Responding To Your Feedback: Part 1

Every so often I receive comments on my blog posts and emails from readers who want to share their input on what I have written. Although many are supportive and friendly, plenty of others are critical, mean-spirited, inaccurate, or some combination of those attributes. On occasion, I do not respond to emails or approve comments because I don’t see how the exchange could be edifying. All that said, I would like to acknowledge some of these comments and emails when it seems appropriate. “Responding to your feedback” posts will be written directly to the author, but I will keep the individual anonymous by assigning him/her a nickname.

The Comment For Today

The following comment is from someone who found fault with my post entitled, “3 Reasons Saddleback Church Fails the Gospel and You.” To be completely transparent, this person is not alone. My criticism of Saddleback Church is, by far, my most read post. It also receives the most love and hate responses of anything else I’ve written. The comment below is a good example of the typical negative response people share for this post. I will be referring to my new friend as “Sensitive Soul.”

*I am presenting the comment with no editing.*

“Hi Julie and Friends,

I read this blog and all the comments with tears and a very deep sorrow in my heart. Because I thought what I am witnessing is limited to children of God and their Minister’s in the developing world alone. I never knew I was wrong.

It seems everybody is fighting to defend their positions as to what is the truth from the word of God. I perceived so much hurts, disappointments, bitterness and lost love from both the writer and the reviewers.

I see a confusion between church doctrines and the word of God. Is it not against sound Biblical interpretation to use a verse or chapter of a Bible without making reference to all the other parts of the scriptures where the word has been used in the Bible?

I think we all should go back to our Lord Jesus Christ’s Era to have a better perspective of the issue at hand.

Even, when you perceive that something is wrong with something or someone in the Church, what should be your response or reaction?

What is our source for believing that women should not be ordained for anything in the Church? Is it this same Bible or another one? If truly all of us are adopted as joint heirs should there be discrimination as to assignments in our father’s house?

Remember what our Lord Jesus Christ told the disciple when they wanted to compel a man not to talk about the gospel because of their believe that he is not from the fold?

For the author of this blog and the major reviewers, I want us all to ask ourselves WHAT WILL JESUS DO IN SUCH A SITUATION…

Remember, that despite Peter’s situation, Our Lord Jesus Christ did not LET GO OFF him, neither did He condemned him, rather He fed him and re-equiped him for the work of the ministry again.

We are all instruments in God’s hands and He can use us in whatever way He deemed fit. The church is so much fragmented because of issues such as this. You and I, may not like or have something against the messanger but we should not discard the message.

Some of us by the reason of birth and where we were raised have learnt so many things that we need to unlearn if truly we want to see through the lens of God. His ways are not our ways, neither is His thoughts. He is in heaven and He does as He pleases.

Let’s be more like Him in dealing with all our brethrens. On this side of the divide, we will never know it all, until we make it back home to be with our father. Let us all therefore run our race with fear and trembling with the consciousness of the fact that our enemy like a roaring Lion is roaming about seeking whom to devour.

The devil is not the Lion, but he wants us to believe that is the Lion, whereas our Lord Jesus Christ is the one and only Lion if the Tribe of Judah and He is always around His own to shield them from any attack.

I commit all if us spirit, soul and body into God’s hands who is able to keep us till the end of days. Amen

Shalom.”

Responding To Your Feedback

Dear Sensitive Soul,

Thank you for taking the time to read through my post and leaving a thoughtful response. I recently received a comment on my post about Beth Moore, a post I predict you would also dislike, which simply said, “ew.” The reader probably meant to direct that at me, but I like to think she was thinking of Moore’s current actions in the Anglican Church and felt gross about it… Anyway, I truly do encourage discussion, and I’m happy to have had the opportunity to read your thoughts.

You said a lot, and I would like to respect you enough to address your comment fully, therefore, I’m going to take it one piece at a time.

Responding To Your Feedback: Point 1

“I read this blog and all the comments with tears and a very deep sorrow in my heart. Because I thought what I am witnessing is limited to children of God and their Minister’s in the developing world alone. I never knew I was wrong.”

Immediately, I can tell where you are coming from. Sensitive Soul, you’re, well, sensitive. It hurts you to see believers disagree and be at odds with one another, and I can’t fully disagree with you on that. Christians, especially on the Internet, can speak harshly and with an absence of grace. Can I be that way, too? Yes. However, we run the risk of being too soft when we focus too much on unity and getting along at any cost.

Let’s take confrontations and disagreements on a case-by-case basis. Some topics don’t require a lot of heat while others, such as false teaching, deserve to be treated with the utmost contempt. Meanwhile, those false teachers, though needing stern correction, should be in our prayers. Reconciliation and salvation, if applicable, should always be on our hearts for these individuals.

Responding To Your Feedback: Point 2

“It seems everybody is fighting to defend their positions as to what is the truth from the word of God. I perceived so much hurts, disappointments, bitterness and lost love from both the writer and the reviewers.”

We are all seeking to know what Truth is, and believers desire to defend the Truth…even if it is in opposition to others who claim they know Jesus as Lord.

