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DISCERNMENT OR CRITICISM
Taking
a
stand
from
a
biblical
perspective
with
regard
to
purpose-driven-emerging
Christianity
is
not
very
popular
these
days.
Those
working
towards
establishing
the
kingdom
and
“getting
closer
to
Jesus”
through
contemplative
practices
rooted
in
eastern
mysticism
are
very
outspoken.
If
you
are
not
in
favor
of
what
they
are
promoting,
you
are
labeled
a
hater
and
against
everything.
One
pastor
wrote
me a
letter
and
asked
the
following
question:
“Before
you
went
public
with
your
book
Faith
Undone
did
you
contact
everyone
you
wrote
about
in
the
book
personally
and
discuss
the
issues?
If
not,
shame
on
you
and
don’t
write
me
back.”
Of
course,
I
was
shamed
into
writing
him
back.
I
recognize
that
I
should
always
be
open
for
correction.
But
“shame”
is a
pretty
harsh
term
coming
from
one
of
the
“brethren.”
Incidentally,
this
man
was
insinuating
that
I
was
violating
Matthew
18
by
writing
about
public
figures
in
my
book.
But
Matthew
18
is
not
about
challenging
leaders
who
are
deceiving
millions
of
people.
One
pastor
I
tried
to
contact
sent
his
bulldog
after
me
who
attacked
me
personally
with
slander.
He
didn’t
even
address
the
facts.
Should
I be
ashamed
of
myself
for
quoting
someone
who
said
what
he
said
in a
public
forum?
Does
this
really
make
me a
“counter-cult-kook”
as
he
said?
The
problem
seems
to
lie
in
the
area
of
perspective.
When
a
watchman
warns
about
teachings
that
are
popular,
the
watchman
is
unpopular.
However,
popularity
is
not
what
determines
truth.
For
example,
the
popular
position
on
origins
is
evolution.
Does
that
mean
evolution
is
true?
What
about
the
facts?
Ezekiel
and
Jeremiah
were
called
to
be
watchmen.
When
they
warned
the
Israelites
that
they
had
abandoned
God
and
were
seeking
after
the
gods,
the
people
thought
they
had
lost
their
minds.
They
were
interested
in
hearing
about
peace
not
judgment.
They
devised
harsh
things
to
say
about
the
prophets.
Jeremiah
got
quite
discouraged
and
wanted
to
quit
his
job.
It
is
hard
to
have
someone
say
you
are
an
idiot
when
you
are
telling
people
the
truth.
He
was
only
doing
what
God
told
him
to
do.
He
was
trying
to
warn
them
that
judgment
was
ahead.
I
know
a
fellowship
of
pastors
who
responded
the
same
way
when
facts
about
the
purpose-driven-emerging
church
were
presented.
When
they
were
told
the
truth,
they
didn’t
want
to
hear
the
truth.
They
said
that
telling
the
truth
was
being
critical
or
having
a
critical
spirit.
Saying
that
one
has
a
critical
spirit
means
that
one
has
been
influenced
by
Satan.
Instead
of
being
discerning
and
warning
about
deception,
you
are
considered
a
divisive
person.
At
least,
that
is
what
I
have
been
told.
Another
pastor
wrote
to
admonish
me
by
saying
“the
Bible
teaches
that
we
are
to
mark
those
who
cause
division.”
I
guess
this
is
why
he
said
I
should
be
ashamed
for
telling
people
the
truth.
Of
course,
he
had
forgotten
the
rest
of
the
verse
–
Paul
said
the
ones
who
cause
division
are
the
ones
who
teach
contrary
to
the
doctrine.
However,
we
know
according
to 2
Timothy
chapter
four
that
in
the
last
days
so-called
Christians
will
not
want
to
stand
for
sound
doctrine.
They
will
say
discernment
and
warning
about
false
teaching
is
“just
being
critical.”
I am
Roger
Oakland.
This
has
been
a
biblical
perspective
to
help
understand
the
times.
