IS IT RIGHT:
To Judge,
To Expose Error,
& To Call Names?By E. L. Bynum
Many today believe that it is wrong to expose error and to
name names. Liberals have always seemed to believe this,
but in recent times it has been widely espoused by
evangelicals and charismatics. Now we are seeing the same
fatal error being declared by those who profess to be Bible
believing fundamentalists. Those who are faithful in expos-
ing error according to the Bible are now being widely de-
nounced, and are accused of being unloving and unkind. In
this tract we intend to present the teaching of the Bible on
this vital subject.I. It Is Right To Practice Biblical Judgment One of the most misused verses in the Bible is, "Judge
not, that ye be not judged" (Matt. 7:1). Every Scripture
verse should be read in its context, if we are to properly
understand the true meaning. In vs. 2-5 of this same chapter
it is evident that v. 1 is referring to hypocritical judgment. A
brother who has a beam in his own eye should not be judg-
ing the brother who may have a mote in his eye. The lesson
is plain, you cannot judge another for his sin if you are guil-
ty of the same sin.
Those who cling to "Judge not, that ye be not judged[,]" to
condemn those who expose error should read the entire
chapter. Jesus said, "Beware of false prophets, which come
to you in sheep's clothing..." (v. 15). How can we know
false prophets unless we judge them by the Word of God? If
we know the false prophets, how can we fail to warn the
sheep of these "ravening wolves[?]" All through the Bible
we find proof that they should be identified and exposed.
"Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather
grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree
bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth
evil fruit" (vs. 16,17). Did the Lord mean that we could not
judge the tree (person), by the fruit of their life and doc-
trine? Certainly not, for you cannot know without judging.
All judgment should be on the basis of Bible teaching, not
according to whims or prejudices.
"Judge not according to the appearance, but judge
righteous judgment" (John 7:24). Here our Lord commands
that we are to "judge righteous judgment[,]" which is judg-
ment based upon the Word of God. If judgment is made
upon any other basis, other than the Word of God, it is a
violation of Matt. 7:1. Webster's Dictionary says that a
judge is "one who declares the law." The faithful Christian
must discern or judge on the basis of God's inspired law, the
Bible.
A fornicator is described in I Cor. 5:1-13. Paul "judged"
(v. 3) the man even though he was absent, and he told the
Church at Corinth that they were to "judge" (v. 12) those
that were within. The Greek word for "judge" is the same
here as in Matt. 7:1. Paul did not violate "Judge not, that ye
be not judged[,]" in judging the man, nor in instructing the
Church to judge also. All of this judgment was according to
the Word of God.
A person who is able to discern between good and evil,
has at least one of the major marks of spiritual maturity.
"But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age,
even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised
to discern both good and evil" (Heb. 5:14). W.E. Vine says
of the meaning of discern, "a distinguishing, a clear
discrimination, discerning, judging; is translated 'discern-
ing' in I Cor. 12:10 of discerning spirits, judging by
evidence whether they are evil or of God." Strong also
agrees that it means to judge.
Those who are unwilling or incapable of discerning or
judging between good and evil are in this manner revealing
either their disobedience or their immaturity.II. It Is Right To Expose False Teachers False teachers are free to spread their poisonous doctrines
today because there is a conspiracy of silence among many
Bible believers. Wolves in sheep's clothing are thus enabled
to ravage the flock, thereby destroying many.
John the Baptist called the Pharisees and Sadducees (the
religious leaders of his day) a "generation of vipers"
(snakes) (Matt. 3:7). Today, he would be accused of being
unloving, unkind, and unChristian.
Jesus said to the religious Pharisees, "O generation of
vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of
the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh" (Matt.
12:34). To many evangelicals and some fundamentalists,
this would be unacceptable language today, but it is biblical
language and it came from the mouth of the Son of God.
Standing face to face with these false teachers, Jesus
Christ the Son of God, called them "hypocrites," "blind
guides," "blind," "whited sepulchres," "serpents," and
"ye generation of vipers" (Matt. 23:23-34). Yet, we are
told today that we are to fellowship with men whose doc-
trines are just as unscriptural as those of the Pharisees.
Some who say they are Bible believing Christians insist on
working with Roman Catholics and other assorted heretics.
