Who are the Real Heretics?

When we read our bibles, we are often unaware of the fact that over time, the meanings of words can evolve. This affects us when a word was used with a certain meaning hundreds of years ago, but today that same word, still in our bibles, no longer carries the original meaning. Here is one example:

Psalm 59:10 The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies. (KJV)

Using the definition of “prevent” today, that verse would be saying that God is keeping us from doing something. As written, the verse really doesn’t make sense yet that is how we would read it today. But if we go back in time, and look at what “prevent” meant hundreds of years ago, we learn:

Prevent (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary)
1. To go before; to precede.
2. To precede, as something unexpected or unsought

With that definition, Psalm 59:10 makes perfect sense because we can see that God Himself, in His mercy, will go before us (as a form of protection).

While there are many other words we could discuss, there is one that I believe needs to be addressed, the word heresy. Today, Webster’s defines that word as:

Heresy – adherence to a religious opinion contrary to church dogma

Today, a heretic is anyone who holds a position contrary to, or who disagrees with, the mainstream or orthodoxy. Many that throw the word “cult” around today, are actually describing a heretic according to the modern use of that word. But, is that what a heretic was in the 1st century? Let’s take a look at the underlying Greek word and then apply what we learn to our walk today.

Hairesis (G139) ~ from Liddell-Scott and Thayer Lexicons
1) the act of taking, capture: e.g. storming a city
2) choosing, choice
3) that which is chosen
4) a body of men following their own tenets (sect or party)
4a) of the Sadducees 4b) of the Pharisees 4c) of the Christians

Hairesis translated as the word “sect” is seen a few times in the book of Acts, here is one example:

Acts 15:5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”

Use of hairesis is not negative in that verse, it simply means a sect, in this case, “of Pharisees.” But look at the first definition, the act of taking? Storming a city? The idea behind the word hairsesis in that definition is force, manipulation, aggression. It’s interesting to consider, when “heretics” were burned at the stake or were beheaded, it wasn’t heretics who were being killed, the heretics were actually the ones lighting the match or swinging the axe. They were the ones using force on people they didn’t agree with or who wouldn’t conform. So what happens if we apply that definition, that concept of force, to people in the faith today, who are today’s heretics?

In looking at the religious world, we can say that anyone who tries to force another to accept their beliefs, even if their beliefs are correct, is being a heretic. If we try to manipulate others, or are forceful, we’re being heretics. When we don’t understand that “he that seeks will find” and spend our days trying to answer questions not being asked, I’d argue we’re at least right on the heretical line if not full blown heretics!

John 6:44 says God draws a man unto Himself. He doesn’t need us to do His work, He needs us to be ready to give an answer for the hope of our calling once HE draws a person. When He does His job, then the drawn person will begin to seek, to ask questions, and THEN they will hear. Until then, if we’re pushing, forcing, manipulating, not working in patience and love with others…how are we not, at least in spirit, being heretical according to the first definition of the Greek word in use during the first century?