I Survived an Anti-SGM drive by blogging.

I would suppose that when any one person or group of people stand for something, there will inevitably be another person or group of people that universally disagree with the first group. You have pro-lifers vs the anti-lifers, the authors of the Federalist Papers and their opponents with the brilliantly titled rebuttal, "The Anti-Federalist Papers." Republicans and Democrats. Blah blah. Although on the much smaller scale than age old politics, there is a small group of people who cannot stand Sovereign Grace Ministries. (sgmsurvivor.com, spiritualtyranny.com to name two) After reading the past years worth of blitching (blogging + well, you get the picture) I was won over with their winsome words. I was immediately convicted of my disobediance of Matthew 18:15 which reads
"If your brother sins against you, go and write a scathing blog about his sin, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along in your mudslinging blog and continue to record every offense, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'

Imagine my shock and dismay at reading this in my Bible. Why had my SGM pastor not preached about this verse? How dare he censor the living word of God?! You mean this whole time that I've been uncomfortable with God's primary means of sanctifying me to be more Holy, I could've been undercutting and gossipping and slandering online to vent my frustrations?!?! Holy smokes. This is HUGE. We're gonna blow this lid off this cover up. I did some more bible searching...

1st Timothoy 5:13 Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to. Unless of course it's on an online blog. Then by all means instruct the people that it is their God-Give right to be gossips and busibodies.

Whoa.

Leviticus 19:16 " Do not go about spreading slander among your people. " 'Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor's life. I am the LORD."
--- Now see at first I had a hard time with this one, because it almost looks like God actually and specifically spoke about what SGMsurvivors.com and spiritualtyranny.com authors and commentors post, and it says that what they are doing is sinful and wrong. But obviously God doesn't have all the details. What about for people that are actually hurt by an offense. This makes gossip and slander ok right? Of course it does. I mean what if I've been really offended, I've earned the right to blitch. God understands. Leviticus only applies for people the spread slander for no apparent reason.

Psalm 41:6 Whenever one comes to see me, he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander; then he goes out and spreads it abroad.
--- Again, I think this verse had me stumped for a short while. It almost sounds like the author of this passage is trying to convey that spreading slander abroad is a bad thing. Actually i'm quite sure that this author of the passage wasn't aware of all the facts. What if what I have to say is true? That doesn't make it slander right? Of course. When it's true, it's our duty to make sure we defame, slander, and gossip about anyone who offends us, sins against us, or just makes us upset.

So while it may seem like the Bible prohibits the actions of the aforementioned blogs, it really encourages it. It's also a good thing that the Bible doesn't say anything about God using your Pastor to grow and sanctify you. Otherwise we'd have a huge problem. I mean what if God decided to actually use your pastor to rout out sin in your life in a manner that make you a bit uncomfortable. Imagine the horror. Removal of sin isn't such a huge deal. Why should we open up and respond with humility and consider our pastors better than ourselves when that might feel uncomfortable. And worse, what if my pastor isn't a perfect human being? He might, SIN against me. I am so glad that God wants us to blitch and whine on online blogs about how SGM is just an evil corporation who's end means are to brainwash us into being: more like Christ, more in love with our Savior, more diligent in our spiritual disciplines, more knowledgeable in the scriptures.

It's also freeing to know that drive-by blitching about specific pastors even though I may not have all the information or perhaps only heard it second or third hand, is completely ok and encouraged by God. God wants us to do these things because sometimes, things slip out of His control, and He needs us to warn others about how bad and evil SGM is, as a whole. Keep up the good work guys, there's a special jewel for your heveanly crown thats achieved only by getting a certain number of people to leave a SGM church. Strain forward to that goal! Don't let people like Peacemaker get in your way. Don't let anyone deter you from this singular goal: Inform the world of how SGM is not of God, and record every single mess up and post it publically. You have the word of God on your side. Fight on.