I can’t speak for the others concerning “hurts, disappointments, bitterness, and lost love” because I don’t personally know these folks. Hurts in the Church are so common, though, that I expect many people who comment anywhere on my blog will have some history with hurt.

Please, let me take a moment to speak for myself on your perception. I am not hurt, disappointed, or bitter. I have been hurt, but I don’t carry that around with me. Disappointment is inevitable, but I don’t hold on to it. The only real bitterness I have felt was mixed with deep grief. It surrounded my mother’s death and processing a lifetime of hurt. But God is good, and I am very far from those feelings now.

Rebuke Is Love

The accusation that surprised me was the claim that I (and others) had lost love. This is a common mistake. Love is not pretty words, relentless affirmation, and ignorance of dangers and wrongs. I love Christians, and I chose to start a little blog to encourage women who long to walk with Christ. That love sometimes manifests as vulnerability and transparency with respect to my struggles.

In contrast, my love is also displayed through a more corrective tone. Different topics require different approaches. When it comes to a pastor who is light on gospel and heavy on self-help, who twists Scripture for his chosen message, who seeks ecumenicalism, and who partners with Muslims rather than witness to them, then I am going to speak plainly and forcefully. He has pulled many people away from solid biblical teaching. To be clear, Rick Warren has hurt the Church. Love requires I warn others.

Responding To Your Feedback: Point 3

“I see a confusion between church doctrines and the word of God. Is it not against sound Biblical interpretation to use a verse or chapter of a Bible without making reference to all the other parts of the scriptures where the word has been used in the Bible?”

I don’t have anything to say in response to this because it’s too vague. Many people leave me a string of questions like this one, and I don’t know what to do with them. Sensitive Soul, I agree that we should not cherry-pick verses to support our beliefs. I’m just not sure where you saw that happen.

Personally, I do not adhere to “church doctrine.” I turn alone to the Word of God for my doctrine. In case you didn’t know, I am an independent Baptist. No one but God, through His Word, tells me what to believe is true.

Responding To Your Feedback: Point 4

“I think we all should go back to our Lord Jesus Christ’s Era to have a better perspective of the issue at hand.

Even, when you perceive that something is wrong with something or someone in the Church, what should be your response or reaction?”

I wrote a whole post on calling out false teachers, and I point out in that post how Jesus, Himself, called out false teachers. I’ll share just one such example.

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.”

Matthew 23:27-28

We also have an example from Paul in Galatians. He confronted Peter and rebuked him concerning how he treated the Gentiles in comparison to the Jews.

“But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?”

Galatians 2:11-14

So, in response to your question, we should see rebuke and correction when we examine the “Lord Jesus Christ’s era.” If you would like to do as they did in the early Church, you’ll need to be open to calling out sin and false teaching.

Responding To Your Feedback: Point 5

“What is our source for believing that women should not be ordained for anything in the Church? Is it this same Bible or another one? If truly all of us are adopted as joint heirs should there be discrimination as to assignments in our father’s house?

Remember what our Lord Jesus Christ told the disciple when they wanted to compel a man not to talk about the gospel because of their believe that he is not from the fold?”

Woah…you switched up gears on me, Sensitive Soul, but let’s look at it.

I sense a great misunderstanding or maybe a lack of precision with language here. Ordained can mean different things to different people, but I will assume you are referring to pastoral leadership because that is what my post discussed. My source for saying women cannot be pastors/elders/bishops is the Bible. No, it’s not some other Bible. I mean the actual Bible with sixty-six books and no convenient denominational changes. I’m looking at you Catholicism and Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Scriptural Support

These verses tend to be everyone’s least favorite, but hey, they say what they say.

“Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”

1 Timothy 2:11-14

The Bible also gives the qualifications for pastors/elders/bishops, and the list clearly disqualifies women.

“The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.” (emphasis mine)

1 Timothy 3:1-7 (ESV)

This limitation on women’s roles in the Church is not discrimination. It doesn’t make her less saved or valued by our Lord. Women are equal to men, yet both sexes have different roles, strengths, and obligations. This feminist notion that women can and should do everything men do is preposterous, and it ignores that men and women have been beautifully and uniquely designed by God for His purposes and plans. Pushing against that is sin. Plain and simple.

Jesus And The Exorcist

The situation with the man you referred to whom Christ accepted and the disciples tried to reject is not quite the same thing as what my post is discussing. I have provided the verses below for reference.

“And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part. For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.”

Mark 9:38-41

Although many Christians use these verses to discourage rebuke or judgment, that’s not the point here. This is more of a critique of “sectarianism” which is when someone adheres to a very limited belief system, interest, purpose, or sect. We see this in related groups that have a strict separation from one another. Denominations fit the bill. Seriously, how many kinds of Baptists are there?

Every commentary I have encountered clarifies that the rejected man is not against Jesus. He isn’t a mocker or scoffer. He just isn’t a part of the disciples’ “in-crowd.”

