Today, I feel led to share a link to my friend Neil's blog - Eternity Matters. He has written an excellent post that biblically "outs" the false teachers from the realm of liberal Christianity! You will learn a lot and be truly blessed by the truth he shares!
As usual, when Christians share the truth of the Bible with theologically liberal Christians, it often leads to a battle. There is one commenter over there who was a bit up-in-arms because he thought that Neil was "judging" liberal Christians.
4Simpsons Blog - Eternity Matters
A simple way to out theologically Liberal Christians for the tares and wolves that they are - One of the easiest ways I’ve found to “out” false teachers is to ask if they believe that Jesus is the only way to salvation. They very rarely do. They’ll...
Excerpt:
One of the easiest ways I’ve found to “out” false teachers is to ask if they believe that Jesus is the only way to salvation. They very rarely do. They’ll defend their false view with some tidbit they’ve heard then try to change the subject. Some, like false teacher Chuck “Jesus is not the only way” Currie, come up with entire sermons designed to rationalize away plain texts like John 14:6 (Jesus answered, ”I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.).
Theologically Progressive/Liberals who claim the name of Christ mock the cross and the blood of the martyrs. They refer to a few Bible verses, though almost always out of context, but if you keep them talking long enough they deny nearly all the essentials of the faith.
What they don’t know is that there are more than 100 passages supporting the truth that Jesus is indeed the only way to salvation. When you point that out they work overtime to ignore you or change the subject. Don’t let them do that. And keep in mind that many of them have Masters or Doctorates in theology yet they have read the Bible so little that they don’t even know that truth!
Just ask them this: Do you believe that Jesus is the only way to salvation, or do you rationalize away the 100+ passages affirming that truth? Follow-up question: If you deny those passages, then you are denying that the Holy Spirit inspired the original writings, so what is your evidence that the original writings were wrong but that the Holy Spirit is now accurately revealing truths to you?
Neil asks the 2 pertinent questions at the end of that excerpt:
Just ask them this: Do you believe that Jesus is the only way to salvation, or do you rationalize away the 100+ passages affirming that truth?
Follow-up question: If you deny those passages, then you are denying that the Holy Spirit inspired the original writings, so what is your evidence that the original writings were wrong but that the Holy Spirit is now accurately revealing truths to you?
Read the entire post and comments. Neil answers each query and objection by utilizing biblical hermeneutics masterfully!
My comment there:
Unfortunately, liberal Christians often make the same mistakes as non-believers. They equate the necessary correction and reproof by fellow Christians as “judging” others. But the fact is that man can be guilty of “judging” God’s Word and rejecting the truth therein; precisely because it goes against their own personal beliefs regarding what constitutes sin. Instead of agreeing with what God has revealed in Scripture, they want to hold onto their own ideologies or secular beliefs. When they do that (by not utilizing exegesis, Scripture interprets Scripture – meaning proper hermeneutics), then they incorrectly interpret Scripture and thus the true meaning can be lost. Such methods easily lead one astray into heresy and apostasy.
We are only human – and when I get something biblically wrong, I want my fellow Christian brothers and sisters to correct me! The best way to do so is with Scripture itself! [I must add that Neil's post uses Scripture masterfully - and thus all that he wrote can be upheld biblically - which is the most important test in sharing the truth!]
There are many Scriptures that tell us to avoid such misinterpretations. 2 Timothy 2:16-17 is just one example:
2Ti 3:16
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
2Ti 3:17
that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work
.
The importance of the Holy Spirit guiding the born-again believer can’t be emphasized enough! Jesus told us that he would send the Helper (at Pentecost) who will testify of him (Jesus), bring all we have learned back to mind and help us to properly learn, study, and apply Scripture!
Jhn 15:26
“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
Notice that Jesus needed to depart in order for the Holy Spirit to be sent.
Jhn 16:7
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
Jesus also tells us the purpose of sending the Holy Spirit to us:
Jhn 14:26
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
And we also find out that the Holy Spirit will abide in us forever:
Jhn 14:16
“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—
This is why Jesus claims that he will be with us always, even unto the end of the age:
Mat 28:18
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth
.
Mat 28:19
“Go therefore[fn] and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mat 28:20
“teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.[fn]
What’s more, the closer we get to the end times we know that there will be a falling away from the truth. This is why the 2 Timothy 3:16-17 instruction is so crucial when sharing the Gospel of Christ!
See the book of Jude for one example.
Hat tip:
4Simpsons Blog - Eternity Matters
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