“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”

Romans 12:18 ESV

The Limits of Living Peaceably

My pastor has read Romans 12:9–21 numerous times for our local church benediction. This passage is referred to in the ESV as the “Marks of the True Christian,” and it is a personal favorite in reflecting on my own life and walk with Christ. One of the verses that has stood out to me recently is verse 18. I have meditated on it when considering some comments from opposing views when discussing practices and teachings coming out of the New Apostolic Reformation.

One of the most common objections that I hear in questioning the leaders associated with this movement is that I am bringing division to the body of Christ, that I am void of the Spirit of God, and that I am a Pharisee. Another comment centers around agreeing to disagree and even poses these questions: “Why can’t you make peace with ‘so and so’? Why do you have to attack their teaching? He or she is a brother or sister in Christ.”

This leads me back to verse 18. Are we to make peace with false teachers and false prophets? Verse 18 says, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” I appreciate what one commentator says regarding this verse: “When making ‘peace’ is possible only by compromising the truth, or the commands of God (Acts 5:28–29), then peace is simply not possible, and the choice no longer depends on us.”

I do believe that we should not go around picking fights for the sake of being quarrelsome, as this is unbiblical and unfruitful (Proverbs 20:3; 26:21; 2 Timothy 2:23–24; Titus 3:9). As a Christian, I am to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit in my life, which includes peace and long-suffering (Galatians 5:22–23). At the same time, doctrinal peace ends where false doctrine and heresy begin. Here is the question to consider: How do we make peace with false teachers and false prophets when they are at enmity with God? Thomas Watson seems appropriate to quote regarding this topic:

False Peace and False Unity

“The wicked may have something which looks like peace, but it is not. They may be fearless and stupid; but there is a great difference between stupefied conscience, and a pacified conscience. . . . This is the devil’s peace; he rocks men in the cradle of security; he cries, Peace, peace, when men are on the precipice of hell. The seeming peace a sinner has, is not from the knowledge of his happiness, but the ignorance of his danger.”

Thomas Watson, A Body of Divinity (Carlisle, PA: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1986 reprint), 262.

The use of “if possible” and “so far as it depends on you” indicates that there may be times with fellow believers and unbelievers when peace is not possible. This situation could require us to demonstrate humility and long-suffering with others and to agree to disagree. However, this is not the case with false teachers and false prophets.

We cannot agree to disagree on essential doctrines or aberrant practices and teachings that lead away from the truth of the Word of God. We certainly cannot make peace with those who would add to or distort the gospel of Jesus Christ. One example is those who would say that the full gospel requires miracles, signs, and wonders to be performed for it to be complete. Paul warned the church at Galatia of those who would come to them with another gospel, stating that whoever would do so is to be accursed (Galatians 1:6–9). That is not a state of peace with God or with those who are His.

No Compromise on the Gospel

Scripture does not instruct us to make doctrinal peace with false teachers and false prophets. The reason we cannot is because that is not true peace. Rather, it is a false peace and a false unity. The prophet Isaiah spoke on behalf of the Lord of there being no peace for the wicked (Isaiah 48:22; 57:21).

The New Testament warns of those who would cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine taught in God’s Word. We are to mark and avoid them (Romans 16:17–18). The reason that we cannot listen to them is because they do not serve Jesus Christ. False teachers are also spoken of by Peter as those who bring swift destruction upon themselves, whose condemnation from long ago is not idle and whose destruction is not asleep (2 Peter 2:1, 3). These people are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm, and the utter gloom of darkness has been reserved for them (2 Peter 2:17).

Civil Peace Without Doctrinal Fellowship

Is there any way to make peace with false teachers and false prophets? Doctrinally, no. Civilly, yes. Romans 12 goes on to tell those who are in Christ how to conduct themselves with regard to their enemies. Pertaining to matters where we are personally wronged, we are not to seek our own vengeance. If our enemy is in need of something to eat or drink, we are to offer these things to them (Romans 12:20–21).

We are to pray for our enemies and for those who would persecute us and revile us for the sake of Christ (Matthew 5:43–45; Luke 6:27–28). First Thessalonians 5:15 says, “See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.” Notice that this is not only to be done to brothers and sisters in Christ, but to all. We can only know how to do good through God’s Word.

Speaking the Truth With Mercy

Though false teachings and heresies are grieving and can incite righteous indignation, it is also important to conduct ourselves in such a way that we glorify Christ. We acknowledge that God is just, and we also acknowledge that He has been merciful toward us in bringing us from spiritual death and God’s wrath to adoption as sons of God and the promise of eternal life by grace through faith in Christ Jesus. Personally, I do not want anything less for a false teacher or false prophet than what He did in forgiving me and granting me repentance and true saving faith in Him alone.

I realize that there are those who refuse to hear the truth or turn from their ways because Scripture says that they will not. At the same time, we do not know which ones will and which ones will not. We are simply to proclaim the truth and trust the Lord, knowing that He is the One who saves and redeems.

We cannot compromise the truth of God’s Word, which includes our personal conduct as citizens of God’s household. If you ever have the opportunity to show mercy and grace to a false teacher, show that person grace and proclaim the gospel. Call them to repentance and to flee the wrath of God. Pray that God would be merciful and that they would be spared from standing before Him on the day of eternal judgment and torment. May we continue to fight the good fight of faith as we stand with sure footing upon the foundation of our faith.

For more from Dawn, visit her page here at Servants of Grace or visit our YouTube playlist.