2 Peter 2:1 English Standard Version (ESV) But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

A heretic is someone who holds a different opinion. To call someone a heretic is to place your opinion above another. Pride is at the center of proclaiming anyone a heretic. We are warned not to allow pride to become a hindrance in relationship. Others have broken relationship with me for having a different opinion. It is best if we know our scriptures in truth.

Looking to scripture we see that the Scribes and Pharisees did not call Jesus a heretic. They could find no error in His biblical teachings. They did however call Him a blasphemer.

Matthew 26:63-66 English Standard Version (ESV)

⁶³ But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” ⁶⁴ Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” ⁶⁵ Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. ⁶⁶ What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.”

They condemned Him to death because He said that a man would be seated on the throne of heaven in the position of power. Jesus used the term Son of Man to refer to Himself in order not to offend where some held “I AM” as a sacred name for God. It should be noted that Jesus answered “I AM” when they came to arrest Him.

John 18:6 English Standard Version (ESV) When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

What blasphemies are we accused of today?

1 Timothy 4:6 English Standard Version (ESV) If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.

What is good doctrine?

2 Timothy 3:16 English Standard Version (ESV) All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

Good doctrine makes good Christians. This follows up on the heels of shaming so that we should always focus on the relationship with God and steadily improve that relationship. Reproof and correct are the work of the Holy Spirit. If we allow men to dictate our relationship with God we may find ourselves in danger of falling away from the faith because of lying hypocrisies.

Some will begin to teach false doctrine with enticing words. We must guard ourselves from following these false teachers. Our only safeguard is the Holy Spirit and a healthy relationship with God. What eventually will happen if we should fall under the spell of these lying hypocrisies is a loss of freedom and restrictive demands placed upon us.

This is why it is critical to be able to hear the Holy Spirit and to become more acquainted with the scriptures. The Holy Spirit will train us in right behavior. Our motivation will be the law of love and not the demands of men.

Romans 13:8 English Standard Version (ESV) Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Listen carefully to words and submit to prayer any instructions that tell you that “you must” do a thing. It is possible that a speaker might use the term loosely without lying hypocrisies so allow the Holy Spirit to help you discern the truth in those matters.

If you listen for the Holy Spirit in every teaching, errors will appear by revelation.