Another Victim of A Different Vision

From The Other Side of the River, by Kevin Reeves

It's ironic that, in a fellowship that taught a watered-down version of the fear of the Lord, it was fear that motivated me to stay put. Many other Christians find themselves in this same predicament, especially those with a genuine heart for the truth.

When some doctrine foreign to biblical Christianity is introduced into the congregation, they want to inquire about its origin and validity, but fear holds them in check. If it comes from the pastor, who surely must be more spiritual than the rest of the group, then God must simply have approved it.

Therefore, questioning or opposing the pastor or church leadership is seen as opposing the Lord Himself. But God doesn't work that way. Throughout the Bible are examples of those who love the Lord who questioned authority when it was wrong. And what's more, "prove all things" is clearly God's instruction to the believer (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

See related article by Steve Camp, Holding Your Pastor Accountable by being a faithful member of your church.

See "Victims of the Vision" side bar links on this blog for more "dismemberment" experiences.