There are some out there who are attacking and maligning the work of those of us who are exposing, contradicting and bringing to light the false teachings and practices of those who today are destroying and undermining the Christian faith. Sites like this one are derided, scorned, vilified and maliciously labeled as ODM’s (Online Discernment Ministries) by those who are being exposed as false teachers or those who blindly follow and defend these false teachers. Some have even gone so far as to claim that ODM’s are a cult.

However, those here exercising Biblical discernment are far from being a cult. Instead, if one takes a look at the history of the Christian church through the millennia one will discover that Discernment has had a long and illustrious history. There is a long chain of men who have exercised Biblical discernment by exposing, refuting and rebuking the errors and practices of those whose teachings contradicted and twisted the Word of God. One of the earliest ministers of discernment was Irenaeus. His work “Against Heresies” is one of the earliest examples in the church of discernment in action. He wrote long before the advent of technology, blogs and internet (150 AD – 202 AD). One could almost imagine his opponents claiming that Irenaeus had a PDM (Parchment Discernment Ministry).

Here is what Irenaeus said regarding the need for writing his famous work, Against Heresies.

1. Inasmuch as certain men have set the truth aside, and bring in lying words and vain genealogies, which, as the apostle says, “minister questions rather than godly edifying which is in faith,” and by means of their craftily-constructed plausibilities draw away the minds of the inexperienced and take them captive, [I have felt constrained, my dear friend, to compose the following treatise in order to expose and counteract their machinations.] These men falsify the oracles of God, and prove themselves evil interpreters of the good word of revelation. They also overthrow the faith of many, by drawing them away, under a pretence of [superior] knowledge, from Him who rounded and adorned the universe; as if, forsooth, they had something more excellent and sublime to reveal, than that God who created the heaven and the earth, and all things that are therein. By means of specious and plausible words, they cunningly allure the simple-minded to inquire into their system; but they nevertheless clumsily destroy them, while they initiate them into their blasphemous and impious opinions respecting the Demiurge; and these simple ones are unable, even in such a matter, to distinguish falsehood from truth.

2. Error, indeed, is never set forth in its naked deformity, lest, being thus exposed, it should at once be detected. But it is craftily decked out in an attractive dress, so as, by its outward form, to make it appear to the inexperienced (ridiculous as the expression may seem) more true than the truth itself. One far superior to me has well said, in reference to this point, “A clever imitation in glass casts contempt, as it were, on that precious jewel the emerald (which is most highly esteemed by some), unless it come under the eye of one able to test and expose the counterfeit. Or, again, what inexperienced person can with ease detect the presence of brass when it has been mixed up with silver? ”Lest, therefore, through my neglect, some should be carried off, even as sheep are by wolves, while they perceive not the true character of these men, -because they outwardly are covered with sheep’s clothing (against whom the Lord has enjoined us to be on our guard), and because their language resembles ours, while their sentiments are very different,—I have deemed it my duty (after reading some of the Commentaries, as they call them, of the disciples of Valentinus, and after making myself acquainted with their tenets through personal intercourse with some of them) to unfold to thee, my friend, these portentous and profound mysteries, which do not fall within the range of every intellect, because all have not sufficiently purged their brains. I do this, in order that thou, obtaining an acquaintance with these things, mayest in turn explain them to all those with whom thou art connected, and exhort them to avoid such an abyss of madness and of blasphemy against Christ.

The same need and urgency that prompted Irenaeus to wield his quill in defense of the truth of the Gospel prompts us to take up our keyboards against those who are currently perverting and distorting the sound doctrines of scripture through their false teaching, scripture twisting and heterodox practices.

We Pray:

Almighty and everlasting God. You would have all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. By your almighty power and unsearchable wisdom break and hinder all the counsels of those who hate Your Word and who, by corrupt teaching, would destroy it. Enlighten them with the knowledge of Your glory that they bay know the riches of Your heavenly grace and, in peace and righteousness, serve You, the Only true God; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen