Thursday, January 19, 2012

Repent, While There is Still Time by Rick Frueh

excerpt:

… the outward signs and manifestations of a religion that says it is Christian but reveals everything to the contrary, are all around us. In fact, if you cannot see the open disfigurement of the faith once delivered to the saints you are deceived as well. And these are not minor disagreements that are more fringe than core. These modern displays tear at the very fabric of what Jesus came to do and what the church is ordained to do and be. Again I say that the situation is so horrifying and treacherous, that in good conscience most of the evangelical religious expressions can no longer be called Christian.

Full article here
http://judahslion.blogspot.com/2012/01/repent-while-there-is-still-time-i-can.html#links



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Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Discernment Ministry?

Today there are many websites claiming to be involved with “discernment ministry”. Their main objective seems to be the exposure of error. Some of these sites offer a valuable resource, informing readers of dangerous teachings and practices that are gaining acceptance in the church.

However some can’t seem to understand the difference between penetrating darkness with light and the mere highlighting of darkness. Those sites seem to be mostly interested in posting criticism and accusation with no balance of encouragement or genuine concern. How often do they pray for those they “expose”? Are they concerned for them or do they merely take delight in writing about dark things?

I recently visited one site and left an encouraging comment for the site owner giving the following advice:
“While it is good to warn about the things that are wrong, be aware that discernment is perhaps more about highlighting what is RIGHT.
It is LIGHT that penetrates the darkness. It is not enough to merely say how dark it is.”

That comment was answered with an accusation that I had “severe NAR* influences in [my] camp”. What was that accusation was based on? The fact that I link to the websites of Andrew Strom and Voice of the Martyrs in the sidebar of this blog (both guilty of false teaching in the view of the “discerning” website owner). However there was no evidence that they had bothered to read further on my blog to see what I personally believed.

When referring to a “discernment ministry”, may I suggest that we assess where their priorities lie? Do they show concern for those in error? What is the standard by which they determine who is in error? Do they go beyond the exposé and ultimately point people to the truth? What is the site's theological bias and how does that affect their understanding of error?


*NAR, New Apostolic Reformation, associated with C Peter Wagner - a group whose teachings, philosophies and practices I categorically reject.

Tuesday, January 03, 2012

Seeking and Finding.

1 Chronicles 28:9
"..the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever."

Proverbs 8:17
"I love those who love me,
and those who seek me find me."

Matt 7:7-8
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Acts 17:26-28

"From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him,"