Top 10 Responses To Anyone Daring To Point Out False Teachers And Teachings
I'm still in the process of cleaning up my Inbox and computer desktop and I just came across this gem from way back in 2008.
It's one thing to recognize false teachers and/or false teachings, but what happens when we actually confront them by speaking "the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15)?
How many of these have you heard before? Do you think this list leaves anything out?
Whenever I think about this sort of thing, I always wish I could've been there to hear the responses that Martin Luther got from his contemporaries whenever he boldly proclaimed the Gospel or felt he had to lovingly correct a brother or sister in Christ.
In a Lutheran layman's terms, lets always remember that we are expected "to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3).
[NOTE: As you know, I am a newly converted Confessional Lutheran who recently escaped American Evangelicalism. That being said, please contact me ASAP if you believe that any of my "old beliefs" seem to have crept their way into any of the material you see published here, and especially if any of the content is not consistent with our Confessions and Lutheran doctrine (in other words, if it's not consistent with God's Word) so that I can correct those errors immediately and not lead any of His little ones astray. Finally, you might discover that some of the earlier pieces I wrote on this blog definitely fall into that category since I was a Lutheran-In-Name-Only at the time and was completely oblivious to the fact that a "Book of Concord" containing our Confessions even existed. I decided to leave those published posts up only because we now have this disclaimer and only to demonstrate the continuing work of Christ and the Holy Spirit in my life. Thank you for stopping by and thank you in advance for your time and help. Grace and peace to you and yours!]
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It's one thing to recognize false teachers and/or false teachings, but what happens when we actually confront them by speaking "the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15)?
Top 10 Responses To Anyone Daring To Point Out False Teachers And Teachings
The list below identifies all the modern tactics used by those who hate it when other Christians hold them accountable to God's Word.
10. "Touch not God’s anointed! Pastor so-and-so is very much anointed by God and you have no right to speak anything against him!"
09. "And how many souls did you yourself save this week? Pastor so-and-so had 2,000 conversions just last weekend alone. Have you ever been able to reach that many yourself!?!"
08. "Quit criticizing preachers and pastors. Get a life with God, man!"
07. "You’re nothing but a Pharisee/Sadducee!"
06. "Who are you to judge!?! Judge not lest you be judged!"
05. "Are you a pastor yourself? Do you have any theological training? If not, then how dare you think you are interpreting the Bible correctly?"
04. "Hey! Don’t quench the Spirit!"
03. "No church or pastor or congregation is perfect, so why nitpick?"
02. "God wants us to have our best life now. He wants to bless us financially, with good health, and a great life. If you yourself aren’t claiming His promises, and living the victorious Christian life, then don’t be jealous or blame others who are!"
And the number one response...
01. "Can’t we all just agree to disagree and get along? We should love one another and you're not being very loving."
How many of these have you heard before? Do you think this list leaves anything out?
Whenever I think about this sort of thing, I always wish I could've been there to hear the responses that Martin Luther got from his contemporaries whenever he boldly proclaimed the Gospel or felt he had to lovingly correct a brother or sister in Christ.
In a Lutheran layman's terms, lets always remember that we are expected "to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 1:3).
[NOTE: As you know, I am a newly converted Confessional Lutheran who recently escaped American Evangelicalism. That being said, please contact me ASAP if you believe that any of my "old beliefs" seem to have crept their way into any of the material you see published here, and especially if any of the content is not consistent with our Confessions and Lutheran doctrine (in other words, if it's not consistent with God's Word) so that I can correct those errors immediately and not lead any of His little ones astray. Finally, you might discover that some of the earlier pieces I wrote on this blog definitely fall into that category since I was a Lutheran-In-Name-Only at the time and was completely oblivious to the fact that a "Book of Concord" containing our Confessions even existed. I decided to leave those published posts up only because we now have this disclaimer and only to demonstrate the continuing work of Christ and the Holy Spirit in my life. Thank you for stopping by and thank you in advance for your time and help. Grace and peace to you and yours!]
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Thank you for visiting A Lutheran Layman! Please feel free to leave a comment or a question since we do not exercise censorship. We've seen a similar policy with other blogs and it's worth repeating: Please act as if you're a guest in my home, and we'll get along just fine. I think anyone would agree that the kind of back-and-forth that is characteristic of blogs/chat forums and social media is becoming tiresome for all of us. Still, we should confess, edify, and love (and contend and defend when needed). Bottom line? Search the Scriptures! Apply Acts 17:11 to anything and everything you find here and, if you do happen to disagree with something you find here (which is certainly ok), or think I'm "irresponsible" and "wrong" for writing it, then please refute my position by supporting yours with Scripture and/or the Confessions. I don't think that's an unreasonable request, especially for those who identify themselves as "Christians" here, right? Besides, Proverbs 27:17 tells us "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another" and 2 Timothy 3:16 says, "all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness." If you have an opinion that's great, I welcome it, but try to support it using God's Word. I mean, if the goal here is to help us all arrive at the truth of God's Word (myself included), then it should be easy to follow through on this one simple request (I'm talking to all you "Anonymous" visitors out there). Grace and peace to you and yours!