We have been deceived by pious-sounding blasphemy & even into serving it, giving our lives to it ---but we can heed the Word of God, repent & come out before it is too late: Since every participant, every speaker and every exhibitor in the Exhibition Hall at New Orleans 87 had to subscribe to this Statement, and since it is so significant and will continue to have wide influence in the days to come, we will quote it in full. Please read this carefully in light of Scripture. After the statement, we will print just a few of the many commands of God about Bible doctrine. Every one of these commands are ignored and disobeyed by the following Statement and by everyone who subscribes to this Statement. NORTH AMERICAN RENEWAL SERVICE COMMITTEE STATEMENT OF POLICY PROVIDES A PATTERN FOR WORKING TOGETHER We, the members of The North American Renewal Service Committee, acknowledge that our purpose in coming together and in working together is to serve our Lord Jesus Christ and to further his plan in the world. We believe that he has called us into this relationship so that he might lead us by the power of his Spirit to contribute to the work of world evangelization. BECAUSE WE HAVE COME TOGETHER FROM SO MANY DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS WE WANT TO STATE PUBLICLY AS WELL AS TO EACH OTHER THE TERMS OF OUR RELATIONSHIP. WE ARE CHRISTIANS. We acknowledge Jesus Christ as true God and true Man, to be our Lord and Savior. We seek to live as his followers by his grace and by the power of his Holy Spirit. We seek to live in obedience to his word. We are committed to biblical righteousness in our behavior and to growth in holiness in our spiritual lives. We believe that the Lord Jesus has given his followers the gift of the Holy Spirit and that he sends them as he himself was sent, to proclaim the good news of salvation to all humankind. We are members of many different Christian churches, denominations, bodies and ministries. We acknowledge that our coming together is a work of the Spirit which is unusual, and which needs to be safeguarded. Disunity in the church is an historic and present-day reality that challenges all Christians to work for authentic solutions. Aware of this, we want to relate to one another and conduct our work in a way that promotes Christian unity, with honesty and integrity. WE ACCEPT EACH OTHER AS BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN OUR ONE LORD, JESUS CHRIST. WE ACKNOWLEDGE EACH OTHER AS MEMBERS OF HIS BODY, THE CHURCH. We honor the Holy Spirit in each others lives. WE WILL WORK TOGETHER AS BROTHERS AND SISTERS. We will seek to relate to each other in humility, to develop mutual trust, fellowship and affection. We will uphold each other in prayer. We, and the churches, denominations, groups, and ministries to which we personally belong, agree on many matters of faith and practice. Sometimes this agreement is plainly evident. Sometimes it is obscured by differences in theological vocabulary, discipline or pastoral practice. We will labor to give expression to our agreement. We will respect and be sensitive to the different ways in which we express the same truths. Without compromise to our convictions, we will try to express our agreements in ways which are acceptable to all. WE, AND THE CHURCHES, DENOMINATIONS, GROUPS, AND MINISTRIES to which we personally belong, disagree on other matters of faith and practice. Resolving such difficulties is the work of the Holy Spirit in the Church. As we face such disagreement, our hope is in the Lord. We look forward to the day when we will be of one mind and heart. We acknowledge our real differences in a spirit of brotherly love and mutual understanding. WE WILL RESPECT EACH OTHERS CONVICTIONS IN THESE MATTERS. Without minimizing the very real theological differences that exist among Christians, WE WILL STRIVE TO TREAT SUCH AREAS OF DISAGREEMENT RESPECTFULLY AND WITH SENSITIVITY to each others churches, traditions, and constituencies. Among our churches, denominations, groups, and ministries, there may have been times of tension, opposition and conflict. We wish to put these times behind us by the grace of God. In view of the call we all believe we have from the Lord to enter into this relationship for common work, we want to express our mutual personal respect and our respect for one anothers ministries. We will speak well of one another and support each other whenever possible. Should we find it necessary to disagree, we will do so without a contentious spirit, but in a loving manner that seeks to edify and that is OPEN TO LEARNING FROM ONE ANOTHER. WE, THE MEMBERS OF THE NARSC, commit ourselves to this expression of our relationship, and by Gods grace we live by it. FURTHERMORE, WE ASK ALL THOSE WHOM WE INVITE TO MINISTER, SPEAK, PERFORM, OR OTHERWISE COLLABORATE AT THE CONGRESSES WHICH WE SPONSOR, TO ENTER INTO THIS SAME RELATIONSHIP WITH US (AD2000, February 1987, pages 2-3). *************************** If some of our readers are thinking that this is a good Statement, I would challenge you to contrast the attitude toward doctrine as reflected in this Statement of Policy with the things God says in His Word about doctrine: WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT DOCTRINE 1. The Bible is given to teach doctrine. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable FOR DOCTRINE, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). The very first usage of the Scriptures, according to this verse, is FOR DOCTRINE. The Bible is given to teach men doctrine, and that doctrine is not to be ignored, slighted, or discarded for the sake of unity. Sound Bible doctrine is not to be looked upon as some legalistic barrier to fellowship, but as something which God has given and His people are to respect. We are to worship God in Spirit and in TRUTH. God is not worshipped apart from truth, which is sound Bible doctrine. Bible doctrine does cause divisions, but this is the will of God. Bible doctrine is supposed to divide between those who accept the truth and those who don’t. Those who refuse to make doctrine important are ignoring what the Bible says. According to the Bible, sound doctrine is more important than unity. In fact, there is no true spiritual unity apart from unity in sound doctrine. Any other so-called unity is a man-made unity such as the rebellious unity created by the men who were building the tower of Babel. They were building a marvelous unity--but ignoring the commandments of God--and God hated it. 2. We are saved through doctrine. But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you (Romans 6:17). ... God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:13). Here we see that our salvation depends