Just this morning I told myself I was going to leave my blog alone and battle with my (far from finished) book about Alcoholics Anonymous. Then I read the following piece by Ken Silva. I thank Christ our King for Pastor Silva’s boldness and his desire to speak Truth.
When I see what is happening in the world I often think of the clenched rainbow fist on Pastor Silva’s site, and the accompanying words: DOWN WITH SOLA SCRIPTURA!
Want to make a difference? Pray for Pastor Silva. Want to make a difference? Obey the Word. Speak the Truth in love–but speak the Truth. “For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.” (Acts 20:27)
Pastor Silva’s article: http://apprising.org/2009/06/because-i-love-jay-bakker-and-glbtq-people/
Thanks, John.
I couldn’t disagree more about AA not being OK. It is OK, I think from your point of view you mean that believing in any higher power isn’t OK, fair enough. But AA is and will continue to be a fellowship that Jesus uses to lead some of his children to Him. That is fact not opinion, I’m one of many of them. I think AA gets a real bad rap from Christians with tunnel vision that cannot see that it leads people to God, granted not always the God of the Bible, at least not always at first. But like I said before most of the people that get there through AA, would never have gone to a church to get there. Sanctification is a life long process and sometimes I think those that have been around awhile have no grace for those that are not where they are. Personally I know a lot of people in AA, who don’t know much doctrine intellectually, but live it because of His grace upon their life. And I know far too many Christians with a head full of doctrine that have no love in them, especially for anyone who is not on exactly the same page theologically. The fact that Christianity even has multiple denominations doesn’t say much for anyone who is so dogmatic that they let their doctrinal beliefs cause division with the body of Christ. It is not about what we know as much as who we know! I think sometimes the two get confused and Bible Knowledge replaces the living Christ.
John,
I’m glad you answered back. You write, “Isn’t Love first and foremost important in Christianity or is it proper doctrine?”
Jesus tells us, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind.’” Then Jesus says, “This is the great and foremost commandment.” (Matthew 23: 37-38) Then, yes, He tells us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. These are the two great commandments. But, John, telling people AA is okay is not loving them. It is lying to them (I am by no means calling you a liar for I know you believe what you say.)
I am weary, so weary, of AA people talking about how church doesn’t work for them etc. I have heard it all.
A Holy God is warning His people.
It seems you have an axe to grind with AA, because it doesn’t line up with your perception of correct doctrine. AA has led many people to Christ, in my experience far more than it has led away, honestly don’t know of any AA led away. In most cases the people that found God through AA and then moved on to “church attendance” (which is not proof of a relationship with Him) and Bible study etc.. would not have gotten there without AA as the beginning step. Which is the real reason why the spirituality is “loose”, so that everyone can seek from where they are at, which is right where God will meet you. Too often the judgmental attitude of Christians pushes new seekers out the door before they had a chance to find Him. Isn’t Love first and foremost important in Christianity or is it proper doctrine?
Thanks for weighing in John. There is doctrine, and much of the Bible is concerned with it–when we ignore or reject it, we end up with things like AA, the emergent church, and many people with smiley faces shaking their tiny fists at God.
I pray that you will be set free from legalism. I’ve been there and done that, it is very destructive to the body of Christ.
If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Legalistic thinking leads to self righteous thinking and the judging of others. More time is spent on what is wrong with others, and not enough loving others and your OWN sanctification. Today’s western church makes a lot of noise and little action outside of self promotion, more time is spent trying to get someone “inline” with proper doctrine (which church is right anyway?, Chirsitans should come up with a few more denominations, lol), than doing anything real and life changing for those that need it most. Everyone is on their own journey, if you made it to Chirst who are you to judge if and when and by what path someone else will. By the way the true sign of living in Christ is seen in love for one another, not the picking apart of one another, This site has more negative, judgmental material than anything that could actually reflect Christ or make someone want to follow Him. May God remove the blinders.
God Bless,
John
[...] You can read John’s post by clicking here. [...]
You’re right, Lyn.
AMEN!! We must not neglect the most powerful defense of the Christian…prayer. These are very perilous times; it certainly is not going to get any better as far as this present world is concerned. We know wickedness will increase, persecution will come, and deception/apostasy will continue to multiply.
Here’s the beauty of it all…Christ is coming again!!