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NAMING NAMES
Is It Biblical?
Have you ever personally counted the people the apostle Paul marked by name in the book of 2 Timothy? Try it. Read 2 Timothy (4 chapters) and keep a count of the deceivers Paul identifies and names. You will find 8 men named by name as deceivers in 2 Timothy alone.
“Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly (selfish interests), and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” Philipians 3:17-21
Saints, are we so naive as to believe that in our day there are no “enemies of the cross of Christ”? Not only are there Christ’s enemies in our day, the Bible foretold that just before the return of our LORD there would come a great falling away at the hands of these end-time predators who operate in the church world, many who are very famous ministers (2 Thess. 2:3; 1 Tim. 4; 2 Tim. 3-4;1 Jn. 4:1-6).
There are some things revealed here in this text that are very important
about these “enemies of the cross of Christ.”
- They are many not a few - “For many walk...”
- Paul repeatedly warned of deceivers - “I have told you often...”
- Paul warned with tears - “...now tell you even weeping...”
- These men pose as His servant but are actually His enemies - “they are the enemies of the cross of Christ”
- These men are going to hell unless they repent - “Whose end is destruction...”
- They serve themselves in ministry while supposedly representing Christ - “whose God is their belly (selfish interests)...”
- They revel in things they should be ashamed of - “whose glory is in their shame...”
- They speak affectionately of movies and other secular interests and tend to things of this fleeting world - “who mind earthly things...”
These “ENEMIES of the cross of Christ” must be marked by the LORD’s remnant no matter what the cost (Rom. 16:17-18). We are mandated to “mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine” of Christ in order to protect the sheep of the LORD’s pasture.
Have you ever personally counted the people the apostle Paul marked in the book of 2 Timothy? Try it. Read 2 Timothy (4 chapters) and keep a count of the deceivers Paul identifies by name. You will find several men named by name as deceivers in 2 Timothy alone. When the Holy Spirit moved upon Paul to foretell that “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived”, he also led him to name some of those “enemies of the cross” in his and previous days (Phil. 3:17-20). The naming of these men is for an eternal memorial of the just wrath of the Almighty upon those who defame His holy name through deception and false teaching (2 Pet. 2,3, Jude). When reading the Old Testament especially, we see a Redeemer who will destroy the enemies of His people - because He loves His people (Is. 49:25; 54:17, etc.). This is the protective love of the LORD. Here is the list of the 8 evil doers the great apostle was inspired to justifiably identify by name in 2 Timothy:
· Phygellus 1:15
· Hermogenes 1:15
· Hymenaeus 2:17
· Philetus 2:17
· Jannes 3:8
· Jambres 3:8
· Demas 4:10 (apostate)
· Alexander the coppersmith 4:14
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Note that there are 2 of these men marked per chapter.
It is interesting to observe here that in the same letter Paul names these names of beguilers, he also states:
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8
We readily gather here that naming names is an integral part of real New Testament ministry and those who obey can like this apostle of Jesus, be confident that they have completely fulfilled the will of God – “I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown.” In this text, the Holy Ghost says that the LORD is a “righteous judge.” I believe that those who mark deceivers in obedience to divine mandate, are going to be rewarded eternally for such obedience. “
We see clearly here that fighting the good fight and finishing our course involves and includes marking deceivers.
Naming names must never be done recklessly or out of a personal vendetta, but only according to the Word and in the Spirit for the glory of God and protection of His beloved people. “
Men of God today are mandated to do the same, yet only by the revelation of the Word of God. Marking people is commanded in the Bible (Rom. 16:17-18). If a public leader is teaching people falsehood, he is to be confronted and exposed. The fruit of truly repenting of teaching something that contradicts God’s Word is that the leader will publicly amend his way and doctrine.
“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth (remains) not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.” 2 John 9
Those leaders who refuse to expose lies clearly reveal that they are operating in ministry for themselves and not God. They are not protecting God's sheep and are thereby disobeying the LORD. Identifying falsehoods and at times the people teaching them, is a protective measure to keep God's people from being spoiled/deceived (Col. 1:27-2:8).
By the way, this Bible topic like all others, does not hinge upon what you or I think should be done - BUT UPON WHAT THE LORD HAS CLEARLY TOLD US. So it is time to die to the self life and all of its emotional affinities and sediments and just DO the Word.
