PJ HanleyWhy Love & Truth Cannot be Separated
Recently I had the opportunity to watch some videos on the Reformation – that tumultuous time in church history, that not only transformed the church, but the entire world. How incredible was the love of Christ that drove men like, Wycliffe, Tyndale, Huss, and others, to embrace a cruel inhumane death at the stake so that God’s people could know the truth of His Word? These were humble men who passionately labored against all odds, to make the truth available so that all could know Christ. Then, of course, there were others, who after discovering this knowledge, became arrogant and even more inhumane in their butchery of those who disagreed with them. One dissenter (who may very well have been a heretic) was burned at the stake with green wood fire so that he literally baked from the feet up for 30 minutes, while he yelled out in excruciating pain. What kind of Christianity would authorize and condone such barbarism in the name of defending the faith? Yet, condone it they did, and many who claim to be apologists today, operate in the same sort of cruel, vindictive spirit, and violate the very heart of the Scripture they claim to defend. At the same time however, many of those who claim to be in a love revival, find the pursuit of Biblical truth to be boring, divisive, and even stifling to their newfound experience. To them it’s all about feeling the love and the presence. Truth can be relative or anything it wants to be, so long as it produces another high and gets them back on the floor. However, both of these camps are in error, regardless of the ecstasy of their experience or the rightness of their scholarship. Truth and love cannot be separated – ever!
Truth & Love Are Married
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love….” Eph 5:1-2 (Emphasis Mine)
“I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.” 3 John 4 (Emphasis Mine)
Anyone who follows Christ must walk in love and truth at the same time. The Scriptures are very clear about this! To separate them is to go astray. Love without truth is Woodstock[1]and truth without love is the Inquisition![2]No Christian has the right to judge the motives of another,[3]or to judge a brother or sister with a condemning self-righteous attitude. At the same time, we are to speak the truth in love,[4]and this means confronting error in a Christ-like way. Sadly, the internet is loaded with “apologists” who spew out venom all day long labeling every pastor or leader, that is not in their camp, including the late Billy Graham, as a heretic and a Satanist. This behavior is despicable, and rather than being a godly exposé of false teaching, it is an unveiling of the bitterness and vile in their hearts. Yes, they may feel they are doing good and necessary work, but what gives them the right to transgress the commandment to love their brethren and dishonor the very faith they claim to uphold? Sure, they may have knowledge, but if they do not have love, they are nothing.[5]
Having said that, I must add that the love of Christ is not tolerance. Many Charismatics, especially those who claim to be “in revival,” have taken the stance that all confrontation quenches the Spirit and puts out the fire. By this they declare truth to be unimportant and even negotiable. But the truth of God’s Word does not put out the fire. On the contrary, it keeps it burning bright. Therefore, we must be studious and receptive to reproof, regardless of the source. This is the function of God’s word! It is not just for training; it is also for reproof and correction. If true teaching puts out the fire and heresy does not, then what sort of fire is it? The love of God and the truth of His word cannot be separated. Where they are, Nadab and Abihu reign. Where they are kept together the fire burns strong. Consequently, those who divorce truth and love will end up with the wrong Jesus!
Heresy is Real
“Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.” James 3:1
The above verse warns that we who teach will incur a stricter judgment. This should cause us to be more studious and careful about what we say, and super willing to receive correction, so that we can be faithful stewards of God’s mysteries. Yet, there is little or no fear of God today, especially in the revival movement. The majority, because of erroneous and heretical teaching, seem to think God is “too nice” to judge them concerning anything, either now or in the future. As a result, they bellow out new revelations and dogmas based on a dream, or so-called visitation, and no one is allowed to question or bring up an opposing view or Scripture. To do so is “divisive” and “legalistic.” However, the sad truth is that heresy is real and heretics are real. And those who are shepherds of God’s people have the right, and the responsibility to confront any doctrine that they believe will harm them. Those who don’t are not shepherds at all. Indeed, the reason for the rise in such doctrines, can be attributed to the lack of real shepherds in the Body of Christ. Today’s spiritual leaders, by and large, seem to have been cowered by fear of losing influence, or corrupted by position and the love of money. But thankfully that is beginning to change! A remnant is waking up and speaking out, and to them I add my voice.
