Tips on spotting Emergent church falsity in yourself or others

The false doctrines of emergent Christianity are permeating everywhere. I usually think of them as existing and infecting churches in Seattle or California, not in Georgia, not in the people I know. But those poisonous doctrines are everywhere, including right around me.

One of the typical doctrines of this false religious movement is incessant questioning under the guise of intellectual openness. They relentlessly cast doubt on the authority and reliability of Scripture. It is a lie from the first lie, from satan who said “Hath God indeed said…??” It is not intellectual openness to continually ask questions of biblical truth, it is a the chipping away of the absolute authority of God.

If you find yourself going in this direction you’re infected with it:

“I used to believe in the pretrib rapture, now I’m not so sure.” Substitute any word for pretrib and you have the same Emergent questioning tactic. “I used to believe in hell but now I’m not so sure.” “I used to know what ‘the wrath' is but what is wrath, really?”

They say, “I’m being intellectually honest.” But they’re not, actually. They’re being spiritually dishonest.

Asking constant questions, and worse, always being available for the next or a different answer chips away at the absolute nature of Truth. That truth is found in the bible and once you let the Holy Spirit form the answer in you, to lead you to the verses where it is clear, then let it stay. It’s work to remain absolutely staunch but you have to do it. Here is the nut of the matter: as long as there is the possibility of a different answer, you don’t have to defend the one you're temporarily clinging to.

Here is a tip: Any time you go from a stance of understanding to one of doubt you are going in the wrong direction. Now, I’m not saying questioning is bad. I do that all the time. I ask a million questions each day. I ask, why did Eve take the fruit? How did Satan convert a third of the angels to his way of thinking? Where is heaven? What are the physics behind the creation? How did Paul stay so positive in the faith throughout his trials? But here is the difference. God is the author and perfecter of our faith. (Hebrews 12:2). He is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33). When you ask questions on doctrinal things and you turn to the bible for answers, if you are coming away with more questions than answers, you’re infected. If you come away with clarity and peace, you’re not. The bible satisfies answers. Satan is the one with the questions.

Comments

  1. Good post! I defintely find if I have a question or confusion on some area, the Bible provides clear answers. In regards to the pre-trib Rapture, it gives me much peace, because it is so clear to me. I don't fully understand how it isn't clear to others, and THAT discourages me... But I have complete faith in our Lord's promises that we are not appointed to wrath!!! Hallelujah! :)

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  2. Just yesterday I was flipping through channels on the TV. On one channel a catholic bishop was helping a paranormal investigator. Then I switched to a 'christian' channel where a lady was saying that if you have Jesus then you will have success and good health. She was speaking of this life and not the next. That's not the Jesus I know! So besides having to prevent my family from watching adult cartoons on kids channels, now I have to make sure Christian programs have sound doctrine! I'm ready to blow up the TV.

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  3. We stopped watching Christian television years ago because it was so full of trash - false doctrine, health-wealth-happiness here on earth, etc. (We are also very particular about what "Christian music" we listen to and buy because so much of it is junk. What are the words *really* saying??) I liken much of what little I've seen, and what has been happening within the American church, to "Chrisian porn". Just as secular porn is addictive, so is "Christian porn". Always wanting more excitement - from speaking in tongues to being slain in the spirit to laughing/barking uncontrollably to whatever next titilates the senses.

    Now we have New Perspectives on Paul, the Seeker Sensitive movement, and the Emergent Church. I dread the next heresy that comes along - so beautiful and enticing and alluring - and evil. The good news is that none of God's elect will be lost, the battle is truly won, and Christ is returning soon.

    II Timothy 3:1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
    6 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth—men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. 9 But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone."

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  4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0iqAjHNaEs&feature=related
    Rob Bell and the Emergents: A Satire
    If only more Christians would understand that this is what is happening!

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  5. Emergents satire on 'no truth': "I don't know why it took so long to discover the truth that truth doesn't exist."

    LOL, good video!! thanks for sharing it

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