THE WAR ON ERROR
From watchdog groups to renegade bloggers, discerning (and disgruntled) heresy hunters expose fraud and excess in the church. But are these self-appointed guardians of orthodoxy bringing needed correction or sowing disunity?
By David Cannistraci
Infidels beware: Ignoring history’s warnings about the damage unrestrained spiritual zeal creates, a new generation of crusaders is on the march. Their mission is to protect us all from religious fraud and dangerous doctrines by investigating and exposing those who push past the accepted boundaries of conservative evangelicalism. They have pledged themselves to defend the boundaries of truth against error and to liberate the Kingdom of God from the threat of apostasy. Their targets are not the likes of David Koresh or Jim Jones—we might thank them for that. Instead, they’re aiming at many of today’s most popular charismatic Bible teachers, including Joyce Meyers, Joel Osteen, and T.D. Jakes.
In the war on error, these zealous soldiers of orthodoxy are not afraid to fight dirty. Armed with ample evidence to prove their case, they quote, deride and scoff at any ministry they “discern” as dangerous. In this biblical blitzkrieg, no question is too trivial, no accusation too personal and no ridicule too cruel. Blogs and websites are littered with cartoonish caricatures of well-known Christian leaders they label as “heretics”, “pimps and pimpettes”, “bozos”, “bible-thugs” and “fairy godmothers of the faith”. Online databanks are loaded with transcripts and video clips of damning evidence; everything from salaries and sailboats to litmus tests on the Trinity and the hypostatic union. No need for dialogue or discussion, one side of the story is adequate ammunition in this fight for the faith. The truth will be saved and orthodoxy restored if the latest inquisitions can continue.
Are these modern day knights of the cross sent from God to save us all, or has a new era of witch hunting begun in the church? Many of us believe that “discernment ministries” can be valuable resources for the Body of Christ, but are wondering: In the quest for truth and accountability, does anything go, or is there a way to clean up the messes in the church without lynching good people and inciting division in the Body of Christ?
I believe the church can survive the war on error. We can be safe and pure if we replace our anger, fear and criticism with honesty, wisdom and humility.
The Fog of War
In the war on error, the battlefield is a foggy and dangerous place. The lines that distinguish the good guys from the bad are blurred by a dangerous mixture of fear, zeal for truth, and a willingness to shoot first and ask questions later. On one side of the fight, a wide variety of apologists, discernment ministries and watchdog groups have taken offensive positions. On the other side, aware of the forces gathering against them, a diverse group of ministries have fallen back into defensive positions.
The battle cry of every discernment ministry is “Purity in the church!” but they each prosecute the war differently. Some of them are balanced and moderate. Like the Bereans of old, they ask rational questions, draw our attention to error, and advocate sane interpretations of Scripture. Bereans seek accountability, balance and sound doctrine.
Others bring a more penetrating tone to the debate. Like the prophets of old, their messages burn with righteous indignation. As Nathan did to his friend King David, they point the finger of truth, plead God’s cause and herald His displeasure with sin. These are the ones that make us squirm in a really healthy way. Nathans call us to repentance, integrity and justice.
Most have taken up arms over what they see as shallow or destructive theology. One well-known media minister may be dismissed as a “cotton candy preacher” while another is denounced as dangerous and deceptive. The most common feuds arise over the prosperity gospel and the recent trend toward “feel-good” theology and the self esteem message. Other battles are fought over prophetic mysticism, the teachings of the word of faith movement and the dominion now emphasis.
A growing number of conflicts break out over ministerial ethics. Given the embarrassing pervasiveness of hucksters, charlatans and moral failures in the ministry, heresy hunters feel duty-bound to expose and denounce ministers they believe have become too rich and too arrogant. Enraged by the endless financial improprieties, abuses of authority and sexual escapades of many, they fight to rid the land of infidels and restore purity to the church.
Adding to the confusion of the battlefield, the accuser of the brethren darts back and forth from side to side, sowing the bitter seeds of anger, religious bigotry and divisiveness. In the war on error, it is the enemy who incites the conflict, supplies the ammunition, and benefits from the carnage that follows. Brothers brawl before a watching world, and we are all wounded in the fog of war.
The Cult of Crusaders
The war on error has given rise to a growing cult of extremists who wage holy war on anyone they disagree with. Their battle cry goes much further than “Purity! Truth! Integrity!” It becomes, “To the devil with those who are different!”
While confronting error is biblical, it’s hard to find any Scriptural examples of ministries dedicated solely to this task. But misery loves company, and as crusaders connect together, bizarre new enclaves are being formed to specialize in tracking and exposing deception. Some are content to roam the internet and push their version of reform from there. But because the mission of defending truth is so crucial, and the church is so deeply deceived, a few have decided to live together, pool their resources, fall in behind clever leaders and dedicate themselves to exposing fraudulent Christianity full time.
Contemporary crusaders are drawn together by a few disturbing characteristics:
- They are self-righteous and mean-spirited. Rather than stating their case respectfully and graciously, crusaders believe hostile tirades prove their point. Their diatribes are laced with bitterness, sarcasm and contempt for everyone outside themselves. Like schoolyard bullies, they use intimidation to gain control. At times they even attack each other! Though they see themselves as intellectuals and scholars, true scholars don’t name-call, mock and condemn others for thinking differently. We should all keep in mind that pride—even in our own orthodoxy—is a greater sin than being too encouraging or positive in one’s faith.
