Welcome!
To My Brothers and Sisters at RITA:
Feel I am walking a tightrope here, so please give the benefit of the doubt as I am not trying to stir up trouble.
From time to time posters make reference to a Christian/pastor/healer whose ministry or book has influenced them or someone they know, and inevitably, because there are sometimes differences of opinion even among friends, someone disagrees with said evangelist/prophet’s stance or teaching and objects. Then the original poster, or others of like mind, try to defend their perspective and another heated discussion is born at RITA resulting in misunderstandings and hurt feelings, and/or locked threads and banned posters (not saying the latter is unnecessary).
My concern is not so much that there is disagreement at RITA from time to time: that is to be expected: no one will see eye-to-eye 100% of the time.
No, what troubles me is our human tendency to do one of two things:
1) Either pounce on a fellow brother or sister in Christ whom we (or scripture)determines to be ‘in error’ doctrinally and so [sometimes] ‘throw the baby out with the bath water’ so to speak
OR
2) Turn a blind eye to the damage incorrect doctrine has on body of Christ simply because we know/believe/hope a particular Christian loves the Lord and/or has influenced (note I did not say brought to – only our triune God draws men to Christ) many for Christ.
Yes, the church is full of the walking wounded, and it is detrimental to Father’s plans that Christians are known for “shooting†at their own, but one wrong should never be used as an excuse for unknowingly condoning another wrong.
Just because someone loves the Lord and has a ministry intended to glorify Him doesn’t exempt him/her from being faithful to scripture. (He/she may THINK they are staying on the straight and narrow, but being human, we only see through a glass darkly and can easily drift/be misled from that path.)
Remember Peter. No one questions his devotion to his Lord Jesus Christ – yet Peter failed miserably – 3 times! Neither his love nor his good intentions were enough to overcome his human nature to succumb to fear or poor judgment. That is precisely why the Apostle Paul confronted Peter – in public – when Peter’s example (disassociating himself from the Gentiles, see Galatians 2:11-15)and teaching began to influence and mislead other believers.
Harsh as it seems, Paul’s criticism of Peter was necessary to call attention to bad doctrine before it threatened the understanding of less mature believers. Paul didn’t sweep Peter’s error under the rug with the excuse that Peter has influenced others [Gentiles] for Christ because it is equally important to adhere to God’s Truth. (Peter was compromising). Jesus himself stated the seriousness of misleading His little ones (i.e. those still learning about Him):
“But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.†Mt. 18:6
also Mark 9:42 & Luke 17:2 http://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=millstone&qs_version=NIV
Having said that, this doesn’t give Christians license to “bash†or drag over the coals a sister or brother who strays scripturally. (We must learn to correct others in love or we are but a clanging cymbal – and we know that few will listen to an obnoxious ‘testimony’ like that!)
Sometimes we let our emotions and sense of self-worth dictate our behavior; whether this manifests in loyalties to one who has helped us in our Christian walk, or in adherence to a doctrine or set of traditions which define our comfort zone. But emotions must be balanced with wisdom: the call to both rightly divide the Word (understand God’s Truth), and to discern (ability to detect/recognize) error.
Jesus tells us in Mt. 10:16 to “be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.†(NASB) We need to see what we are up against because in the long run(this does not exclude or prohibit mercy)love cannot be blind to disobedience. If it could, Adam and Eve never would have been kicked out of Eden.
We have all heard of the result/dangers of permissive love – undisciplined ungrateful children who grow up never having gained the maturity which comes from experiencing consequences for bad behavior. Holding one another accountable for inappropriate behavior/teaching is not always a bad thing; what is bad is if it isn’t done IN love. Dr. James Dobson calls it ‘tough love’.
So next time someone feels the need to hold another Christian accountable, or warn other believers about a controversial teaching, please remember to
do it in love.
This means no name calling, and don’t forget that God uses broken pots in which to grow some of His most beautiful flowers. God can bring good out of anything/anyone even when we can’t see how (remember God makes a way where there is no way – my apologies have been unable to find the reference.)
As for those who wish to promote/defend a fellow brother/sister in Christ whose ministry you believe in, honestly ask yourself whether any evidence of controversy there might have to do with a misapplication/misunderstanding of the Word? Yes, we followers of Christ are to be lights in an ever darkening world, but both experience and wisdom prove that even one little candle must be watched over lest some stray breath of wind knock it over or a dirty rag brush against it causing an unforeseen/unintended wildfire which destroys not just one house, but the entire village.
There is good reason we are told to be like the Bereans – searching out the truth of scriptures for ourselves rather than eagerly [blindly?]swallowing the teachings of men. We will only recognize error if we ourselves know the Truth.
If you have read this far, thank you. Maybe you will say a prayer for me that I will practice what I preach. My downfall (just ask my kids!) is that I am too quick to criticize, and not generous enough with the encouragement. (Recognizing the problem is one thing, co-operating with the necessary changes to fix it is quite another! So I do understand how easy it is to fall flat on our faces when running the race.) I wish I were more like our dear Aussie Paul and others here, but I am still wiggling in the hands of the Potter, and that tends to make a mess of His work…
ChristinCheryl,Kman,Star,Tom, I appreciate the time you took to read my post as well as your kind words. It is far too easy for me to get on my soap box and start lecturing, so if this has helped I am grateful.
Bless you Kman and New Creation for posting such wonderful and truthful articles!!...deep teachings full of wisdom and truth.... like our wonderful LORD, who is full of truth and perfect wisdom....( well HE is perfect in EVERY way!
)
be Wise as Serpents but harmless as doves"
Marantha!!
