Ministering in Disgraceful Underhanded Ways

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by Mike  Ratliff

But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. (Romans 6:21 ESV)

Was it just a couple of years ago that we were vociferously debating what was going on in the seeker sensitive churches all around us as they abandoned expository preaching, replacing it with topical sermons, entertainment, drama, dance, videos, et cetera? Things sure have progressed, or is it actually the opposite with the gospel contextualization having replaced all of that with the goal of church globalization within the framework of Dominonism? I remember some of the debates from that time and as I look back on it now, I see what was actually happening. Of course, at the time, as the Hegelian Dialectic is in play and Diaprax is in one of its incremental changes, it is difficult to see the “big picture.” As we look back at what was done and how it was accomplished by these devoted to their globalization agenda we can see clearly that we were dealing with the forces of our enemy who were dedicated to “ministry” via the practice of cunning in disgraceful, underhanded ways as they tampered with God’s Word for their own ends (2 Corinthians 4:1-2). That is not what we are called to or allowed to do.

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. (2 Corinthians 4:1-2 ESV)

This is the Apostle Paul’s statement of the integrity of his ministry and it should ours as well. What does it mean that he renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways, refusing to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth, they would commend themselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God? Sounds complex, but it really is not. Paul’s ministry, including all who worked with him was centered in God’s Word as absolute truth. He taught it that way. There was no “wider” view of God’s truth. God said it, therefore, that settled it. That is why he appealed to the people’s conscience. That is how the conscience works. It is a yes or no part of the human heart. It knows nothing about the pollution of “relationship language” in the context of biblical truth. God’s Word is Truth. It kills. It divides.

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:12-13 ESV)

Paul did not hold back on the truth to spare people’s feelings. The Apostles and the early church were martyred for this reason. They approached their Christianity and their daily lives as inseparable and Didactically. God gave us His truth, this is what He said, and we will not turn either left or right from it. Therefore, they were persecuted. The church has learned to live Dialectically since then, that is, by compromising. That is why it is no longer persecuted. Which do you think brings God glory? Paul shared with the Corinthians what life in this lost and dying world is like for those who live and walk the proper Christian life on the narrow path centered in God’s truth, relating to everyone Didactically rather than Dialectically.

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. (2 Corinthians 4:8-11 ESV)

If we live our lives in the center of God’s will for us then we will also not compromise with those who compromise His truth. We will not tolerate their lies about God’s truth as they try to minster in disgraceful, underhanded ways as they practice cunning, tampering with God’s Word for their own ends. No, we cannot mix with them at all. The Holy Spirit will work to divide us from them for they and their doctrines are poisonous and deadly. As we stand against those who minister this way or against family and friends who believe this way, it will cost us. The truth of God divides God’s people from those who are not His.  There are some who hold that God is all about relationships and that takes precedence over truth. That is found nowhere in God’s Word, but the opposite is. We are told to not be associated in any way with heretics and those who are apostatizing (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).

I have been asked for a very precise method to gauge the authenticity of the Christian leader or teacher or preacher or minister. In the past, I would have immediately said that the genuine Christian leader is one centered in God’s Word as the absolute truth while the false leader is one who waffles there. Over the last several months, however, we have seen some very well respected Christian leaders make some very strange relationship decisions, appearing with obviously apostates in conferences or whatever. What is going on? It was through further research based on the Didactic vs. the Dialectic form of Christian ministry that this “gauge” of authenticity was made more apparent to me. Here it is. The genuine Christian leader is not only centered in God’s Word alone as absolute truth, he also ministers Didactically. He tells the truth even if it means its going to cause separation in relationships. He does not minister in a way that puts human relationships ahead of God’s truth. On the other hand, the false Christian leader is one who puts human relationships ahead of God’s truth. In other words, he ministers Dialectically. He ministers in a way that compromises God’s truth for the sake of relationships.