Yet, according to many, we are not supposed to rebuke
them for their compromise.
Near the beginning of His ministry, "Jesus went up to
Jerusalem, And found in the temple those that sold oxen and
sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And
when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them
all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and
poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence;
make not my Father's house an house of merchandise"
(John 2:13-16). Our Saviour is presented today as one who
was meek, lowly, kind, and loving, even to false teachers,
but this is entirely false. When dealing with false teachers
and prophets, His words were sharp and His actions plain.
Near the end of His public ministry, Christ found it
necessary to cleanse the temple once again. The exposure of
false doctrines and practices is a never ending job. At that
time He said, "Is it not written, My house shall be called of
all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of
thieves" (Mark 11:17). Is it any different today? The
thieves come into the house of God, and rob God's people of
the Bible and peddle their perverted bibles instead. At the
same time this den of thieves rob the people of the doctrine
of separation and the doctrine of sanctification. Then you
can hardly tell God's people from the people of the world.
In all honesty, should not these thieves (false teachers) be
exposed?
In our day these false teachers have come into the
churches with their books, literature, movies, psychology,
and seminars, and have turned the Father's house into a den
of thieves. It is time that men of God stand up and expose
their errors for all to see.The Bible Admonishes Us To Expose Error We are to TRY them. "Beloved, believe not every spirit,
but try the spirits, whether they be of God; because many
false prophets are gone out into the world" (I John 4:1). All
doctrine and teachers are to be tried according to the Word
of God. "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not
according to this word, it is because there is no light in
them" (Isa. 8:20). Every message, messenger, and method
is to be judged according to the Word of God. The church at
Ephesus was commended because they had "tried them
which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found
them liars" (Rev. 2:2). The church at Pergamos was rebuk-
ed because they tolerated those that held "the doctrine of
Balaam," and "the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which
thing I hate" (Rev. 2:14,15). It is never right to tolerate
false teachers, but they are to be tried by the Word of God,
and exposed. Of course those who want to disobey the Word
of God will seek by every means to avoid this teaching.
We are to MARK them and AVOID them. "Now I
beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions
and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned;
and avoid them" (Rom. 16:17). Those whose conduct and
teaching contradicts the Word of God are to be marked and
to be avoided. This requires discernment and judgment in
the light of the Bible. The ecumenicalists, new evangelicals,
and compromising fundamentalists will resist any effort to
obey this Scripture. They cannot be marked and avoided,
unless they are judged according to the Word of God.
We are to REBUKE them. "Wherefore rebuke them
sharply, that they may be sound in the faith" (Titus 1:13).
This was written to Titus, because there were those going
from house to house and subverting whole houses with false
doctrine (v. 10-16). Oral Roberts, Robert Schuller, Jimmy
Swaggart, Pat Robertson, and others are subverting whole
houses with their false doctrine today. Are we to sit silently
by, while they do this, without rebuking and admonishing
people to avoid their teaching? No, the faithful servant of
the Lord is to be "Holding fast the faithful word as he hath
been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to
exhort and to convince the gainsayers" (Titus 1:9).
We are to have NO FELLOWSHIP with them. "And
have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but
rather reprove them" (Eph. 5:11). Reprove means to cen-
sure, condemn, find fault, rebuke, and to refute. How can
we obey this Scripture unless we try them by the Word of
God?
We are to WITHDRAW from them. "Now we com-
mand you, brethren, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ,
that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh
disorderly, and not after the tradition which ye received of
us" (II Thess. 3:6). We are to withdraw from those whose
doctrine and conduct does not conform to the Word of God.
The context clearly shows that obedience to sound doctrine
is what Paul has in mind, for he says, "if any man obey not
our word by this epistle, note that man and have no com-
pany with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet, count him not
as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother" (II Thess.
3:14-15). Paul admonished Timothy to "withdraw thyself"
from those who "consent not to wholesome words...and to
the doctrine which is according to godliness" (I Tim.
6:3-5).
We are to TURN AWAY from them. Concerning the
last days, he says that some will have "a form of godliness,
but denying the power thereof: from such turn away" for
such people are "never able to come to the knowledge of the
truth" (II Tim. 3:5,7). How can we turn away from them if
we do not identify them, and this requires that their message
be compared to the Word of God. It is the business of the
true preacher to: "Preach the word; be instant in season,
out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering
and doctrine" (II Tim. 4:2). This is usually an unpopular
and thankless task but it is the duty of the God-called man.
