I’ve pointed out many times now that as a general rule, and a courtesy, we do not publish email without the permission of the sender.

At the same time, all email sent to AM and Christian Research Network is considered the property of Apprising Ministries so we may indeed publish unsolicited email for the purposes of edification.

Such is the case here:

On Jan 8, 2013, at 7:24 PM, World Wide Web Owner wrote:

From: Ron
Subject: Website

Message Body:
I’ve been in the ministry now 47 yrs. I say that knowing that doesn’t count for much depending on whom your talking to. I’ve always wondered why some sec’s of religions fill their mission is to find what’s wrong, as if they were God’s deputy?

To argue or debate is like throwing gas on a fire. I grew up taking a street car to church listening to hell fire and brimstone. Now many years later I find the same method used today.

Fear of wolves in sheep clothing, fear of whose elected for president, and yet you never hear from these same people about God’s grace, trusting him to take care of things. But rather how we should take care of things that God doesn’t.

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This mail is sent via contact form on Apprising Ministries https://www.apprising.org/

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On Jan 9, 2013, at 10:21 PM, Ken Silva wrote:

Hello Ron,

Thank you for contacting Apprising Ministries. Please know there was no offense taken and I received this as written from a point of sincere concern. I’m responding in the tone of two people talking about issues over coffee. I just put all of this up front due to the coldness of the written language, which lacks the ability to distinguish inflections, etc.

You begin: “I’ve been in the ministry now 47 yrs. I say that knowing that doesn’t count for much depending on whom your talking to.” Ok, I’m not really sure what you mean, but I would imagine you’ve had some sort of training and experience. That’s usually worth something as I see it, Ron.

Then you say: “I’ve always wondered why some sec’s of religions fill their mission is to find what’s wrong, as if they were God’s deputy?” Although I’ve been in the ministry fields of counter-cult evangelism, apologetics, and Comparative Religion for 25 years I can’t speak for what other religions do.

As far as my labors in Lord are concerned, I’m actually involved in a lot more than the writings you would see here at Apprising Ministries. That said, it’s part of my calling as pastor-teacher (cf. 2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:9) to address “what’s wrong,” to call people to repentance, and also to teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.

It doesn’t have anything to do with being “God’s deputy.” However, just as the Lord chose to work through human instruments in the preaching of the Gospel of repentance and forgiveness of sins in Jesus’ Name, so He also uses us in the defense of the Gospel as well (cf. Philippians 1:7; Jude 3).

You say: “To argue or debate is like throwing gas on a fire.” It can be; however, Jesus Himself wasn’t adverse to arguing — And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well,… (Mark 12:28). Read the rest of this passage through and you’ll see it provoked profitable discussion.

I’ve had the same thing happen many times. I’ve even had people tell me, “I used to hate you until I examined the Scriptures concerning what you had to say; and now I’m thankful that God lead me across your work.” Ron, sometimes we have to run the risk of being hit, so to speak, by those whom we’re trying to help.

Next you shared: “I grew up taking a street car to church listening to hell fire and brimstone. Now many years later I find the same method used today.” I would have to say that I don’t really hear any “hell fire and brimstone,” but I do hear a lot of criticism a la Rob Bell of this rarely used “method” as you call it.

The same goes for the following, which you say you’re hearing: “Fear of wolves in sheep clothing, fear of whose elected for president,…” I’m not going to defend spiritual wingnuts like Westboro Baptist Church-types; however, I can tell you that those I work with in defense of the Gospel aren’t operating in fear.

Quite the contrary actually; we have no choice but to lean on “God’s grace, trusting him to take care of things,” because what we do is not a popular position. Not only are we under attack from enemy forces, which we would expect, but we also take more than our share of friendly fire as well. It goes with the turf in this timid generation.

Frankly Ron, my view is the world, and the visible church for that matter, could use a little fear of God. I pray this helps you understand a bit more of where I personally am coming from. May God open your eyes that you may recognize the very dangerous spiritual time in which you now live.

Sincerely,

Ken Silva, pastor-teacher
President
Apprising Ministries
Ezekiel 3:7-14

Gen. Ed.
Christian Research Network
2 Corinthians 11:12-15

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