Intro: Right off, since tone and clanging cymbals has been quite a topic lately, rightly so, I will define my tone as “deeply concerned.” I am speaking as one who was eventually deceived (Mt 24:24) by a different gospel (Gal 1:6-9) after being born again over twenty years ago (1 Pt 1:3). Therefore, I am extremely sensitive, by God’s grace, truth and Spirit, to false gospels and those who promote and endorse them. Rest assured, not in an emotional, feelings frenzie, “get a grip woman,” kind of way. But in a perked ears, all eyes on target, kind of way, when I smell deception duping someone (following it) or being taught by someone (leading it). Which brings me to this: Another unwise, dangerous endorsement noted by Frank Turk’s open letter to Ed Stetzer. Rick Warren, Leadership Network, Piper and now, Stetzer!!?? Yes, I got that this open letter was not the alarming kudos as was the case for your open letter to John Piper. This open letter was a critique of sorts. Really good points made toward this emergent, Southern Baptist Convention guy, except… quote: “I know what kind of person you are. I know Christ is precious to you.” end quote. This lends this open letter to start as a ‘Berean-style’ examination (my fave), but then leads the reader in the end to actually feel quite snug and cozy with Ed (my own bias). How smart! Or would “deceptive” be more accurate?
UPDATE: (02-10-11) To explain “alarming kudos” for anyone who may not be up to speed. John Piper has 1) pronounced Rick Warren as “doctrinally sound;” 2) created a keynote speaker position for him in the Desiring God Conference ’10 line up; AND 3) is holding the West Coast Desiring God Conference ’11(WCDGC) at Saddleback, as confirmed by Ingrid Schlueter. Ingrid then re-confirmed the place and dates with a Desiring God spokesperson on Feb 7, 2011, at 1:03 p.m. central time. To restate, the WCDGC ’11 is scheduled for April 29-30, 2011, at Saddleback Church! That would not indicate a recant and repentance from John Piper’s sabbatical, of one year. Rather, it furthers his promotion of Wolf Warren!
Ed Stetzer, who is Director of Lifeway Research and Lifeway’s Missiologist in Residence, does a decent job (assuming credit here) getting Word-Faither’s off the Lifeway Christian Stores’ shelves, except the ones Lifeway® publishes. However, it is chock full o’ Rick Warren, seeker-sensitive and purpose driven proponents,emergents and mysticism! LifeWay® publishes Beth Moore (Paula White clone) and Priscilla Shirer (daughter of Tony Evans). These are two refined W-F/prosperity gospel con-artists that LifeWay® has sunk a lot of money into to corner the market of Christian women. They unashamedly twist Scripture to pull women in the church into the riptides of false teaching. Turning them from the sufficiency and inerrancy of Scripture, which is idolatrous and blasphemous, to the notion that we can audibly hear God’s voice as well has hear Him in nature. These women are also proponents of new spirituality/contemplative prayer as seen in the Be Still DVD. Ya know, that pagan mysticism stuff the emergents take so kindly to? They pretty much go hand in hand down the wide path to hell! Yikes! Ed Stetzer is in the Acts 29/emergent, seeker-sensitve, missional, mystic, liberal, ecumenical and social false gospels of the Mark Driscoll camp. If Stetzer holds Christ precious to him, why is he broadsiding God’s people into false teaching, while they happily and unsuspectingly enjoy their latte, beer and Hellywood flicks (credit to Marsha West for “Hellywood”)? Is it all those abbreviations behind his name that makes you feel comfortable with him? So, I ask an honest question of teamPyro that deserves an honest answer, “Why are you promoting these guys, giving credence, consideration and encouragement with friendship, or playful interaction with Ed Stetzer and Phil is allowing it at Pyromaniacs?” I am veeerrrrry concerned about this pollution at teamPyro and its potential, poisonous effects on the faithful ministry of John MacArthur, because Phil Johnson is the Executive Producer of Grace to You (1 Cor 5:9-13; Gal 1:6-9).
