It seems that compromisers always misconstrue spiritual warning. They label it an attack. They call it “shooting the wounded” and “throwing stones.” They characterize it as hate-mongering. Southern Baptists Ed Stetzer and David Putman, in the book Breaking the Missional Code(Broadman and Holman Publishers, 2006), complain that “entire ministries exist to attack any cultural influence upon the church” (p. 183). Note the emotionally-charged term “attack.” They are referring to preachers who warn against such things as the filth of rock and roll and the immodesty of modern fashion.
I would reply, first, that this statement is misguided in two ways. First, the biblicist warning ministries I am familiar with do not warn about “ANY” cultural influence, but only about those cultural influences that are worldly after a biblical definition, so this statement, in its exaggeration, is a neat little strawman.
Second, a spiritual warning that is given by a child of God and that is based on Scripture and is motivated by the glory of Christ, is not an attack; it is not destructive; it is not meanness; it is an act of obedience to God and compassion to the offender. If a bridge is out on a dark, stormy night and I stand in the middle of the road and wave my hands and shout for drivers to stop, I am not attacking those people. God’s Word commands, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Ephesians 5:11), and, “These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority” (Titus 2:15). Obedience to these and the many similar commands in Scripture is not wrong, and all of the huffing and puffing of compromisers will never make it wrong.
One of my nieces repented of her sinful ways and got right with the Lord about three years ago. When that happened, her thinking about spiritual warnings and biblical preaching changed dramatically. In her testimony she wrote: “The Lord has given me a love for holiness and a great respect for people that take the Bible seriously. The church that I once condemned for being over the top Christians that took the Bible too seriously are now number one in my book for their boldness in Christ. The same is true for my Uncle David and his wonderful family. He never seemed to stop praying for me, when in all truth in my mind he was just another one of those judgmental Christians, trying to ram the Bible down your throat. Now I hope I grow up to be just the same!” Spiritual wisdom only comes through salvation and an obedient heart that is passionate for truth.
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