upon hearing and believing the right DOCTRINE. It is a matter of salvation; it is that important. How different this is to the attitude displayed in the Statement of Policy signed by the participants of the North American Congress on the Holy Spirit & World Evangelization. The Statement of Policy acknowledges that the NARSC is made up of members of many different churches, denominations, bodies and ministries. It is obvious that among these are different doctrines about salvation, such as the difference between what a Baptist church traditionally teaches about salvation and what the Roman Catholic Church teaches. It is impossible, then, to say We accept each other as brothers and sisters in our one Lord, Jesus Christ. We acknowledge each other as members of his body, the Church. We honor the Holy Spirit in each others lives. The Bible says that only those who believe the right doctrine about salvation are truly born again, only those who believe the truth. The tremendous confusion about personal salvation which was demonstrated at the New Orleans 87 Congress shows how utterly foolish it is to subscribe to such a Statement of Policy. I refer to the third night of the conference when half of the roughly 35,000 registrants stood, indicating that they wanted to be saved and to receive Christ! The false sacramental gospels of the Catholic, Episcopal, and Lutheran churches were to blame for this, and it is blind faith and folly to sign a Statement whereby I accept as brothers and sisters in Christ those who believe a false gospel of sacramentalism. Men are saved through sound doctrine, and it matters not if they praise God, shout hallelujah or write books about loving Jesus--if their doctrine of salvation is in error they are not saved. 3. We abide in Christ through doctrine. But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and EVEN AS IT HATH TAUGHT YOU, YE SHALL ABIDE IN HIM (1 John 2:27). 4. We are rewarded according to our fidelity to doctrine. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the DOCTRINE OF CHRIST, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not THIS DOCTRINE, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds (2 John 8-11). In light of this passage, it is not too much to say that all who subscribe to the NARSC Statement of Policy will lose whatever rewards they might have wrought because of their refusal to separate from those walking in deep error. You say how can it be? How can it not be when charismatics so blatantly ignore these commands and fellowship and delight in the abominable mass and work with priests, bishops, and popes regardless of the blasphemous claims that they make. Just the fact that most charismatic leaders call Roman Catholic priests fathers, and the pope His Holiness, when Jesus expressly forbade such things, is evidence that they will lose whatever rewards they might have wrought, if they are actually saved. 5. We are commanded to fight for doctrine. 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 (Jude 3). How contrary this is to the Statement of Policy which says, Without minimizing the very real theological differences that exist among Christians, we will strive to treat such areas of disagreement respectfully and with sensitivity to each others churches, traditions, and constituencies... Should we find it necessary to disagree, we will do so without a contentious spirit, but in a loving manner that seeks to edify and that is open to learning from one another. My friends, the Lord Jesus Christ did not practice the principles of this Statement of Policy during His earthly ministry! Have you ever read Matthew 23 in which we see Christ rebuking the false teachers of his day publicly and scathingly? Was He edifying the Pharisees and Saducees in that scene? Was he open to learn from those who were disagreeing with Him? Do not argue that since it was Jesus it is not an example for us. One of the repetitious cries of the charismatic movement is that we must follow Jesus--not Paul--but Jesus. O.K. Lets follow Jesus by imitating His example in Matthew 23! And how can we possibly learn from one another and edify one another while working in the midst of a multitude so mixed and confused, a multitude in which the theological differences are so great that some are true Christians and some are false, some are teaching sound doctrine and some heresy? The commandment in Jude is very strong. EARNESTLY CONTEND for the faith once delivered to the saints! That is a call to fight, a call to arms, not a plea for sensitivity and respect. Jesus warned that there would many false teachers (Matthew 24:11, 24), many wolves in sheeps clothing (Matthew 7). The charismatic/ecumenical movement is full of them. Just how respectful and sensitive are we supposed to be toward wolves! 6. Doctrine is the basis of separation. Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which caused divisions and offences CONTRARY TO THE DOCTRINE WHICH YE HAVE LEARNED; and avoid them (Romans 16:17). When I find someone whose doctrine is in error, God forbids me to work with and fellowship with that one. God forbids it! Why cant those who profess to have the special fullness of the Holy Spirit today understand these simple words which were inspired by the Holy Spirit? The Statement of Policy says that in spite of the doctrinal differences, in spite of the doctrinal error (someone has to be wrong if there are mutually exclusive doctrinal views), We will work together... We will seek to relate to each other... God repeatedly says that His people are to separate, avoid, come apart from, turn away from those who are teaching error. Some of the many verses which contain this command are Romans 16:17; Ephesians 5:11; Galatians 2:4-5; 5:9-12; Philippians 4:18-21; Colossians 2:4-8; 2 Timothy 2:14-22; 2 Timothy 3:5; Hebrews 13:12-14; 2 Peter 2-3; 2 John 10-11; and Revelation 18:4. With these commands of separation before us, how could we possibly subscribe to the unbiblical idea that disunity in the church is an historic and present-day reality that challenges all Christians to work for authentic solutions? There is no hint in this Statement of Policy that many of the roots of the disunity among Christians are doctrinal differences and it is Gods express will that where there are doctrinal differences there is not to be unity. 7. Doctrine determines whether we are ashamed or approved before God. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). wayoflife.org/database/strangethingsinneworleans.html 8. Doctrine is a fruit of the Spirit. For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness AND TRUTH (Ephesians 5:9).
Posted on: Tue, 15 Oct 2013 13:03:10 +0000
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