Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. (Jeremiah 6:16)

If Respect, Then Respect

Since this person has chosen to write in a condescending and public way elsewhere about the following exchange I will now present these emails as a perfect illustration of the underlying ignorance and arrogance within $evangelical$ Christian circles today. I have changed the name and withheld the exact location, and some of my response I have covered elsewhere.

But let this serve as instruction concerning the harmful effects that the Emergent rebellion against the Bible is spreading throughout the American Christian Church. And let it also be sent out as an admonition to young men who would challenge older pastor-teachers sent by Christ, who have been in ministry nearly as long as you’ve been a Christian, that at this late hour you will no longer find us so reticent to put up with your growing insolence. peace.

Ken Silva,

My name is Harvey, I am a youth pastor in Someplace Important to Me, California. I am doing some research on the web (always an interesting task!) on Rob Bell, because friends of mine have been saying he is in their words “Sketchy” (That is Californian for un-biblical!).

I came across your web-site and seriously want to throw up right now. Your points are interesting and thought provoking. You back up your frustrations with the Emergent movement with solid scripture. For that I commend you. But the spirit with how you do this is disgusting.

Calling people “man-lovers”, even in sarcasm is never appropriate. How do you justify your name calling and sarcasm with what 1 Peter 3:15-16 says: “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”

Q1: Do you believe you are using gentleness and respect in dealing with these doctrinal issues?

Q2: Do you believe that you have a clear conscience for the sarcasm you use in your posts?

Q3: Do you believe that those who malign the word of God are ashamed of their slander because of your good behavior in Christ?

Martin Luther was such a man of courage. He stood up for Bible doctrine when no one else would. He called his opponents out with strong language and accusations. But in my readings of Luther, I have never heard him use the sarcasm and hateful words that you do. I ask you to explain yourself.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts,

Harvey

Hello Harvey,

Thank you for contacting Apprising Ministries. First of all, due to the limitations of the written language, let me say that you seem sincere and you have not offended me. So I write within the framework of what Dr. Francis Schaeffer meant when he said, “Honest questions deserve honest answers.” I hope you realize that I’m 51 and have been at this for quite a while now through websites that have literally been given to me by Christ.

By the way, I’m tracking with you re. “sketchy” as I was a street musician out in L.A. a few years ago. Y’all on the left coast do things just a bit different than we do out here on the right coast. And Rob is off the hook, but not in the cool sense. He is off the track and from people I know that have known him even before he was “Rob” he might not even have been saved in the first place.

Please know that I have a lot more information about him, and from sources very close to him, than I have not shared publicly. Ok, so now on to your concerns. You ask: “How do you justify your name calling and sarcasm.” Answer: At this time it is what I am being led by Christ to do. Then you set forth the following:

Q1: Do you believe you are using gentleness and respect in dealing with these doctrinal issues? Answer: John the Baptist says, in canonical Scripture: “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham for our father,’ for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.” (Luke 3:7-8)

Was John the Baptist “using gentleness and respect in dealing with these doctrinal issues?”

Q2: Do you believe that you have a clear conscience for the sarcasm you use in your posts? Answer: Here is Elijah, also from Scripture: “It came about at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, ‘Call out with a loud voice, for he is a god; either he is occupied or gone aside, or is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and needs to be awakened.’ So they cried with a loud voice and cut themselves according to their custom with swords and lances until the blood gushed out on them.” (1 Kings 18:27-28)

How about Elijah, do you think he had “a clear conscience for the sarcasm” he used here?

Q3: Do you believe that those who malign the word of God are ashamed of their slander because of your good behavior in Christ? Answer: Here is Jesus Himself as recorded by the eyewitness John: “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me.” (John 8:44-45)

What do think; were “those who malign the Word of God” ashamed “of their slander because of” Christ’s perfect behavior as the Son of Man?

You also say: “in my readings of Luther, I have never heard him use the sarcasm and hateful words that you do.” Read further and you will:

These arrogant and unlearned papists can’t govern the church because they write nothing, they read nothing, but, firmly saddled in the pride of possession, they cry out that the decrees of the fathers are not to be questioned and decisions made are not to be disputed, otherwise one would have to dance to the tune of every little brother. For this reason the pope, possessed by demons, defends his tyranny with the canon “Si papa.”

This canon states clearly: if the pope should lead the whole world into the control of hell, he is nevertheless not to be contradicted. It’s a terrible thing that on account of the authority of this man we must lose our souls, which Christ redeemed with his precious blood. Christ says, “I will not cast out anybody who comes to me” (John 6:37). On the other hand, the pope says, “As I will it, so I command it; you must perish rather than resist me.” Therefore the pope, whom our princes adore, is full of devils. He must be exterminated by the Word and by prayer. (Luther’s Works, vol.54, Table Talk, No.441, p.330) as cited at:
http://www.cwrc-rz.org/documents/historic-002.php

Finally you say: “I ask you to explain yourself.” Well, how’d I do? :-) Matt, please know that the fact that I am bold and direct most certainly does not mean I have no love for the people I speak out against. Quite the contrary I spend hours and hours studying their materials that I often purchase out of my own pocket to try and understand their views from their perspective.

But you need to understand this is no game and this is no time for a “business as usual” approach to the Christian faith. Our Lord is at war and I am a soldier doing what I am personally asked to do for Him. What others do they will have to one day stand for themselves before God, as will I. I do pray this helps.

May the Lord open your eyes my dear brother that you might see the dark red sky this morning and recognize the time in which you live. I am afraid this is only the beginning and should the Lord tarry things are going to get mighty rough spiritually in the days ahead. You may believe me when I tell you that I sincerely wish I had better news.

For Christ’s Honor,

Pastor Ken Silva
President
Apprising Ministries
https://www.apprising.org/
Ezekiel 3:7-14

General Editor
Christian Research Net
http://christianresearchnetwork.com/