Destroying Error Completely

In the fight against heresies, there is a historical pattern.  For example, when Athanasius fought against the Arian heresy, he was sometimes accused of “mistreating the Arians”.  The struggle against the heresy of Arianism must have been frustrating for Athanasius, for there were times it looked like the Church was ready to adopt the Arian views.  But Athanasius stuck with it, even when his detractors would no doubt paint him as a lone “heretic hunter”.  As a matter of fact, Athanasius’  50+ year fight against Arianism is often depicted as “Contra Mundum” (against the world) because at times it seemed like it was just Athanasius against the world — not because he was expressing something new but because some of the most vocal voices were drowning out the truth that Christians had always believed (that Jesus is one with God, deity).



As it relates to the fight against hyperpreterism, I have sometimes seen people agree that hyperpreterism is a heresy but when the battle starts to get a little rough, they get squeamish.  It becomes too much for them & they seek peace in place of purity of doctrine.  This reminds me of the biblical account of the Israelites & the Amalekites found in passages such as 1 Sam 15 wherein King Saul is instructed by God to destroy completely the Amalekites; “destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey” (1 Sam 15:3)
Can you imagine receiving such an order from God?  Who among us wouldn’t become squeamish? We might reason, “We will kill the men, but spare the women & children”.  Perhaps some could even go as far as killing the men & women but spare the nursing child & “innocent” animals.  Now, before anyone accuses, I am NOT advocating any kind of physical violence against hyperpreterists, HOWEVER am advocating that we destroy completely this error — including its offspring (meaning followers not just leaders of the movement).  It seems like whenever we are about at that point to relegating hyperpreterism as the illegitimate movement it is, someone gets squeamish & thinks we’ve gone too far in combating hyperpreterism.
Hyperpreterism ISN’T just about a collection of erroneous doctrines but is wrapped up with the arrogance of those who advocate & adhere to it.  It seems we often are ok about destroying the structures of hyperpreterism but we consider the essence of it off-limits.  What good does that do when they will simply rebuild?  Instead it seems we sometimes want to befriend the “Amalekite” — those who are trying to destroy the historic Christian faith by setting up some opposing religion they call “Preterism”.
This further makes me think of Deuteronomy 13 wherein we read these passages:

If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’—which you have not known—‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deu 13:1-3)

Is this not EXACTLY what hyperpreterists are doing? “dreaming” up a completely DIFFERENT “god” — which 2000 years of Christians have not known?  Even the hyperpreterists tell us so.  Hyperpreterist leader Sam Frost says about the hyperpreterist church he was leading,

“[We] knew that the doctrine of preterism was truly reformational in proportions to the handed down traditions on this matter.  It was not a mere disagreement, but a complete overhaul in many areas of thought.” (Hyperpreterist Sam Frost explaining that hyperpreterism is not a minor modification to a person’s faith but it something completely different — source, pg 2)

If Christians think we can theologically live side-by-side & keep allowing hyperpreterists to claim they too are Christians, then Athanasius is turning in his grave.  Hyperpreterism is far out of accord with historic Christianity than Arianism ever was, yet some people want to play nicey-nice with it???
Frost’s words are interesting compared to the apostles’ words:

Hyperpreterist Admitting They diverge from the Christian faith handed down.	2 Thes 2:15 imploring Christians to hold to the faith handed down
“[We] knew that the doctrine of preterism was truly reformational in proportions to the handed down traditions on this matter.  It was not a mere disagreement, but a complete overhaul in many areas of thought.” (Hyperpreterist Sam Frost explaining that hyperpreterism is not a minor modification to a person’s faith but it something completely different — source, pg 2)	Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

That side-by-side comparison should be a wake up call, not only to those fighting against hyperpreterism but to those who have been following along with hyperpreterist leaders like Sam Frost.
We return the words of Deu 13:6-9

If your brother, the son of your mother, your son or your daughter, the wife of your bosom, or your friend who is as your own soul, secretly entices you, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods,’ which you have not known, neither you nor your fathers, of the gods of the people which are all around you, near to you or far off from you, from one end of the earth to the other end of the earth, you shall not consent to him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pity him, nor shall you spare him or conceal him; but you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people.

I don’t know about you, but I find this difficult to do but it is interesting that hyperpreterists like to try to cozy up with anyone who would listen to them.  They like to gain “pity”.  They like to set themselves up as a “friend who is as your own soul” — they claim they are “brothers” & they try to paint those who oppose them as evil, hate-mongering heretic-hunting bigots.  All the while, hyperpreterists are trying to get people to “serve other gods” in that hyperpreterism ISN’T anything like the Christianity for which billions of Christians have lived & died for over 2000 years.  They like to dismiss this fact.
I’d ask my friends to be prayerful about this as hyperpreterists send you private emails (secretly enticing you, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods,’ which you have not known, neither you nor your fathers).