Heretical Practice?

 

 

Somewhere around 110 A.D., Ignatius, a leader in the church in Antioch in Syria, was arrested by Roman authorities and sent to Rome for execution. Between his arrest and execution, a few short weeks, he wrote seven letters, which have been called his “last will and testament.” One of these letters was to the church in Smyrna, the same church which was a recipient of what we know as the Book of Revelation.

 

The following caught my attention in this letter, “Now note well those who hold heretical opinions about the grace of Jesus Christ which came to us; note how contrary they are to the mind of God. They have no concern for love, none for the widow, none for the orphan, none for the oppressed, none for the prisoner or the one released, none for the hungry or thirsty” (Section 6.2).

 

While we usually equate heresy with what people believe, that is doctrine, Ignatius writes of a heresy of practice, of professing Christians who are not concerned for loving people. He says that these people are contrary to the mind of God.

 

This may remind us of Matthew 25:31 – 46 in which Jesus says, “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me” (25:45).

 

Jesus speaks of “the least.”

 

The least of the strangers (aliens), the least of the naked, the least of the hungry and thirsty and sick, the least of those in prison.

 

Those who know the mind and heart of God seek to serve and protect and to love the least of humanity, no matter how unlike us they may be, no matter whether we speak the same language or eat the same food or play the same music or dress in the same fashion or have the same earthly citizenship. Those who know the mind and heart of Jesus know that there is a heresy of practice, a heresy which justifies mistreating the least at worst, and ignoring them and leaving them to their fate at best.

 

Show me how a society treats the “least” and I’ll show you that society’s character and morals. Show me how a church treats the “least” and I’ll tell you whether that church is heretical or faithful to Jesus.

 

Let’s make no mistake, one day we will each stand before Jesus and give an account for how we treated “the least” among us.

 

What is the truth about our churches?

 

What is the truth about me, and about you?