There you have it. If you are in Christian leadership, I pray that you honestly examine yourself. Pray for God to show you the truth. Pray for God to grant you repentance of the pollution of compromise wherever it is found in your ministry. Yes, if you turn around and minister Didactically, it most certainly will cost you here in the temporal, but you will bring God glory in and through your ministry think of that eternal reward my brothers.

Soli Deo Gloria!

 

 

 

 

22 thoughts on “Ministering in Disgraceful Underhanded Ways”

  1. Amen Brother!!!! When God brings a person to His Truths we are layed out and all mouths are stopped! Also with sharing Truth, the blood of these people are not on our hands. For they have been forwarned!
    In Christ,
    David
    Ez 3
    16(AA) And at the end of seven days, the word of the LORD came to me: 17(AB) “Son of man,(AC) I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall(AD) give them warning from me. 18(AE) If I say to the wicked,(AF) ‘You shall surely die,’(AG) and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person(AH) shall die for[d] his iniquity,(AI) but his blood I will require at your hand. 19(AJ) But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity,(AK) but you(AL) will have delivered your soul. 20(AM) Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice,(AN) and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die.(AO) Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin,(AP) and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand. 21But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered your soul.”

  4. I am only a sinner and repent daily. I am not a preacher or anything. For my good works are still only a bunch of filty rags in God’s eyes. With that said, I will ask all that believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, that when we all continue in His words that you read them aloud and not to yourselfs! For you don’t know who the hearer is at that time. Even if you are reading Scripture in your yard or room. For the Power is in His words and not ours. Mike, have a blessed night!
    In Christ,
    David

  7. You have nailed it Mike, men fearing men instead of fearing God. Man-pleasers have filled pulpits across this land, preaching another gospel, tickling the ear, and winning fake converts. They are cranking out two-fold sons of hell faster than an assembly line, and the people LOVE to have it so. As Christ’s true bride rises up in opposition against this, persecution will come.
    I e-mailed my former pastor pleading with him to deal with the sin in my old church {gossip, unbiblical divorce, salvation by works, using Lifeway’s VBS material, lack of church discipline and discipleship} and he never even answered me back. He has made the statement that he needs the money he gets from preaching there because the house he bought needed repair work. He has sunk all his savings into this work, now he has none. I begged him not to preach solely for the sake of money…he never responded. It does break my heart, I’ve been a member of this church for seven years. I know I must leave, I have found a new church that I believe is more grounded in God’s word, a preacher who fears God and preaches with power and authority. My old pastor insists I go before the congregation to tell them I am leaving; I am seeking the Lord on this matter. To be honest, I’ve observed from past experiences, they don’t even notice or say anything when someone quits coming.
    Thanks for this piece, it explains much of what we see today.

  8. Lyn, sounds like your old pastor is Laodician, neither hot nor cold. He is compromised. Our enemy doesn’t have them all rabid liberals if he can just neutralize them by making them this way. Well, I left my old church and refused all offers to explain to anyone there why except those who truly showed the fruit of wanting out themselves. Why? The pastor and his buddies were seeking to corrupt me with their dialectical reasoning. Man, I get tired of it. In any case, It has only been recently that I have learned these terms and put together the facts to what I was seeing. I knew that what I was seeing was not biblical, but I didn’t know exactly what to call it. Thank God for some good friends who sent me some very long well done videos explaining this stuff. This relationship/compromise/Dialectical stuff started in Genesis 3. Just before our Lord returns, the real church will return to living and ministering Didactically and it will be costly as we see in Scripture. Well, I think that is why we are learning these things now. It is time to turn from the evil of compromise and in the power of the Holy Spirit let us walk in in repentance with no compromise no matter the cost.

    In Christ

    Mike Ratliff

  10. Hi Mike,
    “The truth of God divides God’s people from those who are not his.” Very true, as Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Matt 10:34
    Thanks for explaining this difficult and sorrowful subject. We need to be watchful and keep aware and keeping telling people…even if they aren’t listening, and I thank you for sharing this with us.
    Amen and God bless.

