Aletheia en Agape: Spirit-Led or Purpose-Driven?

by Berit Kjos, November 2003 http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/2003/1-purpose.htm

After reading the Purpose Driven Life book again, we could no longer ignore its subtle distortions, its half-truths, its conflicting messages or its pragmatic permissiveness

Nor could we accept Pastor Warren's "rules for growth" which tells us to "never criticize what God is blessing."[3] Implying that church growth and changed lives prove God's delight in our human methods, it cancels His call to "be on guard" and to discern deception. Some may say, "don't touch God's anointed," but we don't believe any leader is so "anointed" that his teaching is beyond Biblical accountability. While only God can judge the heart of a person, we are called to help each other follow His guidelines, not be driven by today's new management systems. [see Driven or Led?] Praying that God would guide us, we began our response with the following background information.

Other articles on the Purpose Driven Movement

Part 1: Spirit-Led or Purpose-Driven?
Part 2: Unity & Community
Part 3: Small Groups and the Dialectic Process
Part 4: Dealing with Resisters
Part 5: Spiritual Gifts and Community Service

The natural outcome of this comfortable, relational dialogue is a group synthesis of the various opinions. In the end, everyone would feel good about themselves, about each other and about God -- no matter how He might be portrayed. No cost, no self-denial, no separation, no offense! Postmodern Christianity fits right into the changing world system. (This relational process will be discussed more fully in Part 2 of this series.)

Remember, His ways are not our ways! He is the sovereign King of the universe! To know and follow Him, we need to fill our minds with His true Word, not popular interpretations or feel-good group affirmations. Our wise and wonderful Lord says,

"He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.... If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words...." John 14:21-21

Aletheia en Agape ( Truth in Love )

It is written in Acts 20:28-33 that we as His flock need to be seriously aware of grievous wolves amongst us. Ezekiel 33:1-7 clearly instructs us to be watchmen. We are not only to hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering ( Hebrews 10 :22-25), but we should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints (Jude 1:3).

Therefore, do not be ignorant of the enemy's devices, Hosea 4:6 warns of the serious consequences. We are call to totally rely on the Word of God as our only plumb-line of life, as it is written in 2Timothy 3:16, the Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do? Speak truth in love ... Aletheia en Agape.

Be a watchman. Please email aletheia.en.agape@gmail.com your comments. We look forward to your encouragement, critical comments & prayers to us all in the body of Christ.

Sola scriptura (Latin ablative, "by scripture alone"), we assert that the Bible is; God's written word, self-authenticating, clear (perspicuous) to the rational reader, its own interpreter ("Scripture interprets Scripture") & sufficient of itself to be the only source of Christian doctrine.

Spirit-Led or Purpose-Driven?

Be a Watchman & get Email Subscription

Watchman

Labels / Categories

Links

Aletheia en Agape ( Truth in Love )