While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch of Syria, some men from Judea arrived and began to teach the believers: “Unless you are circumcised as required by the law of Moses, you cannot be saved.” Paul and Barnabas disagreed with them, arguing vehemently. Finally, the church decided to send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem, accompanied by some local believers, to talk to the apostles and elders about this question. Acts 15:1-2 NLT
This is a primary role of an Apostle – shut down heretical teaching. This example of bad orthodoxy is just one of many wrong teachings that floated about during the early Church. The group became known as the Judaizers. The judaizers believed in the Jesus+ gospel. Yes, it is Christ that saves, but there are a couple of other things a believer must do to “truly” be saved. This one practice is a very old physical mark of a contractual agreement between men and God – circumcision. The cutting of flesh as a covenant sign of following God. It was commanded by God in Genesis 17:10, “Every male among you shall be circumcised.” In the Old Testament it was a clear sign of being a covenant keeper of God by physically “cutting” a deal with God.
In the New Testament the physical cutting of the covenant was permanently and finally done through Jesus cutting the deal for us! So, the danger of adding anything- ANYTHING to the finality of what Jesus did for us would outside of God’s will and would be no longer be the gospel. Anything humans add or subtract from the once and for all payment for sin by Jesus would be a grave error in teaching.
What’s so interesting about this “conflict” that arose in Acts 15, was in fact a critical necessity in the message and acceptance with the Gentile (Greek or non-Jew) to become a part of the Church. This circumcision as an “extra step” was accepted as truth before Paul and Barnabas called it out. This well known “heresy” or contrary to orthodox belief was completely accepted by most Jewish believers until Paul and Barnabas contested it! Of course, the Gentiles weren’t in agreement! And even though Paul & Barnabas argued with the men from Judea, it was accepted and taught as a part of this “new” faith, known as Christian faith.
This confrontation led to the Church’s first summit or gathering and would later become known as a “ecumenical council.” There have been a number of them over the centuries. The first seven councils were generally accepted by all the denominations (sects of Christianity), but after that there are differences between Catholic & Protestant Councils. Today only trinitarian (God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit) believing denominations take part in protestant (non Catholic) councils.
I have always been amazed that there were and are teachings within Christianity that are just ACCEPTED as truth, even using the Bible as the main argument for its belief. But they are not true at all! Some of these teachings just continue to float about even in our churches today. These errored teachings come and go like stubborn warts that won’t go away. We no longer seem to have a sense of “Apostles” confrontations nor legitimate councils that take in these teachings and call them out as wrong, or worse, outright heresy. There are still councils that meet in modern times.
I find it encouraging that Christ said that he would build his church and the gates of hell would not overtake it. I also find it interesting that Jesus told us that there would be “tares” or weeds sown right alongside good wheat. Jesus said to NOT pull the weeds because it may harm the young seedling. I believe the tares or weeds to be similar to bad teaching. And, I wonder how much harm we do when people take it upon themselves to police all the preachers out there – looking for heresy, then they blast it out on social media.
I also believe all the major theological issues were highlighted and dealt with in the first 500 years of the Church. I don’t think there’s anything “new,” that we already consider dangerous and damnable. The old heresies just seem to recycle through with new names and a fresh coat of nonsense.
The best way to guard against false teaching is like the Bereans did in Acts 17:11, “And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.”
Prayer
Dad,
I love that you entrusted the Church to us as human beings. I know that the gospel will withstand any and all evil schemes that come against it. I just hope that we can maintain a civil and unified message presented as one body of Christ and not thousands of factions jabbing and poking one another. Help us Oh Lord. May your word continue to go forward with power.