As believers how should we respond to false doctrine being taught in our communities?

The teaching of false doctrines has been a common practice from the very first days of christianity. We can read from the scriptures how they were dealt with.





** Description:


If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.


(1 Timothy 6:3-5)





** What to do and on what premises:


As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God's work—which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.


(1 Timothy 1:3-7)





...if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the congregation: but if he neglect to hear the congregation, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.


(Matthew 18:15-17)





** Conclusion:


A false doctrine is any teaching that strays from the Gospel of Grace of Jesus Christ, and usually seeks division and/or economic gain. However, it may be corrected through love, as long as it springs from a pure, sincere heart.





Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.


(1 Peter 3:8-9)





Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.


(1 Peter 1:22-23)


As believers how should we respond to false doctrine being taught in our communities?
If this false doctrine is being taught within your church or a sect claiming to be a part of your church, then you point to dogma which you/your church believe to be valid, then point out the discrepancies.





If this ';false doctrine'; is another set of spiritual ideas being held by another group of believers then there is nothing for you to say. It is THEIR belief that they hold, not yours.





Fighting against someone elses beliefs because they are different from yours, while I realize many evangelicals believe very strongly in doing this, rarely ';wins'; converts. And most often creates hostility for those that do it.





If you are afraid that members of your church will favor these other ideas all you can do is repeat those held by your own sect. In the end it is up to each individual to decide what they believe. You can't force your beliefs on them. That really never works.As believers how should we respond to false doctrine being taught in our communities?
Confront the false teachers. We are warned that they will come and destroy whole households with their false teaching.





';They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach--and that for the sake of dishonest gain.'; (Titus 1:11)





In this politically correct ';live and let live'; society, too many of these heretics ruin churches and families with their rot.
The traditional response to this threat is to accuse the false teachers of corrupting the youth of the community, then stick them with some heinous secular crime -- anything from disturbing the peace to High Treason -- and have them violently executed, by mob action if you can't get the constituted authorities to take an interest.





But it doesn't work; it only makes the followers of the martyred leader more fervent. So I suggest you simply counter by teaching what you think is the true doctrine.





And now I wonder -- in light of the traditional response I just described -- how many Christians perceive the irony...?









Does the village idiot stop blowing his whistle when you look at him and question what he is doing? No, he blows it harder.





The fact is, as an atheist, I find your beliefs to be as morally repugnant as the next theists. Nonetheless, I recognise you have every right to believe what you wish. Surely, if I can be tolerant of something as vile as christianity then you can tolerate your brothers beliefs as well?





Ironically, christianity (or any for of theism that I have ever encoutered) does not provide for tolerance. Although, you understand that already.
Historically, you have solved the problem with pitchforks, rope and burning stakes.





I am hoping that you have learned enough from secular education and reliance on the empirical to suppress your emotional need to destroy others who cause you to question your faith.
You mean Sex,drugs,rock and roll and abortion? You mean people who are more ineterested in Life than Death? People who are more interested in reality than fantasy? Just accept it and stop bothering people whom have you have no business with.
Many churches invite debates in their communities if there is a need to clear the air because of heated exchanges...otherwise, you should go to your church, and let others worship God in their own fashion....
We should shout and stamp our feet, and revile the promoters of false doctrine; and then we should pray to Jesus and report them, and ask him to condemn them to Hell.
Try and tell them the truth about the one and only Church that Jesus founded, the Catholic Church, and if they don't want the truth, shake the dust off of your feet and move on. God Love Everybody.
Well unless you are going to start travelling all over to every single denomination out there, your best bet is just to make sure your own walk with God is right.
You could respond by teaching what you see as true doctrines in your homes and your churches. That should keep you very busy for a long time.
Support a good secular education system.
Not unless you want your doctrine held up to equal scrutiny. Live and let live, or karma will make you wish you had.
Live and let die. Er, I meant, live and let live.
Think for yourself and advise others to think for themselves.
A bigger false doctrine.
False doctrine? You mean like christiantiy itself?
News flash - it's ALL false.
what makes their doctrine any more false than yours.
The best way: prove what you believe.
Through Bible study, stengthen our faith in the truth of God's Word.
Ignore them
By minding your own business (for ONCE).
I have to wonder what false doctrine you mean....but honestly I am terrified to ask.