The irony of this situation is that none of these movements (including the relevance-at-all-costs emerging/emergent church) is actually relevant at all.  Yes, I realize that bad theology is dangerous.  Indeed, I fully understand and appreciate the church’s need to prevent and eradicate heresy whenever and wherever it may be found.  The question, however, is precisely how we are to go about doing this.  What responsibility do we actually bear for ensuring that we, as a collective body of believers, remain impervious to these perennial assaults on scripturally sound orthodoxy/orthopraxy?  Do we seek to become so familiar with the erroneous position of those with whom we disagree that we can spot their ilk from a mile away?  This seems to be the preferred method of many “cyberspace warriors” in the church who regularly devote countless hours reading as much as they can about the various erroneous teachings and practices of others, sharpening their polemical claws, as it were, so they’ll be ready to defend against their subtle and insidious attacks.  There is certainly no shortage of websites, blogs, Facebook pages, daily Twitter posts, etc. warning the gullible not to be deceived by those whose sole aim is to subvert the “faith once delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).  A noble undertaking?  No doubt.  A wise expenditure of precious time?  I say no.

       Before I explain myself, let me say this at the outset:  I am in no way calling into question the motives or intentions of those who feel that they’ve been called to study and expose the teachings and practices of those who seek to lead others astray with false doctrine.  My aim is simply to provide a bit of sage pastoral advice concerning the need for an increased awareness of the truths of God’s Word as opposed to what can become an unhealthy fascination with false teaching.  Simply put, the most effective way to combat error is to know and promote the truth.  A purely secular but extremely helpful example of this principle can be seen in the F.B.I.  where agents working in the counterfeit currency department are never taught how to identify counterfeit currency by working with it.  Instead, working with the genuine article, they learn how it looks, how it feels, how it smells, even (oddly enough) how it tastes.  They examine it under a microscope noting each of its many unique features and defining characteristics.  At the end of their training, having gained this intimate knowledge of the “real deal,” the most astute agents are actually able to identify counterfeit currency with their eyes closed! 

This same principle can (and should) be applied to one’s diligent pursuit of an understanding of Scripture as well.  Without exception, the most profitable time a Christian will spend in terms of his or her ability to discern truth from error will be, not in the study of error, but in the faithful study of God’s Word.  One familiar passage emphasizing the importance of the diligent study of God’s Word is found in Paul’s admonition to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15.  Paul instructs Timothy to:

“Do your best [or, as the KJV renders it, ‘Study’] to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”

If Timothy was to gain maximum effectiveness as a pastor/teacher; if he was to garner God’s approval and continued blessing on his ministry, he must “rightly handle” or literally, “cut straight” the word.  In addition to garnering God’s approval, rightly handling God’s word is critical for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry.  As Paul states in this same epistle (2 Timothy 3:16-17, emphasis mine):

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”

The first of Paul’s emphases here is that Timothy can be confident in the Scriptures because they have been “breathed out” by none other than God Himself.  It is on the basis of this sovereign and unimpeachable authority that man will be equipped, not to articulate every erroneous teaching to which his flock may be exposed; not to place undue focus on the erroneous but to articulate the truth of God’s word in such a way as to inoculate believers from the potential disastrous effects of error.  Note the continuing context of the previous passage.  In 2 Timothy 4:1-4, Paul exhorts Timothy:

“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:  preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths.”

Again, unless you live under a rock or perhaps have not been paying attention, it is quite clear that we are living in the times about which Paul warns Timothy.  The world is chock-full of those who will not endure sound doctrine, those who would rather have their ears tickled and turn aside to myths than to know and understand God’s word.  Notice Paul’s prescription.  Does he tell Timothy to arm himself with a complete understanding of the heresies to which the church is or will be exposed?  No, he tells him to preach the word!  In Ephesians 4:12-14, Paul further establishes this by reminding his readers that God has given pastors and teachers to the church who will faithfully proclaim His word.  To what end?

“…to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.”

The remedy for false teaching then is the faithful dissemination and inculcation of truth, not continued exposure to error! 

       What this approach requires of course is a complete and thorough understanding of God’s Word.  In Joshua 1:8, the Lord tells Joshua that he is to meditate on the “book of the law” (Scripture) day and night.  Why?  Because only then would his way be made prosperous; only then would he enjoy true success.  In Colossians 3:16, Paul encouraged his readers, having put on the new self, to “let the word of Christ dwell in [them] richly.”  Why?  Because he knew they would continue to enjoy true unity and peace only to the extent that the word of Christ “saturated” every fiber of their being.  Among the tremendous effusions of praise for the excellencies of Scripture, the Psalmist declares in Psalm 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”  Only by following God’s prescribed path and being guided by His light will we have any hope of building an immunity to false teaching.

       In April, 1887, Robert Shindler, a fellow pastor and friend of Charles Spurgeon, wrote the second in a series of articles entitled “The Downgrade” for Spurgeon’s periodical the Sword and Trowel.  In these articles, Mr. Shindler likened the drift from Scriptural orthodoxy being seen in England at the time to slipping down a downgrade or slippery slope, the consequences of which, if left unchecked, would (and did) surely end in disaster.  In analyzing the primary causality for this downward trend, Mr. Shindler concluded:

In the case of every errant course there is always a first wrong step. If we can trace that wrong step, we may be able to avoid it and its results. Where, then, is the point of divergence from the "King's highway of truth"? What is the first step astray? Is it doubting this doctrine, or questioning that sentiment, or being skeptical as to the other article of orthodox belief? We think not. These doubts and this skepticism are the outcome of something going before.  If a mariner, having to traverse an unknown sea, does not put implicit confidence in his charts, and therefore does not consult them for guidance in steering the ship, he is, as anyone can see, every moment exposed to dangers of various kinds. Now, the Word of God—the Book written by holy men as they were moved by the Spirit of God—is the Christian's chart; and though, in a ship's company, some of the men may have little critical knowledge of navigation, the captain is supposed to be well instructed therein, and to be able, by consulting the charts, to steer the ship aright; so in reference to ministers of Christ's gospel, and pastors of Christ's church, which he hath purchased with his blood. The first step astray is a want of adequate faith in the divine inspiration of the sacred Scriptures. All the while a man bows to the authority of God's Word, he will not entertain any sentiment contrary to its teaching. "To the law and to the testimony," is his appeal concerning every doctrine. He esteems that holy Book, concerning all things, to be right, and therefore he hates every false way. But let a man question, or entertain low views of the inspiration and authority of the Bible, and he is without chart to guide him, and without anchor to hold him.

Do you want to avoid error?  Do you want to ensure that those around you avoid the pitfalls associated with the rampant false teaching in so many churches today?  If so, then you must focus on the word of God as your only refuge, your only safe harbor in what are quickly becoming increasingly turbulent seas of confusion and compromise.  Keep your focus, not on error but on truth.  Honor God through the diligent study of His word.  Know it, love it, and share it with others.