  12. I am still working my way through that video…it is VERY FULL of info, it takes a bit to assimilate it all. It is full of “Eureka” moments as you say, “AH-HAH! THAT is what they were doing….. so sad! Yes! I firmly believe the Lord is separating with the Sword of his Word and it is bringing persecution, Lord help us be faithful!!!!! A comment for Lyn……..not that we should ever be afraid to speak for our Lord, but there is no biblical base for having to stand before a congregation to explain why you are leaving when it is over apostasy. This sounds like a “control” move from your “pastor” especially since he has stopped other communication with you and is not approachable about any sin in this “church” If people want to know, individually they can seek you out……..but I wouldn’t expect it. Your situation is really none of my business, I just know how painful and confusing these situations can be so I hope you take no offense at my suggestion. I know how easy it is to feel “obligated” to do, say certain things that maybe are not expected by our Lord…… Thanks for all the articles Mike and for Posting the video. ONWARD AND UPWARD!!!

  16. Mike,

    I’m unfamiliar with the terms Hegelian Dialectic and Diaprax, but I did watch the video from a couple posts ago and can better understand how this ideology connects certain people in “ministry” positions. Actually, it’s quite frustrating.

    I found this quote while researching some of these ideas, “The ‘watchman at the gate’ must be neutralized if diaprax is to remain undetected.” I don’t think its a stretch to make the assertion that those who hold to reformed theology comprise a large number of “watchmen.” Enter Rick Warren via John Piper in an attempt to neutralize said group. I just had the feeling several weeks ago that this alliance was the tip of the iceberg.

    Are there churches that have not been influenced by this? Are there any “national” pastors who do not have associations with those who peddle this ilk? Where does the true believer go, house churches?

    Thanks for being on top of this.
    II Corinthians 10:3-6

  18. Stella Marie, Thank you for your comment, I am in agreement with you. I personally feel this pastor doesn’t want to acknowledge to his congregation the reason why so many have left this church. I agree with you, there is no biblical mandate for announcing my departure.

    Blessings to you Stella!

    Lyn

  19. WoW – Amen to all the above comments.
    Especially Lyn’s…”men fearing men instead of fearing God. Man-pleasers have filled pulpits across this land, preaching another gospel, tickling the ear, and winning fake converts. They are cranking out two-fold sons of hell faster than an assembly line, and the people LOVE to have it so. As Christ’s true bride rises up in opposition against this, persecution will come”…

    I still shake my head that so many learned men and women of God can’t see what is happening as Mike shared above. But as we read Paul’s statement in 2 Corinthians, you’d think we would have learned, with 2000 years of hindsight since our Lord’s death and resurrection – and the fact that we have God’s Word right in front of our noses!!!

    And to respond to John’s comment, we are in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia – we have just left a Presby church that is flirting with all these suspect church growth models – especially missional. All the main local baptist churches LOVE Rick Warren. We’ve left the pentecostal scene so that’s out!
    And that predominately sums up our small city. We are still searching (after 5 months)- and listening to “online church sermons” – endorsed from those within “CRN – Christian Research Net”

    But you know what! We are.. afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. (2 Corinthians 4:8-11 ESV)

  20. Most excellent post, thank you!
    And you are correct when you imply the shift in the criteria for recognizing the false from the true. It used to be a lot more blatant and “out there”. Now, even those that are considered fundamental, evangelical and yes, REFORMED in doctrine, that preach a good Biblical message are proving to be heretical in their acceptation and tolerance of anything and everything.
    Lyn, so sorry you are going through this. I can empathize. And Stella Marie is correct, you are under no obligation to stand before the congregation and state why you’re leaving. This could open up a debate that you are not prepared for, and maybe that is what is planned??
    Sounds like your old “pastor” has sold his soul for “ten shekels and a shirt” if he is relying on that paycheck. What happened to living by FAITH? There’s a novel concept!

    I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ give His true Bride the courage and boldness to stand, and the peace that passes understanding for such obedience! “to obey is better than sacrifice”

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