When federal agents and bank officials are trained to recognize fake bills, they don’t spend time looking at money printed by criminals in basements and warehouses. Instead, they spend hours examining real paper money and committing its details to memory.
The idea is that if the officials can recognize the genuine article, they will easily recognize something that is close to right, but still wrong.
So, why study heresy with our kids?
What is the Meaning of Heresy?
In the pursuit of our Christian faith, God’s Word is our authority.
In fact, God’s Word is inspired, inerrant, and infallible. Additionally, the Bible is sufficient, clear, authoritative, and necessary.
Those two sentences above outline our doctrine of Scripture. That doctrine is taken right from God’s Holy-Spirit-inspired-Word. So, I could expand on those statements and add Bible verses to show exactly what God says about his Word to us. In fact, whole books have been written about the veracity of Scripture. But, those two sentences distill the doctrine of Scripture. Because they are based on the Bible itself and agreed upon by the church throughout history, they compose an orthodox statement. They agree with biblical truth.
Anything that opposes biblical truth is heterodox.
Our kids need to read and understand God’s Word. As parents, it’s our job to take them through Scripture. We must disciple our children. (Helping you disciple your children through Scripture is the reason I wrote Help Your Kids Learn and Love the Bible!)
Our children also need to know that there are people who teach a counterfeit faith. Theses false teachers lie about who God is, about God’s plan for salvation, about the nature and work of Jesus, and about God’s design for the Church. These lies are heresy, and the people telling them are heretics.
In What Is Heresy?, I share four important biblical truths and twelve early heresies that attempted to twist those truths. As your children learn about the historic fight for our biblical, orthodox faith, they will learn to identify lies told about God and his Word in our world today.
Learn more about the Who What Why series and get your FREE Biblical Truth Lapbooks here.
What is Heresy in the Bible?
When I was researching heresy in the Early Church, I was surprised to read a number of compassionate treatments of historic heretics. A number of historians excused heretics by stating that these false teachers were just confused, passionate, or especially creative.
That is not what Scripture says about heresy!
Take a look at what the Bible says about false teaching, and about false teachers:
Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. – Jude 3-4, 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. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. – 2 Peter 2:1-3
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. – Galatians 1:6-9
As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. – Titus 3:10-11
“For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.” – Jesus, Mark 13:22-23
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. – 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
See what I mean? God doesn’t mince words about heresy, or about heretics. We shouldn’t either. It is important that our kids know what heresy is, and what God tells us about the people spreading it.
You can get all three Who What Why | Biblical Truth | Early Church books in a bundle (and save!) over at Thinking Kids Press.Learn More about Heresy and Biblical Truths
The Early Church was an important time when false teachers fought to pervert biblical truth. But God sent faithful Christians to fight for sound doctrine. Your kids can learn more about four vital biblical truths and twelve historic heresies with my book, What Is Heresy?, a free heresy and truth lapbook, and a fun craft about four biblical truths!
Teach your kids about biblical truths that will change their lives. And, help them learn about ways ungodly people twist God’s Word.
Painting: Arius (260-336), 1493, Artist Unknown, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Bible Resources for Your Kids
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Christian Biographies for Kids | Christian History for Kids | Theology for Kids
Christian History Matters for Our Kids.
History matters. Now, more than ever, we see how important it is for our children to know and understand history and the Bible.
Here’s why:
- God is the sovereign ruler of all things. It’s important for our kids to see his hand in the history of nations and in the lives of both peasants and kings.
- Christian history is the story of our family history. Our kids get to see how people who love Jesus follow him.
- Understanding history can help our kids learn historic and biblical theology. They learn what the Bible says and what that means for us. They also see when the study of Scripture has taken important turns that have changed the Church.
- Reading Christian biographies and history can be a wonderful way for kids to think outside their own time and culture. God’s Church spans centuries and includes people from every nation.
- Christian biographies help kids consider their own faith, walk with Jesus, and the impact their witness may one day have on others–and on history.
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