Fraudulent Preachers

Q: On your answer yesterday, you don't seem to allow for the possibility that the preacher is a fraud, who downloaded his sermons from the Internet or something. Not every sermon is a "divine Word, imparted to the prophet from the Father" - as you seem to claim.

A: Of course there are sinful pastors preaching in the pulpit. I'm one of them! But don't be deceived about the nature of God's call on a man (or woman) to preach. Speaking for God, as a Biblical prophet or modern-day pastor does, is not a reflection of who the speaker is. Rather it is a reflection of who God is. God calls, ordains, anoints and empowers sinful people through whom He does His work. So the fact that a preacher is sinful doesn't disqualify them. In fact, it may well be one reason that they can speak with credibility.

Downloading sermons from the Internet doesn't make a preacher a fraud either. What I said yesterday is that the preacher should be giving his (or her) audience a "divine Word from the Father." This means that the preacher is walking closely with God, repenting of his or her sin regularly, seeking God's will and making a concerted effort to do things God's way. We, the listeners, must then trust the Holy Spirit to lead that preacher. And we must allow for the possibility that God may provide for that preacher through the Internet, the radio, TV, a good Christian book or any other medium.

Finally, I'm reminded of a Scripture verse, where the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians and told them, "The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit." (1 Corinthians 2:14) What does this say in a situation like yours? If all you can see is your preacher's sinfulness, or the flaws in his or her delivery, then it may be that you yourself are lacking in the Spirit.

Emergent Church?

Dear Victorious,

What do you think of the emergent church movement? Should I be attending an emergent church?

J.C. - Pine Bluff, AR

Dear J.C.,

Wikipedia.com describes the emergent church as "a movement .... that crosses a number of theological boundaries." It further says that, "Proponents of this movement call it a "conversation" to emphasize its developing and decentralized nature, its vast range of standpoints and its commitment to dialogue."

I think this alone is sufficient information to tell Christians that we are on shaky ground, thin ice and in danger of true heresy (false religion).

The nature of the true Christian church is not developing or emerging. The church is not built on modern ideas or thinking - but rather on spiritual heritage given to us by Jesus Christ, the early apostles and the prophets of the Christian church. It is centuries old. There is nothing to talk about.

So, no, you should definitely not be attending an "emergent church." Any church that describes itself that way should be a huge red flag for a true Christ-follower. This is because they haven't decided who or what to follow yet. They are literally making it up as they go. Moreover, you should be on the lookout for churches that maybe don't describe themselves as emergent, but act like it anyway. Emergent or not, any church that is making it up as they go represents a false religion that true Christ-followers will have no part of.