Quote:
Originally Posted by Unregistered
Generally, the problem among Christians today is a lack of balance; they go to extremes. Believers either place certain ones above reproach or they criticize endlessly without properly investigating. Should apostles, workers, or ministers out in the field be given honor? Yes, they should. And what of apostles/workers/ministers that are found to be in sin or cause division among the believers? Here we can take our cue from the Scriptures.
Further, this example goes hand-in-hand with with the words of exhortation given to Timothy by Paul in the treatment of elders in a church. First Timothy, chapter 5, verses 19 to 21 say, "Against an elder receive not an accusation unless where there are two or three witnesses. Those that sin convict before all, that the rest also may have fear. I testify before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, that thou keep these things without prejudice, doing nothing by favour."
Note the manner in which an accusation against an elder is dealt with - without partiality and with the cooperation with other members of the church (two or three witnesses). There is much to learned here in these verses. Personally, what I see is that the church (all members) are its protectors. There is no one that is beyond reproach and consequently, every member is accountable to every other member, regardless their measure of operation and faith in the church.
A fellow member of the faith.
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I hear what you're saying, but in the local churches the system is too much man-honoring. For example some may have heard what Ron Kangas spoke in Ecuador over four years ago. In attendance was likely several hundred wintesses not to mentioned the number the audio reached. Yet brother Ron is above reproach for what he spoke. Why? R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Brother Ron is respected which gives him a free pass among his peers.
The systems Anaheim and Cleveland promote are a man-honoring systems where an apostle, a minister, a teacher etc is subject to partiality.
You spoke, "Believers either place certain ones above reproach or they criticize endlessly without properly investigating." I feel this is what has happened in the so-called recovery. For example brothers and sisters who
faithfully endorse the blended brothers unconditionally have placed the blended brothers above reproach while criticizing forums such as this and/or criticizing responsible brothers (of function) who have left the recovery. All the while "without properly investigating".