Social Justice Statement - Why I can't sign it, and you shouldn't Part 8, the heresy of the heretic.

Well, here's a new definition. In the west we've always defined heresy according to the ecumenical councils.

Heresy

WE AFFIRM that heresy is a denial of or departure from a doctrine that is essential to the Christian faith. We further affirm that heresy often involves the replacement of key, essential truths with variant concepts, or the elevation of non-essentials to the status of essentials. To embrace heresy is to depart from the faith once delivered to the saints and thus to be on a path toward spiritual destruction. We affirm that the accusation of heresy should be reserved for those departures from Christian truth that destroy the weight-bearing doctrines of the redemptive core of Scripture. We affirm that accusations of heresy should be accompanied with clear evidence of such destructive beliefs.

WE DENY that the charge of heresy can be legitimately brought against every failure to achieve perfect conformity to all that is implied in sincere faith in the gospel.

So, this is complete and utter foolishness. They have defined heresy as departure from doctrine that is essential to the Christian faith, without defining that doctrine. Unless they mean this statement? I thought this statement was only meant to address Social Justice, not redefine the Christian faith?

Notice the "elevation of non essentials to essential status" they slip in there. They're trying to say social justice is non essential. As we have shown, the Bible disagrees. From here it just gets worse - the faith once delivered to the saints? Which saints? Where? When? Does that include the Church Fathers? Or only their modern Club?

The accusation of heresy is reserved for departures destroying weight bearing doctrines of the redemptive core of scripture? Sure, they do that in this very statement. It isn't just our relationship with God that Jesus comes to redeem - this is core. So, yeah, by their own statement they are heretics. Clear evidence? This very statement bears evidence against them. By their own standard shall they be judged.

The denial is true, yet this is another tax dodge. Not even Wesley's doctrine of Christian perfection has perfect conformity to all that is implied in sincere faith in Christ. Yes, notice how they think the gospel saves. I hate to Jesus juke you again, but I have to. Jesus saves. The gospel is the news that Jesus saves, but it is not Jesus.

Anyway, so what it you aren't perfect. Are you at least trying? If there is no evidence of that, and all you're doing is trying to dodge the clear commands scripture teaches, do you truly know Jesus? Is he working in your life at all?

So, in summary, the writers of this statement have forgotten the most basic Sunday school answer - Jesus. And reading some of them I can see why. Bible worship is alive and well, but Jesus has a message for them in John 5: "You study[c] the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life." (NIV)

As always I am the arbiter of what gets posted. Be nice. Or else.