The desire to be loving and positive, both New Evangelical traits, have never been repudiated by the New Calvinist movement, a successor of the conservative wing of New Evangelicalism. In fact, these twin related traits manifests themselves in the blogosphere in New Calvinist Tim Challies’ blog post attacking so-called watchbloggers [4]. In his highly inflammatory post, Challies utilizes zero Scripture to support his case and through analogy with the secular world accuses watchblogs or discernment blogs as utilizing evil as entertainment, merely because such watchblogs act as watchmen in portraying the errors within the professing visible Church. The irony that Challies is, in this one post of his, doing exactly what he accuses the watchblogs as doing (portraying the errors within the professing visible Church) is seemingly lost on him, as it has been written:
Take note of the irony here: what we just read was a blogger concerned about watchbloggers watchblogging, issuing a very pointed criticism against watchbloggers in general, but in point of fact was watchblogging about other watchbloggers on his own blog. [5] . . . . . .
There is an intelligent and helpful piece at the Daniel’s Place blog regarding recent critical posts on watchblogging at several sites. One critical blogger stated authoritatively that if bloggers weren’t qualified to be church elders, they shouldn’t be “dispensing discernment.” What a shocking comment to come from someone who believes in the priesthood of all believers. According to him, you’d better not warn your ladies Bible study about Rob Bell, Oprah Winfrey’s latest New Age guru (as my friend recently did) or any other false teaching.
If you aren’t qualified to be an elder, you must not share biblical truth on these matters with anyone. Sorry, sir, that’s nowhere defensible in Scripture. I would further add that many who jumped on this quote and used it to demonstrate how bad watch blogs are were equally unqualified for eldership due to their ungodly and raunchy conduct online. That didn’t stop them from spreading their twisted and unbiblical brand of “discernment.” In this hour of Protestant chaos, God uses whom He will, and the fact is, He is using many who, however imperfect they may be, value truth in an age of spiritual deception.
One critical blogger stated authoritatively that if bloggers weren’t qualified to be church elders, they shouldn’t be “dispensing discernment.”
It is not up to him to decide who is or is not an elder in the visible church. There are a large number of us who are indeed qualified to be an elder and have indeed been ordained as an elder in a local church. However, being an elder is not the only qaualification for excercising discernment in todays visible church. The problem now seems to be that local churches are not watching over the flock as they are ordained to do. See I Peter 5 for the charge that God has made to elders in the visible local church:
“The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (1Peter 5:1-10)”
Especially to be noted here is the use of the word “oversight” I believe this among other things entails being a person of discernment. Listen in most evangelical churches today this charge has been abandoned in favor of seeker movement and pageant plays instead of the faithful exposition of God’s Holy Word, this is a call back to Sola Scriptura in all churches that are left.
Tom,
What was ironic is the critical blogger who stated “that if bloggers weren’t qualified to be church elders, they shouldn’t be “dispensing discernment.”
Was a pastor of a church that did not have Elders!
He was from a “Pastor is Master and CEO” church
I have to add that this same individual posted remarks on his blog publicly questioning the work I’ve done for 21 years on Christian radio. Even though I work from home, have always been under the authority of my husband and male Board of Directors, and pastor, this man felt that it was appropriate for him to call into question the side ministry I have been a part of in exposing false teaching today. Wife and mother have been my primary calling for 22 years as I have raised 5 children and am expecting my 6th in a few weeks. My husband finally put a rebuke in his comment section saying, “Frank, you have no business publicly questioning what my wife is doing as she is operating under my headship, not yours.” You would think that those who understand the times would at least try to maintain a modicum of support and general unity in that there are so few of us who care about what has happened in the church. That kind of support and unity is a distant dream, I’m afraid, and it saddens me greatly.
Ingrid,
Yes I have also encountered those who see what is happening and understand the times but are falling prey to the positive talk and positive thought only ideologyl
I wrote an article here about one such attack from this website.
And instead of standing with those who are exposing this false ideology and the danger in it they round on them simply because they are not an “official” Church Leader, and give the impression that their flesh is getting in the way and act as though their “official” position or some “official” authority is being threatened in some way by those who are bringing these troubling trends to light.
There is so much irnoy here because they argue that they as leaders are the only one who have authority to be discerners and watchmen, but then they wont do it!
This is not how a church Body is supposed to function!
It seems also that many good Christians are becoming weary of standing firm. And so they are slowly giving way to the positive only ideology.
Thank you for your wonderful work Ingrid, God Bless you!
and congratualtions on number six! We had our number six eighteen months ago!
John Baker
[...] April 13, 2009 by John an update here: A Response to Posts Critical of “Watch Bloggers” [...]
Not only is our warning to be sounded to those in the believing visible church, but also to those that are without. Is there scriptural support for this, well I think that there is at least one: Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.
(Act 17:22-32)
Notice in this passage the use of negative message, certainly repentance is negative, if not then why would we change our mind about something good? Even in preaching the cross and the Resurrection has in it a negative message, why did Christ die? He died for our sins according to the scripture! Discernment blogs are the extension of churches that are committed to the truth. I personally would like to take the word Fundamentalist out polish it up and use it I am not afraid to be called a Fundamentalist even if it causes some people a little discomfort.
Some excellent points made by Stephen Macasil at: Biblical Thought: (Always test what ANYONE says via Scriputre, if it doesnt line up with Scripture, REJECT IT)
Personally, I disagreed with most of what Challies wrote. His unwarranted attack severely lacked Scriptural support and was based on his feelings and autonomous self-reflection. Whenever someone offers doctrine or ethics based solely on an introspective reflection, the first task for the Christian is to test it by Scripture. Once I saw that his main authorities were appeals to himself and to Neil Postman it became clear to me that his faulty humanistic method would not lead to the prevailing light revealed only in Scripture. Since the Bible has plenty to say about not leaning on our own understanding and the consequences of following ways that seem right to our minds, I was able to interpret the whole controversy in light of God’s word and concluded that according to Scripture he was in the wrong and should not be followed. But I am thankful that Daniel Chew has given this response.