IN SUPPORT OF THE EFFORTS OF APPRISING MINSTRIES

By on Dec 26, 2012 in Current Issues, Features

I’ve pointed out many times now that as a general rule, and a courtesy, we do not publish email without the permission of the sender.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

In this case the author of the email to follow has granted permission for me to share his kind words with the faithful supporters of AM, without whom I wouldn’t even be here.

I thank Eli for the encouragement because I take quite a bit of friendly fire for daring to touch the growing number of “Christian Untouchables” within apostatizing evangelicalism.

Beware of its capricious cult of celebrity:

CultofCelebrity

I offer the following with much gratitude:

On Dec 24, 2012, at 5:15 PM, World Wide Web Owner wrote:

From: Eli
Subject: Reponse to article on Dr. Ravi Zacharias

Message Body:
Pastor Silva,

Greeting in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I have been reading your webpage for over a year now, and have been blessed by it.  I felt compelled to write you given some of the recent emails you have been receiving.

Many of the Brethren seem to have forgotten that we have certain duties to the Lord, and to each other.  One such responsibility is to care for their fellow brothers and sisters in the Faith, even if doing so requires the occasional rebuke.  What good is for one to say that they love their brother if he does nothing to correct him when needed? (Gal 6:1-2, Phil 2:4, John 13:34-35, 1Tim 5:8)  We are all humans, and will make mistakes, but none of us are above reproach. (Luke 17:3, Heb 4:13)

I was myself surprised, and sadden, to read your article on Dr. Ravi Zacharias, and I support your efforts as a Christian Brother to clearly, but respectfully, question his support of Joyce Myers. (1 Thess 5:12, 2 Tim 3:16)  Dr. Zacharias is considered by many, including myself, as one of the few respectable Elders of the Christian Faith, along with Dr. John MacArthur, and Dr. RC Sproul, thus his support of Joyce Myers will cause confusion among the Brethren of the Church.  For no matter how well intentioned or honorable the cause for being on her show and giving her his support, the ends do not justify the means.  I guess that even the best of us need to be reminded of what fellowship have the Righteous with the Lawless? (Amos 3:3, 2 Cor 6:14-16, 2 John 1:7-11)

It may have been a simple error on his part, or a symptom of something greater, but if we fail him by not asking these questions how can we say we love our fellow Brother in Christ Dr. Zacharias, or anyone else for that matter? (Titus 1:9, 1 John 4:7; 4:20-21, Rom 12:10)

Given my chosen profession as a Physician, I fully understand that it is a challenge to be gentle, but clear with important subject matter. Unfortunately, I have also learned that no matter how pure your intentions, how professional your manners, and loving your actions someone will be offended.  No one likes to be told they are wrong (Prov 5:12), but it is far kinder act that we do the right thing, and correct our brothers and sisters in love then to stand by, and let them be corrected by the Lord. (Prov 3:12, Heb 10:31; 12:6)

What I find disheartening is the manner by which many so called “Christians” choose to response to your questions.  Yes, I have read some that show politeness, and maturity, but many others are rude, and sadly even childish in their statements.  Some have been so rude that I even question their maturity as an adult, and further question their Christian Faith. (Matt 7:16-18)

Even though the Brethren need to be made aware of the false teachings of people such as Ms. Myers, Ms. Moore, Mr. Osteen, Mr. Warren, Mr. Driscoll, Mr. Furtick, Mr. Noble, and sadly to say many others, we should harbor no ill will towards them, as I am certain you do not.  On the contrary, we need to continue to be upfront with them, and pray for them so they too can repent from their sins and follow the True Christ. (Matt 5:44, John 3:16)

We have no right to change, manipulate, or even ignore the Holy Scriptures, even under the disguise of culture, political correctness, or for a false sense of brotherly love. We are warned many times about adding or subjecting from the Scriptures, but it’s repeatedly done from many pulpits on Sunday morning, and on many T.V. stations daily. (Prov 30:6, Deut 12:29-32, Matt 7:15-21, 2 Peter 3:16)

I do believe that it is of dire importance that the real Body of Christ stand up, and start taking the responsibilities given to us when we choose to follow Him. We so easily forget that to follow Christ we must deny ourselves, and pick up our Cross. (Luke 9:23)  We ignore the price many martyrs paid, often with their own blood, for simply saying they were a Christian.  What would they say to the Church as we so often stand quietly by, and let Satan, and his wolves do as they please? We need to pray for these people so they can see the error of their ways, and fight for our Faith. (Matt 5:44, 1 Tim 2:1, 2 Chron 7:14, 1 John 1:9, 1 Peters 3:15, 2 Tim 4:1-8)

To my brothers that state that they can learn from these false teachers my question to them is what of discernment?  Just because there is some value in what the world has to say, either through Joyce Myers or the Dalai Lama, are we going to follow the World or Christ? (Amos 3:3, Matt 6:24, Rom 12:2, 1 John 1:9-11, 1 John 2:15, 2 John 1:7-11, Gal 1:6-10, James 4:4, 2 Cor 4:4)

Need we be reminded that all Scripture is Inspired by God Himself? (2 Tim 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:21, 1 Cor 14:37, John 14:26, Gal 1:11-12) If the Lord states that Women, and even certain Men, are not allowed to be elders then it settled.  If the Lord stated that Homosexuality is a sin whom are we to say otherwise? Why is it “splitting hairs” when one simply quotes Holy Scripture? How does a so called Christian disrespect the Lord’s very own words? My question to by brothers is why do you insist on questioning the Lord? Where is your respect? Where is your fear? Have we learned nothing from Job? (Job 38)

We all carry the same burden you do Pastor Silva, but given the obstacles we face, even from within, almost no one wants to speak on these matters as clearly and openly as you do.  In that I thank you, and I will continue to pray for you, and others that fight for our faith, so that God can give you wisdom and strength as you continue to do what many of us refuse, or even fear, to do.

Your Brother in Christ,

Eli
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