Q1. What is the standard of heresy in the Bible?

Heresy generally refers to a belief or group that departs from what is considered orthodox doctrine. In other words, when a religious group teaches something different from the established doctrine within that religion, it is often called heresy.

Then what should be the true standard to judge heresy in faith? The standard is not human opinion or the decision of a certain denomination, but the word of God, the Bible. According to the Bible, the problem is departing from the teachings of the Bible.

For this reason, God clearly warned that His words must not be added to or taken away.

Deuteronomy 4:2 Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.

Revelation 22:18-19 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.

Jesus also said that not everyone who calls Him Lord will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only those who do the will of God.

Matthew 7:21-23 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

The apostle Paul also emphasized that believers should follow the teachings of Christ rather than human tradition and philosophy.

Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

Therefore, according to the standard of the Bible, departing from the teachings of the Bible is heresy. On the contrary, keeping the teachings of the Bible as they are can never be considered heresy.

Q2. Then is The Church of God that keeps the Passover heretical?

When we examine the Bible, we can see who commanded the Passover. In the Old Testament, the One who commanded the Passover was God, Jehovah.

Exodus‬ ‭12‬:‭10‬-‭11‬, ‭14‬ Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the Lord’s Passover. ... This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance.

God directly commanded the Israelites to keep the Passover.

Then who commanded the Passover in the New Testament? It was Jesus.

Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭17‬-‭19‬ On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’ ” So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

In Matthew 26, Jesus kept the Passover with His disciples and established the Passover of the New Covenant. Jesus established this truth to grant forgiveness of sins and eternal life to mankind. Through the bread and wine He symbolized His flesh and blood and taught His disciples to keep the Passover.

Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭26‬-‭28‬ While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

The same teaching is recorded in Luke 22.

Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭7‬-‭8‬, ‭11‬, ‭14‬-‭15‬ Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ … When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.

Not only Jesus but also His disciples kept the Passover. Peter, John, and the other disciples followed the teachings of Jesus. The apostle Paul also taught the churches to keep this truth.

In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul delivers the teaching he received from Jesus and instructs believers to keep it.

1 Corinthians‬ ‭11‬:‭23‬-‭26‬ For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Jesus, Peter, John, the other disciples, and the apostle Paul all kept the Passover of the New Covenant. Then where are they now? Surely they are in Heaven.

However, many churches today do not keep the Passover of the New Covenant. On the other hand, The World Mission Society Church of God keeps the Passover of the New Covenant according to the record of the Bible and follows the truth restored by Christ Ahnsahnghong.

The standard of heresy is not human opinion but the Bible. Then which is the real problem: a church that keeps the Passover written in the Bible, or churches that do not keep the Passover taught in the Bible?

In the end, the important question is not human judgment or denominational standards, but what the Bible actually teaches.