PS.....I believe you are a Christian. I am just trying to show you the fallacy of your "every persons responsibility" statement. I believe and follow scripture.
Disagree with you.
Individuals IN Christ, absolutely ARE responsible to have an open ear, to those WHO are committing "Heresy", Which is to Deny Christ the Lord Jesus.
2 Pet 2: 1-22
1 John 4:1
Titus 3:10
2 Cor 11:4
Gal 1:17
Scripture says The Church decides who is a heretic and it does not say that every person decides.
The Individual IN Christ, can determine, if others around him, OR the clergy of "the church" are speaking heresy; in denial of Christ; and against His Word.
THAT determination, CAN lead the Individual to depart from that "church building", it's congregates and leadership counsel
Scripture says The Church is the pillar and foundation of Truth,
"The Church" is those IN Christ.
"The TRUTH" is Christ, who IS:
The Head of His Church;
The Pillar IS Christs Absolute Truth;
The Foundation IS Christ's Word.
Christ's Church IS NOT built or being built with hands of men.
Christ' Church is an "on going build-ING", by and through men becoming added daily TO the membership/ brotherhood, of Christ's Church.
not every person. (Matthew 18:17, 1 Timothy 3:15)
Read the whole of Matt 18.
It is speaking of "brothers" (relatives, men of one of the 12 tribes, ie men who were called Israelites and Jews).
Then it speaks of a Trespass between "those" "brothers".
Then it speaks of the "accuser";
First going personally to the Trespasser...
To allow the Trespasser opportunity to Correct his Trespass.
If that fails;
The accuser can take the matter to the clergy of the church.
When the accuser takes the matter to the clergy, the accuser is to bring with him, wittnesses regarding the Trespass.
The clergy of the church, hears the matter of Trespass, and the witnesses, and decides if a Trespass occurred or not.
If the clergy concludes a Trespass was committed. They will direct the Trespasser to correct the Trespass, according to the Jewish Religious Law.
If the Trespasser refuses; then treat him like a heathen.
If the Trespasser agrees; THEN the one "Trespassed Against" has GAINED a "brother", who is a "brother" in belief and adherence to the Jewish Religious Law.
Scripture also says that ignorant and unstable men will twist scripture to their own destruction(2 Pet. 3:16). Every single person can't decide who is twisting scripture OR who is not twisting scripture.
You neglect to consider the TIME-frame.
Individual men certainly could know if another Trespassed against them; then as today.
However NOT ALL MEN could read, or had access to Scripture. They specifically took the matter to THOSE; the counsel clerics of the church, who were SUPPOSED to be able to read, and have access to the Scriptural Laws.
The Book of Positive Laws, given by Moses.
(Of What one is supposed TO DO)
The Book of Curse Laws, given by Aaron
(Of The penal consequences of What one receives for NOT DOING What one is supposed TO DO);
Today - Men CAN read and CAN have and Do Read and DO have numerous copies of Scripture. And can DO exactly what Scripture teaches.
If a man trespasses against another man...
Take the matter to the man to resolve the matter.
If that fails....AND the men are congregants of the same church, under the same counsel of clergy...take it to the church clergy.
If that fail...a man trespassed against can treat the other man AS A HEATHEN.
Additionally;
It that fails...Men have the option to take the matter to Civil authorities, in order to Civily make the Trespasser be Ordered to Correct his wrong doing.
Scripture warned us to beware so that we are not carried away with the error of lawless men and we lose your own stability (2 Pet. 3:17). Scripture does not say that every person can decide what is "the error" of lawless men.
That is a contradiction.
Men are warned to not get carried away..
But men can not decide if another is attemting to carry them away?
Who decides that man is refusing to obey what is in scripture?
The man who KNOWS Scripture, and KNOWS what another man has done toward him.
Who decides that we should have nothing to do with him
The individual who has been Trespassed against. (And no rectifying of the Trespasser) The individual who hears another preaching Against God and His Word.
The individual who hears another preaching For another god.
and that he should be ashamed?
Actually the "attempt" should First be to "enlighten" the other person....believer or not.
Shame is accounted to one WHO proclaims they Believe and Obey...and then doesn't..or teaching rejection of the Lord.
Who decides that we should warn him as a brother that he is refusing to obey scripture?
"As a brother" ?
What brother? A relative who doesn't believe? Sure they should WARN them.
What brother? One who claims To Believe in Christ and another who claimed Belief in
Christ....THEY are Spiritual brothers...less one is saying THEY are IN Christ.....while Rejecting Christs word. Warn them? Absolutely.
(2 Thess. 3:14–15). Every person can decide that? I don't think so and scripture backs me up.
1 Thes 3:14-15
Is about "brethren"....Spiritual brethren...brethren by having declared the Same belief in Christ.......but yet one deflecting on believing the Word of God.
Yes he should be ashamed.
And Yes, he should keep learning, the Word of God and the Precepts of God.
You appear to not understand;
The whole point of God establishing a clergy, was so the clergy could HEAR and WRITE and READ and SPEAK to the people (who did not hear, write or read); of , Who God IS, Gods Precepts and What God has Prepared for the people, that they Become "His" people.
You appear to not understand;
The clergy themselves BECAME CORRUPT.
Jesus said to do as the cleric SAYS, but not as they DO.
Scripture also teaches to VERIFY what your cleric says IS according to Gods Word.
Today...men can read. Problem is THEY DO NOT READ, and DO NOT verify.
Today...MANY clerics are SAYING and DOING, things in CONTRAST to Scripture.
And MANY men are BLINDLY following what their clerics are SAYING and DOING.
BECAUSE men foster their own Ignorance, BY not reading and BY NOT verifying what their clerics are Saying and Doing.
I would suggest that you do a study on the words "brother" and "brethren", to see what they mean in the context of scripture.
If my suggestion does not fancy you;
Matt 18:15 should spark your interest, of
HOW "A" brother, speaking to his "brother", can "GAIN" his "brother" to "be" his "brother".
God Bless,
Taken