am not sure that this post should fall into the common words series, however I will place it there, and it also was difficult to determine what the ‘common word’ was. I chose ‘separation’ because separation seems to be something this blog’s readers feel passionate about, and rightly so. However separation for separation’s sake is idolatry. Moreover much of what is fundamentalism today is merely a dead mental ascension and a ferocious attempt to root out heresy, merely for that sake of fundamentalism. What I mean is this; much of fundamentalism today is usually nothing more than some people who know their bible and want to tell everyone else that they are wrong in the way they think. Meanwhile they have their ducks in a row but their life is void any true evidence that they actually believe they faith that they know so well.
A church which I am well acquainted with is in currently reeling from the attack of dead fundamentalism. A staff member of this church was targeted by a person or persons anonymously in a letter. The letter showed evidence of this staff member being involved in unbiblical interfaith fellowship. This letter also included various scripture references condemning the practice of interfaith fellowship and so on. Of course the scripture quoted was applicable to the situation, and the evidence provided of heresy was worthy of concern and further inquiry. However the dead fundamentalist who sent the letter anonymously to the staff of this church and much of its congregation lacked the fortitude of a biblical man or woman in sending this letter, and the staff and congregation of this church are not, nor should they be bound to even address the issues at hand in this letter, due to the unbiblical way in which the issues were brought forth.
This is an important post and any person who ever desires to address a situation within their local congregation should read on, and be careful to adhere to the text that will be quoted. It is even possible that you have tried to address issues within your congregation and the way which you have done this was no different than the way pagans deal with their conflicts.
There is no room for secrecy in dealing with issues, and there is no skirting around the issues at hand in order to create a ‘biblical’ result. If the means of creating a ‘biblical’ outcome are not biblical, than the outcome is irrelevant, in other words you cannot create biblical ends without using biblical means.
Matthew 18:15-17
15"(A)If your brother sins[a], go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.
16"But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that (N) ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed.’
17"If he refuses to listen to them, (O)tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, (P)let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
If you ever address an issue you have with a certain person with someone other than the person you have issue with you are acting unbiblical and whatever your argument is, no matter how true it may be, it must be discarded and treated as though it were spoken by a pagan. If a person does not have the biblical fortitude to first address an issue directly with the person in question, they are clearly in violation of the teachings of Christ in Matthew 18 period, end of story. In the situation at the Church I have mentioned, to my knowledge no attempt was made to address the individual personally before the entire congregation and staff was brought into the mix. Remember, the means must be biblical for the ends to be valid. If a person attempts to remove a minister, discipline a staff or congregation member, or question anyone’s practice they must direct their initial inquiry directly to the person in question before anything else. If they do not do this, they are no different the Uzza reaching out to steady the Ark of God. Uzza was trying to help, but he violated the Lord’s prescribed method of handling the ark and his punishment was severe. I know it has been said a lot, but for the ends to be of God, the means must also be of God.
This is the downfall of fundamentalism as a whole today, I understand it is not the downfall of all fundamentalists, but it is the downfall of the majority. Dead fundamentalism hides behind massive amounts of biblical knowledge, and fails to exercise obedience to even a sliver of that knowledge. When the dead fundamentalist is brought into question, typically they know enough scripture to weasel their way out of obedience, or they just bury their questioner in scripture. Unfortunately they win the majority of arguments, but still will have to answer in the day judgment, where surely they will fail to be able to argue their way out of disobedience.
In the case of the issue I am directly addressing within the church I have mentioned, the anonymous fundamentalist is certainly a dead one. In their great desire to purge the church of heresy he or she actually became a heretic and contributed twofold to the problem they desired to solve.
I will leave it there. There are many other verses about church discipline, and separation, and humble obedience to those commands would solve a multitude of issues in many churches. Instead in America we have sissy liberals who allow anything in the congregation, and dead fundamentalists who do not have the fortitude to rebuke in a biblical manner. Instead they go straight to the pastor, or send an anonymous letter, or talk about their issues in their circles of friends. I do not care how genuine the concern is, the fact is anything other than a direct dealing with the person in question is gossip, spin it how you want, on that great day it will be shown for what it really is. Where are the men and women of God who will step up to biblical manhood and womanhood instead of fire shots in the dark? Where are the people who will call things how they are up front, instead of being to afraid to attach their name to truth, and live in conformity to the truth they know? I have been guilty of this nonsense in the past, and repentance and seeking forgiveness is the only course of action that is acceptable. There is no justifying of it, and there are no exceptions where Matthew 18 is not applicable.
Lots of run on sentences, and bad grammar, sorry.
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