More than one unfortunate soul has camped on the ocean beach, blissfully unaware that a rising tide would soon cut off his escape and sweep him out to sea. Multitudes more are swept away with spiritual tides. Like the ocean tide, spiritual tides creep in quietly, and in small increments. Men and women are not swept out to sea because they are ignorant of the tides. Rather, they become victims of their own preoccupations and misplaced confidence in their own ability to react to danger.
We are presently experiencing a grand pattern of jubilant abandon. Our small, almost joyful, indiscretions in the name of tolerance and freedom from bondage have left us impervious to the grand scale of our problem. We have become oblivious to what is happening in evangelical circles.
So, what about you, dear reader? Are you sleeping on the sandy beach? In this challenge, we offer a single test example for your personal consideration. We do not offer it as a criticism of the parties involved, but as a litmus test for you, the reader. How will you respond to the following case study?
Case Study:
Our Daily Bread and the
Radio Bible Class.
Our Daily Bread is published and distributed worldwide in more than 40 languages by RBC Ministries offices around the globe. It is singularly, the most loved and influential devotional guide in the world.
The Incident.
Recently, a friend (Bruce Oyen) drew my attention to an article by Don Venoit who works with Midwest Christian Outreach. Don was challenging RBC for a recent inclusion of the writing of Henri Nouwen in their Our Daily Bread. Now, Nouwen is not merely a Roman Catholic priest, he is a Universalist, and a key “bridge” leader in the contemplative prayer movement. Many godly apprisal ministries have warned us about this false teacher. (Note: We cover Nouwen’s heretical teachings in our own New Spirituality Intensive.)
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| Romish Priest Henri Nouwen |
The RBC’s Defense.
When challenged biblically concerning this, RBC replied that many other widely trusted evangelicals have also written positively of Nouwen’s remarkable life, ministry, and testimony.
Venoit further reported RBC’s view: “Since thousands of respected evangelicals have read a great deal of Nouwen’s writing without concluding that he is a ‘heretical’ Catholic priest who ‘endorses mysticism, Hinduism, and Buddhism’ it seems fair to give him the benefit of a doubt.”
Now for the test: What was your personal reaction when reading this?
As food for thought we recall a few typical responses this pastor has received after dealing with many similar issues over many years in ministry.
Response #1. RBC ministers to a broad group of evangelicals and should be commended for their sensitivity to them.
The problem with this response is that RBC has based its reasoning on evangelical opinion rather than on the Word of God. They have exposed their own soft underbelly in their failure to identify these “clouds without water” and in so doing, have encouraged millions and millions of readers in some forty countries to sleep on in these days of ecumenical compromise! (2 Peter 2:17-22).
Evangelical opinion does not permit us to give false teachers “the benefit of the doubt”. If every evangelical leader in the entire world should endorse a Buddhist endorsing Catholic Priest such as Nouwen, it would still be RBC’s duty to rebuke him! Remember how Mom used to say it? “If everyone else jumped off a bridge, would you do it too?” (Rom. 3:3-4).
Response #2. Who are we to limit the Holy Spirit? Who are we to judge an organization which God has used so marvelously for so long?
The fact is, we are not limiting the Holy Spirit when we provide such warnings; we are obeying Him! Paul withstood Peter to the face (Gal. 2:11). He further admonished Timothy to do the same. Nor are we judging the individuals involved. We are judging those actions which harm Christ’s testimony and His body (Titus 2:15). Furthermore, if you, dear reader, are not willing to rebuke and withstand apostates, you are the one limiting the Holy Spirit. Dare to stand alone!
Lies and errors are not imported into the church on the backs of evil men. Their leaven is introduced by good men with warm and accepting personas. Don’t be intimidated by a long list of evangelical leaders who embrace this false prophet.
Response #3. You should not have named the organization. If you would just deal with the principles involved folks would get your point.
The very reason we are in this mess is because spiritual leaders have endorsed this head-in-the-sand, “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy for the last fifty years. The fear of man brings a snare, and the idea of withstanding men to the face terrifies the average pastor. “Quit ye like men.” Stand up and be counted. (1 Tim. 5:20, 2 Tim. 4:2)
Those who have lived through the past half century are aware the group we now call evangelicals were once neo-evangelicals who rose up in response to the negativity of fundamentalists. Their reactionary platform was to do away with confrontation and rebuke in favor of dialogue and mutual acceptance. Some statisticians are now averring that at least %50 of all self proclaimed evangelicals are unsaved. It is time that evangelicals admitted that their social experiment has failed us. (Titus 1:13)
When apostates are not so named and identified, they will always gain a following of ignorant sheep and those sheep will be scattered by the wolves. (Rom. 16:17, Matt. 9:36)
Response #4. No one is perfect. Cut them some slack and stop the friendly fire. We need to present a united front to the lost.
Again, Christ’s sheep are at stake. They are worth defending. We offer no professional courtesies to wolves in sheep’s clothing. The number of books one sells or the size of his church may not be evidence of spiritual success in God’s eyes. Woe to the man who is highly revered! (John 10:11-13; 21:16, 2 Tim. 3:12)
True biblical unity always results from defending the truth, never by compromising it.
Response #5. Ho hum! Change the channel! Here comes another negative campaign ad! Why can’t we just love each other and just preach Jesus?
To preach Jesus is to preach and teach all that He said and taught, not to bubble-pack Him into some marketable form.
Sleep on, friend. But keep in mind – your children and your grandchildren will perish with you in the spiritual morass. God is not mocked. We will reap the consequences of our disobedience. The tide is in. (1 Tim. 4:16)
The correct biblical response – It’s all about love!
The unifying thread in all those responses is a commitment to a feigned love which is unwilling to pay the price of true, sacrificial love. We gladly embrace this superficial love in order to avoid bearing the offense which the cross and biblical truth brings. We are terrified at the idea that someone might think us harsh and unloving and will go to any end to prove that point. In reality, we love only ourselves.
When we do not confront error we do not love God’s Word. Titus 1:9-10
Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: KJV
When we do not confront error we do not love Christ. 1 Tim 6:3-5
If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. KJV
When we do not confront error we do not love Christ’s sheep. John 10:9-13
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. KJV
Acts 20:29-31 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. KJV
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End.
Sources:
Radio Bible Class: http://rbcintl.org/
Midwest Christian Outreach: http://www.midwestoutreach.org/