Another part of this demonic plot to silence truth, is the circulation of the lie that says we should not speak out publicly against anything because that causes division. That is patently false for two reasons. 1/Unnecessary division is caused when leaders don’t speak up. 2/When the speaking of truth in love causes division, that division is necessary. Nevertheless, most of the leaders in the Charismatic movement will not call any teaching false or heretical, unless it is outright denial of Christ. Even then, they run for cover! But false teaching is always progressive and if not checked it leads to ruin. So, what are real pastors and shepherds to do? We have no choice but to speak up and call it out. Yes, we must be careful not to use the “Heretic” label, but we also must document what we say and why we say it. And, since most of our people today are being influenced and solicitated by social media, we have no choice but to use the same channel to communicate an alternate view.
Be Angry but Do Not Sin!
Some have dismissed my articles calling them “angry rants.” And I don’t doubt that I feel some anger at the lies being told to the church, particularly the one that says the world is getting better and there is no judgment coming. Honestly, if that doesn’t stir up some righteous indignation in you, something is really wrong. However, I reject the lie that says, if there is anger in what we say we are sinning. The Bible does not say anger is sin or, “Do not speak when you are angry.” If that were the case, Jesus would have been sinning when He beat the moneychangers and threw over their tables and called them thieves and robbers. No doubt they didn’t feel He was being “nice” or correcting them in love. Or how about when He left the Temple for the last time and pronounced seven woes on the Pharisees calling them fools, hypocrites, murderers, and sons of hell.[6]Was that compatible with your standards of love speaking? Is that the Jesus you hang out with? And what about Paul when he tore into the Galatians calling them foolish bewitched people,[7]and the Judaizers when he wished that they would go ahead and mutilate themselves?[8]Does that quench the fire for you? Isn’t it obvious that there are times when we must get angry with what is going on before we will speak out? Anger is not sin; it is an emotion which God gave us the ability to feel so we could truly love. Indeed, sometimes love requires anger. Nevertheless, when we allow it to become bitterness or arrogance, then we are sinning! But to suggest that anger has no part in love is to contradict and indict God Himself!
Another point that needs to be made here, is that confronting false teaching cannot be the only thing one does! That is a recipe for a cold and hard heart. We must critique false teaching, but we are not critics. There is a radical difference! Jesus commended the Ephesians for properly discerning false teachings and false apostles, but He also scolded them for losing their passion for Him. It does not necessarily mean that one thing precipitated the other. They were commended for what they did right and corrected for what they did wrong. Nevertheless, if you spend all of your time examining garbage you may find yourself starting to smell. Therefore, we must fight and contend for the faith once and for all delivered to the saints, while at the same time being careful to stay close to Jesus and walk in His love.
The Intellectual Gospel
Many apologists, and those who are constantly targeting Charismatics today, are generally Cessationists and adherents to what I call the Intellectual Gospel. Of course, we must receive and process God’s truth in our minds since it has an intellectual component. Nevertheless, the Word of God is not merely intellectual knowledge – it is living and active and filled with His power. Derek Prince used to say that when you read your Bible it reads you as well. Commitment to the intellectual knowledge of God’s Word is not enough. We must also be committed to the knowledge of God Himself, and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Paul declared that the gospel itself is the power of God unto salvation. It is not merely an intellectual argument. It was also Paul who said the following:
“And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.” 1 Cor 2:1-5
When Paul first came to Corinth he had just been in Athens with the philosophers and intellectuals on Mars Hill. He had used intellectual argument in his attempt to reach them. And though there is nothing wrong with that approach, it bore very little fruit and no congregation was established in Athens. Thus, when he came to Corinth, he had determined not to go the intellectual route, but to preach the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, a message that was foolishness to Gentiles. He said his message did not come with persuasive words of intellectual reasoning but with a demonstration of the Holy Spirit’s power. He declared that our faith should not rest on our own wisdom (intellectual reasoning) or the wisdom of others, but on the supernatural power of God. This does not mean that our faith is in supernatural experience, but neither does it mean we can be satisfied with an intellectual message. We must proclaim the Word of God and also demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, those who constantly rail against Charismatics, while at the same time declaring that the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit are not for the present day, are hypocrites themselves. They need to first take the log out of their own eye. It is high time they were confronted with the error of their own teaching. If you believe that the gifts of tongues and prophecy are of the devil, then don’t be surprised if we tune you out!