- Their perspective is flawed. Like mad scientists peering into microscopes in search of dangerous germs and viruses, heresy hunters are addicted to finding something—anything—wrong. Their focus is rarely “big picture.” Instead, they specialize in detecting the subtle nuances of danger, hobbling together their case for the charge of heresy. While promising to get us the real story on high profile preachers, crusaders stumble in the world of proper scale because their focus is so microscopic they may miss the obvious. Maybe looking too closely at others is not such a great idea for a ministry.
- They bring their issues to the world. Despite Paul’s warning against taking our conflicts before the world (1 Corinthians 6:1-6), crusaders are willing to air their brother’s dirty laundry publicly and discredit the cause of Christ. Rather than seeking a hearing within the church, the most malevolent crusaders work directly with the secular media to break the story and expose fellow-ministers. This leaves the lost with the impression that all preachers are phony and worse yet, that the grace and peace Christ came to bring aren’t real in the church.
- They avoid accountability. Many wonder who holds the heresy hunters responsible for their message and how it affects others. But crusaders are often elitist, secretive and hostile toward those who pose such questions. This only helps bolster the belief that heresy hunting has become a true cult-phenomenon that attracts and legitimizes the hostility of cynical believers while failing to submit to any form of authority outside themselves.
Like so many Sauls killing Christians for God, today’s crusaders are more dangerous than those they condemn. No one—not even the innocent—can feel safe when a witch hunt is underway. If the church is ever going to be both safe and pure, we need to deal with the spirit of accusation and return to the simple power of grace and truth.
Truth Hurts, Then Heals
They say there is a seed of truth in all criticism. While many heresy hunters have clearly careened out of control, we must admit that too many of their observations are correct. Too many ministries have become outlandish, unbiblical and unaccountable. Who can blame them for bristling at the self-indulgent lifestyles, doctrinal shallowness, manipulative methods and moral confusion of many in the ministry today? It’s hard to admit, but the crusaders may be clearer on the problem than many of us.
Unfortunately, they are rarely as helpful when it comes to the solution. Speaking truth is good, but it must always be balanced by grace and motivated by love. This is the crux of the argument against crusaders. There is obvious value in discerning and confronting error in the church. We need more Nathans. We should follow the Bereans. But there is a huge difference between a champion of Scripture and a crazed heresy hunter sniping randomly at anyone in his sights.
God gives us truth to protect us and free us from the damage sin does. How can we justify using truth to gun a brother down? We are called to confront, but to do so in love (Ephesians 4:15). We are commanded never to speak harshly, bitterly or slanderously. The truth may hurt at times, but when delivered skillfully, it will protect us and heal us.
There is nothing wrong with passionate dispute over theology and ethics; in truth, it can be a righteous cause. Without discernment, open debate and passionate prophetic ministry to anchor us, we would surely drift off course. But when we employ a scorched earth policy against a brother in Christ, God is grieved. We need a plan that allows us to safely confront and be confronted. We need a way out of the fog of war and into the peace of Christ.
Steps to Safety and Purity
Can church can be free of both heresy and division? A church that is both safe and pure may sound idealistic, but I wonder what might happen if we followed a few steps to glorify Christ in our disagreements?
- Let’s figure out what victory looks like. Are we trying to discredit a brother, or redeem one? When we try to win an argument instead of winning a brother, we shame ourselves. Victory means telling the truth without widening the separation.
- Let’s establish a place to deal with disputes. Our local churches, denominations, and minister’s fellowships need to get more involved in the dirty work of reconciling brothers (Matthew 5:23-24). Why are we fighting before the media? Where no avenues exist, we must patiently build them before we blast a brother.
- Let’s not major in the minors. Jesus reprimanded the Pharisees for straining at gnats and struggling with motes when there were more important things to attend to (Matthew 7:2 and 23:24). Let’s stop smearing each another over petty matters and work toward agreement on the essentials.
- Let’s adjust our level of force. Police forces and armies have long understood the importance of regulating their responses to fit the threat. Deadly force is not necessary to resolve a theological dispute. Let’s wise up and tone it down.
- If we’re unable to agree, let’s walk away free. The apostle Paul wasn’t interested in the findings of those who endlessly critiqued him. He knew the Lord was his Judge (1 Corinthians 4:2-4). If you’ve been called by God, don’t let the critics get you down. Keep doing what God has called you to do, and believe for the day when you will be rewarded by Him.
If we can trim our anger, fear and criticism and begin telling each other the truth graciously, the Body of Christ can come into safety and purity.
And who knows? Maybe there will be no more need for the war on error.
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David Cannistraci is the Senior Pastor of GateWay City Church in San Jose, California. He travels internationally as a speaker and has written Apostles and the Emerging Apostolic Movement (Regal, 1996) and God’s Vision for Your Church (Regal, 2000). For more information, go to davidcannistraci.org
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