BTW, as for the video, you said, for The Nines, “… But He (Jesus) didn’t try to remain equal with God. But instead He gave up everything… when He became like us.” What!? That is not the “real Jesus.” That is some pretty tricky HERESY, not a paraphrase of Colossians, which is all about the deity of Christ and our redeemed, steadfast relationship to Him! Christ never gave up “everything.” >>> John 5:18, “For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.” Christ is fully God and fully man. He never gave up being God! What He gave up was His fleshly, sinless body and life as a sacrifice, the Ransom for sinners, as the Perfect Lamb of God. And He gave up His to the Father. And by His grace, love, power and holy righteousness He bore our sins, the just for the unjust, once for all, in His body on the cross, paying our certificate of debt. How is this nine minutes going to help out any pastors in their ministries for the full counsel of God? How would a pastor learn about feeding the sheep from that when you said “Jesus gave up everything?” He did not ever give up being God. He was only “like us” in His flesh having lived and having been tempted in every way, as we are, while He was on this earth. It’s almost as if you are putting us higher than Him with, “He became like us.” Or equal with us, “He gave up everything.” “Everything” would include His deity, which He did not!
Not a very gracious comment about “Ingrid and the girls,” either. From what I have seen and been encouraged by, Ingrid does hold Christ and His truth precious. And if I was “one of the girls,” so do I. The clawing of the Body of Christ by its own, which is on the rampage with some, needs to stop. I admonish that it is firm and loving accountability of obeying Christ’s commands that must continue, by God’s grace, truth and Spirit. That is something that I believed you to be standing for in your open letter to White Horse Inn, which I supported, until your endorsement for Rick Warren’s Synagogue of Satan Saddleback Church, Piper, Leadership Network and Stetzer, which I have had to make a disclaimer for. It is the edification of the Lord’s own that needs to continue. It is separating from those who preach a false gospel and from those who endorse those who do, while simultaneously contending and defending the preaching of the True Gospel and full counsel of God, that needs to continue. So, you’re coming off as hypocritical in your endorsements and snide comments. What’s worse, heretical.
”But actually, I wrote to you not to ASSOCIATE with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.” ~1Cor 5:11
From our dear sisters in Christ at the Sola Sisters’ Blog, comes a thoughtful addressing of a Facebook (fb) phenomenon, in Christian circles, that has caught many a brother and sister in the Lord off guard! I myself have experienced the whiplash of being thrown back into my chair from reading hateful, slanderous remarks from professing Christians. Either toward me directly, or someone else, because of standing for Truth. I have even been told, that when referring to Scripture, referencing it, that it was my “subjective opinion!” Hugh!? That caused the strongest whiplash of all whiplashes, caused by a professing Christian, who has quite a large ministry on you-tube! If I say that I like Rocky Road ice cream, then that is a subjective opinion! But if I am abiding in and defending the teachings of Christ as is stated in Scripture (Jn 8:31; Jude 3), then that would be God’s Word, which I submit to, by His grace. That would not be subjective opinion. If you want to say that it is my opinion to submit to God’s Word… well, ok. Which brings me to this. I wonder if believers, who most assuredly are in Christ with the Holy Spirit enabling them to exegete and understand Scripture, persevering with its effects in the wretched face of sin still remaining; “to make every effort,” if that at all, in any way, would be pleasing to Him?
I bring this up because pursuing to be pleasing to the Lord has been scrutinized by many as either “impossible” or “legalistic.” But isn’t being pleasing to the Lord what “walking worthy OF the Lord” is (Col 1:10), which we are exhorted, commanded to do? In more than one verse, I might add in Eph 4:1 and Phil 1:27, for two additional examples. Of course, it is possible by faith to be pleasing to the Lord (Heb 11:6; 2 Cor 5:9; Eph 4:1; 1 Thess 2:4)! We will give an account at the Bema seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:8-10).
Obeying Christ’s commands, willingly, as written in Scripture is a testimony of saving faith, if we endure to the end (Mk 13:13; Col 1:23; James 1 and 2). Beware if you are a Christian and yet are not willfully obeying Him (Jn 3:36, Mt 7:21-23; 2 Thess 1:8). It seems to me that folks who bring their clanging cymbals into the fb arena, as if to derail truth being spoken in love (Eph 4:15) by Christians who are ‘being and living the Gospel’ as a ministry to family, friends and fb people, in general, are hurting the cause of the Gospel instead of contributing to it. Perhaps, more accurate of a statement would be causing hurt to the body of Christ.
