The Necessity of Refuting False Teachers

Again, only he is a fit minister of the Church who is able to refute false teachers. That is listed as one of the necessary qualifications of an elder or bishop: “Holding fast the faithful Word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers…whose mouths must be stopped” (Titus:1:9-11 [9] Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. [10] For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: [11] Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
See All...). The popular demand that the public teacher refrain from polemics is not supported by Scripture.  Scripture admonishes pastors to “avoid foolish questions and genealogies and contentions about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain” (Titus:3:9But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
See All...). Nor dare we engage in polemics from carnal motives, in carnal zeal. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh” (2 Cor:10:3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
See All...). It is also to be noted that in Titus:1:9Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
See All... the words “able by sound doctrine to exhort” precede “able to convince the gainsayer.”  That means that the clear presentation of the true doctrine must come before the refutation of the false doctrine.

-- Franz Pieper, 1852-1931, Professor, President of Missouri Synod, author of Christian Dogmatics