Sorry, haven’t forgotten about the ongoing testimony. But I have to consider carefully how to tell this part of the story.
It may be easy to classify other ministries as being “helpful,” “bad,” “really bad,” and “really, really bad” (and for the record I agree just about 100% with Phil’s classifications as found at that link), but when you are dealing with your own past, with those you considered your friends… well, other considerations come into play. On one hand, I know the people involved, and I know (within certain parameters) why they believe and teach the way they do (both their external influences, and the things happening in their hearts). On the other hand, my own narrow escape from false teaching (and at its very best, it is false teaching) leads me to be particularly sensitive to others when they approach it.
Last night we attended one of our church’s Bible studies, and we finished Colossians 2. Now, that passage is in many ways an anthem of where we have been and where we are going, and whenever I hear about people trying to begin with the Spirit but perfect themselves in the flesh (to borrow from Galatians), I want to get up and preach about it. Others may think, “there, but for the grace of God, go I,” but for me it is all about “I was there, and saved from it by God’s grace, hallelujah! Don’t let anybody spy out your liberty! Don’t let anybody preach a different gospel!”
I do get a little bit shrill when I start to talk about it. It’s all I can do to keep quiet sometimes.
Anyway, this is the problem. It is equally easy to give old friends a pass, and try to keep from retributive attacks by pretending it wasn’t that big of a deal, as it is to try to start a new Reformation against the heresies in which I was mired. (‘Tis the season for nailing theses to a door, after all.) But to tell this story properly, I need to make sure that glory goes to God, and blame falls where it belongs: me, a true son of Adam and Satan until my adoption as a child of God. So I need to tread carefully, and tell the truth in love, and defend the faith with gentleness and reverence. And for that I still need a little bit of time, and a lot of grace. Bear with me.
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