Heresy Is Like Pride: All Its Victims Are Strong!
It is a question posed by Vincent of Lérins, one of the famous writers of the fifth century A.D., concerning the rise and power of heresies:
Why does the Lord allow heresies to arise, and why does He permit those who promote them to be influential people, gifted and able to attract crowds?
In answering this question, he reviewed great heretical figures such as Nestorius, Origen, Apollinaris, and others. He cited a beautiful verse from the Book of Deuteronomy, where divine inspiration compares these heretics to prophets and their teachings to other gods, saying:
“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.” (Deut. 13:1–3)
He speaks here of a certain type of teacher who possesses a special gift—one whose listeners regard his teaching as surpassing human ability, as though it were a sign or a wonder. They look at that person as if he were a prophet.
Even if such a person performs a sign or a wonder, yet teaches false doctrine—should the people follow him or follow God? Here lies the test:
“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.”
Do you prefer God, or do you prefer this man? Is your foundation the faith and doctrine, or the person himself? Are you dazzled by the man, or led by your love for God? Would you sacrifice God, or this so-called prophet or wonder-worker?
It is a test: God is on one side, and man—with all his talents, if he has them—is on the other. Which do you choose?
The Holy Scripture continues the same test in another form, when the temptation comes from someone very dear to you:
“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, you nor your fathers…” (Deut. 13:6)
So what is your stance in this test—between faith and man?
Divine inspiration says:
“You shall not consent to him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pity him, nor shall you spare him or conceal him… your hand shall be first against him… because he sought to entice you away from the Lord your God.” (Deut. 13:8–10)
Thus, in the Old Testament, the punishment for such a heretic who turns souls away from the faith was death.
But in the New Testament, Scripture judges him by excommunication—“let him be anathema”—or at least by separating him from the fellowship of believers so that he may not mislead them. Saint John the Apostle says:
“If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.” (2 John 10–11)
People may apply this to strangers—to foreign sects or to those not recognized by the Church—but what if the person is one of the fathers?
It is the same test and the same judgment, for the Lord says:
“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matt. 10:37)
In the history of heresies, there were indeed fathers—famous ones—who held high positions and great preaching ability, such as Arius, Apollinaris, Nestorius, Macedonius, and a great teacher, Origen.
Did the Church feel ashamed of them or seek to please them? Certainly not! Their heresies were a test for the Church: Do you love God, or do you love them?
If these strong men had humbled themselves and confessed their errors, no heresy would have arisen. But because of their pride, stubbornness, and insistence on their mistakes, they tried to spread heresy.
Thus, heresy was the daughter of pride—and like it, “All its slain are mighty.” (Prov. 7:26)
Article by His Holiness Pope Shenouda III – Published in Al-Keraza Magazine, Year 9, Issue 21, May 26, 1978
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