A Word of Caution to the Hypercritical Christian

This post highlights my personal observations. It also includes a warning that will be especially applicable to a sect of Christianity: Reformed (aka Calvinists). Though I wouldn’t categorize myself as Reformed, I find a lot of their teaching helpful to the church. I write this with the utmost love, caring for the Church, which undoubtedly includes Reformed Christians. I pray that this message communicates as much so that we all come into the “unity of the faith.”

The other day, I (perhaps unwisely) elected to browse Instagram. To my disappointment, I found yet another professing Christian recklessly seeking to identify problematic preachers of today. The post identified a certain well-known pastor and public figure as a “false teacher.” Since this same public figure had a positive, long-standing ministry and I’d never once heard them be identified as that, I decided to look into the post’s rationale. After reviewing it, I was a bit saddened that this professing believer went to the “false teacher” extreme. Sure, if the brief, but relatively old, details she’d cited as references were accurate and in context, then it could be a problematic teaching or error, but nothing that would rise to the level of “false teacher” in my view. As I browsed this individual’s profile, it came as no surprise that she seemed to be of the Reformed tradition, which, among other things, esteems exegesis and a robust theology.

Unfortunately, what was once a very good aspect of the “Young, Restless, and Reformed” movement of the first decade of the 2000s—that is, a greater (and much-needed) emphasis on theology and proper exegesis—is now often used by Satan to tear apart the body of Christ. That “influencer’s” post is representative of many hyper-critical (overly critical) Christians today, and it’s the type of criticism that’s elitist and contrary to the faith.  Moreover, hypercriticism should be checked before we further divide and devour ourselves, thereby hindering collective gospel ministry (Gal. 5:15).

Distinctions: False Teachers, False Teaching, Teaching Errors, and Essential Truths

One of the problems with this hypercriticism is that some zealous, well-intentioned Christians rightfully want truth but don’t know how to get there without getting their theological swords bloody and wounding members of Christ’s body. It’s as though they have no qualms with doing as Peter once did in zealously cutting off the ear of Malchus (Jn. 18:10-11). For the hyper-critic, zeal isn’t tempered with love, which is likely a result of having been “pastored” online from afar and via blogs. They’ve gravitated towards these Reformed teachers but have never been discipled, never seen tenderness in action. They’ve followed online apologetic ministries, but have not learned to sit at the table with brothers with whom they disagree and still walk away loving and seeing those individuals as brothers in the Lord.

Another issue is that it’s rare to find clear definitions from those who are quick to label someone as a “false teacher.” More than this, many see no difference between a false teacher, a false teaching, one with an errant teaching, and the truths that are essential to the faith. I believe this to be a grave mistake. These distinctions are important, and while all may not agree with my definitions below, I still think it’s necessary to provide them. It’s my hope that these definitions are clear, biblically-consistent, and helpful.

• False Teacher (and False Prophet) – one who proclaims falsehood or teaches in a way that’s contrary to the gospel and therefore, contrary to the way of salvation (Gal. 1:6-7). This person is not a brother, not a Christian. This is important. When someone labels another person a false teacher, if he is consistent with Scripture, he is openly declaring someone to be outside of the faith. The false teacher is not simply anyone who teaches something different; it’s one who teaches in a way where others can’t find Christ as revealed in Scripture (2 Cor. 11:3-4; 2 Pet. 2:1).¹
• False Teaching – this may deal with a teaching or doctrine that is false and coincides with an error found repeated through the history of the Church (e.g., Universalism, Docetism, Gnosticism, Arianism, Monarchianism/Modalism, etc.). This label focuses more on the teaching than the teacher, which is important when the person’s life, ministry, and/or recent commentary is unavailable.  Nonetheless, false teaching is contrary to the gospel, hinders salvation, and is therefore wicked (Rev. 2:6; 2:15; 2:20). It’s also worth noting that “false teachers” espouse “false teaching,” but distinguishing between teachers and teaching is helpful when the teaching itself warrants more attention than the individual, as those passages in Revelation allude.
• Errant Teaching – this is when one simply makes an error. Even the most dedicated pastors and theologians make errors from time to time.  It happens on occasion, but it’s no light matter, however, because it miscommunicates God. This can be an error that’s merely poorly worded or a slip of the tongue, or it can be an error where implications of a statement are not well thought-out. This often happens in sermons or books where the focus can become so narrow that one forgets or contradicts an overarching truth of Scripture. Want to know one of the clearest ways to determine if it’s an errant teaching? If it’s an error, when the individual is confronted, he/she repents or clarifies their original statement in a way that accords with sound doctrine (consider Jam. 3:1).
• Essential (Fundamental) Truths – these are the truths that, if denied, deny the Christian faith entirely. Meaning, one can’t be within orthodoxy (right teaching) while holding to these views. These truths almost always surround Christ. Examples of these essentials include: the sinlessness of Christ; His virgin birth; His resurrection; His divinity; His humanity; His relationship to the Father and Holy Spirit (i.e., Monotheistic Trinitarianism and Christ not being created); His eternality; His substitutionary atonement on the cross; salvation by grace alone through faith alone; etc. Notice that things like women in ministry, tongues, prophecy, eschatology (end-times); view of communion/Eucharist; church polity (government), exclusive psalmody, sinless perfectionism, T.U.L.I.P., or whether they listen to Hillsong aren’t a part of the fundamentals. They might be cause for serious concern, but they don’t inherently disqualify someone from Christian fellowship. Moreover, these areas may even warrant analysis or healthy discussion/disagreement, but the main thing to note is that one’s subscription or rejection of non-essential matters doesn’t automatically kick him out of the faith.

