Hey-lo Sister!
It was suggested my 2 cents might be of use, sooo...
I’ll take a crack at this one…
First of all, I’m very glad you posed this question. In reformed circles, we tend to be very (I didn’t say overly!) cautious and critical of what doctrine people espouse. Let me first explain the reason for this: in the book of Galatians, Paul writes,
8 But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed. 10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.
Gal 1:8-10 (NASB77)
Here, Paul makes a bold pronouncement against a false Gospel. He places a curse upon any man, or angel that would preach another Gospel. First, it the Greek word, “anathema,” which is translated “curse” in these verses, is not a reference to excommunication from the Church, as some men account it. No, but I find that this anathema is used as a separation from Christ, which is the lake of fire. Does this seem a harsh or irrational thought? Consider that even angels are worthy of receiving this curse if they preach another Gospel. Are angels present for excommunication from the Church? Certainly not! However, just as Satan and his angels, they are to be separated from God, forever more.
Therefore, this is the anathema placed by Paul over a false Gospel. It would behoove us here to ask what a false Gospel is. First Corinthians 15 gives a detailed understanding of the Gospel, and in the first few verses, Paul writes that
...the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures
1 Cor 15:1-4 (NASB77)
Nevertheless, here is the question we must answer… who is “our” in verse 3? I believe that John 3:18, Phil 3:18, Jude 1:4, John 6, et al, would be among verses that would show us that this is not for all men; but rather God’s elect. So, now we have understood that a false Gospel is to receive anathema, whether the heavenly angels preach it, or another man: no one is immune from the punishment of preaching a false Gospel.
I will answer your question, but I want to be thorough, so that I leave no stone unturned in your mind. Hopefully, this allow you to follow a Biblical train of thought I am presenting, to give you not only an answer, but evidence for your answer.
I think it is also intelligent to understand that there are men who once preached a false truth, whom God has graciously reigned in and conformed to a manner appropriate of the truth of the Gospel. The Greek tense for “preached” suggests that this false preacher would be a man consistent in his error, seen simply by considering the English rendering “should preach.” If this is the consistent message of a man, continuously in opposition to the Gospel, which is presented from the Bible, he is actually a man already under God’s cursing, if he holds fast to his false teaching (Jude 1:4).
Therefore, a man persistently preaching a false Gospel is accursed. The Gospel is seen in 1st Cor 15, as Christ dying for our (elect) sins. This fact can also be seen by reading the context of John 3 (paying close attention to v 16-21), and especially when the Bible presents us with Ephesians 1:4-7, and Eph 2:1-10. These verses all point out to us (along with Romans 9, which I will not refer to here, specifically, due to its familiarity among most reformed brethren), that salvation is the sovereign decision of our Lord, and that we have nothing in it ourselves, even if it were to “accept” the rebirth God has given us (John 1:12-13).
Now, explicitly answering the question (and thank you for bearing with me until now), it is our Christian responsibility to treat men with love, and God defines this love as first, loving Him, and then loving our neighbor. That being said, to love God is to obey Him (among other things), and be in agreement with what God calls sin, and what He calls righteousness. To love our neighbor is also defined as keeping God’s commandments (2 Jn 5-6). You see, nothing has changed. The two great commands to men are the substance of the Decalogue. Therefore, we are to love our neighbor, by pointing out truth and error to them (Jas 5:19-20), and if they are stubbornly unwilling to receive it then we are to mark and disassociate with them (Rom 16:17-18, 1 Cor 5:11-13), so that they are put to shame, being put apart from the fellowship. Attempts to restore are only sought out carefully, cautiously, and at a distance.
Arminianism is absolute heresy, because it espouses a false God, and a powerless atonement. It takes the key to the doors of Heaven and hands them to the hands of men to determine who may enter the Kingdom. It is essentially Open Theism (or Open Futurism, if you like), at its very sickest. This sickness says, while God knows the future (that will be decided by humans), He would be open to prayers, and actions that would allow the future to change, if it be advantageous to the eventual end God wants to get to. Ask any Arminian who goes to Heaven. They can only answer, “whoever wants to!” and this leaves God out of the equation. This means God crushed His very only, unique Son, for merely an open possibility that someone MIGHT come and be saved. This eliminates much of what Christ says in the New Testament.
Now, while I stand firm on all I have said, I would caution you in this way: there is a difference in dealing with Teachers of heresy, and Followers of heresy. These teaching must be approached directly, and “as-a-matter-of-factly,” because as men who either are teaching heresy out of ignorance, apostasy, or false conversion, they will be judged twice as harshly, by God (Jas 3:1), and therefore should be approached with all the more vigor, and zeal. Those who are followers of such should still be handled sternly, but with wisdom, and discretion, because some simply can be babes in the matters of God, and have been led astray (as many of us may have been) but deceitful teaching. If you find some are in need of stern reproof, then act accordingly—and do likewise if one need gentle persuasion, being careful not to persuade the intellect only, but also work to persuade the heart; for heart work is an important work.
So, in conclusion, I first hope I have been helpful, and answered your questions. If any has taken issue with parts of my response I welcome your loving correction (as a young man still learning, I have need of a tangible example of loving correction), and look forward to helping this sister with her question. Secondly, I stand firm: Arminianism is heresy, and should not be tolerated; however, we need to exercise wisdom in responding, and understand who it is we deal with.
In all things, honor God. Moreover, if men seem (to your discernment and not merely another’s estimations alone) seem contentious, and hateful of God’s sovereignty, then prayerfully disassociate with them. However, I would suggest always seeking clarity, rather than assumption, on what a person understands (their viewpoint). I have made the mistake of “going on gut” too often. Stop. Look. Listen. Hear what they have to say, Biblically discern it, and then prayerfully act in accordance to Scripture.
Grace be with you sister, as you walk with Christ,
Chris (The Exegete)
