Heresy Is Making a Comeback
The word “heresy” sounds bad to modern ears. It conjures images of Inquisitions, dour Puritans, or even matches and stakes. But heresy, strictly speaking, simply refers to beliefs that deviate from orthodox Christianity. And when large numbers of Christians start embracing heretical views, it’s a problem. That’s why the recent report on The State of Theology was concerning. It shows that Americans increasingly subscribe to unbiblical beliefs. And, sadly, Christians are no different. For instance, 73% of evangelicals agree that Jesus was created by God, a belief known historically as Arianism and condemned at the Council of Nicaea. The Holy Spirit is a force, not a personal being. At the same time, the survey found more uniformity among evangelicals when it came to their cultural and political beliefs. It seems politics is doing a better job of teaching us than the church.