I’m reading through robbymac‘s new site Post-Charismatic right now, and there’s a lot of good stuff. He’s on board for a podcast discussion in the near future, maybe even the first one of the discussion series I’ve been promising…
“Just because spiritual gifts are in evidence, we should not assume that God is therefore endorsing all of the beliefs of the person, group, or church.” This is a tidbit I learned a long time ago by studying the church in Corinth. They were clearly blessed by God with the gifts, but yet clearly messed up. The sign of the gifts is not an endorsement on teaching or ministry.
And conversely, bad teaching does not mean the gifts are of the devil. God in his wisdom chooses to gift whomever He chooses. The Spirit is much more tolerant of our incorrect beliefs than we often are.
The paranoia and fears of not getting the fine details of doctrine are a thing of beauty to behold.
Another weapon employed by the doctrine police is “righteous anger” which they define very liberally to include any bitterness and anger directed at anyone who does not share their symantics and language.
I was saddened, but not surprised by the vitriolic diatribes directed at you in response to your “truth” posting.
The name of the website is a bit ironic. Jesus’ major beef with the church of Laodicea was its endless self-congratulatory orgies (“I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing”).
Over the years, among the most self-congratulatory churches I have encountered and attended are legalistic and doctrine obsessed congregations in fundamentalist circles.
David Cho
February 21st, 2006
David -
Thank you for the support. I just think of the name of their site a little differently.
Colossians 2:1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, 2that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, 3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
So we’re a slice of those who have “a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself.”
And to tie it all in to this post, RobbyMac’s site has a lot of good material on how to properly critique in fairness and grace.
Alan
February 21st, 2006