Warring against False Prophets
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The Rev. Frank Smith, PhD. recently delivered the following graduation address in Los Angeles, California, at Tyndale International University, a Korean-language seminary:
The commissioning of a destroyer or frigate or aircraft carrier is a wonderful event. Pennants and flags flap in the briny breeze; politicians wax eloquent; tugboats sound their throaty horns; and, customarily, a lady smashes a champagne bottle on the bow of the vessel, just before it slides down a ramp and splashes into the water. It is exciting and glorious, and a cause for celebration.
And yet, the joyousness of the occasion cannot mask the fact that this majestic ship is an instrument of war. She carries deadly weaponry. She is prepared for battle. Her duty is clear—to project power; to defend the homeland; and to destroy the enemy.
Today, we celebrate the graduation of a young man who has diligently studied theology and who aspires to the gospel ministry. We also celebrate the graduation of four bachelors students who have likewise studied the Christian faith and doctrines. At the same time, we also celebrate another milestone in the history of this institution, Tyndale International University, a seminary committed to the Bible as the very Word of God, holy, inerrant, infallible, and inspired.
And yet, while there is much to celebrate, it is important to remember that this institution and the studies undertaken by these men and women are in a context of a war. The truths which have been taught and received are not merely theoretical; what we are doing is not a parlor game nor is it an intellectual exercise for our amusement. No, my friends, it is part of a great cosmic battle between the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of darkness—an all-encompassing spiritual war with spiritual weapons far more potent than five-inch guns and cruise missiles and nuclear bombs.
The spiritual war often involves taking on forces outside the church. However, there is another front, viz., opposing enemies inside the church. It is this aspect of the fight which the apostle Paul highlights in his writing to a young preacher. After noting in Titus chapter one the qualifications for those who would be bishops or elders (presbyters), Paul, in vv. 10-11, warns Titus with respect to false prophets. Paul identifies these false prophets as “many rebellious men”—that is, those who are disorderly, unruly, and uncontrolled. He also writes that they are “empty talkers and deceivers.” The idea of “empty talkers” is that of “vain talkers”—those who do not preach properly. We might say that they are wishy-washy, disguising the Word rather than preaching it plainly. They are also deceivers. They flatter men with regard to their sins, tickling the ears of sinners. These false prophets suppress the truth rather than exposing corruption.
Notice that Paul focuses “especially” on “those of the circumcision.” This is a reference to the Judaizers, who wanted to combine Moses and Christ. They denied Christ’s uniqueness. They particularly denied the doctrine of justification by faith alone—the doctrine that is the heart of the gospel. But there are churchmen today who deny or denigrate this doctrine, holding onto the damnable error of combining grace and law. While this error is often associated with Roman Catholicism, we must realize that even within Protestantism today, there are false prophets who have succumbed to such erroneous teaching.
Paul goes on to describe the activities of these false prophets. He says that they were “teaching things which they should not.” This is a general description of false teaching. It can include anything which takes away from the glory of God, which undermines the truth, and which promotes loose morals. Paul also says that these false teachers were “upsetting [or overturning or bringing ruin to] whole houses.” The verb connotes the raging of the sea which causes the filth and mire at the bottom to float to the top. This stirring up of matters was causing destruction to whole households. You know, unbelieving teachers can get into a family even through one member—a weak link. II Timothy 3:6 speaks of those who craftily creep into houses.
But notice that there is a particular reason for these actions by false prophets—it is “for the sake of filthy lucre.” Religion, power, and money constitute a heady brew. Such a combination is quite intoxicating. This is one of the reasons why honest preachers must be content with their wages. If you are in the ministry for the money, you have the wrong motivation and most likely the wrong doctrine. Those who teach falsehood are greedy. II Peter 2:3 declares: “By covetousness they [false prophets] will exploit you with deceptive words.” Philippians 3:19 says that those teachers who are enemies of the cross of Christ are those who “set their mind on earthly things.” II Corinthians 2:17 condemns those who were “peddling the word of God.”
Paul concludes this section by instructing Titus as to the action to be taken regarding these false prophets: “it is necessary to silence” them. It is necessary to shut their mouths.
Of course, this silencing is not to be done via physical means. Rather, the true man of God engages in spiritual warfare— “pulling down strongholds” and “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God” (II Corinthians 10:4-5). To silence the false prophets, one must meet their arguments head-on. And the way to be successful in this intellectual warfare is to read expansively, to think carefully, to write clearly, and to speak persuasively. Theological seminaries exist to foster and encourage such things—reading widely, thinking logically, writing coherently, and speaking persuasively. A seminary’s graduates should out-read, out-think, out-write, and out-speak those who spout forth heretical and hurtful doctrine, and to employ these big guns in such a way as to out-flank the enemy, with a view toward silencing his batteries—spiritually and intellectually, pounding his position into submission.
Just like a naval vessel, the ministerial herald goes forth to project power, to defend the homeland, and to render ineffective the enemy. He proclaims the heavenly reign of King Jesus; he protects the people; and he neutralizes the opposition. And all of the members of the church are to support the church and her ministers in this prophetic enterprise—a duty especially incumbent on those, such as our graduates, who have received special training in theology.
But in addition to proclamation of the truth in order to silence the opponents, there is another way by which to render them ineffective, and that is through church discipline. Those who refuse to repent are to be cut off—that is, excommunicated—by the elders of the church if they persist in their error. But even then, the aim of discipline is always the recovering of those who are in error. Spiritual warfare is never merely intellectual, but must always be fought by those who are humble and loving—humbled by God’s grace and willing to love. The silencing of those who oppose the truth is with the hope that they, too, can be saved.
Sailing over the bounding main on a sleek warship is an exhilarating experience. But mingled with the sea-salt air is the smell of gunpowder and cordite, a constant reminder that the purpose of that ship is, if need be, to engage in a life-and-death battle. Ministers are engaged in a life-and-death battle—it’s a matter of eternal life or eternal death. Ministers proclaim the gospel as the only way of salvation, and Jesus as the only Savior, and faith as the only means of salvation. Opposition must be fought, and enemies must be silenced.
So, as we properly celebrate this day, let us never forget that all of the study and hard academic work has been undertaken as preparation for war—a perpetual battle against the forces of darkness which entails the silencing of Judaizers and all those who would attack the kingdom and lead people astray. May the King Himself give us who are in the ministry and those who aspire to the ministry and all those who have faith in Jesus Christ the grace to fight the good fight of faith. Amen.
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Frank Smith is the president of Tyndale International University, Lecturer
of History at Georgia Gwinnett College, and Minister of the Atlanta Presbyterian
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