With A Crack Of The Whip…
… the witch hunt is on. That’s what Ojo Taylor said on his solo album Relative. What was he talking about? I’ll be honest with you. I can’t remember. But, if I had put those lyrics in a song, it would be a sarcastic reference to the witch hunt trials that many of today’s “discernment ministries” (I use the term “ministry” loosely) are conducting.
I’m not going to totally discount the validity and value of such ministries. There might be some that are careful. There might be some that are truly “discerning”. For some people, it works. There are people who, because of past “cult” experience, are extra sensitive towards anything that slightly resembles a cult-like attribute. Some people are “so” incredibly sensitive to these matters, that they start seeing things that aren’t really there. Their assumptions and impressions stretch into demonic definition that sometimes defies (in my speculative opinion) rational.
Maybe I’m wired differently. Maybe I’m more prone to search things out for the good and profitable. Maybe I’m digging through the trash looking for treasure. Certainly our personalities play into it. Some folks are more prone to dig through the treasure in search of the trash.
What is true discernment anyway? Isn’t it a gift of the Holy Spirit that enables one to miraculously know the secret intentions of another? Isn’t it an ability to sense that something is either “right” or “wrong”? If so, here’s my quandary. The discernment ministries are dissing: The Shack, Rick Warren, Greg Laurie and All things “Emergent”. I find myself in an increasing majority of pastors who don’t discern problems in these areas. There are some who utilize the “emergent” philosophy of ministry that are un-Biblical. That doesn’t make the entire philosophy wrong. There are some elements of “The Shack”, if taken out of context and looked at in part, that will come off as being strange. But in its entirety, the book speaks truth concerning the nature of God in a way I’ve never seen outside of the scriptures. Rick Warren? Did he quote someone he shouldn’t have? Did he stand on a stage next to a heathen? So what? And Greg? Well, you know- guilt by association.
If these discernment ministries are walking in a gift of the Holy Spirit, then I join myself with many of my peers who are unfortunately out of touch with the Holy Spirit. At the same time, some of these finger pointers are claiming an association with MY fellowship of churches. I for one, love these brothers and sisters who are in Jesus, however, I don’t like them. I don’t want to align with them. I don’t want the identity of my fellowship to be lined up with the malicious, condemning and defaming actions of those on the perpetual Witch Hunt.
If they are officially part of us, I want to know.
If we are officially part of them, I want to know.
point your finger at me, I’ll bite it off.
-Pat Nobody
July 10, 2008 at 1:25 am
Chad,
Bro you rock!! I love you with a Christian, non-homosexual, knuckle bump kind of love My brother.
Blessings!!
(I heard you were contemplating prayer, dont you dare make me call the gestapo on you)
July 15, 2008 at 2:25 am
I think that a part of the issue I have with discernment ministries is that they are so unwilling to look for anything valuable, at all, out of their target.
Take Rick Warren for example. I’m not a huge fan of the Purpose Driven Life b/c, to me, it did not revolutionize my walk. I had been taught growing up that I had a purpose, and that God had a purpose for me. This was not new information. I have another friend, however, who read the book and was transformed. The whole idea of having God spill out into areas of her life other than “church” was just awe-inspiring to her.
I have seen good come from it. Therefore, I cannot completely discount the entire ministry.
I don’t swallow it wholesale, but there is no need to throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Dana
July 22, 2008 at 4:15 pm
I like the work of Rick Warren. The Purose Driven Life was well written in a way that the “Saddleback Sam’s” of the world who thought they had it all realised that they indeed had a bigger purpose. That purpose was that GOD had a purpose for them. All of a sudden a big home, vacations, SUV’s and luxuries of the world that were easily attainable became secondary to achieving this Godly purpose.
Now, when I read The Purpose Driven Church, I found one of the biggest pitfalls was that Warren choose to deliberate on methods of ministry without reinforcing the importance of having a strong relationship with God. He seems to have good insights but misses the fact that God works successfully through many individuals with different ways of approaching ministry.
Discernment ministry as some men would call it possesses a good amount of knowledge, but the knowledge of God’s will, and the sensitive guidance of the Holy Spirit is far more important. Without God pouring His love in our hearts, knowledge is non-productive.
October 19, 2008 at 6:45 pm
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May 20, 2009 at 4:30 am
People with the ministry of discerning of spirits are supposed to warn the other body members when evil has disguised itself as good. This is what has happened in the story of the Shack. The percentage of it being scriptural is still not 100% and therefore, it should be read (if at all) with discernment, prayer, and not as a personal healing resource if you are hurting.
I think a spirit of error is involved and even a partial embracing by a believer will cause him to come into agreement with something that contradicts God’s word… doing this can open yourself up to further demonic manipulation…this is why this package of stuff is dangerous.