Clarifying Contention
by Nathan Battey
by Nathan Battey
2 Timothy 4:14-15
Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.
In Paul’s day there were those among the Lord’s people who were resisting the truth. On this occasion Paul noted a man by name for resisting the Word of the Lord and causing problems within the work of the Church. Paul did not sin in so doing, nor was he a slanderer or defamer of character. He simply warned Christians of the dangers a certain man posed to the spread of truth.
Yesterday I warned everyone (and parents in particular) of false teachers that are on Facebook. I strongly believe we all need to be careful of what we read there and allow ourselves and our children to be exposed to. I even went so far as to name three men for specific doctrines they are espousing. As is always the case when you call out a name, someone has called “Foul!”
So, today I will clarify what I wrote yesterday.
First, I did not defame the character of any of the men I mentioned in yesterday’s post. I did not accuse them of being child predators or being deceitful for money's sake; I accused them of being spiritual predators and teaching false doctrine. There is a big difference between the two. I am not questioning the moral character of these men; I am questioning their doctrinal purity.
Second, I did not slander any of the men I mentioned yesterday either. Slander is the spreading of lies with the intent to harm. I did not lie and I was very specific about each man and what he teaches. I was not accusing them all of the same crime, nor was I accusing them of anything besides what I specifically stated regarding them. It is not a lie that, “…Steve Ramsey and Bryan Harris are advocating Open Fellowship (2 John 9-11), Unity in Diversity (John 17:20-21), that doctrine does not matter (Gal 1:6-10/ 2 John 9-11), and that we can’t understand the Bible (Eph. 5:17).” Both of these men have been very open with their beliefs on Facebook and have oft posted their beliefs on other people’s walls. Steve Ramsey has also had a written discussion with Mike Criswell on Facebook regarding some of these very topics. I could have listed more things these men have taught, but I thought my list sufficient.
If someone wrote in a blog, “Beware of Nathan Battey because he teaches Close Fellowship (2 John 9-11), Unity Without Diversity (John 17:20-21), that doctrine does matter (Gal. 1:6-10/ 2 John 9-11), and that we can understand the Bible (Eph. 5:17), I would not cry “Foul!” or “Slander!” I am not ashamed of what I believe. I believe these things and have taught them just as publicly as these other men have taught their beliefs. The question is not IF these men have taught such, or IF they have done it publicly, but rather IF everyone is aware of what they are teaching. I believe everyone deserves a fair warning before these men and their doctrines confront them - so I have given one. I love these men and pray they will renounce their error. I also love the brotherhood of which I am a part and feel the need as a Gospel preacher to warn the faithful when men begin to sow a different seed in the fields of the kingdom.
May God bless His Kingdom and may truth always triumph.
Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words.
In Paul’s day there were those among the Lord’s people who were resisting the truth. On this occasion Paul noted a man by name for resisting the Word of the Lord and causing problems within the work of the Church. Paul did not sin in so doing, nor was he a slanderer or defamer of character. He simply warned Christians of the dangers a certain man posed to the spread of truth.
Yesterday I warned everyone (and parents in particular) of false teachers that are on Facebook. I strongly believe we all need to be careful of what we read there and allow ourselves and our children to be exposed to. I even went so far as to name three men for specific doctrines they are espousing. As is always the case when you call out a name, someone has called “Foul!”
So, today I will clarify what I wrote yesterday.
First, I did not defame the character of any of the men I mentioned in yesterday’s post. I did not accuse them of being child predators or being deceitful for money's sake; I accused them of being spiritual predators and teaching false doctrine. There is a big difference between the two. I am not questioning the moral character of these men; I am questioning their doctrinal purity.
Second, I did not slander any of the men I mentioned yesterday either. Slander is the spreading of lies with the intent to harm. I did not lie and I was very specific about each man and what he teaches. I was not accusing them all of the same crime, nor was I accusing them of anything besides what I specifically stated regarding them. It is not a lie that, “…Steve Ramsey and Bryan Harris are advocating Open Fellowship (2 John 9-11), Unity in Diversity (John 17:20-21), that doctrine does not matter (Gal 1:6-10/ 2 John 9-11), and that we can’t understand the Bible (Eph. 5:17).” Both of these men have been very open with their beliefs on Facebook and have oft posted their beliefs on other people’s walls. Steve Ramsey has also had a written discussion with Mike Criswell on Facebook regarding some of these very topics. I could have listed more things these men have taught, but I thought my list sufficient.
If someone wrote in a blog, “Beware of Nathan Battey because he teaches Close Fellowship (2 John 9-11), Unity Without Diversity (John 17:20-21), that doctrine does matter (Gal. 1:6-10/ 2 John 9-11), and that we can understand the Bible (Eph. 5:17), I would not cry “Foul!” or “Slander!” I am not ashamed of what I believe. I believe these things and have taught them just as publicly as these other men have taught their beliefs. The question is not IF these men have taught such, or IF they have done it publicly, but rather IF everyone is aware of what they are teaching. I believe everyone deserves a fair warning before these men and their doctrines confront them - so I have given one. I love these men and pray they will renounce their error. I also love the brotherhood of which I am a part and feel the need as a Gospel preacher to warn the faithful when men begin to sow a different seed in the fields of the kingdom.
May God bless His Kingdom and may truth always triumph.
RSS Feed