We are NOT to RECEIVE them into our house. "If
there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine,
receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil
deeds" (II John 10,11). There is no doubt about who John is
speaking about, it is "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth
not in the doctrine of Christ..." (v. 9). By radio, TV, and
literature, false prophets are brought into the homes of
many Christians today. Brethren, this ought not to be!
We are to REJECT HERETICS. "A man that is an
heretick after the first and second admonition reject" (Titus
3:10). We should reject those who deny redemption by the
blood of Christ. There are many who deny this or some
other doctrine of the Word of God. If they will not respond
to being admonished, then they are to be rejected.
We are to look out for those who preach another
gospel. Paul warned about those who preached "another
Jesus...another spirit...or another gospel" (II Cor. 11:4).
How can we know them unless we judge their Jesus, their
spirit, and their gospel by the Word of God? Paul called
such preachers "false apostles, deceitful workers, trans-
forming themselves into the apostles of Christ" (II Cor.
11:13). He explains in v. 14-15 that these preachers are the
ministers of Satan. The God-called man must be just as
faithful today in exposing the ministers of Satan.
Paul warned the Galatians about those who "pervert the
gospel of Christ." He also said, "If any man preach any
other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be
accursed." (See Gal. 1:6-9). Multitudes today are
preaching a perverted gospel. Those who teach salvation by
baptism, or by works, are teaching a perverted gospel.
Those who preach a salvation that you can lose, are
preaching a perverted gospel. The charismatics, Catholics,
many evangelicals, and many fundamentalists (?) are
preaching a perverted gospel. Yet, we are supposed to
cooperate with them in evangelism and Christian work, ac-
cording to many today. If we fail to expose these false pro-
phets, then we have betrayed Christ and His Gospel.
We are to SEPARATE from them. "Wherefore come
out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord,
and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you" (II
Cor. 6:17). This makes it plain. God's people are to come
out of apostasy and religious error. How can any Bible
believer remain in the National Council or World Council of
Churches? How can they remain in the Southern Baptist
Convention, or any of the other apostate organizations?
How can they remain among compromising evangelicals
and wishy-washy fundamentalists?III. It Is Right To Name Names Many mistakenly believe that it is wrong to expose error
and to name the guilty teachers; but they are wrong accor-
ding to the Bible.
Paul named Peter publicly. Peter was guilty of unscrip-
tural practice. "But when Peter was come to Antioch, I
withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed...
But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to
the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If
thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of the Gentiles,
and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to
live as do the Jews?" (Gal. 2:11-14). The whole issue
revolved around salvation by the law or by grace. When the
integrity and purity of the Gospel is at stake, then we have no
choice when it comes to the matter of exposing error and
naming names.
Paul named Demas for loving the world. "For Demas
hath forsaken me, having loved this present world" (II Tim.
4:10). Those who forsake the cause of Christ for worldly
living and pleasures should be named and exposed.
Paul named Hymenaeus and Alexander. Paul told
Timothy to "war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good
conscience; which some have put away concerning faith
have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alex-
ander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may
learn not to blaspheme" (I Tim. 1:18-20). God's true ser-
vants should war a good warfare, and name those who have
departed from the faith that was once delivered to the saints.
Paul is not here discussing the faith of salvation but the faith
as a system of doctrine. These men had made shipwreck of
it and Paul exposed them and called their names.
Paul named Hymenaeus and Philetus. He told Timothy
to "study" that he might be able to "rightly" divide "the
word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they
will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat
as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; who
concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection
is past already; and overthrow the faith of some" (II Tim.
2:15-18). False doctrine overthrows the faith of some, so
those who are proclaiming it must be exposed.
Paul named Alexander the coppersmith. "Alexander
the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him ac-
cording to his works: Of whom be thou ware also; for he
hath greatly withstood our words" (II Tim. 4:14-15). It is
clear that this is not a personality problem, but a doctrinal
problem. Alexander had withstood the words and doctrine
of Paul. He was an enemy to the truth. Godly pastors face
the same problem every day. They stand and proclaim the
truth, then their members go home and hear this truth
disputed by radio and TV preachers. Often times these false
prophets are sending their publications into the homes of
members of true churches. Then the man of God is suppose
to keep his mouth shut, according to many. Only a coward
will be silent when the truth of the Bible is under attack.
