House Church Talk - Article on Purpose Driven

[Dan Beaty]

Jim,

By your post I sense that you have a heart to see true believers love and
accept one another with our differences, yet in balance. "Keeping the unity
of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Men like Dave Hunt for example have done us a service by pointing out subtle
doctrinal errors that creep into churches from time to time. But a few years
ago I met up with some of Hunt's friends who were making statements about a
group that I have had much contact with over the years.

In fact I had been identified with them for a while, to the extent that
these folks would have not likely received me if they had known this. In our
conversations I suggested that they be careful to not judge everyone
identified with a movement or ministry based on the bad examples only.

They then agreed that they had jumped to some conclusions. Interestingly
enough, they later became very involved with some of the erring doctrines of
that movement themselves!

Discernment is important, even when discerning "discernment ministries!"

Dan

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "jim sutton" <goodword at bresnan.net>
To: <House Church Talk  at housechurch.org>
Sent: Sunday, July 18, 2004 11:20 AM
Subject: Re: House Church Talk -  Article on Purpose Driven


> "Dan Beaty" <dlbeaty at copper.net> wrote:
>
> >But sometimes I see reactions that are worse in the end. Like so many
> >Christians even in HC who feel no sense of purpose at all. Some are into
> >just "hanging out" and living in the fear that what we are doing might
even
> >grow beyond our little "intimate" group, or develop the least degree of
> >structure
> >
> >Moses had a  mission, Ezra, Nehemiah, John the Baptist, Jesus and Paul
all
> >were very consumed with their sense of God's purpose in their earthly
> >existence. If we take the author of the article's advice to enter a
period
> >of prayer, Bible study and quiet reflection, I believe the Lord can bring
us
> >to a balanced position where we can fulfill His purpose HIS WAY.
>
> I would tend to agree with you, Dan, as to the idea of caution.
"Ministries"
> that set themselves up as judges over all the rest of the church can be
easily
> misled into condemning what God Himself is doing.
>
> Genuine discernment is a fine and good thing, a very necessary part of
> Christian growth and life.  But while we may do well to allow a specific
group
> or church (such as Discernment Ministries) to alert us to *potential*
error,
> we must be careful not to simply follow along automatically the
"discernment"
> of others.  Some will "discern" that anything other than the KJV is not
really
> God's Word. Some will even "discern" that women who wear make-up, pants,
wigs,
> or fingernail polish are godless sinners.
>
> True discernment is the working of God's Holy Spirit in believers.  It?s a
> ministry of God Himself that works in us for the good of the whole church.
>
> It is not a tool intended to keep a specific group of believers pure and
> separate from all the other "bad" believers in the body of Christ.  Yet
I've
> met several separatist Baptists, for example, who, in the name of
discernment,
> cut themselves off from all contact and fellowship with all other
Baptists,
> and from all other believers.  You cannot be right with God unless you?re
a
> member of their organization.
>
> Who among us is perfect in faith, in doctrine, in obedience?  Yet these
types
> of believers often feel, and firmly believe, that they alone are perfect
and
> pure in their doctrinal stance.  And they "discern" error in anyone who
> differs from them -- in any way at all.
>
> Such attitudes and prejudice against God's people is not the working of
God's
> Spirit.  That?s simply how we all are, when we assign greater value to our
own
> ideas than to the grace of God that works to call ordinary sinners to
Himself.
>
> I cannot speak for anyone else, but I know that my doctrines do not save
or
> keep me.  I am saved and kept by grace alone, through faith in Jesus
Christ
> our Lord.
>
> Jim
>
>
>     --- Info and subscription management at
https://housechurch.org/talk ---