I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts or could recommend some biblical passages, articles, or books that deal with how an individual should deal with perceived error or erroneous "tendencies" in a church or a pastor.

My mother has received several unsolicited emails from a lady who has recently joined her church. At this point, I will not bother to describe what she believes the "dangerous tendencies" in the church are, since my focus is on how she should handle her concerns, or how we should tell her to handle her concerns. Frankly, I do not think her concerns have much merit -- and after reading several of her letters that my mother has forwarded to me, I believe that this lady is a semi-professional heresy hunter and a full-time, factious troublemaker. She has left and/or been kicked out of several (conservative, evangelical) churches in the last few years, accusing various members and leaders of various forms of New Age, neo-pagan apostasy. Her "sources" include people such as Martin and Diedre Bobgan, and Rick Miesel -- heresy hunters who denounce men of such stature as John MacArthur, J. I. Packer, Erwin Lutzer, Michael Horton, Ed Welch, Jay Adams, Wayne Mack, and R. C. Sproul for various forms of neo-paganism and "psychoheresy". In one of her letters she states that she believes the pastor has fallen into serious error, and that her desire is to "help lead him and others in the church into truth."

Is it biblical to join a church if you believe its leaders are deceived, have fallen into heresy, and are teaching falsely? Shouldn't your focus be finding a "true" church where you can grow, serve, and flourish? Is it a woman's calling to "correct" the pastor and leading elders of a church, especially a church that she has just joined in full knowledge of these perceived errors?

I would appreciate any help in how to respond to this situation (and person) in a graceful, respectful, and biblical manner.

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