All Comments for: Attack Dogs of Christendom | Christianity Today

Free Newsletters:

RSS Feeds |

Audio |

Twitter

Home > 2007 > August

Christianity Today, August, 2007 |

Global Prognosis

Attack Dogs of Christendom

Is this how to bring grace and savor to a crumbling civilization?

David Aikman | posted 8/27/2007 08:10AM

When atheist Sam Harris wrote his 2004 bestseller The End of Faith, a radical attack on religious belief in any form, he was prepared for strong rebuttals from Christians.

What may have surprised him was ...

[Reader Reviews]

Average User Rating:

Rate and Comment on this article

Displaying 1 - 25 of 101 comments.

Page: 1 2 3 4 5

Show All

Gary R Sweeten

Posted: September 09, 2007 9:34 PM

It is also contrary to the inspired writings of St. Paul for him to do what he did. In I CO 13 he offers instructions on how to treat others that he was unable to follow. In Col he tells us that only the highly spiritual among us are to bring a rebel back from his sin. IN Romans he admits he cannot always act in sccord with his knowledge. Additionally, we know from Proverbs 7: 7 "Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. 8 Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. 9 Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning. 10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Ken Silva

Posted: September 09, 2007 12:46 PM


There's a bit more to this story at http://www.apprising.org/archives/2007/09/response_to_dav_1.html

moses

Posted: September 08, 2007 11:32 AM

when al quida attacks again its not the left that has to fear its the right osama is going after the greedy ways and our hipocritacal lifestyles we are living we have to start making our own decisions not be controled by others like pat roberston who is looking out for himself and other rich coservatives osama didnt go after the blue collar workers at the world trade center he went after the greedy political right we need to start doing our own thinking for ourselves

Slider

Posted: September 06, 2007 6:16 PM

Very well written article, It's about time someone "called out" these attack dogs. I did indeed troll around to their weblogs and discovered lots of derision which seemed to be based more on the need for public attention and chest beating than anything that would be beneficial to the Church. I believe much of their critisism is borne out of fear and the lack of ability to control others. Many people accept well timed and rational critique, but almost always reject disordered hysteria.

Robert

Posted: September 06, 2007 7:45 AM


David Cloud on his website is now claiming that Mother Teresa was not a real Christian. What a vicious dog he is.

Fred	Posted: September 05, 2007 9:33 PM


Not all blogs are what they seem. Becareful not to judge a ministry by it's website.

A Hermit

Posted: September 05, 2007 5:30 PM

This article brings up very good points for DISCUSSION (not debating). As Paul states, 'now we see darkly as in a mirror'; while correct 'doctrine' is important, more important is the contact with the living God in prayer. Doctrines are time-bound, human expressions of a Reality (Jesus) that is beyond human comprehension. Doctrines point to that reality; they themselves are not 'reality'. 'Possessing correct doctrine' can be another 'thing', or idol, that blocks us from surrendering to God's will in the present moment. While Eternal Truth never changes, doctrines that express it, being human and finite in origin, suject to human understanding at the time they are uttered, must.

Pearl

Posted: September 05, 2007 9:12 AM

I am the wife of a former pastor and neither of my children are close to the Lord any longer. All because of this exact sort of thing. The behavior they saw in two of the three churches my husband ministered in, and in my daughter's case the behavior she saw in a church she attended with friends of a different denomination, is largely responsible for where they currently are in relationship to Jesus. It is a difficult line to walk, standing firm for our faith and being loving. We need to be different than those who are lost - and to be honest, sometimes they behave much better than "Christians" do - but it needs to be in a way that makes it clear where we stand and yet draws others to us. Jesus didn't mince word, but sinners invited him to their homes to eat with them. There are better ways to handle things than what these people are doing.