If the man had been teaching false doctrine, then Jesus certainly would have rebuked Him because we have seen Him do it in Matthew, for example. Rick Warren mishandles Scripture, encourages rebellion of God’s design for men and women, and ignores the gospel in his sermons on a regular basis. The work he’s doing is not Kingdom work, Sensitive Soul. We can’t embrace it or him.

Responding To Your Feedback: Point 6

“For the author of this blog and the major reviewers, I want us all to ask ourselves WHAT WILL JESUS DO IN SUCH A SITUATION…

Remember, that despite Peter’s situation, Our Lord Jesus Christ did not LET GO OFF him, neither did He condemned him, rather He fed him and re-equiped him for the work of the ministry again.”

Sensitive Soul, I already showed you what Christ would do to false teaching when I quoted Matthew.

The Peter comparison is not apples to apples. I assume, because you were vague again, that you are referring to when Peter denied Christ three times. He ran away and went back to fishing (and who could blame him?). Jesus didn’t condemn him, as you said. Instead, Jesus reinstated Peter and told him to “feed my sheep” (John 21:15-19).

But Peter didn’t teach false doctrine, diminish the gospel, or teach against biblical instructions (i.e., female pastors). Moreover, when he did step out of line with his treatment of the gentiles, as mentioned earlier, Paul rebuked him for it.

Responding To Your Feedback: Point 7

“We are all instruments in God’s hands and He can use us in whatever way He deemed fit. The church is so much fragmented because of issues such as this. You and I, may not like or have something against the messanger but we should not discard the message.

Some of us by the reason of birth and where we were raised have learnt so many things that we need to unlearn if truly we want to see through the lens of God. His ways are not our ways, neither is His thoughts. He is in heaven and He does as He pleases.”

Here I am, able to find an area of total agreement with you. God can use us in any way He sees fit, even if we see it as a bad thing. For instance, He might take someone’s life earlier than expected because that person’s death would serve the Kingdom in a great way. Moreover, He may allow struggle in our lives for a greater purpose. I’ve known women to suffer many miscarriages who later found they were uniquely qualified to minister to women going through that same thing. Even I have found that in Independent Baptist churches my struggles have a purpose. I am among the few in the churches I have attended who did not grow up with any true Christian influence and now have a unique perspective that some women need. My shameful and embarrassing life before Christ can encourage others who come from something similar.

Don’t Shoot The Messenger

You have suggested that I should not discard the message because I don’t like the messenger. I must correct that. I do not like the message (which is false, shallow, worldly, etc.), therefore, I discard the message and the messenger. Though, I do pray the messenger repent. I’d be in his cheering section, for sure! I’m not biased against Rick Warren; His message just stinks.

I feel like I should add a note about your comment that some people have learned things in their lives that need to be replaced by biblical truth. I don’t care if you are an American, Egyptian, Australian, German, Muslim, Hindu, Catholic… You have adopted teachings from the world, and time in the Bible, prayer, study, and prompting from the Holy Spirit will teach us Truth.

This growth and understanding leads to discernment, and it is that discernment which compels a Christian to recognize and call out a false teacher. For example, Warren has claimed that a popular (and beautiful) hymn has led more people to the Lord than any male preacher. Again, he’s left out the importance and power of the gospel…this time to elevate women.

This song may be playing when someone comes to the altar and surrenders their life to the Lord, but don't be fooled. It was God's Word that brought them to Christ. Rick Warren is a manipulative fool. Beware. https://t.co/wBs20DVN7e

— The Set-Apart Walk (@thesetapartwalk) March 15, 2023

Responding To Your Feedback: Point 8

“Let’s be more like Him in dealing with all our brethrens. On this side of the divide, we will never know it all, until we make it back home to be with our father. Let us all therefore run our race with fear and trembling with the consciousness of the fact that our enemy like a roaring Lion is roaming about seeking whom to devour.

The devil is not the Lion, but he wants us to believe that is the Lion, whereas our Lord Jesus Christ is the one and only Lion if the Tribe of Judah and He is always around His own to shield them from any attack.”

Amen! Isn’t it a comfort to know that the Lord is always with us? What wonderful news! However, being a Christian doesn’t prevent us from being deceived by false teaching. In fact, the Bible warns us repeatedly about it.

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”

1 John 4:1

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

2 Corinthians 11:13-15

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

Matthew 7:15

“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.”

2 Peter 2:1-3 (ESV)

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

2 Timothy 4:3-4

So, yes, the Lord is always with us, but He has also warned us to be on guard for bad doctrine and false teachers. Are we to stay silent when bad teaching is pervasive in the Church? I think not!

Final Thought

Sensitive Soul, I believe you too readily accept teachings and teachers because they are filed under “Christian.” Sadly, many Christian teachers, churches, and pastors are actually not Christian in the least. I recommend taking what someone, such as Rick Warren, teaches and comparing it to the Bible. Of course, not every word he says will be incorrect, but you’ll need to decide how unbiblical he can be before you can no longer identify as brothers in the Lord. How bad must a pastor’s teaching be before someone sounds the alarm?

If you have feedback on my response to feedback…leave a comment!

Image courtesy of Jason Rosewell via Unsplash.