Is
it Biblical to Name Names?
Is it justice to withhold facts that would have prevented someone's harm if they had known the facts? Is it Biblical to name names? Many people seem to get offended when you put names and faces with false doctrines, wolves in sheep's clothing, hirelings, false teachers and so on. There wouldn't be any problem if the chips fell on somebody else, but the truth is, the facts point to their favorite personality preacher, so they deny and reject the truth. To clear up any misunderstanding with naming names and putting faces to those who teach error as it were the truth, let's go to the Bible and see what God has to say.
First of all, the Bible is very unique in the fact that it doesn't hide anything! For example, with the life of David, God does not just allow us to only see all the good things he did, God exposed the bad as well, warning us that He is a God of justice, mercy and grace. The same goes for Samson, Peter, Balaam, and many others also! Men and men-pleasers are not willing to do this, they are willing only to shed light on the good; but the Bible on the other hand, not only reveals the good, it exposes the bad, the error and every false way, so we don't do the same and walk that way!
The
Bible names people for Good
When mentioning or commending people on good things, nobody seems to have a problem with that. The Bible references MANY names of people who did exploits, "And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth." (READ ALL of Hebrews 11). We can talk about Stephen, a man full of faith, full of the Holy Ghost who did great wonders and miracles among the people (Acts 6), the Bible didn't leave him nameless and faceless, but marked him, setting him forth as an example to all those who will live godly. And Paul, who said, "But thou hast fully known my doctrine, (my) manner of life, (my) purpose, (my) faith, (my) longsuffering, (my) charity, (my) patience, (my) persecutions, (my) afflictions, …." (2 Tim 3:10-11) Identifying the godly is just as vital to the gospel as declaring Jesus is the way, not a way, not leaving it blank and you fill in whoever, but names the only way to eternal life; "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) You may think so and so on TV is great, but we are not built upon them, and their doctrines, we "… are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; (Eph 2:20) "Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience." (James 5:10)
The
Bible names people for Bad
The same Bible names people by name not only for the good, but names people by name identifying them as evil, false teachers, perverter's of the truth, etc. The Apostle Paul, who is a true man of God, faithful minister, and an example unto the flock of the right way brought to light two guys who were preaching heresy as it were truth. "And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some." (2 Tim 2:17-18) "Wait a minute Paul, you shouldn't name names, you're critical, judgmental and you're not loving!" NO! A true man of God and faithful to the ministry is obligated to point out those who are in error, false teachings and wolves in sheep's clothing! In 2 Corinthians 11:3-4, Paul said, "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him." You tolerate false teachers and what their teaching, and you think God is pleased with your false humility? And with your false love and unity? Even the Apostle Peter, who was a true man of God went off into error, but Paul withstood him to the face for he was to be blamed (Gal 2:11)!!! We're not bringing false accusations like a schoolteacher whom somebody accused of rape, published on TV, lost their job, family, friends and reputation over something that was a lie to begin with, not even proven guilty! The facts are in with these wolves in sheep's clothing, they condemn themselves in what they preach, and when confronted with the truth, unlike Peter who repented, these guys refuse to repent and get right with God! They love the wages of unrighteousness, like Balaam, this is what is making them rich and increased with goods; they're taken captive by the devil, estranged by their lusts.
Nathan declared "David" as the man who sinned (2 Sam 12:7). Thank God David, was a man after God's own heart, seeking to please God, rather than having the praise of men, he repented when confronted with the truth! Paul confronted
"Elymas" and said, "O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?" (Acts 13:8-10) "For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia." (2 Tim 4:10) "Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words." (2 Tim 4:14-15) "Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith." (2 Tim 3:8) "Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said." (Matt 26:25) "And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up." (Ezek 8:11)
The amazing thing
about this is even though we can read examples IN THE BIBLE of where people are
named by name, true men of God today are accused of being, "dividers,
legalists, heretics, accusers of the brethren, etc." because they will not
go with the flow and be disobedient unto the heavenly vision. One
thing for certain is, the devil would
love to come in and to have nobody say anything that would expose his
teachings!!!!!!! "We're ALL brethren, let's get along! Forget the
truth, don't worry about contending for the faith! That scripture
that Jesus said in Matt 24:4, TAKE HEED THAT NO MAN DECEIVE YOU, He wasn't
serious about that!" However,
Paul, a true apostle of the Lord said, "Take heed therefore
unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made
you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own
blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves
enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also
of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse
things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of
three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears."
(Acts 20:28-31)
Conclusion
Let me give you a scenario that hopefully would be common sense, even to the natural man.
"If there was a sexual predator who molested kids living in my neighborhood, I knew it and I knew it was true; and I saw your kids going over to his house playing over there. It would be an injustice for me to tell you nothing at all! And it would also be an injustice for me to say, "brother, there's someone in our neighborhood, I'm not going to tell you their name because I don't want to offend anybody, but be careful not to leave your kids alone with them, they have a history of child molestation and rape!"
I don't know about you, but I would be outraged, especially if something happened to my kids, you knew about the guy, and you didn't warn me!!!!!!!!!!! The same goes for WOLVES in sheep's clothing, false doctrine and those who teach it! As long as the facts are in, it's ok to warn others to take heed and beware of that person, the Bible says, "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." (Rom 16:17-18)
The Love of Christ Jesus Constraineth me,
Doulos D
