Recently, I was asked about whether a minister should be willing to attend a gathering of other local ministers including those associated with the Roman Catholic Church. At this meeting, the gathered ministers take turns when in comes to who teaches the Bible lesson each time they meet. Before responding, I obviously recognized the culturally appropriate answer. In the American culture, it would be arrogant, unkind, unloving, and judgmental to refuse to join such a gathering. Despite this, the Bible directs those who confirm its being the inerrant Word of God teaches that true Christian pastors (and all other believers) must not associate in some sort of an intentional gathering that supposes Christian fellowship to be occurring nor should they willfully place themselves under the teaching of one whose gospel is not the gospel revealed in Scripture. Since the gospel of the Roman Catholics is not the same as Evangelical Protestants (at least those who adhere to the gospel of the Reformers), they must decline any offer to attend such a gathering as the one being discussed. To demonstrate this to the truth of Scripture, this article will consider two passages: 2 Timothy 2:16-18 and 2 John 7-11.
2 Tim 2:16-18 – “But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some.”[1]
In 2 Timothy 1:13-14, Paul gives Timothy these directives: “Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus” and “Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.” These are primary duties for all Christians, but especially Pastors should set the example by vigilantly following Paul’s instructions. In chapter 2, Paul begins v.14 with the phrase, “Remind them of these things.” Looking back at the previous verses, one can discern that the Apostle is referring to the ongoing call to manifest a bold and persistent witness that is committed to the discipleship of God’s people and the continued commitment to the Lord’s work (vv.2-6). Along with this, Timothy is to lead others to always keep their minds firmly fixed upon Christ while remembering His resurrection, His preeminence, and His example as a faithful Servant (vv.8-13). Further demonstrating the absolute necessity for Timothy to keep His mind set firmly upon God by holding on tightly to His Word, Paul writes to Him in v.15, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” How is Timothy to accomplish this? Paul informs him in vv.16-18. In short, pastors and all believers by extension must avoid “worldly and empty chatter.” This includes any teaching that fails to “accurately handl[e] the word of truth” (v.15). Such teaching involves any sort of “argumentation” that is unhelpful, fruitless, confusing, misleading, and undermining when it comes to the task of training people in the knowledge of God’s Word. Recognizing the dangerous nature of false teaching, Paul observes that “it will lead to further ungodliness” and “spread like gangrene.” To offer proof of this, Paul even gives examples of men who have gone astray due to false teaching.
2 John 7-11 – “For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. 9 Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; 11 for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.”
Here, John offers some clear commands concerning how believers are to receive those who are false teachers. Rather directly, he says in v.10, “do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting.” Those who fail to heed his directive become guilty of sin for the Apostle claims that they are “participat[ing]” in the false teacher’s “evil deeds.” While he does not give his readers a full understanding of how this happens, some inferences can be drawn. First, those who willfully partake of false teaching are, by extension, giving credence to what is being taught. Second, they are demonstrably proclaiming that the false teacher has some sort of legitimate authority since they acknowledge that authority by allowing themselves to be instructed. Third, they are publicly acknowledging the false teaching to be fully in line with true biblical teaching even if that is not their intention for others will see them partaking of such teaching and assume that to mean that such teaching is legitimate and fully in sync with the gospel.
[1]All Scripture is taken from NASB1995.