Just a word on ‘being and living the Gospel,’ since it has been a recent topic in cyber space, spinning out of the open letter by Frank Turk to White Horse Inn (WHI). The Gospel is Christ, His life, death, resurrection and glorious exaltation at the right hand of the Father (1 Cor 15:3-4). As partakers with Him, believers are ‘being and living the Gospel,’ by Christ, Who is the Word made flesh which dwelt among us (Jn 1:1-3,14). He is indwelling believers by His Holy Spirit. ”Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us (2 Cor 5:20).” The Holy Spirit convicts, justifies and sanctifies by the means of God’s Word, the full counsel of God (Jn 17:17; 1 Thess 1:4-5). Gospel and Law separate before conversion, sure. But after conversion, no! This, to me, is what is meant by “being and living the Gospel,” the sanctification part tethered to our justification.
‘Living and being the Gospel’ is not a doctrine to proclaim to unbelievers, as in the way to call sheep through the Gate. Call them to Christ and His redemption for the forgiveness of sin; to the gift of free, everlasting life by His amazing grace. Likewise, did the Lord use the doctrine of election for the rich young ruler? No. By the Law, sin is defined and by the Gospel grace is defined. Jesus said, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden.” They are “weary and heavy laden” because they recognize, by God’s grace, their burden of sin. These deeper doctrines, as I mentioned, are reserved for believers during their sanctification, as God chooses to reveal, or dispense, in His own timing, biblical truths to each of His own by His Holy Spirit and Word. This is the blessed, on-going and ever-revealing revelation of our Divine God and His Truth, as manifested in our redeemed-by-grace-relationships with Him. Growing in His Living Word, which is Christ. Being changed, transformed into the image of the invisible God. Throughout all eternity, believers will be learning the mysteries of the truths our Great God and King, forever in His presence!
But in regards to having been ‘a deer in headlights’ myself with professed Christians using their tongues as daggers, sharpened by malice, strife and slander, wrangling about with words, I have to wonder. Maybe the Lord allows them to show up with their divisiveness to test our faith and/or our witness and obedience unto Christ. I myself have been the victim of slander x 3 and immediately deleted by the fb friend(s) so I could no longer respond to their false accusations! Forgiveness given “70 x 7,” by the grace of God. In addition, perhaps this is what our ‘fb circle of friends’ is watching for. Our doctrine, yes, but jointly our responses, too, in the love of Christ (1 Tim 4:12; 4:15-16). This will be what will overthrow the enemy’s schemes of derailing truth. The cross of Christ being foremost, our example. I have to admit, though, the ‘deer in headlights’ days are past for me. Especially, as I continue to learn from God’s Word about false conversions (Mt 7:21-23; 1 Jn 2:3-6), apostasy (1 Jn 2:19) and the trap of the sin of pridefulness in believers. Here’s a you-tube video that I have found particularly helpful for the latter. Maybe, you will, also.
Overall, do be watchful or aware of those on fb, and let’s add in day-to-day living, who are drawn toward arguing because they disagree with sound doctrine (1 Tim 1:3-5; 2 Tim 3:14; 4:15). Or is it, should it persist, vehemently, that they who bring divisiveness have not been given a love for the truth so as to receive the truth (2 Thess 2:10)? As the Holy Spirit leads our witness of Christ, discern, persevere and pray! Willingly rebuke, reprove, exhort, correct, teach and train with “great patience and instruction” from the Word (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Tim 2:4), until they delete you, worst case scenario! Sparing not, let us first be watchful of ourselves and our example (1 Tim 4:12,15-16). Being argumentative and setting up the ring for such are both are strong candidates to be on the alert for, no question. Not because of the derailing necessarily. But because there is a test in there somewhere for us (1 Pt 4:12; 2 Cor 13:5). Only “the Lord knows who are His,” but these folks very well could be representative of the tares amongst the wheat, like in our own churches, which produces great amounts of growth, actually, if handled according to the Scripture, by the Spirit of God. Be assured, our desire and pursuit for ‘according to the Scripture’ing’ is pleasing to the Lord (Jn 14:15; 1 Thess 2:4)!
