Question: Why is faith in God Bad?

I posed this question on a board that I am a member of and wanted to copy a reply I received there and my reply.  The words in bold are the original reply and my reply to it.

I’m hoping that it will move on here and remain easier to follow.

Who does this guy think he is??

THE QUESTION:
How do we respond when we come into contact with another Christian who rubs us the wrong way? Perhaps they dress differently? Perhaps they like different music? Perhaps they are a hyper-calvinist, or hyper-arminian?

Now, how SHOULD we respond?

THE SITUATION:
Recently I’ve been reading some fairly heated arguments for and against Mark Driscoll. I don’t know Mark. I’ve never read his books, or heard him preach. Apparently he is a fairly radical preacher, using words and phrases that stun a lot of Christians. So I see a lot of brothers in Christ criticizing him for his style, disregarding the fact that he is reaching a lot of lost people. Is he preaching the gospel of Christ? That Christ came and died to save a lost world? To be our sacrifice for sin? Is he preaching the sovereignty of God, and salvation by faith in God alone? I hope he is. I don’t know enough about him to make a decision. But I see plenty of other believers in the same boat fixated on the words Mark chooses to use from the pulpit, instead of the work the Holy Spirit is doing through him. Is God pleased with his style? I don’t know. Not up to me. Are people coming to know Christ as their LORD and SAVIOR? It sure seems like it.

So this got me thinking, is it right to rebuke a fellow worker in the kingdom? If it is right, how should it be done?
Surely not on an individual’s blog where we can safely throw stones without taking any risks ourselves.

THE APPLICATION:

Monday morning, I opened my Bible and flipped to Luke 9. Now, I have not been reading Luke, but I sat down and started to read. And I was amazed with what I read there in Luke 9:46-50:

Luke 9:46 An argument started among them as to which of them might be the greatest.
Luke 9:47 But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side,
Luke 9:48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives
Him who sent Me; for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great.”
Luke 9:49 John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to
prevent him because he does not follow along with us.”
Luke 9:50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not hinder {him;} for he who is not against you is for you.”

Read verses 49-50 again. WOW I thought. What does that mean? For 3 days I’ve been thinking about this. He who is not against me, is for me.

(in the following section, I am not saying God spoke audibly to me, but the statements in all caps are what “popped” into my head as I was writing this)

Ok God, I understand that. But what am I supposed to do with it?

MANY SHEEP – MANY SHEPHERDS – ONE MASTER Shepherd

Ouch, ok. But what about correcting our brothers?

ARE THEY IN YOUR FELLOWSHIP OR DO YOU GO SEARCHING FOR THEM?

Uuuuuhhhh….Well, Uh, I guess I go looking for them to challenge their beliefs.

ARE THEY LOST? OR DO THEY HAVE A FLOCK WITH THEIR OWN SHEPHERD?

I don’t know LORD, I guess they have a shepherd. But LORD, what about false teachers?

DO THEY TEACH LOVE, THE CRUCIFIXION, DEATH AND RESURRECTION? THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST? REPENTANCE AND CONFESSION OF SIN? REMISSION AND FORGIVENESS OF SIN? SALVATION THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST ALONE? THESE ARE NOT FALSE TEACHERS.

FEED MY SHEEP.

So, get over my pride, quit looking for a debate and start loving those around me. Get off my butt and reach out to those that are hurting and lost. Show them Christ, show them love, show them mercy and healing. Quit wasting energy arguing with other flocks. Got it. Boy, that’s going to be easier said than done.

PRAYER:

God, please forgive me of my pride and arrogance. I know You constantly show us that we think too small. You work in mysterious ways and use the weak things of the world to confound the mighty. Please help me to see what You would have me see, to go where You would have me go, to speak what You would have me speak, to hear what You would have me hear, and to help those You would have me help. AMEN.