Tear it Down
it is okay
Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 11:12-16
My natural inclination is to avoid confrontation. I’m also not good at debating. But I appreciate those who are gifted in those areas. We need people who are capable of demolishing the works of false teachers. Paul openly admitted one of his goals in writing to the Corinthians “in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim in their boasted mission…”
It isn’t always wrong to tear down what others are trying to build up. Some have mistakenly taken the advice of Gamaliel as the only wise path in dealing with false teachers. You might remember that Gamaliel to the council, “Take care what you are about to do with these men…for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” (See Acts 5:33-42)
While there is some wisdom in Gamaliel’s advice, it isn’t meant to be a word from God in every situation. The book of Acts is accurately recording what was said, it isn’t endorsing what was said by Gamaliel any more than it is endorsing the crowds who cried, “Crucify Him.” In both cases, we are told what was said but not necessarily the truth of what was said. In an ultimate, final sense what Gamaliel said is true. Every false religion and doctrine of demons will, in the end, be crushed under the feet of Christ. But that doesn’t solve the present problem of false teachers undermining the truth of the gospel and endangering the souls of men and women.
Therefore, with wisdom, we must at times be willing to undermine what others are trying to do. To be clear, I’m not talking about nonessential issues. There are things we can disagree on and remain in fellowship. On the other hand, there are essential issues of the faith that we can’t compromise on. We must tear down what false teachers are trying build up. We have to take the sledgehammer of truth and swing it at the bricks of false doctrine before the mortar of error has a chance to harden.
