An outstanding belief of most individuals is that no one should say negative things against the doctrines and practices of other religious people. Should we believe that all religious people are going to be saved at the day of judgment? Does that mean that one cannot be wrong in his or her religious beliefs and thus need a warning? That idea is not taught in the Bible. Being wrong in religion is easy and a very serious matter because eternity is involved. Few find the narrow way that leads to eternal life, and many go the broad way to destruction (Matt. 7:13,14). Should we be concerned that many are following a perverted gospel (Gal. 1:6-12)? Would it make sense to give our smile of approval to the soul-destroying perversions? Grievous wolves will draw away disciples after themselves. These wolves may be in sheep's clothing. Christ, Paul, John, and other men guided by the Holy Spirit warned of the danger (Please take time to read Matt. 7:13-15; 2 Peter 2:1-3; 1 John 4:1). People need to be warned of the danger of teaching the wrong doctrine because men, or even an angel, will stand accursed before God if he or she teaches a perverted gospel (Gal. 1:6-12; Titus 3:9-11; 1 Tim. 6:3-5). The followers of such teachers are also lost and we need to warn them of their error (Matt. 15:1-4).
Each person should be careful to make his or her salvation certain and should reprove, rebuke, exhort, as well as instruct and warn others because there is great danger in heresy (2 Tim. 4:1-5; 2:15-18; Titus 1:11-13; 2:15; 2 Peter 1:10; Phil. 2:12; 1 Cor. 10:12; Heb. 3:12,13). This message will come through with great force if we will take time to read and study these references carefully and prayerfully. PLEASE TAKE THE TIME!
We must love our enemies and harm no one. For love's sake we should teach, warn, reprove, and rebuke everyone. This is the Master's will. The truth, and only the truth, makes men free (John 8:31,32). Speaking the truth in love is an act of friendship and should be appreciated Acts 20:29-31; Acts 20:17-32; Eph. 4:15). Paul's question in Gal. 4:16 is still a good one. He asked: "Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?" Many of the writings of the New Testament were written to warn and rescue people from the deadly effects of false teaching. These books often spoke against religious doctrines and practices. Read Paul's letters to the Galatians and to the Corinthians for examples. Paul loved them enough to tell the truth with great plainness of speech.
Many people believe that they are demonstrating self-righteousness when they find errors in the religion of other people. They may think that pointing out the religious error of others will not be beneficial and will only cause ill will. However, for our own spiritual welfare, we need to warn others of error because we do not want to be responsible for their lost soul. "Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:26,27). Good is accomplished by such bold preaching. A bold proclamation of truth does awaken some people. Think of the great soldiers of Christ who fought a good fight in the pagan world nineteen hundred years ago. This earnest contention for truth turned people from "darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and may have an inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith" (Acts 26:18; Jude 3).
The New Testament letters written by the apostles show the boldness and frankness which was used to warn against and correct religious error. The same can also be said about the teaching of Christ. He warned His disciples to beware of the "doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees" (Matt. 16:12). No denominations were more popular or influential among the Jews in that generation than these two groups, but Christ did not say that these two denominations were right. Christ loved these people well enough to preach the truth to them even though it led to His crucifixion. He died for sinful men, but He did not condone their errors. He did not try to flatter sinners to keep them satisfied in damnable heresy. Read these sad words from the Master's sermon: "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? and then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, you that work iniquity" (Matt. 7:22,23). Was it wrong to warn those people while they had time to repent? Would it be today? Would it not be a good deed?
Maybe the people who do not believe in finding error with other people's religion are afraid of judging them. Such people often quote part of Matthew 7:1, but out of context. They say: "Judge not, that ye be not judged." That is what Jesus said as He began this great teaching on judging, but He said even more. He made it clear that He was talking of the harsh, unfair criticism of the hypocrite, who, with a beam in his own eye, was staring at the speck in his brother's eye. This man could have seen more clearly to help his brother if he had removed the log from his own eye. Christ was not asking that we never do any kind of judging. The next paragraph will explain the proper attitude toward judgment.
Judgment is the mental process by which we are able to distinguish differences and similarities in our everyday lives. Judgment is discernment or common sense. According to Christ, we are to "judge, not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24). Righteous judgment is not forbidden, as is the harsh judgment of the hypocrite. In fact, in becoming Christians, and in continuing as faithful Christians, we must distinguish between good and evil. Men of God are commanded to reprove, rebuke, exhort, and warn others. This could not be done properly without the "righteous judgment" that Christ commands (See Titus 1:13; 2:15; 2 Tim. 4:1-5; Acts 20:29-31). As we develop skill in righteous judgment, we can come to be of the "same mind and the same judgment" (1 Cor. 1:10) as other Christians. Christians must judge righteously in order to "approve things that are excellent" (Phil. 1:10). Some people mistakenly accuse Christ of forbidding Christians to judge. If this accusation were true, Christians could not make wise decisions, correct their own lives and the lives of their friends, or give moral support to those who are standing firmly for the truth.
Love should fill the hearts of mature Christians when they see and deal with faults in brethren (Gal. 6:1; James 5:19,20). An individual may want to find fault in order to criticize someone. Another individual may identify fault so that they might help someone to correct a problem. These two situations are as different as day and night. New Testament scriptures teach us that heresy must come, and it can damn the soul. Therefore, we need to work out our own salvation with "fear and trembling", and exhort "one another daily, while it is yet called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin" (Heb. 3:13; 1 Cor. 11:19; 2 Peter 2:1-3). This takes "righteous judgment" which is commanded. We must not overlook this fact.
We may not want to find error in other peoples' religion when our desire for their praise and friendship is far greater than our interest in their spiritual safety. When people go beyond the doctrine of Christ, they cut themselves off from God (2 John 9-11). If they add to God's word, God will add the plagues to them (Rev. 22:18,19). If they preach another gospel, they pervert the gospel of Christ and stand accursed (Gal. 1:6-12). Was it right for Paul to write to the Galatians and the Corinthians to warn them? Was he judging them in a sinful way or was it righteous judgment? When religious people have obviously changed the pattern of church government, baptism, the Lord's Supper, the work or mission of the church, the plan of salvation, church music, etc., they need help. "Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men" (2 Cor. 5:11). When a good man speaks the truth in love in trying to help these people, please do not sit back and criticize, hindering his worthy effort, and say, "He is judging". He is commanded to use righteous judgment in fighting a good fight for the truth.
Because the doctrines of men make our worship vain, we need to fight a good fight to uphold the truth as taught in the scriptures (Matt. 15:9; 1 Tim. 1:18; Eph. 6:10-19; Jude 3). Please read these verses! Our weapons are not carnal, but they are "mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds" (2 Cor. 10:4,5). We must wrestle against sin. Compromise, flattery, and condoning error were not traits of the Master. He sought to change the "status quo," not to approve it. Preachers are not sent out into the world to keep it as it is. They are to attempt to make the changes that will improve it. There is a price to pay for telling the whole truth of the Gospel, particularly when it is in opposition to the beliefs of others, but loyalty to Christ and love for the souls of men should demand it of all of us (2 Tim. 3:12; Luke 6:46; Matt. 5:10-12). Let us pray for boldness rather than for the love of error (Eph. 6:18,19; Acts 4:29).