Section 8 of 14
contents:
ON SPEAKING THE TRUTH VS. NEGATING THE CHALLENGE
A LITTLE LEAVEN 
(A 'PRO'-RENEWALIST SPEAKS OUT)
continued
This featured on our "Renewal" page
To section 1, introduction

ON SPEAKING THE TRUTH VS. NEGATING THE CHALLENGE

In Eph. 4:11-13, it is said that the Lord gives us the "apostles, prophets, evangelists, teacher/pastors", (the 4-fold ministry—the word 'pastors' is disputed) for the maturing of the Body. Many people have concentrated on this promise of the 4-fold as if it is just coming true today. Some not only promise 'super apostles and prophets', but are eager to take center stage as these same 'new' prophets and apostles.

Yet, let us look at these verses in their context, with attention given not only to verses 11-12, but verses 13- 15 too:

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
(Eph. 4: 11-15)
Presumably, according to this scripture, the goal of our '4-fold' is to assist the younger Christian to become mature. When we are mature, we are no longer "infants" anymore. So, we are not "tossed to and fro…" (by deception) anymore, either. INSTEAD of being tossed to and fro, we (who are no longer infants) are SPEAKING THE TRUTH IN LOVE. And WHILE DOING SO, we continue to "grow up" in all aspects in Him as Head. Or to say it another way, spiritual infancy is equated with:
  1. being tossed to and fro by deceivers and winds and doctrines and
  2. NOT speaking the truth in love.
Not that many verses later, speaking the truth is mentioned again:
"...and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body." (Eph. 4:24-25)
Again, it is shown that after we reach a maturity (putting on the new self), we will be both lay aside all falsehood and SPEAK THE TRUTH to our neighbor. Isn't laying aside all falsehood similar to not being swayed by deception? Yes, I believe it is. And isn't "putting on the new self", a Christian mandate that leads to true righteousness and holiness, which leads to speaking the truth and putting aside falsehood? Yes, to all of these.

If we are putting on this new self, we will be in true righteousness and holiness, we will speak truth to our neighbor without engaging in falsehood, and we will be angry without sinning (Eph. 4:25). Similarly, if we have grown past spiritual infancy and are no longer 'tossed to and fro', we would already be speaking the truth in love. This is a spiritual maturity that all '4-folds' should labor for and hope for. Indeed, their role is crucial and necessary, and from the Lord.

How is it then that many who are of the renewal camp consign every critique, every speaking of truth, every questioning, as some attack of the devil? Why are these questionings turned into an opportunity to examine another person's motives, rather than our own? How is that we have leaders who stop at verse 12 and define 'building up' the Body and 'love' as NEVER speaking the truth (about 'negative' or painful things). What is this clamor for 'acceptance of the prophets' while 'corrective' prophecy (a highly subjective term) is banned and refused?

Do not be deceived by those who have constructed a thousand different ways to never be challenged. Please do not allow any one to make you permanent children. After all, the apostles themselves urged everyone to the purity of the gospel, and openly 'criticized' and warned of leaders who were leading astray—sometimes by name. And even the 'New Testament' prophets corrected for sin (1 Corinth. 14:24).

© Copyright 2000  by Teri Lee Earl All Rights Reserved



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