“For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar... ” Romans 3:3-4
Note “Let God be true, but every man (including ourselves) a liar... ”
What makes people get upset when names of deceivers are mentioned? It’s biblical, so what are they stirred about? Are the scalded dogs barking? Are those who have made idols of these mere sinful men covering for them? What’s at stake?
Saints, naming names is a divine mandate. It’s time to catch up with truth and begin to walk in it.”
Taking offense because certain ministries name the false doctrine in the church world or even the names of false leaders, just may be a matter of the heart. Perhaps we need to look within and beg the LORD to search us out (Ps 139:23-24).
What does God say about this? Who are we truly worshipping? Whom do we fear? Who do we seek to please? Upon whom are our affections set?
If a person gets upset because their favorite limelight leader or pet pastor or prophet is identified by name as false, perhaps that person has an unnatural soul tie to that leader and his ministry. Is this not idolatry of the heart?
Friend, God's kingdom is all about Jesus Christ and His eternal, unchanging Word, not any mere man or group of men (Mk. 13:31).
“I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” Isaiah 42:8
WHY SOME DON’T WANT TO EXPOSE
Could it be self-preservation? What is it that is behind the refusal to dispense God’s truth after He has clearly instructed us to do such? And on top of that, why do some who fear men and therefore refuse to expose, exude an air of spiritual pride as if they are being “loving” by allowing people to remain under the dark shadow of false teaching? How perverse a picture is this?
Could it be that these are cloaking pride and self-preservation behind a pseudo “love”? God’s pure love speaks the truth – (Eph. 4:15).
Jesus told us He is the “truth” and the Word tells us that “God is love”. (Jn. 14:6; 1 Jn. 4:8,16) These two attributes are equally apart of the divine character and an imbalance is the result of His people not acknowledging both.”
Is it not personal and evil pride that is at the foundation of such thinking and inaction, cloaking itself in a false “love” that is not according to the constitution (Word, Counsel) of the One who is love?
Do we realize what is at stake here?
“For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” 2 John 7-11
In case you were still wondering if what a person believes is important to their eternal destination, wonder no more. Let these sobering words of holy Scripture grip your soul deeply:
“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth (remains) not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God.” 2 John 9
“Let that therefore abide (remain) in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.” 1 John 2:24
WEAKNESS, DISOBEDIENCE & SELF-PRESERVATION MASKING ITSELF AS TOLERANCE & LOVE
Some of us act as if it is a Christian virtue to tolerate any and everything that comes down the pike – “every wind of doctrine” (Eph. 4:14). We mask our selfish preservation and self-idolatry behind a false “love” that has no reconciliation with Bible truth.
In his book Man to Man, Richard Halverson wrote:
There are times when tolerance is not a virtue, but weakness. There is certainly no virtue in being tolerant if one holds no convictions, and it is not uncommon for the man who believes nothing, who speaks the most of tolerance, to be the most intolerant of one who really believes something. Jesus’ absolute intolerance of sin and error was in no way inconsistent with His love for men, even the sinner or the liar. (p. 59)
Martin Luther said:
“I was born to fight devils and factions. It is my business to remove obstructions, to cut down thorns, to fill up quagmires, and to open and make straight paths. But if I must have some failing, let me rather speak the truth with too great severity than once to act the hypocrite and conceal the truth.”
When teachings that flood the church world would bring God’s people into spiritual deception, are speared and exposed, God will bless (Num. 25; Judges 5:24-31).
“Real valor consists not in being insensible to danger, but in being prompt to confront and disarm it.” ~ Sir Walter Scott
God rewards those who vigilantly expose, when He leads them to do so. The LORD can only use us inasmuch as we have His Word and Holy Spirit in our hearts. Thank God for the modern-day Jaels (Judges 5:24). Thank God for the valiant Phinehas’ of today who spear the sin of false doctrine. These are the resolute defenders of God’s glory who decisively deal with corruption of His holy and pure image in the minds and hearts of His people (Num. 25).
When God’s love is truly made perfect in us, we will speak His truth (Eph. 4:15).
Book: Deceivers & False Prophets Among Us Vol.I
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