2 Peter 2:1-2 — But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

I suppose I might have started or finished with this thought. Somehow it’s found its place in the middle of this set of pieces. The fourth deadly sin on my mind is an old one, but still pervasive. It is the intentional embracing and promotion of heresy.

A heresy is an opinion or teaching that conflicts with the accepted and generally approved doctrine of a faith or church. It is also the willful adoption and teaching of such an opinion, especially when the error has been pointed out. It might seem inconceivable, in the context of such a definition that anyone would be a heretic. Very few people willingly accept that they are heretic. Instead they seek to justify themselves.

Let’s look at a few modern heresies.

One of the most prevalent is the “Prosperity Doctrine”. This is a really attractive idea. Expounded by popular preachers like Oral Roberts, TD Jakes, and Joel Osteen, the prosperity doctrine claims that health and wealth are God’s will for Christians, and that faith, positive thinking, and generous giving to the ministry will guarantee physical and financial wellbeing. It’s a works-based doctrine, and plainly heretical.

Another modern heresy is liberation theology, which was born out of Latin-American Catholicism. Liberation theology interprets Scripture through the eyes of the poor. It argues that disciples strive for social and political change, creating social justice by aligning themselves with the working class. It’s claimed that Jesus, the carpenter, favored the poor and oppressed. His bride the church should do the same. Liberation theology assigns social action on the same importance as the gospel message — making bread as important as the bread of life. It is also exclusionary — Christianity is open to all, even the rich! Liberation theology is a heresy.

Lastly, let’s look at the Emerging Church. Emergent theology is really an “anti-theology” — a postmodern theology that truth is subjective — your truth does not have to be my truth! Each one of us must make our own way to God without leaning on the crutch of the Bible. It is self evidently heretical.

You might notice that modern heresies have two things in common. They deny the truth of the gospel, and they are superficially “nice”. They exchange the challenge of Christianity for easy wealth, or social justice, or the cult of self. If you’re in a church where the preaching seems to go that way counter the error. If that fails, move on!