Did God Forbid us to Critique or Criticize Church Leaders?

High profile Church leaders who teach doctrines of demons actually have the temerity to warn their critics to back off or face danger of divine judgment. Well, Cameron Buettel’s not backing off. In a blog post he wrote for Grace to You, Buettel names names and includes a video of one wolf in sheep’s clothing you won’t want to miss. The man’s heretical teaching is breathtaking!  Even so, he has a gazillion adoring fans who financially support his sham of a ministry and they’ve made him a wealthy man. Why would any serious Christian support mangy wolves? Because many believers simply are unable to discern a wolf from a terrier, the reason being that they don’t have a firm grasp of Church doctrine — what they believe and why they believe it.

Someone once said that the Church is a mile wide and an inch deep. In other words, when it comes to understanding the things of God, His people have very little understanding. As a result of their shallowness, spiritual discernment is pretty much non-existent in the visible Church.  And therein lies the problem.

So with all of this in mind, here’s Cameron Buettel’s excellent post:

False teaching thrives in environments where it is unlikely to be questioned. Charlatans and heretics prey on uncritical minds, and work tirelessly to protect and preserve that gullibility. Their success depends on dismantling every challenge to their authority and accuracy.

John MacArthur describes why that problem is rampant in the modern church:

In a time like this of tolerance, listen, false teaching will always cry intolerance; it will always say you’re being divisive, you’re being unloving, you’re being ungracious, because it can only survive when it doesn’t get scrutinized. And so it cries against any intolerance. It cries against any examination, any scrutiny.

In recent decades, some of the most notorious charismatic church leaders have been doing just that. They continually warn their critics to back off or face the imminent danger of divine judgment. Claiming God’s stamp of approval, they wield Psalm 105:15 like a loaded gun: “Touch not [the Lord’s] anointed” (KJV).

And lest you think such a description to be hyperbole, the following clip from Benny Hinn is a spectacular example.

Hinn’s handling of Psalm 105:15, as well as the story of Saul and David, is hopelessly wrong on too many levels to address in one blog post.

For example we could discuss how Hinn utterly fails to understand Judas’s role in God’s sovereign plan for the crucifixion, while woefully underestimating the deity of Christ. We could invalidate Hinn’s warnings against criticism by pointing out the time Paul rebuked Peter—or when Hinn has publicly rebuked Joel Osteen, among others. Then there’s the problem of Hinn basing his threats upon the extra-biblical revelation of another false teacher (Kenneth Copeland).  Continue reading

See our White Papers on Discernment and the Word of Faith Movement

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5 Responses to Did God Forbid us to Critique or Criticize Church Leaders?

  1. Sheila Beers April 11, 2017 at 1:27 am #

    The Bible says we are not to judge others. However, the Bible does say we should be fruit inspectors because “by their fruits ye shall know them.” In other words, we still should have discernment about false teachers and should have the courage to warn others about such falseness..

    • Maggie April 11, 2017 at 12:30 pm #

      Sheila, people often justify false teaching or practice by using the “by their fruits ye shall know them”–meaning, see what good comes from this teaching/practice! What they fail to include is good fruit cannot come from a bad tree. In other words, good doctrine is important; otherwise, the practice or teaching will be wrong.

  2. Manny1962 April 13, 2017 at 7:57 am #

    Jesus criticized the religious leaders of His day……Paul did too, so did John. No one is above The Word. There’s a greater judgement for those that claim they’re teachers, if they don’t handle the word with reverence they best beware.

  3. A. Amos Love April 14, 2017 at 1:02 pm #

    Hmmm?
    “Did God Forbid us to Critique or Criticize Church Leaders?”

    Is this a trick question?
    I can NOT find “Church Leaders,” in my antiquated KJV.
    ———-

    And, In the Bible, Jesus taught **His Disciples** NOT to be called “Leaders.”

    And, **His Disciples** must have believed Jesus… Because…
    In the Bible, NOT one of **His Disciples** called them self “Leader.” 🙂

    Seems Jesus has a unique take on “Leaders” for **His Disciples.**

    “ONE”

    Mat 23:10-12 NASB – New American Standard Bible
    Do NOT be called leaders; for “ONE” is your Leader, that is, Christ.
    But the greatest among you shall be your “Servant”.
    Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled;
    and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

    Humble – a modest or low estimate of one’s own importance.

    Know many, any, who take the postion of “Church Leader?”
    Who are Humble? Having a modest or low estimate of their own importance?
    ——-

    If Jesus instructed **His Disciples** NOT to call themselves “leaders?”
    And someone calls them self a “leader?”
    Allows others to call them “leader?”

    Are they one of **His Disciples**?”

    Why isn’t what Jesus said important? 😉

  4. A. Amos Love April 14, 2017 at 1:21 pm #

    Hmmm?
    “Church Leaders?”

    Jesus said…
    John 5:41 – I receive *NOT* honour from men.
    John 5:44 – How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another,
    and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

    When someone aknowledges you as a “Leader?”
    Church leader? Spirirtual leader? Christian leader?

    Are you, “Receiving Honor?” from men?
    ———-

    Jesus also said…
    John 7:18 – He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory…
    John 8:50 – And I seek not mine own glory…

    When you let people know, teach them, you’re a “leader?”
    Church leader? Spirirtual leader? Christian leader?

    Is that, “speaking of yourself?”
    “seeking your own glory?”
    ——-

    Why do you want to be known as a “leader?”
    Why do you want people to follow you?
    And NOT follow Jesus?
    ——

    Shouldn’t **His Disciples?** Teach potential Disciples?
    What Jesus taught **His Disciples?** In the Bible?

    **His Disciples?** are Not to be called “Leaders?”
    **His Disciples?** Have “ONE” “Leader? – that is, Christ?
    ———-

    Jer 50:6
    “My people” hath been “lost sheep:”
    **THEIR shepherds** have caused them to *go astray,*

    1 Pet 2:25
    For ye were as *sheep going astray;*
    BUT are now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

    {{{{{{ Jesus }}}}}}

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