2Co 11:1 I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! 2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. 3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.
In Tim Challies' personal contemplation of Discernment ministries online (which he never names) he has decided that they are of "no value" and infers they get thrills out of evil (which if he knew the hearts of those with this gift, its FAR from fun and entertainment: our hearts are consistantly burdened and grieved and angered by what goes on in HIS name--but Challies hasn't a clue about that). In doing so, as Ingrid Schlueter stated, he is including credible, biblical ministries, as well as the purported ones that may find the horrors of "Evangelicalism" as mere entertainment (I have no idea which ones are the latter).
If such websites are revelling in evil, then why not just ignore us as he does those that are being reported on at discernment websites?
Challies failed to mention how Scripture repeatedly called out certain individuals as well as groups, to warn Christians away from them and their teachings. Although there are several mentioned, four of the most prominent ones will be sufficient here to make my point. These were letters written to churches and then later circulated. So what happened to a church, say in Ephesus had an impact on those in say, Rome, and vice versa. Look:
2 Tim. 2: 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.
2Tim. 4: 14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 15 You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.
3 John 9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us. 10 So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. 3John 11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good.
3 John 11 shows us WHY it is so important to know what is going on and avoid such people: so that we will not imitate them. Rather, God calls us to:
Rom. 16: 17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. 19 Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.
This is calling for a warning about evil, not a study of it, just as many discernment sites also do. How can we mark and avoid persons, groups, or teachings if we don’t know it? If we keep things general then how can the naive and young in Christ know who's teaching wrongly? There are indeed times to be specific, especially in this age of instant influce through the Internet.
This ignoring of reality by some, is one of the reasons so many people have been captivated by Rick Warren, Mark Driscoll, Paul Tripp, the Emergent Church Movement, the Seeker/Pagan Friendly movement, Eastern Mysticism, Contemplative prayers, prayer labyrinths, etc.
What’s interesting to me is that while Challies makes a sweeping smear of Discernment sites that actually help others obey Scripture such as I just listed, he himself embraces the very evil we seek to caution others about.
Challies has applauded Donald Whitney and his book on “Spiritual Disciplines”. While Challies questioned the use of Richard Foster (a New Ager), he managed to swallow the pill despite the poison and then write highly of it. In other words, Challies finds a lot he likes in the book (even if it calls certain actions "spiritual disciplines" even if its not biblically supported, or moreover, promotes a false teacher like Foster), yet he finds little use for Discernment websites that caution against such error as New Ageism, Romanism, carnality, etc?
So Challies rather harshly criticize Discernment online ministries, slamming them as “offering evil as entertainment”, of “no value”, and does not help Christians "grow in godliness". Yet Richard Foster’s theology and influence does? Claiming certain activies as “spiritual” even though they are not spoken of as such in Scripture, moreover promoting an unbeliever as a spiritual teacher is better? Even when God tells us to be aware of the wolves and avoid them?
What happens three thousand miles away couldn’t POSSIBLY impact my life, so he thinks.
Ah, but it already has. Via books, authors, online teaching, book reviews, websites, etc. How prideful to think it couldn't. The hypocrisy is astounding: Challies is willing to put up with New Age garbage coming from Don Whitney via Richard Foster (doubtless they don’t go to the same church as Challies), but “throws the baby out with the bath water” of Discernment websites. Just as Paul said, the gangrene of error spreads rapidly--it did back then and it does even MORE SO today.
It seems to me in this Post-Modern “Christianity”, that people are very willing to put up with error (as Scripture defines it), but are quick to slam, insult, and aim shut down those who expose such error. They shoot the messenger. Why don’t they get behind the message at least? Why do they reject a spiritual gift and its benefits, yet DEFEND false teachers and those who promote them? God says "no lie is of the truth".
Those whom God has gifted with discernment often are looked upon as a bother, a thorn in the side of many. The gift of discernment doesn't fit into the Post-Modern thinking in today's "evangelical" circles. We are seen as negative, simply because we are showing the difference between truth and error, and are therefore unwilling to abide with the error. We are black and white, because God is black and white. Truth has no common ground with error. God demands purity in doctrine and practice. Those that want to reach a wide audience to gain applause, to sell books, to get the numbers, will seek to quiet people whom God uses to expose the error. Its likely that such people have accepted error (under the guise of “tolerance” and “love”) and therefore are personally guilty themselves. The light of Truth also shines on them and they don’t like it.
When God shows error somewhere, those who hold His Word above all else are grieved and cannot be ok with it, no matter the label it comes under. Our loyalty should be to Christ first and foremost, and then His people. We truly care for the sheep of God. Some of us came out of horrendous error and therefore have a greater appreciation for Truth and desire the same for God's children.
Discernment ministries that I appreciate take a LOT of fire particularly from “Christians”. Their clear stand for Biblical Truth ostracizes them from those who claim the name of Christ (the very same ones put up with gross error). They express their grieving hearts and godly anger, just as Scripture does. David is a good example of this, as is Paul and Jude. Evil should always grieve us and anger us, particularly that done in HIS NAME. And we should want to warn others to watch out for othe cliff!
