A Warning To Those Sola People and Discerning People: merely a warning isn't enough

Some who proudly consider themselves discerning, think that merely rebuking an author for her "bad doctrine" is enough. According to Scripture it wasn't enough for Eli before God. Eli's sons were priests--religious LEADERS. God called them worthless men who did not know the LORD (1Sam. 2:12).

Here's Eli's weak attempt--giving a verbal warning:

1Sa 2:24 "No, my sons; for the report is not good which I hear the LORD'S people circulating. 25 "If one man sins against another, God will mediate for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?" But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for the LORD desired to put them to death.

Ok, so you figure, Eli rebuked or warned his sons. Did his due diligence, right?

WRONG:

1Sa 3:12 "In that day I will carry out against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.

1Sa 3:13 "For I have told him that I am about to judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons brought a curse on themselves and he did not rebuke them.

1Sa 3:14 "Therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever." 

Eli treated his priest-sons as if they were regenerated, legitimate religious leaders,  and that a word of rebuke was enough. He was "gracious", and "balanced"but not according to God. God held him accountable for not biblically rebuking and dealing LAWFULLY (that is, according to Scripture which calls for action, not mere words) with his sinful and wicked sons.

He should've had them stoned because of their blasphemy. That means they were to be treated as unbelievers, wicked and treacherous men. Eli was supposed to divide FROM them, isolate them, name them, then stone them.

MacArthur states:

"1 Sam.3:13 made themselves vile. LXX reads “his sons blasphemed God.” Cursing God was an offense worthy of death (see Lev. 24:11–16, 23). did not restrain them. Eli was implicated in the sins of his sons because he did not intervene with judgment. If his sons were blaspheming God, they should have been stoned (see Lev. 24:15, 16)."

Here's the issue:

See this is why merely warning of a false teacher (yes, that is blasphemy), but stopping short of calling him or her false and dividing away from them, is not good enough. We serve a precise God. God calls such men as wicked even though they professed God, they were religious leaders (priests), and kind of followed the law (but certainly not fully!) 

Precision in following the Word on worship and dealing with blasphemous spiritual leaders is demanded by God. Otherwise you are guilty of their wickedness even now:

2Jn 1:10  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; 11  for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds.

Those with the TRUE gift of discernment can tell the difference between right and almost right--and then call such leaders/teachers as Scripture calls them: false, wicked, hypocrites,  wolves in sheep's clothing, enemies of the Cross.

Those with true discernment have the love OF the Truth and a jealousy for it and for God, as well as a love for the souls of men. Almost right is always wrong.

Just as Eli gave cover to his treacherous religious sons, so too are Sola Sisters and  Sunny Shell, by merely rebuking  Anne Voskamp, Sarah Young, and Beth Moore but considering them "sisters in Christ" when in fact they are not. They might consider themselves as "gracious" but God considers them treasonous.

Almost isn't good enough.