Faithful pastors (and committed Christians) must have the courage to call out false teaching. “[The pastor] must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it” (Titus 1:9).

There are four main false teachings for you, your church, and your pastor to refute. First, refute people who add to God’s law, demanding that, for example, you have to wear dress clothes to church or stick to Friday fish during Lent or say the Apostles’ Creed every Sunday in order to make God happy. Second, refute people who subtract from God’s law, brushing past financial and sexual sins since few people keep those old rules these days. Third, refute people who add to God’s gospel, insisting that you have to believe in Jesus and be circumcised, speak in tongues, do your penance, etc. to be saved. Finally, refute people who subtract from God’s gospel, claiming you don’t have to believe in Jesus at all as long as you are somewhat spiritual and a decent human being.

Adding to God’s Word feels exclusive, allowing people to think they are not like “those people” in the church or the mediocre types of disciples. Subtracting from God’s Word feels like a loving way to reach more people for Jesus. But God knows what is best for his church and for our world.

So stick to the Word. Nothing more, nothing less.