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I want you to know that I am not attacking you;
my intention is only to respond to you by quoting the inspired Words
of God as found in the Bible.
Slander according to Webster’s dictionary is
defined as intentionally insulting, smearing or defaming someone.
Since you haven't given me any specific examples, I cannot defend
myself against slander which we have supposedly said and therefore must
conclude that we are not guilty of this. Slander is a sin and we
would never intentionally do so.
If you take issue with an article or sermon in
which a “brother-in-the-Lord” is mentioned, in which we supposedly
“speak evil” of them, I would ask you this question, “Are we really
being slanderous?” Depending on the point of view, this can be
argued all day long, so I will simply let the apostle Paul settle
this as inspired by the Holy Spirit. Should you disagree, your
argument is no longer with me, but the Lord.
But when Peter was come to Antioch, I
withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For
before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles:
but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself,
fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews
dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was
carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they
walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said
unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after
the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest
thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? We who are Jews by
nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, Knowing that a man is not
justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus
Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be
justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law:
for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. But if,
while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are
found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God
forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make
myself a transgressor. For I through the law am dead to the law,
that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ:
nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the
life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son
of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate
the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then
Christ is dead in vain. Galatians 2:11-21
According to Paul, we are supposed to reprove,
rebuke, and exhort. Since Peter was wrong in the way he acted around
Jews and Gentiles, Paul openly reprimanded him. The reason that Paul
spoke to Peter as he did was because of the advice he would later
give to Timothy.
All scripture is given by inspiration of
God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be
perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy
3:16-17
I charge thee therefore before God, and
the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead
at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be
instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with
all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when
they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts
shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And
they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be
turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure
afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy
ministry. 2 Timothy 4:1-5
Jesus gave us very specific instructions on how
to deal with personal conflicts within the Church (Matthew
18:15-17), but this is a different situation not unlike the one that
Paul faced with the Church at Corinth.
It is reported commonly that there is
fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as
named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath
done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily,
as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as
though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together,
and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver
such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the
spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is
not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye
are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with
the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread
of sincerity and truth. I wrote unto you in an epistle not to
company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of
this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with
idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I
have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called
a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer,
or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye
judge them that are within? But them that are without God
judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked
person.
1 Corinthians 5:1-13
When I see a “brother-in-the-Lord” do or say
something that is contrary to the Bible, I simply cannot be silent and follow their “good
example” because if I were to do so, I would be a partaker of their
evil deeds.
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them
which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which
ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve
not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words
and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. Romans
16:17-18
In summary, if someone is wrong on a
doctrinal issue, are we, according to Paul and the Holy Ghost simply
supposed to be quiet about it? Not according to the Bible. If you
disagree with this, you are in error, not because that is my
opinion, but because the Word of God says so!
May God open your spiritual eyes,
Charles Thorell |
