ORTHODOX AND HETERODOX CHURCHES

By Gary Ray Branscome

The words, orthodox and heterodox come from Hebrew. The word “orthodox” conveys the idea of right or correct thinking, while the word “heterodox” conveys the idea of wrong or errant thinking.

When it comes to churches, what is orthodox or heterodox must be determined by the Word of God. That means that when the Bible says, “In six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything that is in them, and rested on the seventh day,” those who are orthodox will say, “That is what we should believe and teach” (Exodus 20:11). When the Bible says, “A man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law,” those who are orthodox will say, “That is what we should believe and teach” (Romans 3:28). When God says, “I have no pleasure in the death of a wicked; but want the wicked man to turn from his way and live,” those who are orthodox will say, “That is what we should believe and teach” (Ezekiel 33:11). When the Bible says, “We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world,” those who are orthodox will say, “That is what we should believe and teach” (1John 2:1-2). When Christ says, “No man can come to me, unless the Father who has sent me draws him,” those who are orthodox will say, “That is what we should believe and teach” (John 6:44). When the Bible says, “No one can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost,” those who are orthodox will say, “That is what we should believe and teach” (1Corinthians 12:3). When Christ says, “Every one who looks to the Son, and believes on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up on the last day,” those who are orthodox will say, “That is what we should believe and teach” (John 6:40). And, when Christ says, “My kingdom is not of this world,” those who are orthodox will say, “That is what we should believe and teach” (John 18:36). In contrast, any church that explains away those passages, or anything else that the Bible says, is heterodox.

I once tried to explain this to a cult member, only to have him say, “You explain away the words, ‘If anyone comes to me, and does not hate his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple’” (Luke 14:26). Of course, what he said was not true. I do not explain away those words. However, I do reject any interpretation of those words that contradicts what the Bible says about love and respect for parents. I reject those interpretations because they are the word of man, not the Word of God, and any opinion of man that contradicts the Word of God should be rejected (Isaiah 8:20). Once those wrong interpretations are rejected, it becomes obvious that Luke 14:26 is addressed to those who are accused of hating their family because they have come to faith in Christ – and that does happen.

The reason heterodox churches find it necessary to explain away many statements of Scripture lies in the fact that their doctrine does not consist of what the Bible explicitly says, but of interpretations, ideas deduced from those interpretations, and, in some cases, ideas from outside of Scripture. Of those who teach their own opinions as the Word of God, the Bible says, “I am against the prophets, says the LORD, who steal my words every one from his neighbor. I am against the prophets, says the LORD, who use their tongues, and say, He says. I am against those who prophesy false dreams, says the LORD, and tell them, causing my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness” (Jeremiah 23:30-32).

The words, “If anyone teaches otherwise, and will not agree with sound teaching, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the doctrine that is in accord with godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing… from such withdraw yourself,” tell us to avoid those who contradict Scripture (1Timothy 6:3-5).

The words, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves,” and “They worship me in vain, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men,” warn us that teaching the word of man as the Word of God can destroy souls (Matthew 7:15 and 15:9).

The words, “Earnestly contend for the faith that has now been entrusted to the saints. For there are certain men who have slipped in unnoticed, ungodly men, whose condemnation was recorded long ago, who pervert the grace of our God into licentiousness,” condemn all churches that condone immorality and homosexuality (Jude 1:3-4).

The words, “Keep that which has been entrusted to you, avoiding profane and godless chatter, and the opposition of what is falsely called science: For some who have followed it have erred from the faith,” warn us of the danger of a false science that contradicts the Word of God (1Timothy 6:20-21). And, that is a very ominous danger today when false science is being touted as fact.

“Many deceivers have gone out into the world,” and “There will be false teachers among you, who will privately introduce damnable heresies,” so if anyone, even “An angel from heaven, preaches any gospel to you other than what” the Apostles taught, he should be condemned (2John 7, 2Peter 2:1, Galatians 1:8).