Dave Wilson

Posted: September 05, 2007 8:29 AM

I cringe to think how wounded our Father's heart must be over these sibling battles. This "spiritual swordplay" and constant, public "my verse is bigger than your verse" is so out of bounds. If anyone has a problem with a brother's words, Scripture dictates that they take it to him privately. It also declares that arguments of this nature prove one's CARNALITY, not spirituality. We DARE NOT ignore the overarching message and lose sight of the forest for the trees. SOULS ARE AT STAKE! The message is that anyone can be saved by the grace of Almighty God through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Anything else puts the focus on man, not God. Father, please grant us ALL true repentance from our hearts and reconciliation with ALL who choose to submit themselves to You and the sovereign law of Love that Your Son, Jesus gave us.

soldier of God

Posted: September 05, 2007 7:52 AM

i was watching a show on God TV the show "Extreme Prophetic", Faisal Malik was speaking with Patricia King about the Glory of God and he said this 'the glory of God is when we decrease in power. annointing is when we are empowered for a season.' i am learning to differentiate between these two. when i do i know that i will be able to chastize in love for the glory of God's kingdom not my ego. i encourage all who read this article to look within yourself and seek to be depowered by God. be blessed

A. Schimke

Posted: September 05, 2007 12:58 AM

All of these rabid jackals will one day stand before a Holy God and all the gnashing of teeth and name calling will be revealed for what it truly is...they follow their father which is the prince of this world. It will not matter what stupid tradition or doctrine they cling to, their ultimate destination is going to be decided by the Holy One. I don't think these 'people' really believe in a Righteous Father to whom NONE OF YOUR TRIPE WILL MATTER ONE BIT AND WILL NOT SAVE YOU! SO GET A GRIP AND MOVE ON! May the peace of Yeshua be with you and guide you to turn from your savagery. Amen.

andy	Posted: September 04, 2007 7:08 PM


This rag as become a joke!! After the Calvary Chapel article and now this,its the end of the road for me and this mag..Its standard of journalism is on par with The Sun newspaper..

Darren

Posted: September 04, 2007 6:13 AM

While I agree wholeheartedly that there are many who go overboard when criticizing ministries and ministers. I often blanche whenever I come across such sites or articles and think of the harm this is doing to the world's perception of Christianity. However, I can't help but wonder, Jesus' wasn't exactly lamb-like in his choice of words describing the religious leaders of His day and even once referred to a Gentile woman as "a dog" (see Matthew 15:26). I wonder how Jesus would describe certain ministries and religious leaders today?

Wes	Posted: September 03, 2007 10:50 AM

I find interesting that many of the commentors below who are attacking "the attack dogs" are using the same tone that they criticize the ODMs of using! If graciousness and tone is the issue, shouldn't the responses characterize that graciousness and tone? I'm also surprised at the assertion that somehow "calvinism" is at the root of this issue... has the evangelical community sunk so low in its frame of reference to think that reformed theology is somehow outside the pale of orthodoxy?

David

Posted: September 02, 2007 10:17 PM


Thrust is ok, but it's sad that the author just can't resist the little digs at his "opponents".

noel gallagher

Posted: September 02, 2007 7:04 PM

great debate-please stop sending your american preachers to the uk and else where-we dont need warren,osteen,hinn,white,bell,dollar...oh the list goes on...young people believe the stuff they say...and then start questioning the Word...where have the old skool bible preachers gone?!-we maybe young,trendy and hip but we love the Lord,the Gospel,the Bible and doctrine we love serving the community,doing good deeds-Bible style without the flashy coolness or emergent heal the world humility-many are doing the stuff and preaching the gospel faithfully without having to be told by bell or warren how to re-style it. keep debating, its not a crime in the uk, yet.

chris - australia

Posted: September 01, 2007 10:50 PM

It seems to me that those sites that could be called "attack-dogs" have one thing in common. They are usually Calvinist in doctrine. It seems being a Calvinist can make one particularly intolerant. I guess it goes with the territory, if you can believe that the 5 points of Calvinism describes God's relationship with his people then it must affect you, you end up believing in a form of "cosmic caesar", not the loving relational God that reveals himself through the word. I guess if you are that influenced by someone who was completely intolerant of those who didn't conform to his vision of the kingdom of God on earth, then it's not surprising that they would attack others.

