This is normative instruction for how Christians are to respond to persecution and evil in general. However, presumably the persecutor/evildoer is an outsider, not a leader or minister of the Church. Therefore, this passage, contrary to the opinion of some, is not applicable to the subject of how to respond to false teachers in the church. Similar arguments apply to other irenic passages that are sometimes taken out of context to weaken justified resistance to false teaching.

Edmund Spenser was once secretarial assistant to the Calvinistic Bishop of Rochester, John Young, and upheld the doctrines of grace and endorsed their great exponent Edmund Grindal in his majestic poesy in such works as The Fairy Queen and the Shepherd's Calendar:

The Fairy Queen, Book 1, Canticle X - Her faithful knight fair Una brings to House of Holiness, where he is taught repentance, and the way to heavenly bliss.

Edward Luce, the American Editor for the Financial Times, penned this article, which chronicles his visit to Lakewood Church, the most significant temple to the prosperity gospel in America. Luce marshals all his prowess and analytical skill to craft this insightful article--a story that explores the friction between the prosperity gospel of Joel Osteen and the historic, orthodox Christian faith.

Kristof, who deserved credit for giving attention to theological issues, has interviewed several major theological figures. Those conversations have appeared in his opinion column for The New York Times. His interviews have ranged from New York pastor Tim Keller to former President Jimmy Carter.