"We see, in many a land, the proudest dynasties and tyrannies still crushing, with their mountain weight, every free motion of the Consciences and hearts of men. We see, on the other hand, the truest heroism for the right and the greatest devotion to the Truth in hearts that God has touched. We have a work to do, as great as our forefathers and, perhaps, far greater. The enemies of Truth are more numerous and subtle than ever and the needs of the Church are greater than at any preceding time. If we are not debtors to the present, then men were never debtors to their age and their time. Brethren, we are debtors to the hour in which we live. Oh, that we might stamp it with Truth and that God might help us to impress upon its wings some proof that it has not flown by neglected and unheeded." -- C.H. Spurgeon . . . "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31, 32 . . . . .

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Friday, March 5, 2010

RIGHTEOUS JUDGEMENT

by A.M. Kisly

It never ceases to amaze me that whenever a true Christian believer takes God at His word, and uncompromisingly compares it with the doctrines being passed off as truth in the Church, he or she is forever branded as a divider, a troublemaker, a Pharisee and without God’s love when warning others of them.


Just like the rest of the world pressing us to conform to liberal ideas, compromise our morals, wildly chant “peace, fairness and equality”, and perhaps sing a round of "We Are the World'…so goes the watered down, new spirituality of the make me feel good church.

 Don’t make waves with your dogmatic and uncompromised faith or no one will like you.

God does not want “unity” at the cost of TRUTH! If we as Christians cannot discern the difference between God’s Truth – THE BIBLE, and every wind of doctrine, then we are sure to be led down a road that leads to destruction.

It would behoove us as followers of Jesus Christ, to literally “follow” the instructions that he has left for us, the CHURCH. Isn’t that why he left us His word?
In the book of Matthew chapter 7, we find Jesus ending his sermon on the mount, and teaching his disciples about judging and judgment.

For some reason, some interpreters of this passage think this to mean that we are not to judge at all. Didn’t Jesus say, "Judge not, that ye be not judged" (MATT 7:1)? Isn't it unbiblical, then, to accuse a Christian leader of any wrong? 

On the contrary, Jesus could only have meant that we were not to judge motives. If we continue to read further into the chapter, Jesus also said, "Beware of false prophets [i.e., teachers]... by their fruits [lives] ye shall know them" (15-20). Surely He is calling us to judge false doctrine and deeds!

 When Paul exhorted Timothy to "preach the word," he explained that to do so one must "reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine" (2 TIM 4:2). Paul warned of "vain talkers and deceivers... whose mouths must be stopped [from teaching false doctrine]." He urged Titus to "rebuke them sharply" (TITUS 1:10-13).

 So is this a contradiction in the Bible? Absolutely not!
 I believe that the passage is speaking about judging rashly and passing judgment without any ground. I believe that he is directly speaking to those who so piously and pridefully walk around looking for faults in others while completely blind to the fact that they too have sin of their own.

Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.”

Clearly Jesus is admonishing us to judge ourselves, and be judge of our own thoughts, hearts, and actions before running around trying to correct everyone else. For no man is above another, no one is made righteous in the sight of God without the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

We however are not talking about pompous misjudgments brought by self-righteous Pharisees who seek to exalt themselves above others. We are discussing the proper place of ‘Discernment Ministries’ who like Jeremiah have God’s Word burning in their hearts like a fire in their bones, and who can no longer remain quiet because of the Word of Truth compelling them to speak.

In my opinion, it is darn-right courageous to stand unwavering preaching repentance and warning of God’s impending judgment, when popular opinion seeks to persecute, malign, hate and threaten you.
As author and teacher, Dave Hunt so aptly states,
“It is not enough simply to "preach the truth" when there are lies which counterfeit it so closely that many can't tell the difference. It is both logically and scripturally essential to expose and refute today's pernicious false gospels.”
 It is those doctrines of demons, false teachings, teachers and prophets, who are endangering scores of people, and leading them into eternal damnation of which both the deceived and the deceivers will partake of.

 Discernment ministries exist to simply point out what should be obvious to the CHRISTIAN BELIEVER that is to warn of false doctrines which cannot be found in the written Word of God. If it’s not in God’s Word, then it CANNOT be TRUTH and so can only come from another, whose name is Satan, the King of Lies and the whisperer of ‘hath God not said…..”

Christ himself continually warned of judgment and hell, exposed sin, demanded repentance, rebuked the religious leaders and indicted them as hypocrites, whited sepulchers, blind leaders of the blind, and fools. 

Without doubt, He would be banned from most Christian pulpits and media today! Could it be said that Jesus was unloving (intolerant, divisive, etc.) by doing so? On the contrary, Jesus is the very embodiment of love, for “God is love”. Genuine, godly love will not fear to confront and correct those who are in error either in doctrine or deed, for concern of another’s spiritual well being.

The very act of warning those in impending danger is a perfect example of love, compassion and mercy. Jesus taught us in:
MATTHEW 7:13-14
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat (14) Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

Well doesn’t that say it all?
It’s not a wide road that offers a smorgasbord of religions, theologies, and lifestyles that leads to life; but rather a gate (or the entrance) which is narrow and strait. 

JESUS WARNS AGAINST FALSE PROPHETS

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
JESUS TEACHES US HOW TO DISCERN FALSE PROPHETS
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
HE TEACHES US HOW WE ARE TO DISCERN, TO KNOW AND TO JUDGE
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. WHO IS A WISE MAN? 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. A FOOLISH MAN 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. 28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

With this said, James Fire and I are not running for a popularity contest, and the articles or series of articles which we have prayerfully and thoughtfully researched and written for you are meant for no other purpose but to reveal God’s truth in the sea of lies.

It is our prayer and our hope that the Church, prepare herself as the Bride of Christ, making herself ready for the appearing of the Bridegroom which is Jesus Christ.
Time is short and it is time for the Bride of Christ to get ready!

I don’t know of any real bride would show up to her own wedding unkempt, unadorned and dirty, while her bridegroom waits for her at the altar. This article is a precursor to the long-awaited series of articles that I will begin to publish on the Word-Faith movement. I will say that this series is in no wise a criticism of God’s children, but a criticism and warning of the doctrines that are contrary to the very word of God and thus invalid for the church to heed, learn and practice!

2 comments:

James J. Fire said...

It's my sincerest prayer that every one that names the Name of Christ Jesus, indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God, impassioned and zealous for the Holy Word of the scriptures will take heed to this message, not comprise its meaning one single iota, and refuse to placate the erroneous teachings of so many ministries that are at the height of popularity today.
NEVER has there been a greater NEED and CHALLENGE to apply ACTS 17:11, 1 THESS 5:21 and 2 TIM 1:13.
The LORD mightily bless you Anne for proclaiming this message, and may the LORD bless any and all that indeed "hold fast the form of sound words (BIBLE!)"

Unknown said...

Thank-you for your steadfast faith in our Lord and His Holy Word, and for sharing with us to keep us from false teachings.

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