The Need for Biblical Truth

While we need to avoid hypercriticism, and better definitions and motives will aid in doing so, we need not avoid criticism altogether. Contending for truth and marking those who teach contrary (Rom. 16:17) is biblically consistent. Paul found Peter to be out of sync with the gospel and called him out openly (Gal. 2:11-14). John makes it clear that some departed from the collection of Christians because they weren’t truly Christians (1 Jn.2:18-19). Jude tells us to contend for the faith (Jude 1:3). Criticism with proper motives is valid, and sometimes, assuming proper motives, it’s even necessary to do so publicly (nevertheless, consider Matt. 18:15-18, too).

Essentially, in calling for more caution with criticism so that it doesn’t go over “over the line” into hypercriticism, I’m not attempting to halt all criticism. I’m not saying no one should be called out. I’m saying we need right motives, we need more love, we need clearer distinctions, we need more nuance, and we certainly need more unity while holding to biblical truth.

The Need for Biblical Unity

Remember that time in Scripture when Jesus was walking with the disciples, and they saw another person doing ministry that wasn’t with them, so they created a website dedicated to discrediting that person? No? Me neither. The way that story actually went down was like this:

John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.” (Lk. 9:49-50)

The Bible is replete with calls to unity–I mean ridiculously replete. In fact, it’s so pervasive in the Script, that it’s actually quite embarrassing that our Christian (online) books stores and preaching ministries aren’t overflowing with messages on unity. I’m going to list a few here. Please, please, please, I challenge you to hover over this non-exhaustive list and not be convicted by the biblical call to unity:

• Ps. 133:1
• Jn. 17:11
• Jn. 17:21-23
• Acts 4:32
• Rm. 12:4-8
• 1 Cor. 1:10
• 1 Cor. 10:17
• Gal. 3:26-28
• Eph. 2:19
• Eph. 4:3-4
• Eph. 4:15-16
• Phi. 1:27
• Phi. 2:2
• Col. 3:14

Final Remarks

In highlighting the Reformed tradition from the outset of this post, it may seem like I’m picking on my Reformed brothers. That’s not my goal; I bear no animus towards them. Protestants, regardless of the particular tradition, owe much of our rich theology to God in His use of Reformed theologians throughout history. This post’s commentary highlights Reformed, not because they are the only group guilty of hypercriticism, but because it’s my experience that they are often guilty of this type of attack on other Christians and make it public (it even happens within their own camp!). So, bottom line, my motive is not hate but love for the universal Church.2

Finally, please know that popular Reformed figures (or any public Christian figures for that matter) are not replacements for local pastors. Such figures are not God, and overly-exalting them leads to problems. Viewing their most popular ministry snippets on podcasts and YouTube can make for a shallow, hypercritical, and unloving believer or apologist. Hyper-critics who fail to see the value of the Christian body—the entire body—unwittingly impede the work of Christ.  They are akin to the fitness guru who’s committed to exercise and nutrition, but who also neglects sleep (it doesn’t work!). Readers, make no mistake–we need more commitment to biblical truth. We also need discernment so that we’re not tossed by every wind of doctrine (Eph. 4:14). Yet, in the end, we’ll also need each other—each blood-washed believer of every orthodox tradition, of every tribe, nation, and tongue—walking together in unison and honoring our King: Jesus.

1. While I’m certain there are some who may make a distinction between a false prophet and a false teacher, I do not. I believe false prophets and false teachers are two sides of the same coin. They both experience damnation and lead others astray. For this reason, they’ve been lumped together in my definitions section.

2. Personally, Reformed Christians have had a profound impact on my life and ministry. Such Reformed Christian figures as John Piper, Voddie Baucham, Shai Linne, James White, J.I. Packer, R.C. Sproul, H.B. Charles Jr., Wayne Grudem, Tim Keller, William Mounce, D.A. Carson, Tim Challies, Matt Chandler, David Platt, Eric Mason, Jackie Hill Perry, and Francis Chan have helped me tremendously over the years. NOTE: At one point, all of these individuals identified as “Reformed.” They may no longer identify as such, or they may no longer hold to Reformed teachings, but at least when I read their work in the past, their Reformed theology was apparent.