〔返回目錄〕請參閱〔慎思明辨――基督教的極端和異端〕
【一個新派的悔語】有一個著名的批評家，蒙主領他回頭過來。有一次他來加拿大講道說，「昨日我收到我的舊同學去世的電報。因我曾在他生命裏撒疑惑的種子，他就捨棄牧師的工夫，去作律師。昨夜是我一生最煩惱、最黑暗的一夜。我領他走迷了路；但是我絕不能再領他回來了！今已太遲了！奈何？」
【異端常帶著極端的神秘性】「玄」與「神秘」原是每一個異端的特徵，不是他們的道理玄妙，就是他們的首領戴著神秘的面紗。窺探神秘是人類的天性，撒但就是利用這種天性引人掉入牠的陷阱。總之，神秘是異端吸引人最厲害的武器。─
沈保羅《真知灼見》
【不可被異端迷惑】異端是撒但攻擊我們信仰的最厲害的武器，牠用異端來迷惑人，使人誤以假為真，遠離真理；牠用異端弄瞎人的心眼，使人看不見福音的真光！有的異端竟用基督與神的名字，如摩門教、統一教、聖父教會(Divine Father Church)、耶和華見證人、基督教科學會等；他們事實上是基督教最大的仇敵。有的異端完全披上東方神祕主義的道袍，用輪迴、交鬼、天象、占卜等迷惑眾生。有的異端以鍛鍊身體為名，久而久之令人走火入魔，完全被鉗制。特別在這個時代，異端更是五花八門，無奇不有。─
沈保羅《真知灼見》
※ 『異端』希臘文hairesis原意『選擇』。它的本意並非不好，是指個人所選擇的信條。
※ 彼得後書所說的『異端』是指否認基督救贖及隨從邪惡的人，這部向今日有的教會所泛指的異端，凡認為與自己看法不同的就稱呼別人為『異端』，這是很危險的。
You can tell the sheep are in trouble when the shepherd starts speaking
kindly of the wolf!
There was a pastor of a very well-known Bible church, one that taught the
Word of God. Today he is a denier of the deity of Jesus Christ. He is a
professor at USC, one who does everything he can to turn young people away from
Christianity. He also falls into the category of an apostate, somebody who
knows the truth, has all the information about the truth, and willfully turns
his back on the truth for his own pursuit.―― John MacArthur
A story is told of a man who, resisting the cost of oats he fed his mule,
decided to gradually substitute sawdust in its diet. Everything went fine for a
while—but by the time the mule was satisfied with sawdust, he died.
The same is true spiritually. The changeover from truth to error is
sometimes a slow process, and the people don’t always know the difference. But,
before you know it, they are dead.
One writer said of apostates, “One is reminded by way of contrast with the
Lord, whom these men deny. He is the rock of our salvation; they are hidden
rocks, threatening shipwreck to the faith. He comes with clouds to refresh his
people forever; they are clouds that do not even bring temporary blessing. He
is the tree of life; they are trees dead. He leads beside still waters; they
are like the restless troubled sea. He is the bright and morning star heralding
the coming day; they are wandering stars presaging a night of eternal
darkness.”