IS THERE A "CULT OF ONLINE DISCERNMENT MINISTRIES"?
By AM on Mar 8, 2009 in AM Missives, Current Issues, Features
From the Christian Research Net:
Richard Abanes thinks so. In his article Don’t Believe Everything You Read…On the Internet the apologist for Rick Warren writes:
It’s almost beyond belief that individuals supposedly indwelt by the Holy Spirit could be partakers of such activity. But the facts show that a significant number of “Christian” blogs & websites have indeed become dedicated to attacking others; more specifically, dedicated to attacking other Christians!
And such attacks are not just limited to simple assaults on other points of view, but penetrate into the realm of questioning another person’s Christianity, misrepresenting the faith of others, and deliberately seeking to destroy the reputation of various public figures (i.e., fellow believers).
These persons have actually formed a new “cult” of sorts. This “cult,” which I have termed the “Cult of Online Discernment Ministries (ODMs),” has demonstrated that its real mission/ministry is the destruction of fellow Christians with whom they disagree. Ironically, they do it under the guise of defending the faith against cults and false doctrine via apologetics/discernment…
As a public figure, I myself have been enduring this kind of persecution for years—as have several of my friends and associates in ministry. It’s been discouraging, frustrating, and painful to witness.
CRN was unable to find “the facts [that] show”, in his speculations where this “public figure”, or any others, are “enduring” such “persecution.” Perhaps you can. And as he was apparently promoting this piece, perhaps with a new book in the works, Abanes also wrote:
I’ve posted a very important article that is beginning to get some attention online. It addresses this new “cult” of sorts, which has come to be known as the Online Discernment Ministry (ODM) crowd.
http://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/abanes/11600278/
It’s appropriately titled, “Don’t Believe Everything You Read…On the Internet” … The Body of Christ is finally beginning to pull the mask away from these ODMs to reveal their true nature, purpose, drive, and goals.
peace,
Richard Abanes (Online source)
In addition Richard Abanes has also pointed out that, in his particular delusion, an argument can be made sites e.g. like [Christian Research Net], Apprising Ministries, and Slice of Laodicea, are part of “the synagogue of Satan” as you can see below:
richard abanes Says:
Sunday, March 8th, 2009 at 10:50 pmDouglas: I’m 18 and probably haven’t lived, but c’mon, labelling folks like Silva and Schlueter as the synagogue of Satan is a bit of a cheapshot.
RA: There is a legitimate argument that can be made here for that label since these people, as the days move forward, are being increasingly more vocal about kicking out of the church anyone/everyone who DOES NOT meet their conditions of TRUE salvation, TRUE Christian faith, and TRUE biblical ways of running a church (including the appropriate ways of preaching). This is dangerously close to actually adding to the pure Gospel of grace based on simple faith in Christ…
Richard Abanes (Online source)
For those who might be interested, Abanes first posted the piece cited above at The Heresy Hunter Hunters blog where there was a further discussion between Ken Silva and Richard Abanes in the comments section there.
And the following was left at “PoP cuLTuRe MiX”:
Ken Silva said, on March 9th, 2009 at 7:07 am
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Well, I’ve just had another “discussion” with Phil Naessens that’s very revealing about him. Which we’ll see…if…he publishes my last comment, that is.
And, there was further discussion concerning this piece when it was first published here: http://huntingheresyhunters.wordpress.com/2009/03/03/dont-believe-everything-you-readon-the-internet/
See also:
RICHARD ABANES NOT CONVINCED SOME ONLINE DISCERNMENT MINISTRIES ARE CHRISTIANS
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