Exposing Error: Is It Worthwhile?
      by Harry A. Ironside
 

       Objection is often raised even by some sound in the faith-regarding the exposure of error
       as being entirely negative and of no real edification. Of late, the hue and cry has been
       against any and all negative teaching. But the brethren who assume this attitude forget
       that a large part of the New Testament, both of the teaching of our blessed Lord Himself
       and the writings of the apostles, is made up of this very character of ministry-namely,
       showing the Satanic origin and, therefore, the unsettling results of the propagation of
       erroneous systems which Peter, in his second epistle, so definitely refers to as "damnable
       heresies."

               Our Lord prophesied, "Many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many."
       Within our own day, how many false prophets have risen; and oh, how many are the
       deceived! Paul predicted, "I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter
       in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking
       perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch." My own observation is
       that these "grievous wolves," alone and in packs, are not sparing even the most favoured
       flocks. Undershepherds in these "perilous times" will do well to note the apostle's warning:
       "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost
       hath made you overseers." It is as important in these days as in Paul's-in fact, it is
       increasingly important-to expose the many types of false teaching that, on every hand,
       abound more and more.

               We are called upon to "contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the
       saints," while we hold the truth in love. The faith means the whole body of revealed truth,
       and to contend for all of God's truth necessitates some negative teaching. The choice is
       not left with us. Jude said he preferred a different, a pleasanter theme-"Beloved, when I
       gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write
       unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once
       delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of
       old ordainedto this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into
       lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ" (Jude 3, 4). Paul
       likewise admonishes us to "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but
       rather reprove them" (Eph. 5:11).

               This does not imply harsh treatment of those entrapped by error-quite the opposite.
       If it be objected that exposure to error necessitates unkind reflection upon others who do
       not see as we do, our answer is: it has always been the duty of every loyal servant of
       Christ to warn against any teaching that would make Him less precious or cast reflection
       upon His finished redemptive work and the all-sufficiency of His present service as our
       great High Priest and Advocate.

               Every system of teaching can be judged by what it sets forth as to these fundamental
       truths of the faith. "What think ye of Christ?" is still the true test of every creed. The Christ
       of the Bible is certainly not the Christ of any false "-ism." Each of the cults has its hideous
       caricature of our lovely Lord.

               Let us who have been redeemed at the cost of His precious blood be "good soldiers
       of Jesus Christ." As the battle against the forces of evil waxes ever more hot, we have
       need for God-given valour.

               There is constant temptation to compromise. "Let us go forth therefore unto Him
       without the camp, bearing His reproach." It is always right to stand firmly for what God has
       revealed concerning His blessed Son's person and work. The "father of lies" deals in
       half-truths and specializes in most subtle fallacies concerning the Lord Jesus, our sole and
       sufficient Savior.

               Error is like leaven of which we read, "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." Truth
       mixed with error is equivalent to all error, except that it is more innocent looking and,
       therefore, more dangerous. God hates such a mixture! Any error, or any truth-and-error
       mixture, calls for definite exposure and repudiation. To condone such is to be unfaithful to
       God and His Word and treacherous to imperiled souls for whom Christ died.

               Exposing error is most unpopular work. But from every true standpoint it is worthwhile
       work. To our Savior, it means that He receives from us, His blood-bought ones, the loyalty
       that is His due. To ourselves, if we consider "the reproach of Christ greater riches than the
       treasures of Egypt," it ensures future reward, a thousand-fold. And to souls "caught in the
       snare of the fowler"-how many of them God only knows-it may mean light and life,
       abundant and everlasting.

       [Dr. Harry Ironside (1876-1951), a godly Fundamentalist author and teacher for many years,
       served as pastor of Chicago's Moody Memorial Church from 1930-1948]