According to the sufficiency and inerrancy of Scripture, I believe God is causing all things to work for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28). What I have found, personally, in these instances on fb is that I dive deeper into His Word, by the Holy Spirit’s leading and sanctification, while enjoying the growth of fellowship in Christ with other believers. That in and of itself is the silver lining for which He receives all the glory. And if a sheep is found by our gospel efforts, sowing seeds, with fb witnessing (or from the True Gospel on this blog), Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!! Or if we participate in the grace-full ushering of a brother or sister toward repentance in Christ (2 Cor 7:10; 1 Jn 1:9), Praise the Lord!! What an enormous, amazing, indescribable privilege to participate with Christ as His own! Likewise, to receive the correction and discipline of the Lord! “For the Lord disciplines those He loves!” Rejoice in the discipline of the Lord! I can personally share, that it is truly one of the greatest blessings aside from our salvation! It is next in line. At any rate, His Word will not return void!
All of this to admonish, let us be encouraged in the Lord. If our discussions (from out of the mouth flows what is in the heart) go in the right direction, within biblical parameters, we can’t go wrong. We are only accountable and will give an answer to Him for what each of us do, not for another (2 Cor 5:10). We labor, live and love in the Gospel of Christ, for the sake of others, that they may hear and be saved (or sanctified with the Spirit by the study of His Word-Jn 17:17). No matter who is participating or who is peeking, to God be ALL Glory and Praise!! \0/
UPDATE (02-06-11) DISCLAIMER: No endorsement is being given to Frank Turk in light of recent exposure of his involvement with the Leadership Network and his endorsement of John Piper while Piper is promoting Rick Warren as “doctrinally sound” and holding the West Coast Desiring God Conference ’11, at Saddleback Church, as re-confirmed by Ingrid Schlueter of Crosstalk America Radio, per her discussion with a spokesperson for Desiring God. In fact, I have contributed an e-mail, among many I hope, to Phil Johnson, captain match striker of Pyromaniacs, requesting Frank’s dismissal for throwing buckets of water on the fire of God’s Word until his repentance and recant of such counter-biblical endorsements (2 Thess 3:5-16). Recently, Mr. Turk posted a sustainable development website on his facebook, in relation to a personal situation. I inquired of him if he was aware of the agenda of sustainable living/Agenda 21, as it was recently exposed by Ingrid Schlueter of Crosstalk with Jennifer Penkich, an eyewitness of the launching of Rick Warren’s Daniel Plan, Jan 15, 2011. This concept of sustainable living/Agenda 21, which is a population control and containment method, was one of the concepts being fed to the attendees, amidst other mind boggling New Age teachings (see that info here) at the kick-off of Warren’s Daniel Plan. Suffice to say, Mr. Turk never returned a comment about the website he posted to answer my question. I believe I am understanding we have another resident in Rick Warren’s room of rogues. An open letter to Frank from Mike Ratliff, of Cristian Research Network, adds brush strokes to the clarity of this picture.
How hypocritical and deceitful of Frank to write an open letter to White Horse Inn about accountability and living the effects of the True Gospel when he himself isn’t. Promoting a purpose-driven life, instead of a Gospel-Driven life. I recently supported Frank’s open letter to WHI, on my private facebook page only, not knowing who he was, except being affiliated, on the writing team actually, of Pyromaniacs. This inclined me to be confident of him based on his teammates. Though I do support the points made in his letter about the call toward accountability and living our the effects of the Gospel, to recap. I can no longer endorse or support Frank Turk until a public recant and repentance as stated. Lesson learned, by God’s grace and faithful contenders of His Truth!! Thank you, Ingrid, Mike, etc! Watching and Praying for Phil Johnson and Frank Turk to take the biblical approach for attaining a biblical goal here: Col 1:10!
”But actually, I wrote to you not to ASSOCIATE with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.” ~1Cor 5:11
