Fighting False Prophets

“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.”  (Romans 16:17)

In late June, many of us found out the news that The Episcopal Church (TEC) has announced that charges have been filed against nine orthodox, Godly bishops that have remained in the Episcopal Church.  Their offense?  They let the courts know through various court filings that, historically and canonically (according to church law) TEC is a hierarchical structure up to the Diocesan level.  Historically and canonically, their argument was completely correct.  In effect, these bishops were charged for doing what was right – and they needed to speak up because the precedent that was being set could be used against them in their own dioceses.

Even at the risk of becoming quite unpopular with my fellow orthodox clergy who are still in TEC, I asked the question indicative of the elephant in the living room – the question that nobody wanted to ask in the first place.  Why in the world would they want to stay in TEC?  After reflecting on this some more, the question morphed.

What in the world were they still doing in TEC?  Why didn’t they get out a long time ago?

As I have asked that question over and over again on blogs or on Facebook, I usually get the same answer, and I got the same answer again with my first question above.  “We stay in the Episcopal Church because it is all about faithful witness.  We stand firm in the face of persecution.”  That sounds great when you first hear of it, but I again asked the question, is it really the faithful response?  Or is it sort of a quasi-theological cover for choosing the easy way (staying in TEC) over the hard, but right way (leaving for a more Biblically faithful expression of Anglicanism where one is supported by their church rather than being torn down by it)?

The latter question is merely offered in a spirit of accountability, and anyone who knows in their heart that they have not entertained that motive can disregard the question.  But I really want to engage the first question: is it really the mark of a faithful shepherd to stay in an organization that has so very clearly given itself to false teaching and false prophecy?  The scriptural answer, I believe, says a very clear “no.”

In order to engage the question further, several scripture verses came to mind.  I chose first Paul’s passage in Romans above because it provides a simple, clear, no-nonsense answer to the question.  We are to avoid false prophets altogether, rather than hoping that we can hang around long enough to engage in conversation in order to change them and witness to them.  It is very real temptation to allow some of (or all, in some instances) our energy to be consumed with trying to change or reform our own church when the church has gone down this road, but every ounce of energy that we spend trying to reform TEC is an ounce of energy that we do not consume fighting the battle where it should be fought – in the world.  Screwtape and Wormwood (for those of you who have read The Screwtape Letters, by C.S. Lewis) would be having a field day over this, laughing with delightful glee.  On the other hand, I believe this would truly break Paul’s heart if he saw faithful, orthodox Christians doing this today.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Matthew 7:15-20)

Jesus, like Paul, also has very strong, very clear teaching about false prophets.  His message, like Paul, is to stay away from them.  It also begs the question: what shepherd in his right mind would subject his sheep to the wolves?  Any shepherd who thinks that he can adequately protect his sheep should take a look at several formerly orthodox dioceses in the southeast who spoke out clearly in 2003 when Gene Robinson was consecrated, but have since turned thoroughly revisionist.  Another question comes to mind: who would want to knowingly and willingly attach themselves to a diseased tree?  If Jesus says very clearly that a diseased tree bears bad fruit, then it stands to reason that anyone who attaches themselves to a diseased tree will not only bear bad fruit, but will have eternal consequences.  Why would anyone want to do that?

It is my hope and prayer that all persons who are still in the Episcopal Church who profess to believe in Jesus Christ – the true Jesus who is revealed to us in Scripture, not the false Jesus that worldly have created – will renew consideration of these very important questions.  The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.  It would be a true tragedy of epic proportions for the evangelical zeal of good Christian workers to be wasted trying to reform a denomination that is full of false teachers and false prophets that show no signs of repentance whatsoever.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is waiting to be heard.  May we proclaim it faithfully in this world that needs to hear the Good News so desperately.