The Danger of Internet Heresy

The Internet is the greatest communication tool that has ever existed, and it has incalculable potential for broadcasting truth as well as error. U.S. President Trump has popularized the term “fake news,” and he is right. The world is full of fake information, not only fake political information, but every other type of information. The Internet is a dream come true for flat earthers and health food quacks and disinformation campaigners and heretics of every stripe. While truth barely gets a hearing in this fallen world, error resonates widely. The Bible tells God’s people how to protect themselves in any age. Technology changes, but the principles of spiritual protection are the same. The most fundamental principle of protection is to be well grounded in God’s Word (“skillful,” Hebrews 5:12-15), to test everything by God’s Word, and to avoid things that are false. This is set out in a nutshell in 2 Timothy 2:15-17. “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing 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.” Every fundamental principle of protection from heresy in the Internet age is found in this passage. Protection requires being a serious student of God’s Word. You won’t be able to discern error until you are well grounded in the truth. And protection requires shunning false teachers. Shunning is the opposite of reading their blogs and visiting their social media pages and watching their YouTube channels. 2 Timothy 2:18 warns that false teaching has the power to “overthrow the faith.” It is very dangerous. Further along in the same passage, we find that false teaching engenders questions and strifes (2 Ti. 2:23). It destabilizes the Christian life. A great many people have written to me after becoming confused by things they have read on the Internet. Typically, these are people who are not skillful in God’s Word, but instead of spending their time studying the Bible by means of proper tools and staying with sound Bible teachers, they surf around the Internet and dabble with error and nuttiness and quackery. The resources for becoming a skillful Bible student are available for those who are willing to invest sufficient time and energy. There is no easy path or shortcut. I think of many people who have gone through most or all of the Advanced Bible Studies Series published by Way of Life Literature. I think of a man who has studied through the Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity three times. That alone is a serious Bible education. Beware of Internet heresy!

​(Friday Church News Notes, December 14, 2018, www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143)

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