Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Today's "Christians" Would Judge & Condemn The Apostles Paul and John

I found this at Christian Research Network and couldn't resist posting it, as I had also written my own "letter to Paul" and "letter to John" from today's "Christians" had they received their letters today. It dawned on me one day a while ago how "Christians" today would thrash these godly apostles for naming names and telling not only entire churches but several churches (the letters were circulated) to watch out for certain men. Christians who follow their example today are judged for being judgmental and narrow-minded. I guess following their example is only limited to what the liberals consider acceptable and positive, even though warning Christians about certain false teachers is the most loving thing a person who loves God and Truth and the sheep, can do.

Here's mine:

Paul's letters:

2Tim. 4: 14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 15 You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.

Today's response:

“Dear Paul,

Your Second Letter to Timothy was too gossipy. Can’t you just be unified with Alexander? After all, God knows his heart. You are judging and you should repent. And you claim to be an apostle!:

Sincerely and with Love,

Non-judgmental modern Christians who love better than you.


And John's letter:

3 John 9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us. 10 So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church. 3John 11 Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good.

Today's "Christian":

"Dear Apostle John,

Your letter was too gossipy. Did you even talk personally with Diotrophes? Did you get HIS side of the story? You need to stop naming names and cause divisions. Love Diotrophes and be united.

Love,

Modern Christians Who Love Everyone More Than You Do



Now, here is Sacred Sandwiches' version (which is so funny because this is EXACTLY the mentality of "Christians" today--and really its pathetic:



Dear Christianity Today:

In response to Paul D. Apostle’s article about the Galatian church in
your January issue, I have to say how appalled I am by the unchristian tone of
this hit piece. Why the negativity? Has he been to the Galatian church recently?
I happen to know some of the people at that church, and they are the most
loving, caring people I’ve ever met.

Phyllis Snodgrass; Ann Arbor, MI
————————————————————————
Dear
Editor:

How arrogant of Mr. Apostle to think he has the right to judge these
people and label them accursed. Isn’t that God’s job? Regardless of this
circumcision issue, these Galatians believe in Jesus just as much as he does,
and it is very Pharisaical to condemn them just because they differ on such a
secondary issue. Personally, I don’t want a sharp instrument anywhere near my
zipper, but that doesn’t give me the right to judge how someone else follows
Christ. Can’t we just focus on our common commitment to Christ and furthering
His kingdom, instead of tearing down fellow believers over petty doctrinal
matters?

Ed Bilgeway; Tonganoxie, KS
————————————————————————–
Dear
CT:

I’ve seen other dubious articles by Paul Apostle in the past, and
frankly I’m surprised you felt that his recurrent criticisms of the Church
deserved to be printed in your magazine. Mr. Apostle for many years now has had
a penchant for thinking he has a right to “mark” certain Christian teachers who
don’t agree with his biblical position. Certainly I commend him for desiring to
stay faithful to God’s word, but I think he errs in being so dogmatic about his
views to the point where he feels free to openly attack his brethren. His
attitude makes it difficult to fully unify the Church, and gives credence to the
opposition’s view that Christians are judgmental, arrogant people who never show
God’s love.

Ken Groener; San Diego, CA
—————————————————————————-
To the
Editors:

Paul Apostle says that he hopes the Galatian teachers will cut off
their own privates? What kind of Christian attitude is that? Shame on him!

Martha Bobbitt; Boulder, CO
—————————————————————————-
Dear
Christianity Today:

The fact that Paul Apostle brags about his public run-in with Peter
Cephas, a well-respected leader and brother in Christ, exposes Mr. Apostle for
the divisive figure that he has become in the Church today. His diatribe against
the Galatian church is just more of the same misguided focus on an antiquated
reliance on doctrine instead of love and tolerance. Just look how his
hypercritical attitude has cast aspersions on homosexual believers and women
elders! The real problem within the Church today is not the lack of doctrinal
devotion, as Apostle seems to believe, but in our inability to be transformed by
our individual journeys in the Spirit. Evidently, Apostle has failed to detach
himself from his legalistic background as a Pharisee, and is unable to let go
and experience the genuine love for Christ that is coming from the Galatians who
strive to worship God in their own special way.

William Zenby; Richmond, VA
——————————————————————————
Kind
Editors:

I happen to be a member of First Christian Church of Galatia, and I
take issue with Mr. Apostle’s article. How can he criticize a ministry that has
been so blessed by God? Our church has baptized many new members and has made
huge in-roads in the Jewish community with our pragmatic view on circumcision.
Such a “seeker-sensitive” approach has given the Jews the respect they deserve
for being God’s chosen people for thousands of years. In addition, every Gentile
in our midst has felt honored to engage in the many edifying rituals of the
Hebrew heritage, including circumcision, without losing their passion for Jesus.
My advice to Mr. Apostle is to stick to spreading the gospel message of Christ’s
unconditional love, and quit criticizing what God is clearly blessing in other
churches.

Miriam “Betty” Ben-Hur; Galatia,
Turkey
——————————————————————————-
EDITOR’S NOTE: Christianity Today
apologizes for our rash decision in publishing Paul Apostle’s exposé of the
Galatian church. Had we known the extent in which our readership and advertisers
would withdraw their financial support, we never would have printed such
unpopular biblical truth. We regret any damage we may have caused in propagating
the doctrines of Christ.

1 comment:

Prodigal Knot said...

Very good stuff! Unfortunately it is hardly satire these days.