e-Newsletter

Volume Ten, Issue Four
9/1/03



Volume 10, Issue 4
"DECEPTION IN THE CHURCH" e-Newsletter
9/1/03

Dear All,

Gretings in the Lord Jesus Christ!

UPCOMING DISCERNMENT CONFERENCE!



Living Word 2003
Spiritual Power for Living!
Discernment Conference in Honolulu, HI
December 5-6, 2003
Featuring Bill Randles, Gary Gilley & Ray Yungen

Topics will include: Mending The Nets - 1 John, Gnosticism, Two Mysteries, Postmodernism, Church Growth Movement, Open Theism, New Age In The Churches, Contemplative Prayer, Universalism

Sposored by Apologetics Coordination Team, Windward Missionary Church & Let Us Reason Ministries

Click here to see the details. Stay tuned for updates on the brochure as to times, locations, topics, etc.

FEATURE ARTICLE

The feature article in this DITC e-Newsletter is "Exposing Error: Is It Worthwhile?" by Harry A. Ironside.  Dr. Harry Ironside (1876-1951) served as pastor of Chicago's Moody Memorial Church from 1930-1948.  He wrote many books and is considered an important biblical theologian.  It is important to note that standing up for the truth, even under persecution, was just as important in his day as it is today.  Exposing error is never a happy circumstance, but it is the most loving thing that can be done, both for those who teach deadly error, and those who might be influenced by it.  Biblical Christians have an obligation to expose error, admonish and rebuke those who teach it, and if false teachers continue in unrepentance, we must reject them and warn others.

NEW! BOOK REVIEWS PAGE

Check out our new Book Reviews page on DITC.  It is an alphabetical directory of book, video, newsletter and course reviews by title.  This is a handy research guide of reviews by the best apologist authors.  Check the What's New! page at DITC often for new book reviews.

Excellent Resources!

Timely!

LETTERS TO THE CHURCH is a fitting manual for the Revelation Christian. All the precepts are in the seven letters in Revelation 1:9 - 3:22 to help us keep the faith, stay in sound doctrine, and reach out to those who are perishing. I hope and pray that this book will help the reader to be an “overcomer”.

Go here for more details and how to order! 

Demolish Arguments!

Want to be able to see your way through to clear biblical discernment? Want a set of tools that will allow you to disciple your loved ones so they will stand firm in the Faith? Want to sort out many of the false arguments and teachings that have invaded the churches? Then DISCERNMENT TOOLKIT is for you!

Go here for more details and how to order!

This Is THE Benny Hinn Video!

SPIRIT OF TRUTH OR SPIRIT OF ERROR?
PART 1 - BENNY HINN 
features Jacob Prasch, Mike Oppenheimer & Sandy Simpson and tons of video showing the teachings and prophecies of Benny Hinn.  This is a proven tool to keep people away from heresy. 

Go here for more details and how to order!

In His hands,
Sandy Simpson
Apologetics Coordination Team (ACT)


Exposing Error: Is It Worthwhile?
by Harry A. Ironside

Objection is often raised even by some sound in the faith-regarding the exposure of error as being entirely negative and of no real edification. Of late, the hue and cry has been against any and all negative teaching. But the brethren who assume this attitude forget that a large part of the New Testament, both of the teaching of our blessed Lord Himself and the writings of the apostles, is made up of this very character of ministry-namely, showing the Satanic origin and, therefore, the unsettling results of the propagation of erroneous systems which Peter, in his second epistle, so definitely refers to as "damnable heresies."

Our Lord prophesied, "Many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many." Within our own day, how many false prophets have risen; and oh, how many are the deceived! Paul predicted, "I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch." My own observation is that these "grievous wolves," alone and in packs, are not sparing even the most favoured flocks. Undershepherds in these "perilous times" will do well to note the apostle's warning: "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers." It is as important in these days as in Paul's-in fact, it is increasingly important-to expose the many types of false teaching that, on every hand, abound more and more.

We are called upon to "contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints," while we hold the truth in love. The faith means the whole body of revealed truth, and to contend for all of God's truth necessitates some negative teaching. The choice is not left with us. Jude said he preferred a different, a pleasanter theme-"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordainedto this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ" (Jude 3, 4). Paul likewise admonishes us to "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" (Eph. 5:11).

This does not imply harsh treatment of those entrapped by error-quite the opposite. If it be objected that exposure to error necessitates unkind reflection upon others who do not see as we do, our answer is: it has always been the duty of every loyal servant of Christ to warn against any teaching that would make Him less precious or cast reflection upon His finished redemptive work and the all-sufficiency of His present service as our great High Priest and Advocate.

Every system of teaching can be judged by what it sets forth as to these fundamental truths of the faith. "What think ye of Christ?" is still the true test of every creed. The Christ of the Bible is certainly not the Christ of any false "-ism." Each of the cults has its hideous caricature of our lovely Lord.

Let us who have been redeemed at the cost of His precious blood be "good soldiers of Jesus Christ." As the battle against the forces of evil waxes ever more hot, we have need for God-given valour.

There is constant temptation to compromise. "Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach." It is always right to stand firmly for what God has revealed concerning His blessed Son's person and work. The "father of lies" deals in half-truths and specializes in most subtle fallacies concerning the Lord Jesus, our sole and sufficient Savior.

Error is like leaven of which we read, "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." Truth mixed with error is equivalent to all error, except that it is more innocent looking and, therefore, more dangerous. God hates such a mixture! Any error, or any truth-and-error mixture, calls for definite exposure and repudiation. To condone such is to be unfaithful to God and His Word and treacherous to imperiled souls for whom Christ died.

Exposing error is most unpopular work. But from every true standpoint it is worthwhile work. To our Savior, it means that He receives from us, His blood-bought ones, the loyalty that is His due. To ourselves, if we consider "the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt," it ensures future reward, a thousand-fold. And to souls "caught in the snare of the fowler"-how many of them God only knows-it may mean light and life, abundant and everlasting.



Dr. Harry Ironside (1876-1951), a godly Fundamentalist author and teacher for many years, served as pastor of Chicago's Moody Memorial Church from 1930-1948.