The process the Church uses to lovingly correct one who errs or holds to false doctrines is well known and clearly explained in the Bible. (Matthew 18:15-17), (Titus 3:10-11), (Galatians 6:1)
But what if the situation is reversed? What happens when the Church itself promotes false doctrines? There’s an example of this in early Church history. In the forth century (A.D.) there was a dispute concerning the deity of Christ.
Arius (256-336) spread a false doctrine throughout the Church that claimed Christ was not fully God. Some thought it was a small matter but the heresy actually undermined the very nature of salvation. Disregarding the wide popularity of Arius and his false doctrine within the Church, Athanasius (298-373) rejected it and stood on the truth of the Word, resulting in him (Athanasius) being exiled five different times, birthing the popular phrase “Athanasius against the world.” (John 15:18)
Seeking unity, Emperor Constantine intervened in the controversy and convened the Council of Nicea where Arius was exposed as a heretic and the Nicene Creed was written. Nevertheless, the controversy raged for decades but eventually Athanasius prevailed leading to the Church’s rejection of Arianism.
If a similar situation occurred today, what would be the nature of the process? Who would prevail, the heterodoxical Church or the faithful exile?