Are Heretics Granted Salvation? (Edited by ChatGPT)

  

In theory, all faithful — except Jesus — are heretical, because no one knows the full truth. We are all bound to make theological mistakes here and there in our service to God. That is why it’s important not to overemphasize minor theological differences or personal errors. When people stray in their understanding, we should try to guide them back into the light. And if they don’t listen, let us pray that God opens their eyes to the truth — and hope they would do the same for us.

 

Anyone who believes they are theologically perfect is, in truth, under-educated — perhaps full of theological degrees and titles, but lacking real knowledge of God and His word. A little knowledge can be dangerous. Every villager thinks their way is the only way — until they travel and discover otherwise. There is a time to be a child and think like one, but spiritual maturity demands that we put childish things behind us. We must come to terms with the fact that our knowledge is partial, and our prophecies are partial. Only God possesses perfect knowledge and perfect prophecy. So I don’t think my salvation rests on the precision of my theology — but rather on the purity of my love, the soundness of my faith in the Lord, and the steadfastness of my obedience to His will.

 

But not all heresies are equal. There are heresies that lead to death. Just as not all sins are the same, not all heresies are the same. Some strike at the very foundation of our faith. These we must firmly oppose, for the sake of protecting God’s little ones from being led astray into darkness.

 

John wrote in his first letter, “If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father” (1 John 2:24). And again in his second letter: “Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God” (2 John 1:9). It’s clear: those who abandon the foundation of the faith lose their salvation — or perhaps were never saved at all. They are the devil’s agents among the children of God, spreading evil doctrines as students of the kingdom of darkness. Those who die spiritually are those who never truly abided in the foundational truths of Christ, even if they once professed Him as Lord.

 

That’s why saying “Jesus, Jesus” is not enough. We must also walk in the foundational truths of the gospel. Another dangerous heresy is the kind that pulls people away from God toward idols, worldly success, and demonic deception. In Revelation, Jesus condemns such heresies — those that mislead the faithful off the narrow path and onto the broad road that leads to destruction. These include teachings that foster worldly desires and love of earthly things — such as the love of money, the pursuit of sinful pleasure, and the way of the flesh.

 

However, unless the heresy in question undermines the core of our faith or stunts the spiritual growth of believers by turning them from God’s narrow way to the wide gate of hell, we must show grace — even when people are wrong.

 

Some reject meat, but the strong eat all things. Yet even those vegetarians — though theologically mistaken — are saved by faith. Some honor certain days while others consider all days equal, and both are accepted. Some observe the Sabbath literally, while the strong understand that we live in God’s eternal Sabbath as His faithful. Yet all are saved by the same grace. Many are weak in faith and mistaken in doctrine, but they should be built up with love and compassion, not torn down with hateful debate and condemnation.

 

Today, there are dead heresies within the Protestant movement — soldiers of the devil disguised in Jesus’ name. These are not mere mistakes. They are devils in sheep’s clothing. Listen to their preaching and you won’t find Jesus in it. They speak of themselves, not of Christ. The devil’s fingerprint is always the same: self-centered theology. In their hands, God becomes a tool for dominion — not the object of worship or source of life.

 

But there are others — who may preach on the same stage or even imitate the false ones — yet when you hear them speak, you can sense Jesus at work. They may make mistakes, but they are clearly building people up into the image of Christ. We must discern between the two. One is like a good girl surrounded by the wrong crowd — her goodness still visible. The other is a demonic steed. They may belong to the same denomination or trend — like the Word of Faith movement or the prosperity gospel — but they are not the same.

 

That said, another danger is our tendency to obsess over people’s mistakes. We fixate on their dark spots and ignore all the white. Even Jesus, when rebuking the churches in Revelation, began by commending their strengths before addressing their weaknesses. His goal was always to build, not destroy. Ironically, many who are harsh critics of others’ theology believe their own theology is flawless. That is sad. I once had such certainty when I was a child — not as a grown man. If you think your theology is perfect, you’re not growing. Your certainty is just stagnation.

 

Reading the Bible should be a daily discovery — because God is God and we are not. As others err, so do we. As they learn, we too must learn. This is why we need patience and mercy when confronting others’ mistakes. We should speak the truth clearly, but we must also understand that people may need God’s help — and ours — to grasp it fully.

 

So instead of hunting down every mistake, we must distinguish between foundational errors and marginal ones. Foundational errors — and those that cripple spiritual growth — must be addressed with firmness and truth. But we must be gracious with marginal issues. We serve a God who understands our failures, for He was tempted as we are. If we ourselves are imperfect, we must also be understanding when others fail. To think otherwise is spiritual immaturity. Grow up.

 

Let me make this perfectly clear with a concrete example. There is a denomination I often disagree with. They insist on Sabbath observance, reject the reality of hell, and deny the human spirit in favor of the soul. To me, only the denial of hell comes close to being a fundamental issue. Yet even there, because their motive is rooted in their focus on the Second Advent — and not in a desire to justify sin — I do not consider it a salvation issue. They have a solid foundation and encourage strong spiritual growth. They are weak in faith, yes, and misled in some teachings. But they are still God’s people.

 

Theological seminaries may debate whether such groups are cults. But that is foolishness. A man who walks with you, claims to be God, and tells you to eat His flesh and drink His blood — is He a cult leader? Yet we follow Him. So I will not waste time on the childish labeling games of educated simpletons. This is not the time to focus on the petty judgments of those with many titles and little wisdom.

 

I am convinced these people are children of God. Why? Because I see Jesus in their teaching — more clearly than in many who share my own theology. Despite their ignorance — especially around the Second Coming (historically) and their blind loyalty to certain leaders — I see a white garment under the stains. I see more of Jesus in them than in countless others who agree with me theologically. Should I make their errors the deciding factor in judging their fruit? No. I must speak the truth in love, affirm their white garments in spite of the dark spots, and pray that God opens their eyes. Some may even call me a bearer of the mark of the beast for not honoring the Sabbath — but I still pray for them, because I believe they are children of the living God.