom. My passion is for souls that once were lost and are now in danger of being lost again, to be led off to worship other gods.

Let the following Scriptures from the Book of Deuteronomy show God's heart in this matter of whether we should contend earnestly for the faith, whether we should vigourously expose people who would lead the sheep astray, whether we should continuously sound an alarm to the sheep as to what is being taught. Let God have the last say as to whether we should be 'extreme' or 'one eyed' in this serious matter, and if any would so glibly suppose that this is from the Old Testament so therefore things are different today because we are under grace and not law, remember that the New Testament tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:11 that &quotthese things happened to them [in Old Testament times] as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come."

Let us see what God has said to us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come, in Deuteronomy 13:1-18.

&quotIf there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us go after other gods'; which you have not known; 'and let us serve them,' you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall put away the evil from your midst."

&quotIf your brother, the son of your mother, your son or your daughter, the wife of your bosom, or your friend who is as your own soul, secretly entices you, saying, 'Let us go and serve other gods,' which you have not known, neither you nor your fathers, of the gods of the people which are all around you, near to you or far off from you, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth, you shall not consent to him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pity him, nor shall you spare him or conceal him; but you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. And you shall stone him with stones until he dies, because he sought to entice you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. So all Israel shall hear and fear, and not again do such wickedness as this among you.

&quotIf you hear someone in one of your cities, which the Lord your God gives you to dwell in, saying, 'Corrupt men have gone out from among you and enticed the inhabitants of their city, saying, &quotLet us go and serve other gods" '; which you have not known; then you shall inquire, search out, and ask diligently. And if it is indeed true and certain that such an abomination was committed among you, you shall surely strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword; utterly destroying it, all that is in it and its livestock, with the edge of the sword. And you shall gather all its plunder into the middle of the street, and completely burn with fire the city and all its plunder, for the Lord your God. It shall be a heap forever; it shall not be built again. So none of the accursed things shall remain in your hand, that the Lord may turn from the fierceness of His anger and show you mercy, have compassion on you and multiply you, just as He swore to your fathers, because you have listened to the voice of the Lord your God, to keep all His commandments which I command you today, to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord your God."

Praise God for His mercy and longsuffering with us, and bless His Name that we do live under grace and not under law, but let us not presume that His attitude is different today about wrong teaching than it was when the laws listed in the Book of Deuteronomy were given. Because I know that God never changes I would rather obey what He has told me to do rather than to give heed to what some man might think is a good idea for me to do.