The Hippie Revival
If you are old enough to remember Woodstock, then you are beginning to process what I mean by the Hippie Revival. In the summer of 1969, they came from all over America, and indeed the world, to a farm in Upstate New York, about 30 miles from the actual Woodstock. They came to party, listen to rock and roll and trip on everything tripable. They sang songs, got naked and did all manner of evil for freedom’s sake! The message was anti-establishment, “love and peace not war,” “no absolutes,” “if it feels good do it,” and “how can what feels so good be wrong?” It was perhaps the high-water mark of the Hippie movement, which dominated the sixties, and the so-called sexual revolution, which opened the floodgates of hell. The good news, of course, is that many of them subsequently were saved and became leaders in revival.
So, what does all that have to do with the church today? Well, recently, I felt the Lord impress upon me that the current revival is starting to manifest the spirit of Woodstock and the Hippie movement, and is presenting to the world a Hippie Jesus. “Sounds harsh,” you may say. Well it’s not intended to be. And while I am not suggesting that there is immorality or anything like that happening (it is a spiritual metaphor), there is an eerie similarity in attitude and message. It pains me to have to say this, since I have been part of this revival from the beginning. Nevertheless, there are many in the movement that no longer want to hear the teaching of the Bible. They simply want to party and feel the latest experience. “Nothing is absolute,” they say! “We can’t be dogmatic about anything.” No one really knows the right interpretation, and what does it matter.” “It’s just a book, Jesus is the truth.” “All we need is grace.” “God just wants us to love one another and bring peace.” “That’s all that matters.” “We are free from all those old laws and religious rules.” Some have decided to take the party to the next level with “Toking” services and “Slosh Fests.” I understand this is a fringe, but there is no alarm. Others in their quest for experience and connection with God, no longer believe in waiting for the Holy Spirit to reveal Himself. Instead, they have begun to use “techniques” to open doors and gates and portals to heaven. “After all, if it feels good, and makes us feel so special, it must be God.”
Again, I am not saying all agree with this stuff, but then where are their objections? Where is the cry? Where is the correction? The fear of the Lord seems to be no longer necessary. And why should it be? God doesn’t get angry anymore. That was the Old Testament. The Hippie Jesus is always happy and putting flowers in everyone’s hair. He is just so nice now! There is no judgment coming – no doom and gloom. He just wants us to know how special we are. He wants all the world to get along and be one. Doctrine is just a wall that has to come down, and the Hippie Jesus hates walls and borders and fences. He wants us all together and getting along in our diverse views. Dear God, what has happened to the church?
Conclusion
As I write this article, I feel God’s love for all my brothers and sisters in different places and different movements. Yet, it’s that same love that compels me to warn about the ruin that will come to those who do not hold firmly to the Word of God. If you are offended at me, then I hope you will be provoked enough to examine what I am saying. I don’t care about being right. I care about being right with God. I am not a gloomy pessimist or fatalist. On the contrary, I am excited about the future and the soon coming of Jesus. I am also excited about the revival of truth that is coming to the Remnant Bride of Christ. It is time to read the Bible from cover to cover and get filled with its timeless message and teaching. I am thankful for the love of God which was has been poured out upon God’s people through the last revival. I treasure the nearness of His presence and His wonderful heart of love. But I don’t want to walk into the future looking backwards. Another wave is coming upon those who love the truth. This is the separation at the end of the age.[9]We need to heed the warnings while there is still time! Blessings come from heaven, but so do warnings.[10]Therefore, let us remember that His love and His truth are always together and can never be separated. To do so in any measure is folly!
[1]Google it
[2]Google it
[3]1 Cor 4:5
[4]Eph 4:15
[5]1 Cor 13:2
[6]Mt 23
[7]Gal 3:1
[8]Gal 5:12
[9]2 Thess 2:10
[10]Heb 12:25