Who is responsible for catching heresy

[Rich Koster]

Part 1: If someone is speaking in a teaching role and blatant heresy is detected that the pastor and deacons missed or overlooked, what should be done after the initial confrontation of the speaker, if their response is "oh well"?

Part 2: If the leadership*makes excuses to downplay the heresy, should you confront the leaders or leave the congregation?

 

[sastark]

See [ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jenny_Geddes]Jenny Geddes[/ame]

 

[Rich Koster]

See Jenny Geddes

It's a good thing the pews are heavy and I have a bad back

 

[Dearly Bought]

You confront the leaders and then take it to classis/presbytery if they don't deal with it and then on to synod if needed. If your charge is rejected by the entire synod and you are still convinced that heresy is being sanctioned, then you leave. I'll let congregationalists answer from their polity.

 

[uberkermit]

You confront the leaders and then take it to classis/presbytery if they don't deal with it and then on to synod if needed. If your charge is rejected by the entire synod and you are still convinced that heresy is being sanctioned, then you leave. I'll let congregationalists answer from their polity.

For a joke, I was also going to say that he should bring it to Presbytery. Not that this is a joking matter and, in a Presbyterian church, it is absolutely right to do this. However, is the OP in a denomination with a Presbyterian form of government?

 

[Rich Koster]

You confront the leaders and then take it to classis/presbytery if they don't deal with it and then on to synod if needed. If your charge is rejected by the entire synod and you are still convinced that heresy is being sanctioned, then you leave. I'll let congregationalists answer from their polity.

For a joke, I was also going to say that he should bring it to Presbytery. Not that this is a joking matter and, in a Presbyterian church, it is absolutely right to do this. However, is the OP in a denomination with a Presbyterian form of government?

The OP is in a congregational setting. However the drift of exhaustively pursue the issue without being contentious was caught and agreed with.

 

[DonP]

The OP is in a congregational setting. However the drift of exhaustively pursue the issue without being contentious was caught and agreed with.

I wouldn't say exhaustive. In your case, your elders if you have them, your pastor, then ask if he is open to talking with one of his pastor friends.

Then you have been as presbyterian as you can in your situation. So if not resolved, then go join a good presbyterian church with church courts for appeal and a Confession they are supposed to uphold.

If in a pres church, then stay and pray if it is denom wide. And depending on the nature of the thing, is it Confessional issue or not, you could go to a different more faithful congregation because of the weakness of discipline in the churches today.

 

[Scott1]

Part 1: If someone is speaking in a teaching role and blatant heresy is detected that the pastor and deacons missed or overlooked, what should be done after the initial confrontation of the speaker, if their response is "oh well"?

Part 2: If the leadership*makes excuses to downplay the heresy, should you confront the leaders or leave the congregation?

One of the advantages of a confessional church is that much of the essential doctrine is written down and the leaders are accountable for it. In theory, when the congregation confirms its leaders (presbyterian system), one knows the essential theology of the leader.

In your first case, I'm thinking a congregation member biblically goes:

first (humbly) to the person
if he will not hear,
second (humbly) to a member of Session
if they will not hear,
third (respectfully) file complaint to Session as a whole
if they will not hear,
forth (respectfully) file complaint to Presbytery

there is even a process in which if a presbytery fails to act, two other presbyteries can petition general assembly to assume original jurisdiction and they must do so.

While no system is perfect, there is every opportunity to address serious doctrinal error, biblically in this kind of process.


It's also helpful that in our denomination some of the more sophisticated serious error going around (e.g. "federal vision") has a helpful denomination study paper with 9 points that can be used by individuals, sessions and presbyteries in ferreting it out if it pops up.

 

[DonP]

Part 1: If someone is speaking in a teaching role and blatant heresy is detected that the pastor and deacons missed or overlooked, what should be done after the initial confrontation of the speaker, if their response is "oh well"?

Part 2: If the leadership*makes excuses to downplay the heresy, should you confront the leaders or leave the congregation?

One of the advantages of a confessional church is that much of the essential doctrine is written down and the leaders are accountable for it. In theory, when the congregation confirms its leaders (presbyterian system), one knows the essential theology of the leader.

In your first case, I'm thinking a congregation member biblically goes:

first (humbly) to the person
if he will not hear,
second (humbly) to a member of Session
if they will not hear,
third (respectfully) file complaint to Session as a whole
if they will not hear,
forth (respectfully) file complaint to Presbytery

there is even a process in which if a presbytery fails to act, two other presbyteries can petition general assembly to assume original jurisdiction and they must do so.

While no system is perfect, there is every opportunity to address serious doctrinal error, biblically in this kind of process.


It's also helpful that in our denomination some of the more sophisticated serious error going around (e.g. "federal vision") has a helpful denomination study paper with 9 points that can be used by individuals, sessions and presbyteries in ferreting it out if it pops up.

This is a main reason I loved Pres govt when I began to study it. I was tired of all the autocratic Ref Baptist Pastors I had run into. Some who would not even allow other men to be elders so they had no one to answer to.

then they had a conference of a bunch of them so even the Trail of Blood hard core could show they had some sense of unity

I told them they were latent Presbyterians and the Spirit made them get together in the NW Presbytery of the Reformed Baptist Churches.
They did not laugh

 

[Rich Koster]

The OP is in a congregational setting. However the drift of exhaustively pursue the issue without being contentious was caught and agreed with.

I wouldn't say exhaustive. In your case, your elders if you have them, your pastor, then ask if he is open to talking with one of his pastor friends.

Then you have been as presbyterian as you can in your situation. So if not resolved, then go join a good presbyterian church with church courts for appeal and a Confession they are supposed to uphold.

If in a pres church, then stay and pray if it is denom wide. And depending on the nature of the thing, is it Confessional issue or not, you could go to a different more faithful congregation because of the weakness of discipline in the churches today.

One of my biggest conflicts is this: there is not what I would call a solid or confessional congregation within 30 minute travel from my house. I would probably not fellowship with many people because I don't like to travel at night any more. I hope to be part of a local Reformed congregation, but it looks like this city is all hybrids, fundies, arminians and cults.

 

[Scott1]

Rich Koster
One of my biggest conflicts is this: there is not what I would call a solid or confessional congregation within 30 minute travel from my house.

I'm not familiar with your area. You might find helpful the NAPARC denomination listings. There are many generally faithful biblical and reformed churches in your state.http://www.naparc.org/Members.html