We are obligated to judge righteous judgment so that we can identify wolves in sheep's clothing and apostate groups. Surely no one can object to our using the Lord's method of combating error. He put the teaching of God in such contrast with human error that it was impossible for his hearers to misunderstand or fail to see the truth. If we use the Lord's method on some present day religious practice, we would be no more unkind or un-Christian than was our Lord. The apostle Paul stated that error will eat as canker or gangrene.
False doctrine grows worse and worse and eats away the soul as gangrene eats away the flesh.
Those who put all emphasis on moral living and none on true doctrine would like to think that Paul had in mind some ugly immoral practice. Hymeanaeus and Philetus were condemned and so were all who believed their doctrine. Subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not . Thus, any who are holding to error are condemned whether they be instigator, promoter, or follower. People who recognize error in the church of which they belong have a great responsibility.