I find it equally interesting how Challies is trying to read into the hearts and motives of these website owners as well as the readers. And how would he know, exactly, what they are?
Consider this: Jud 1:4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
How did they creep in unnoticed? Why were they not noticed? And if it happened 2,000 years ago, would it not be even easier today via the Internet, Youtube, inter-church functions, seminars, conferences, tv, audio sermons online, online radio, radio, books, etc?
2Jo 1:7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.
Keeping one’s head in the sand when it comes to mainline “evangelicalism” is to think that it has gone on as it has before; that there are no real damaging changes we need to keep abreast of in this world where influence can be instantaneous. But blinders don’t keep out the evil influences. Warnings can along with Scripture and the Spirit. This is what wisdom is. When “Christianity” is falling apart all around us, its good to know what is going on so we can avoid it and caution others.
Just this past week, I was talking to a woman who wondered about Rick Warren. She thought perhaps, with all his error, he still might be a brother in the Lord. I sent her information that she had not known about, and saw his error. Without discernment websites, it would not be easy for some people to get the information on some of these subtle false teachers. The other issue is that millions of people are online and get their ideas from there. So a church member might read or see something online he thinks is a great idea and bring it into his church, thus bringing in error.
When local churches go ONLINE to promote their heinous error in the name of Jesus Christ, they should be exposed for what they are: evil.
1Co 5:11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler--not even to eat with such a one.
Eph 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
Eph 5:4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.
Eph 5:5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Eph 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
Eph 5:7 Therefore do not become partners with them;
Eph 5:8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
Eph 5:9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),
Eph 5:10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
Eph 5:11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
Eph 5:12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.
Eph 5:13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,
Scripture is clear that when ANYONE comes with another gospel, like Baptismal Regeneration, or Eastern Mysticism, such PERSONS are anathema (Gal. 1:7-9). It is not a matter of opinion. Its not a matter of ignoring the error and 'holding on to the good'. There IS no good in error. There is no good in a false gospel. So if a person claims a certain "theology" their error is excused or ignored? Gal. 1 is somehow not applied to their favorite theologian or character in history? Since when is that biblical? Surely this is the sin of favoritism that God hates.
I daresay today's "Christian" is too afraid and unable to truly stand for truth. They rather join the mob than be an Elijah or an Isaiah. They find comfort in the company of numbers. How utterly disloyal to Christ Jesus. He, after all, had no numbers on His side, no popularity, didn't teach tolerance of evil or "just agree to disagree" with the religious elite of the day. He didn't compromise, but was loyal to the Father and His Word. He was bold. Those who claim Him are nothing like Him. They don't even aspire to be like Him.
As Ken Silva quotes:
For example, A.W. Tozer sounded an alarm; and one that the Church had best begin to heed, right now, before it’s too late:
"Many tender-minded Christians fear to sin against love by daring to inquire into anything that comes wearing the cloak of Christianity and breathing the name of Jesus. They dare not examine the credentials of the latest prophet to hit their town lest they be guilty of rejecting something which may be of God… This is supposed to indicate a high degree of spirituality. But in sober fact it indicates no such thing. It may indeed be evidence of the absence of the Holy Spirit.
Gullibility is not synonymous with spirituality. Faith is not a mental habit leading its possessor to open his mouth and swallow everything that has about it the color of the supernatural. Faith keeps its heart open to whatever is of God, and rejects everything that is not of God, however wonderful it may be.
“Try the spirits” is a command of the Holy Spirit to the Church (1 John 4:1). We may sin as certainly by approving the spurious as by rejecting the genuine… To appraise things with a heart of love and then to act on the results is an obligation resting upon every Christian in the world (Tozer On The Holy Spirit, August 3).
End quote.I will quote A.W. Pink from a previous post, because its worth repeating:
Few words have been used more inaccurately and loosely in recent years, than has "love." With a great many people--it is but a synonym for moral laxity, weakness of character, a taking the line of least resistance, a quiet tolerating of what is felt to be wrong.
This same evil has held sway in the churches. Leniency and weakness have overridden righteousness and faithfulness. Instead of maintaining and enforcing the discipline which God's Word enjoins--the great majority of the churches have winked at even glaring sins, refusing to deal with those who walk disorderly. This reprehensible laxity, is misnamed "love". A mushy sentimentality which shrank from "hurting the feelings" of others--has ousted all concern for the glory of Christ and the honor of His house.
This is one of the inevitable effects of the lopsided preaching of the pulpit, where the 'love' and 'grace' of God were constantly proclaimed—while His 'justice' and 'wrath' were studiously ignored. God is 'light' (1 John 1:5) as well as 'love' (1 John 4:8); 'holy' as well as 'merciful'; 'severe' as well as 'good' (Romans 11:22). Unless the balance is preserved between those two sides of the Divine character, not only will He be grievously misrepresented--but the most serious results will follow! ~ (Arthur Pink, "Love Reproving" 1943)
Also, go here for the state of "Evangelicalism".
Go here for John MacArthur's comments on Truth and Error that he made recently at this year's Shepherd's Conference.
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