SHOULD CHRISTIANS CRITICIZE ONE ANOTHER?
The Events:
On 4th of May, 2011, I was cc’d a copy of email. The email was about the issue of Christians criticizing Christians. Christian male Ah Tim, wrote an email highly critical of the teachings of church leaders who reject the eternal security doctrine. Ah Tim is apparently a believer in the doctrine of eternal security ( The copy of Ah Tim’s email which started this fiasco was not sent to me, so I do not know his arguments ). Then Christian male Ganes, wrote a nice Christiany reply to Ah Tim, advising him not to be so critical of leaders and others who haven given up everything to serve God, advising him to focus on bringing the lost to the Lord. Then Christian female Aliza, wrote a scathing personal attack against Ah Tim, saying that his demeanor in writing the criticism is due to his physical height probably being not more than 5’ 4”. And Christian male #4, who we shall call Ah Toh wrote his defense of Ah Tim to Aliza. and cc’d the letter to me. And so that led me to this article.
First of all, what was wrong with all the 3 sets of the emails written by Ganes, Aliza and Ah Toh? Nobody addressed the issue raised by Ah Tim! Everybody missed the point! What a mess! Somebody raised an issue for debate, and everybody goes into the mode of counseling, personal attack and personal defense. NOBODY CARED ABOUT THE ISSUE. You see, Christians are so busy trying to appear Christians that all the time they miss the point of establishing truths and destroying lies. What Ganes should have done was to rebut Ah Tim point for point instead of going into giving advice on how Christians should behave. Aliza could have rebutted Ah Tim point for point too, but she obviously is one of those Christians who only knows what she was spoon-fed and not interested in the truth. She is the “please do not confuse me with the facts, I don’t need to find out if I have been lied to” type of Christian, which, by my uneducated guess, makes up 80% or more of the Christian population.
The Matter To Be Addressed Here
I will not be talking about Ah Tim’s stand on the eternal security issue here, but rather on the essence of the 3 emails on the matter of Christians criticizing Christians.
1. Should Christians be allowed to criticize Christians?
2. Should Christians name names?
3. Should Christians tear down the Kingdom if they name names?
Most Christians would say no to all 3 questions. But let’s see what happens in the bible.
Didn’t Paul Criticize and Name Names?
2Ti 2:17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus; | Oh dear! Paul named names! What unchristian behavior this must be, or has your teaching been wrong? |
1Ti 1:18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; 1Ti 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: 1Ti 1:20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. | Oh dear again! Paul named names again! And he even delivered them into the hands of Satan! Horrors! How unchristian can Paul be, or has your teaching been wrong? |
2Ti 4:10 for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. | Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear! For the 3rd time, Paul has shown such unchristian behavior! He not only named Demas, but even exposed Demas' bad behavior! Now, you say that Paul has shown bad Christian behavior if you dare! |
We clearly see that as far the bible goes, names are named, wrongs are described!
And Did John Do The Same Thing?
3Jn 1:9 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us. | Oh dear! Even John must be so unchristian because he named Diotrephes, and his love for being numero uno? Can you not admit how scripturally wrong you have been for failing to allow Christians to criticize Christians? |
Was Paul wrong? Was John wrong? Do you know better than them?
And are church leaders exempted from being named?
Gal 2:11 When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. Gal 2:12 Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. Gal 2:13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. | Here, we see read of Paul calling Peter by name, and calling him out for his hypocrisy! So church leaders are not exempted! But church leaders will surely hate to allow themselves to be criticized. |
Conclusions
Now to keep this article short, I am sure that all of you know who called the Pharisees “Generation of Vipers” and “Blind fools”. I am sure you all know how John the Baptist calls them similar names.
So, to those of you holier-than-thou Christians who are prone to calling others “holier-than-thou”, I am calling you out today for your hypocrisy and wrongful teachings. The bible expects us to emulate Jesus. You avoid emulating Jesus with the silly reason that you are not Jesus. Of course you are not, silly. You are only supposed to emulate him! What a silly excuse.
If Jesus calls people by names when it is due, then Christians should stop saying that we should not. If Paul can criticize Peter, and record it in the bible for 2000 year of believers to read about, who are the leaders of the church today? Are they higher and greater than Peter with all "touch not the Lord's anointed" nonsense? Have you been taken in by this nonsensical teaching also? Paul touched Peter. So what? This "touch not the Lord's anointed" teaching has been twisted by the leaders to protect themselves from being exposed. Very satanic motives behind this teaching, I would say.
The reason why the church today is so full of false teachings and so full of false teachers is because you have followed the lie of the devil. The devil does not want you to condemn and expose the false leaders so that the church will be weak. You do not obey the bible. You do not obey Jesus. You obey the devil your father who does not want you correct the wrongs so that the church will stay weak and confused.
If Jesus calls people by names when it is due, then Christians should stop saying that we should not. If Paul can criticize Peter, and record it in the bible for 2000 year of believers to read about, who are the leaders of the church today? Are they higher and greater than Peter with all "touch not the Lord's anointed" nonsense? Have you been taken in by this nonsensical teaching also? Paul touched Peter. So what? This "touch not the Lord's anointed" teaching has been twisted by the leaders to protect themselves from being exposed. Very satanic motives behind this teaching, I would say.
The reason why the church today is so full of false teachings and so full of false teachers is because you have followed the lie of the devil. The devil does not want you to condemn and expose the false leaders so that the church will be weak. You do not obey the bible. You do not obey Jesus. You obey the devil your father who does not want you correct the wrongs so that the church will stay weak and confused.
If anyone is going to write anything against this article of mine, I welcome your counter criticisms, and please rebut me point for point, and substantiate yourselves with bible verses and examples as I have done above.
The advice of Ganes to Ah Tim is a waste of time. Ganes could have taken on Ah Tim point for point. If he cannot debate Ah Tim point for point, then shaddup and go back to read his bible. The letter of Aliza against Ah Tim is silly and petty, totally irrelevant!
And yes, we are also supposed to show long suffering and patience when teaching others. But the bible clearly shows that when Christians are to be called fools, then they are called fools, re:
Gal 3:1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you
Naming names is the right thing to do. Why, calling Christians “fools” is evidenced in the bible.
And should Christians Argue For The Truth? What do you think Paul is saying here?
1Co 11:19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
Yes! Paul says we must argue so that what is true may become known.
So, you can stop being foolish and start teaching what is right, or you can choose to be like the Galatians, who have been named as fools for 2000 years for your benefit.
So stop your cowardly behavior of avoiding arguments about the truth, and stop pretending that you are wiser by not arguing. Stop calling those who raise issues for knowledge and debate as spiritually proud and arrogant. Are you not the one who is spiritually proud and arrogant, for you have even despised others when in fact that you do not have the substance, or the guts to rebut them?
As for the part where Ganes tells Ah Tim to focus on bringing people into the Kingdom of God and not focus on such issues that divide, I have this to say “Why bother to bring people into the Kingdom who do not follow after Jesus, but only to see them fall for false teachings and become prey to false prophets that lead them into hell?
Bringing people into the Kingdom is important. The truth is even more important, for it sets people free. Jesus came to set people free. If you think somebody is wrong, rebut them scripturally.
The unpleasant truth is that you have been downplaying the truth of God for the sake of maintaining good relationship with false teachers, feigned unity and unhealthy church growth.
Jesus says:
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
The unpleasant truth is that you have been downplaying the truth of God for the sake of maintaining good relationship with false teachers, feigned unity and unhealthy church growth.
Jesus says:
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
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