Monday, December 17, 2018

Evangelical Leaders and Sin

Today's Evangelical leaders believe error has no consequence and isn't sinful, and they believe that sin has little consequence except for the "big" ones like adultery or murder.

It's not what they always say--indeed they might profess what is true. The measure of a man, especially a teacher, is what they proclaim AND practice. 

Most today deny and divorce sound doctrine from sound living (godliness).

1Ti 6:3  If anyone advocates a different doctrine, and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,
1Ti 6:4  he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions,
1Ti 6:5  and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.

2Pe 1:3  seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
2Pe 1:4  For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 
2Pe 1:5  Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge;
2Pe 1:6  and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness; 
2Pe 1:7  and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.
2Pe 1:8  For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Unsound doctrine leads to unsound living. False teaching (anything that isn't true according to Scripture) cannot help in sanctification. Rather, it is corrupt.

The notion that sin has little consequence (except for the "biggies"), is bound to the notion of "easy believism" divorces doctrine and practice from the believer. Usually men hide it:

by layers of associations: surround themselves with staff or associates but can't go directly to the "top" man (as they have set it up--"senior pastor" for example). No direct access to himself.

by attaching themselves to a perceived sound man, thus looking solid and trustworthy himself (that is, they borrow perceived qualities of a well known or top wrung man).

by promoting or worse, believing one's own PR

Worse, such leaders redefine sin:

They create categories of sin: lesser sins are justified by human nature ("nobody's perfect", "we all sin"); greater sins: will incur church discipline for the people, but rarely for the elders (our "betters"); they use the opinions and practices of leaders, scholarly degrees, books written, as well as attendance to conferences to measure truth and a man's spiritual standing (1Cor 1:20-21; 3:18-21). These are fleshly things used to determine what is by nature, spiritual (1 Cor 2:14).

They violate this: 1Co 1:26  For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27  but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,

In the Evangelical leaders' attempt to redefine sin, they also necessarily they don't even see sin AS sin, such as:

favoritism, celebrity, evil desires (empire building, church gluttony (bigger and better facilities for attracting people--that is, appealing to the flesh to get bigger numbers), sodomy), unsound doctrine (evolution, psychology, pragmaticism, doubting of Scripture); hypocrisy; plagiarism (stealing) (in books, sermons--quotes); self promotion, flaunting freedom; association with false teachers.

Scripture calls these things sin and what does the Lord instruct us to do regarding sin? Confess it and repent of it. To deny one is in sin and if you remain in unrepentant sin (especially when we're talking about teachers and leaders) Scripture states:

1Jn 1:6  If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 

1Jn 1:8  If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1Jn 1:10  If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

1Co 11:27  Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.
1Co 11:28  But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
1Co 11:29  For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he does not judge the body rightly.
1Co 11:30  For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep.

To deny for example, that one is guilty of the sin of favoritism while he is truly guilty of it (1Cor 1-3, James 2, 3 John 9-11; Gal. 4:16-17) is to argue with Scripture and not humbly accept God's verdict:

Jas 1:18  In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we might be, as it were, the first fruits among His creatures.
Jas 1:19  This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;
Jas 1:20  for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.
Jas 1:21  Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
Jas 1:22  But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 
Jas 1:23  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 
Jas 1:24  for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.

This requires action:

Mat 18:15  "And if your brother sins, go and reprove him in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.
Mat 18:16  "But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED.
Mat 18:17  "And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax-gatherer.

1Ti 5:19  Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses.
1Ti 5:20  Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also may be fearful of sinning.
1Ti 5:21  I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality.
1Ti 5:22  Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thus share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.

1 comment:

laurie said...

http://www.gospelweb.net/NHWellsWritings/racket3.htm#