Featured The Way of the Master moment episode Do you have a crusade for 2017?

I did. I didn’t want to appear harsh, so I didn’t reply. But I will, again without wanting to appear harsh because I think the reason for you posting this thread was well meaning.

Really? Jesus warns these churches about what HE will do if they are not faithful. And you interpret this as a command for YOU to rebuke false churches in the world. Are YOU going to spit them out of your mouth if they don't turn back to their founding faith?

Jesus spent absolutely time addressing the false teachers outside of the Jewish faith, and there were plenty of false teachers outside to address. And Jesus had the right to address them, for they were defiling His Father’s house, His Father’s people, His Father’s commands.

If you were saying that you believed it necessary to address false teachers within your church, and even to identify and guard against false teachings within your church, then you would have some ground upon which to stand. You, however, are on sinking ground here.

You have no authority to rebuke another church just as you have no authority to commend another church. Watch out for those things God has put in your care, brother.

Again, if these are Christians then why do you need to preach the gospel to them? If they are not Christians then why to you need to battle them as false teachers?

Jesus gave you the command to preach the gospel to the lost, to be a light in the darkness, a city on a hill. Do that. Scripture teaches us not to judge those outside, but inside the church – to disciple those who are saved. Do that. But for the sake of the name of Christ to a lost and dying world, please get it straight.

Under what authority did you condemn these people? Certainly not Christ’s. Jesus never commanded us to condemn the lost. Under whose name did you condemn these people? Certainly not the name of Jesus. Jesus did not come to condemn the world (the world was condemned already).

I am not talking about writing a letter, sending a tract, an email, a phone call, or having dinner with those people. If your intent is to seek them out in order to condemn them as false teachers then your “crusade” simply is not of God. There is no other way of saying this, and I don’t mean to offend. Part of what you are doing is good – witnessing to the lost. Part of what you are doing is sinful – disobeying Scripture by seeking to judge and condemn those outside of the church. But, I suppose that’s true of all of us. We all have times when Christ shines through, and then we have times when we want to take the wheel.

 

I read it several years ago. Again - I agree that we are to share the gospel with the lost. I disagree that we are to condemn false teachers except within the church.

 

I know that Martin Luther would have condemned you for your Baptist beliefs, but he would have been wrong. Luther sought at the start to reform the RCC. Are you suggesting that the Unitarian Unity Church is a true Christian church under your responsibility?

 

I don't know where I have the book (if I even still have it). I saw "Fool's Gold" when I moved my books a few months ago, but MacAuthor was never a favorite. And here it is a distraction. Regardless of the book, Scripture is clear on this one. It is not even a controversial topic. We are commanded to share the gospel to the lost, not to condemn them.

 

I think you would find that toleration a bit one-sided.

 

Well... Apparently I misunderstood. I thought you were condemning them when obviously you are sharing the good news of God's amazing love and redemption.

 

I never said otherwise. Unless your letters offer condemnation then go for it.

 

I believe that God puts us where he wants us and our responsibility is to be faithful where we are. I admire your passion for the lost.

How is it going with your "crusade" in Denver?

 

and the Bible also says in Matt 28:19-20- we are to be "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:"

click for these two links

Link A
Link B