FROM THE SERVANT GENERAL
MODERNISM
(Part 43)
FALSE TEACHERS
February 19, 2022
Today’s readings:
James 3:1-10
Psalm 12:2-8
Mark 9:2-13
One scourge in our Church today is false and even heretical teaching, done by liberals and modernists. Teachers, in teaching erroneous things that keep people in their sins, are complicit in such sin. Thus they ought to be mindful of James’ admonition: “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you realize that we will be judged more strictly” (Jas 3:1).
The power of the tongue can be used for good or for bad. “From the same mouth come blessing and cursing.” (Jas 3:10a). Teachers who teach rightly are a blessing, and are needed for furtherance in the faith. But teachers who teach wrongly become a curse, and when they coddle grave sinners, they end up “defiling the whole body and setting the entire course of our lives on fire, itself set on fire by Gehenna.” (Jas 3:6b). False teachers lead souls to hell.
Modernist teachers “speak with deceiving lips and a double heart.” (Ps 12:3b). For example:
- Telling a gay person that he is born that way. As such, the gay person has no reason to try to get out of his disordered situation. And if he is actively gay, he has no reason to get out of sin.
- Teaching that all religions lead to the divine. As such, there is no reason for anyone to convert to the one true faith, which is Christianity.
- Affirming that all persons, including apostates and heretics, are part of the communion of saints. As such, these persons have no reason to change, as they are told they do not stand condemned.
- Pronouncing a blessing on same-sex couples. As such, these couples happily remain in their grave sin of sodomy.
Such modernist teachers “rob the weak” (Ps 12:6a) of the truth, keeping them from the right path, and help deprive them of eternal life. But such modernist teachers, especially those who are hierarchs, oftentimes remain boastful and persistent in their errors, saying, “By our tongues we prevail; when our lips speak, who can lord it over us?” (Ps 12:5).
Ultimately, in the face of false teachers even in the hierarchy, we all the more need to look only to the one Teacher, who is Jesus. The Father Himself has said, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” (Mk 9:7b). And what has Jesus taught us?
- He tells sinners to repent and sin no more. As such, this is contrary to political correctness that keeps sinners comfortable in their sin.
- He says that no one comes to the Father except through him. As such, not all religions are ways to the divine.
- He says he will come in glory at the end of time and judge the nations, separating the sheep from the goats, with the goats going off to eternal damnation. As such, there is a hell.
Modernist teachers are a scourge. “May the Lord cut off all deceiving lips, and every boastful tongue.” (Ps 12:4).