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This situation needs to be handled with as much grace and gentleness as possible, but to love someone means that it does require a difficult conversation. Hopefully your peer does have some knowledge of the Word. I live in Atlanta where there is a very popular false teacher. I say that he is a false teacher because not every sermon includes false teaching (though he makes much ado about what God does for us instead of making much ado about who Jesus is and what He has accomplished for us). First I try to develop relationships by being in Bible study with people and telling people the truth of the Word and hope that they realize the false teaching that they have heard from this preacher. I also pray for opportunities to discuss it with them. Secondly, have your facts in order. Have examples of where the pastor has spoken "his opinion" instead of the Word of God. For instance, this pastor spoke about what God says about divorce and remarriage and then said "but I say" that if the couple has waited two years it is okay to get remarried. He also read the parable of the talents and then said that "weeping and gnashing of teeth and being put into outer darkness doesn't mean hell". If your peer will be open to actually doing some Bible study with you, then this is the way to go. Then I would also read Ezekiel 2 and 3 that says that we are to eat the words that God gives us and tell the person to please God. If we don't, their blood is on our hands, but if we tell them, and if they refuse to listen, we have no fault. The honor is being used by God not the results. But failure to speak up is not pleasing to God. I have done this frequently because I run into this so much, the results have been very few have left the church, but I persevere. I was at the church for six years. I left when the pastor said that the new normal family was the two homosexual men sitting in church for Christmas with their ex-wives and children. This isn't loving (the Greatest Commandment and the second) God who made the rules or the people involved especially the children who want in tact families. Pray alot for these people and pray before you talk with them. Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the words and then continue to pray that the person will have the words grow in their hearts. Pray that the Holy Spirit will give them eyes to see and ears to hear to believe in the truth and not worship the pastor which is idolatry. God bless you. Be strong and take courage, Terry
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