False churches: I have new standards.

[Dave...]

So, I look now for the character of Christ, for life in the Spirit, in the man who would occupy the postion of spiritual leader and teach me from God's word (Romans 8:29; Galatians 5:16, 25, Romans 8:9-14). Not his words, not the expanse of his knowledge of Christian peripherals, first of all, but his deeds, his general manner of interaction with others (Galatians 5:22-23; James 3:17-18); his ability to communicate his own daily, concrete, life-changing experience of God, of life in the Spirit, that is deep, and rich, and filled with spiritual (not merely sensual) power; his investment of his "treasure" (time, energy and money - Matthew 6:21); and his reputation among those closest to him.

I couldn't care less these days about credentials. So many men during my lifetime - Christian leaders with great credentials - have been revealed to be spiritual frauds, preaching divine truth from lives filled with enormous hypocrisy and gross, persistent sin. Think: Ravi Zacharias, Larry Taunton, Bill Hybels, James MacDonald, Tony Evans, and most recently, Steve Lawson. There is a horrifyingly long list of well-credentialed Christian men, embraced widely in no small part because of their credentials, who have been deeply spiritually corrupt. And so, I look carefully - and patiently, over time - for the things I've listed above, not the C.V. of the man who offers me his spiritual leadership, or his "charisma" (in the secular sense) in the pulpit.

That's why we hold to God's Word, which is not flawed.

I've used this analogy before. I got a lot of backlash, but I'll throw it out there again. The son of Sam, David Berkowitz. I'm sure that you know who he is. He's professing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior now. Everything that I've seen seems to indicate that it's a genuine conversion. Only God know for sure but I see no reason to think that it's not genuine.

Mother Teresa Lived a life of good deeds. She is uplifted by masses of people who herald her as a beacon of goodness. Yet there are reports of her universalism in action in the hospital she ran. While Hindu's were dying they were told to pray to their Hindu God. Same with Muslims. The ecumenical Catholic Church in action. If this is true, this beacon of goodness is damned. And the serial killer who beat His chest and said, forgive me Lord, a sinner is the one who goes home justified.

God's Word is the only standard. I'm not looking for perfection. But if someone is playing fast and loose with God's Word, there relationship with the truth, Jesus is likewise.

I'll give you and example. Alistair recently got into some hot water by giving advise to a mother who asked if she should go to here childs gay wedding. Alistair said yes. You can imagine the uproar in the reformed community, right? It seems that the details are being kept private, and probably by request. Alistair did go on record to say that 99 times out of 100 he would give the opposite advise. Insinuating that there are things being kept confidential. Now, I don't know of anything that would justify that advise. But I know Alistair is not endorsing gay marriage. If he's guilty of anything it's having such a heart for the lost, that he crossed a line that he shouldn't have. Here's the thing. I know his body of work. I know his character from learning through him for many years. I'll give him the benefit of doubt and just go on record saying that based on what I know, I disagree with his advise. I think that he's earned the right, at least from me, for me not to go all "Jobs friends" on him. I'll give him the benefit of doubt.

It's an odd example, but it's one none the less.

That's different from a person who claims that Jesus Christ is the first born again man and today flies around in a 70 million dollar jet. No names.

The latter example is a false teacher. The first example is a brother whom at worst has given some bad advise. Honest difference.

Dave