"Always remember, when somebody comes up with something new,
it's usually wrong. We are to be plagiarists of the same information that
God gave the first Christians." -- Dr. Matthew McMahon, aPuritansMind.com

 

13 February, 2008   comments: (0) Purpose Drivenism   You're Making Wrong Judgments (& various other problems) I'm on my way out for some medical tests, but wanted to quickly share some reader-mail with you, and give you a chance to respond. Don Huff writes-in through our contact form: "Some things you say may be right. Some are wrong; not based on my opinion but based on scripture. No man has all the light. That is why we depend on each other in the body of Christ. But reading your comments you are very critical of many. Do you know their heart? No---no more than I know yours. But the fruit is what separates the wheat from the tares. I do not agree with anyone totally; for we all have mistakes and look through a mirror dimly. I do not have all truth nor do you." This email was sent to me in response to our page which recommended some Bob DeWaay resources related to Rick Warren, however it is unclear as to whether Don Huff is upset with me for posting materials that refute Purpose Driven, or whether his complaint is a wider one than that. Right away however, Don makes a series of unfortunate assumptions. He seems to feel that because we have a negative opinion of Rick Warren's teachings, this somehow implies that we must "know it all". Moreover, Don feels that we have made judgments (against Rick Warren's teaching, and whoever else's - he doesn't say) he feels that we are also making motive-judgments based on "knowing the heart" of others; yet he provides no examples of where we do this. "Fruit" is brought up, which in these types of churches usually means "decisions for Christ" or "quantity of baptisms", but it could be that he's talking about "bad fruit" that he perceives we have. I'm not sure where he was going with the fruit-point (maybe some of you can help me understand that one). There seems to be more confusion about 'truth' and who can know it, according to Don. Is he saying that we all make mistakes and therefore none of us can know the truth in any given area? Almost like one of those 3 legged-sack races, he seems to be implying that we depend on each other to know any truth at all. Don does not seem agreeable to the idea that one person or group would be able to spot false teaching in someone like Rick Warren. Such would not be working together to come to a consensus of truth. But isn't this what Don did with us, by saying that we are wrong, not based on his opinion, but (as he said) "based on biblical truth"? Don Huff's email continues: "It is like the disciples who wanted to be critical of another group of people preaching the gospel that were not with Jesus's disciples and the Lord simply said that the gospel was being preached even though they weren't with them. How many times do we criticize just because someone is not of our camp or theological mindset. Is this what Christ wants? If something is absolutley not of the gospel then yes expose them. I don't see many if any of the people that you criticize, having preached anything else other than Christ and him crucified. From what I have read of your writings you seem to think you have all the answers. I would be afraid of you for that is error plain and simple and very arrogant. It is a shame that you are so linear in your thinking and miss the blessing of what Christ is doing in his body in stead of your own little boxed in view of God and christians. Your spending your whole life being critical and cutting others down when God never called anyone to that. Maybe you should try praying for others that you don't agree with instead of mocking their beliefs for the world to see and make even more fun of christians and their inabilities to accept one another even though they preach love. I would not want to be a christian if I read your criticism and then read anything you would have to say about Christ's love----How hypocritical!!! I will pray for you as I am sure you will be praying for me that I see the light. May God have mercy on you. For you! appear to be the one who is deceived by arrogance and a attitude of pious "know it all." --Don Huff" Unfortunately, many more assumptions are being made in this section. It is said that "we criticize just because someone is not of our camp or theological mindset". Once again, no examples are given of how we've done this. Don started off his email saying that we are wrong about some things and he knows this "not based on opinion but based on scripture". However, when we have an objection with someone like Rick Warren Don says it's due to being in "another camp or theological mindset". Why is it that our objections are ruled-out as having no biblical basis? Moreover, we are said to be arrogant, linear, hypocritical, pious, and deceived. We also have a boxed-in view of God and Christians, we are "spending our whole life being critical", and according to Don - we apparently haven't been praying for others we disagree with. How does he know these things? Wow! That probably takes the cake for the most I've read wrong with me, in one email, in long time. Maybe Don will stop back and point out some specifics for us, so that we'll have some actual examples to go off of. How about it Don? We would also be willing to talk over Don's misgivings about our views of Rick Warren (and whoever else Don feels we've made a mistake in expressing concern over). Let us compare their teachings to the word of God and see how they match-up. I would also recommend to Don an excellent article by Bob DeWaay entitled: Defining the Believer's Biblical Call to Judge. For anyone with an internet connection fast enough for video clips, you don't want to miss Paul Washer, whom my family had the privilege of hearing preach over the weekend: "You're Mean-Spirited, Proud, and Critical" (Paul Washer): Posted by: Jim B.   Link: http://www.oldtruth.com/blog.cfm/id.2.pid.958   Be the first to post a comment about this article        Home  |   About  |  Videos   |  Calvinism