Here
at Lighthouse Trails we are sometimes asked the question,
"Did you go to that person first before exposing that
person's false doctrine?"
We
believe that the scriptural approach to dealing with false
teachings and false doctrines differs than the popular dialectic
approach that is so popular today. Our focus is to send
out a warning to those who are being misled. Dialogue with
those who are spreading false doctrines would only be beneficial
to those persons and ministries; it would not benefit the
ones being hurt. If you are in a lifeboat and people around
you are drowning, will you focus on the shark who is devouring
the people in the water or will you pull as many into the
lifeboat as possible? For us, we have chosen the latter
and will leave dialogue up to someone else.
The following articles have done an excellent job discussing
the matter of Matthew 18 and give a clear answer to that
question.
"Every
now and then I get a terse email from someone who has taken
exception to my candid comments on Rick Warren, asking questions
like: “Have you ever spoken with him personally about your
objections and concerns and tried to work through your differences
privately as scripture teaches, rather than attack him publicly
as you do?” The scripture they usually cite is, of course,
Matthew 18:15-17"—by
Paul Proctor, Read Entire Article, Heretics
and Hypocrites
"Why
did Paul confront Peter publicly "before them all"? Because
he "saw that they were not straightforward about the truth
of the Gospel" and their words and actions were causing
others to be led astray. Therefore, we see a clear-cut Biblical
precedent for public rebuke where it concerns aberrant teachings
which depart from the truth of the Gospel."—by
Debra Bouey, Read entire article: "Matthew
Eighteen": A Viable Contention Where Principles of the Gospel
are Concerned?
