There’s been a lot of back and forth in the comments here. The essence of it:
“The way heresy hunters go about things is wrong.”
“But the Bible commands us to confront…”
It’s like the entire POINT is being missed.
So, let’s try again.
It is NOT wrong to correct heresy when you encounter it, in a loving, biblical way.
I’m going to provide an example. Rick Joyner recently confronted J. Lee Grady over Grady’s treatment of him.
Note that Joyner is gentle, gracious, and loving; that he attempted to deal with this according to Scripture; and that his response is restorative. Also note what he has to say regarding authority in the church.
Currently, the video I’m referring to will autoplay when you go to the site – however if they post a new one, just find the “Joyner Responds” one.
Contrast his approach to correcting a brother who (he believes) is in error to the methods of the heresy hunters. There is a profound difference.
If you’re going to comment, please comment only on the way that Joyner confronts Grady. Any comments regarding the Todd Bentley/Lakeland Revival situation, Rick Joyner and Morningstar, etc. will be deleted – period. (If you really want to talk about that stuff, you can go to my blog – iamhealed.net – and search and comment there).
mirele said
Blergh.
Did you even read the response to Lee Grady’s column that Joyner had posted over at Charisma Magazine’s web site? I suspect not.
And I quote: “Sorry if this comes across as harsh. I don’t mean for it too but I am quite busy and just don’t have the time that I would like to maybe be a bit more tactful.”
http://www.charismamag.com/index.php/component/content/article/20035
I guess when you’re p*ssed off, being a jerk is perfectly OK in Christendom. None of this “love thy neighbor as thyself” stuff.
And my mother wonders why I’m no longer a Christian. See above. *ssh*t behavior from alleged “men of gawd” is a big reason. Add to that the way women are treated in so many ways (as always subordinate to men, as property, as essentially tradeable for a newer model when the older one isn’t so good anymore for your image, etc., etc.).
Yep. Rick Joyner and Todd Bentley are such good examples and make me want to be with them. NOT.
kathisharpe said
Mirele, I *did* read it (but your comments make me wonder if YOU did).
Joyner’s email to Grady was direct, to the point, and minced no words. It was utterly devoid of any and all of the “polish” that Joyner has as a writer. It wasn’t, however, a “harsh” letter by any means, nor was it untactful. I believe that Joyner apologized not because he was being deliberately harsh, but because the brevity of the letter coupled with it being emailed (no social “cues” such as voice tone or body language), Grady could have perceived what was not intended.
I’ve been a Christian for going on 10 years now and have never been treated in the way you describe (and I’d have been particularly sensitive to it, that having been a primary concern of mine when I was a non-Christian.
richardabanes said
mirele: I guess when you’re p*ssed off, being a jerk is perfectly OK in Christendom. None of this “love thy neighbor as thyself” stuff. And my mother wonders why I’m no longer a Christian.
RA: First, in Christendom “being a jerk” is not excused by being p*****d off. Being a jerk is just that — being a jerk. And being a jerk is nowhere excused, endorsed, or supported by the Bible. Nor would it be excused, endorsed, or supported by any Christian with their head screwed on straight. It’s sinful. It’s wrong. And it stand completely against loving your neighbor — not to mention the fact that it goes utterly against living as we’re told to live (i.e., like Jesus).
Second, you can’t blame jerks in your past for why you are are not a Christian. No matter what they claimed, no matter what they declared, no matter how loudly they might have screamed Jesus, the truth might be that they were nowhere near actually being Christians. So, they can’t really be a reason for you unwillingness to come to God. Jesus wasn’t a jerk. Start dealing with Jesus — not with the jerks in your life.
Third, ANYTHING can be used as a a guise for hatred, anger, sin, and “being a jerk.” It is humanity, not just Christianity, that is filled with horrors committed by people — sometimes in the name of religion, ideologies, and philosophies. In the case of so-called “Christians” being idiots, their actions were done in opposition to the principles they claim to represent—in this case, Christianity.
Fourth, there are all kinds of Christians all over the world who are kind, loving, gentle, truthful, good-hearted, helpful, compassionate, peaceful, tender people. maybe you should start finding and concentrating on THEM as examples of Christianity, rather than the jerks, who are about the worst examples of everything–including Christianity–you can find.
Again, you need to deal with God. You need to deal with Christ and what scripture says about him, his life, and his teachings. Don’t let the “jerks” be an excuse to say no to God.
peace is there for you in him,
R. Abanes