Discernment over doctrine can be too extreme.
I have no problem with true discernment on things that must exercised with discernment. I do however have problem who are so concerned about being doctrinally correct that they find a way to find problems with Christians who associate with different denominations, some which might not really preach the gospel or are more charismatic churches. I myself enjoy visiting a good sound teaching Charismatic church. I have spoke in tongues a few times. Tongues are something we can agree to disagree on.
People can also get so caught up in doctrine that it gets rediculous.
Two Blogs That Go to Different Extremes
The past wk, I have gone on the
solasisters blog site. I know they want to defend the gospel and I applaud them there. However last wk I started getting into a debate over something that Billy Graham said and what I believe he meant. This blog is accusing Billy Graham of believing that people of other faiths will come to him, which is not true. Some people can be so concerned about things being black and white that they don't think God could use means such as dreams or wheatever else to draw people groups who would not have an opportunity to hear the gospel through conventional means. There are areas of the world that people might not have the opportunity but it does not mean that God could not intervene somehow in those situations. My mom has heard of stories like that. People who are so concerned about doctrinal purity and correctness can sometimes forget that God could reach people who would not easily have the chance to hear about him through dreams or whatever. These people would accept Jesus. I agree with them on John 14:6. I don't agree with them that the elect only lives in places where they have the chance to hear the gospel through conventional means. It might be easier in this day and age to reach a lot more with the gospel then in the past with technology and various Christian huminitarian organizations, however God might still speak to people in dreams.A few months ago I debated with Jason Coker on a lot more serious issues. I hope that those contributors to pastoralia have been extremely decieved, since some of the contributors such as Jason and others have denied the substitutionary attonement of the Lord Jesus Christ for their sins, an essential in theology. I also debated with him about the Here and Now which denies Heaven and Hell, a major heresy pushed by McClaren. I also debated him about the fact he does not believe that Jesus will be riding on a horse with his army in the battle of Armageddon at the end. I saw another poster on solasisters where there was another guy who believed similarly. I don't know if he goes to a Vineyard, which is sad that many pastors and churches have allowed this heresy to preached in the pulpits. I go to a church in the Association of Vineyards where the pastors do take the Bible seriously and believe that Jesus is the only way.Both these blogs have used Billy Graham in not so positive lights.Labels: Billy Graham, Doctrine, God's Mercy, The Gospel, Theology