Rev. Austin Miles

Posted: September 01, 2007 3:56 PM

I can certainly relate to attack-dog Christianity. The attacks on me by Christians were so vicious that they could only have been spawned from the pits of hell. It was so bad that I eventually left the ministry, church and God. Several years later I came back into ministry, this time, with my eyes totally on God and not on man. I well understand, from my own experience, how and why there are so many people who hate Christians and don't want them in sight anywhere.

Tom	Posted: September 01, 2007 2:46 PM

You said "By all means criticize fellow Christians if necessary, but do so with grace.". I wonder if the author of the article went any deeper into these sites to see why they were concerned? I'll bet that in each and every case it has to do with teaching of non-Biblical doctrine, something that all Christians should be concerned with. Would the author have criticized Paul when he publicly rebuked Peter? Would he have criticized Jesus in Matthew 23? I could name so many others. The fact is that scripture commands us to judge doctrine and actions of others. The church is in a serious stae of going off the rails right now and it is largely because too many people have failed to take stands when the time was right. The result will be many people who will end up spending eternity in hell because they ended up being mis-led into believing a false gospel.

Graham

Posted: September 01, 2007 3:26 AM


I partly agree with this article, often the greatest enemies to Christianity are Christians, but the flip side is that as christians we have to be on our guard against false doctrines and teaching that are pouring out of liberal theology. Where is the balance between defending the faith from heritics and becoming an "attack dog"

Shawn

Posted: September 01, 2007 12:49 AM


The watchmen you rebuke in this artical are doing what CT Magazine should be doing, exposing the lies of the ruler of this world. CT Magazine should repent and ask forgiveness for leading people astray and supporting the spirit of the anti-christ.

hellfire and grace, discernment versus election theology

Posted: August 31, 2007 2:41 PM

The discernment approach needs careful evaluation. They place a heavy burden of works on people; they claim that salvation comes from strong works, including making emphatic declarations and heavy commitments andd oaths. They are a stumblingblock to people rather than ministers of the grace and generosity of God. The discernment theologians are right when they say God is very Holy, but they ignore the fact that God s three times generous and four times kind and five times gracious. Also they forget entirely that salvation can't be earned at all. They deny the fact that salvation is by the command and authority of God and that those who elected for salvation are given every assistance to succeed including the exhortations and warnings by others and by the Spirit. The discernment theologians make no effort to lift the burden of works they put on people nor do they properly counsel people about the great election they have received, which inspires at least as much as warnings of hellfire!

George

Posted: August 31, 2007 12:25 PM

Mr Aikmen like so many have never taken up the cross, contended for the faith, or suffered in ANYWAY for his name sake. They are typically those who love the world and the things of the world. They hate a HOLY, HOLY, HOLY God who expects those that believe, love and trust him to live like it in truth! They are pragmatists and humanists (Joel Olstein, Shuller, Christianity Today, etc etc) and many have "another Jesus", and not the BIBLICAL LORD Jesus Christ! They have no fear of God and they have a "form of godliness, but deny the power thereof, from such TURN AWAY". You see, they "profess that they know God, but in works they DENY HIM...", ie they deny Him because they do not call those who preach another gospel, ACCURSED! You see, they are continue in "Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that GAIN is godliness: from such withdraw thyself." They will not come out from among them and be seperate but instead take the broad road.

Holland Herold

Posted: August 31, 2007 2:54 AM


The vitriolic fundamentalist would point out that Jesus used harsh language against the Pharisees (his enemies). Ironically, they are right, but Jesus' words were directed at the 1st-century equivalent of today's extreme right-wing and vicious voices.

Crazy Tequila :-)

Posted: August 30, 2007 8:39 PM

A BIG THANK YOU for your insight! I was wondering myself why people would want to have their philanthropy & blessings & good works PLUS Jesus when the Church acts such as David describes. Why accept Jesus? Those church attenders act just like me, so why do I need to add Jesus into the miasma? Altho I need to lever the log out of my own eye before I say more about the splinters in others' eyes around me... God's Blessings!!!

Page: 1 2 3 4 5

E-mail this page

Write CT

Print this article

Post a comment