John named Diotrephes. "I wrote unto the church; but
Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among
them, receiveth us not" (III John 9). He related how this
man had prated against him "with malicious words" (v. 10).
He further said, "Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but
that which is good. He that doeth good is of God, but he that
doeth evil hath not seen God" (v. 11). It is not wrong to
name those whose doctrine and practice is contrary to the
Word of God.
In fact, the whole Bible abounds in examples of false pro-
phets being named and exposed. All this modern day talk
about love, used as an excuse for not exposing error, is not
really biblical love but is really sloppy agape.
Moses called the name of Balaam. (See Num. 22-25).
Peter exposed "the way of Balaam...who loved the wages
of unrighteousness" (II Pet. 2:15). Balaam was a prophet
that was in the work for money, just like some of the TV
false prophets today. They beg for money and live like
kings, while multitudes of innocent people send them their
hard earned money. They are always building colleges,
hospitals, TV network satellites, and amusement parks that
have a water slide for Jesus. And then we are suppose to
keep our mouth shut about these religious charlatans. How
can we be silent and be true to God?
Jude exposed "the error of Balaam" (Jude 11). John ex-
posed "the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a
stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things
sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication" (Rev.
2:14). This gets right to the heart of the matter, concerning
the doctrine of separation. Balaam never did curse Israel
even though he wanted the wages that he was offered to do
so. The men of Israel committed "whoredom with the
daughters of Moab...and bowed down to their gods" (Num.
25:1,2). Why did they do this? Because Balaam taught
Balac how to break down the barrier of separation between
the Moabites and the Israelites. We know this to be so
because it is plainly stated in Rev. 2:14 and Num. 31:16.
This sin resulted in 24,000 men of Israel dying under the
judgment of God.
False teachers are breaking down the barrier of separation
between God's people and false religion. There is too little
preaching and teaching on the doctrine of separation.
Balaam breached the doctrine of personal separation by
causing the men of Israel to commit fornication with the
Moabite women. He breached the doctrine of ecclesiastical
separation by causing the men of Israel to bow down to
Baal. This brought a curse upon Israel. Until we get back to
teaching the truth about personal and ecclesiastical separa-
tion, we can expect the continued widespread havoc that we
have today.
It seems to be believed by many that some people are too
high and mighty to be named or exposed. Men in high
places, pastors of large churches, and those with great radio
or TV audiences, are supposedly above criticism. Whatever
they may do or say, no matter how contrary to the Bible it
may be, is supposedly all right. Nothing could be further
from the truth.
Nathan identified the man. There was a man in a very
high place who was a secret adulterer. Surely this man who
held the highest office in the land could not be rebuked by a
lowly unpopular prophet. Nathan went right into the
presence of David, revealed the sin in a parable form, and
then told the enraged David, "Thou art the man" (II Sam.
12:7).
Hanani named king Jehoshaphat. In many ways
Jehoshaphat was a good king, but he mistakenly forgot to
practice religious separation. He caused his son to marry
wicked king Ahab's daughter. (See II Chron. 18:1; 21:1-6).
He made an alliance with Ahab and went to the battle of
Ramoth-gilead with him (II Chron. 18). Hanani "said to
King Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and
love them that hate the Lord?" (II Chron. 19:2). We have a
question for those who insist on working with charismatics,
Catholics, and members of the National Council of
Churches, "Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love
them that hate the Lord?"
Yes, it is right to expose error and to name those who are
in error. It is right to "earnestly contend for the faith which
was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3). It was once
delivered and it has never been recalled for revision. We
had better beware of "false teachers...who privily shall
bring in damnable heresies" (II Pet. 2:1). Faithful
messengers will warn the sheep of these heretics, and iden-
tify them by name. It is not enough to broadly hint of their
identity, for the young lambs will not understand and will be
destroyed by the wolves.Tract No. A-322 Order From:
TABERNACLE BAPTIST CHURCH
1911 34th St., E. L. Bynum, former Pastor
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