The Right Attitude of Christian Ministers Toward Divisive Errorists
T. Croskery Titus 3:10, 11 A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject;… A man that is an heretic after a first and second admonition avoid. I. THE TRUE NATURE OF HIS OFFENSE. 1. It is not a case of fundamental or doctrinal error, such as the words "heretic" and "heresy" came to imply in after-ages. Yet it is a mistake to suppose that separatist ways are not caused by divergences of judgment on some points from the settled belief of the Christian community. 2. It was a case of a turbulent sectary, dissatisfied with the Church, who withdrew from her communion to the disturbance of her peace. He would try to justify his course by a difference of opinion upon matters of doctrine, worship, or organization. II. THE METHOD OF DEALING WITH THE OFFENDER. 1. He was to receive two admonitions in succession. He was to be twice warned not to pursue his divisive courses; he was not to be contended with, but rebuke was to be employed to recover him from his error. 2. His pride or his ambition would not allow him to yield to admonition, he was to be, not excommunicated - the course adopted by the apostle himself in another case (1 Timothy 1:20); but simply avoided. There must be no intercourse with him. This was a virtual excommunication, for he no longer held the place of a Christian brother. III. THE JUSTIFICATION OF THIS METHOD. "Knowing that he that is such is perverted, and sinneth, being self-condemned." The case is an utterly hopeless one. You must have done with the divisive sectary; let him alone. 1. For he is perverted; implying an inward corruption of character, which steels him against all official admonition of the Church. 2. He sinneth. He errs knowingly, for his course has been authoritatively condemned by the messenger of God. 3. He is self-condemned. This does not mean that he consciously acts a part he knows to be wrong, but that he has condemned himself by his own practice, practically consenting by his separation that he is unworthy the fellowship of the Church, and thus justifying the Church in its rejection of him, or that he stands condemned by the Scriptures which he himself accepts as his rule of faith and life. - T.C. Parallel Verses KJV: A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; WEB: Avoid a factious man after a first and second warning;