When the Word of the Lord came to Jeremiah confirming his ordination as a prophet to the nations, he modestly hesitated, saying, "Ah, Lord God! Behold I cannot speak: for I am a child." But the Lord who calls and equips told him in no uncertain terms, "Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord" (Jeremiah 1:6-8).

Just as the time approached for Jeremiah to begin his public ministry, the Lord said,

Gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee; be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them. For behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brazen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof against the priests thereof and against the people of the land. And they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee (Jeremiah 1:17-19)

He was one man against an entire nation! He was one man with an unwanted message! He was one man with the God given courage to use a much-despised term! Jeremiah plastered Israel with a Label they did not like and could not peel off! Jeremiah laid his axe to the root of Israel's tree and in specific, direct and plain-spoken fashion fixed attention on Israel's great problem! Fearing neither princes, priests, prophets nor people, he denounced them all alike! He called their problem backsliding. For his faithful declaration of the truth of God, he received as much thanks and acclaim as he would if he were to declare the same message in the church today. Ponder this searching passage:

Thus saith the Lord; Shall they fall, and not arise? Shall he turn away, and not return? Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? They hold fast deceit, they refuse to return. I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright; no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? Every one is turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle. Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle [dove] and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming: but My people know not the judgment of the Lord (Jeremiah 8:4-7).

How is it that the so-called brute beasts and dumb birds are wiser than men? The salmon know when and where to return to their place of beginnings, but the backslider has forgotten the God who made him. Isaiah the prophet cried:

The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib, but Israel doth not know, My people doth not consider. Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they have gone away backward. (Isaiah 1:3-4).

What exactly is backsliding? Nowhere in all Scripture is it better described than in Proverbs 14:14, "The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways." There you have it-a backslider is a person who was once emptied of his own ways and filled with the ways of God, but who gradually allows his own ways to creep back in until he is all but empty of God and full of himself again.

This is the very problem Jeremiah addressed. The people of his day had allowed more and more of self to slip into their hearts until the God who brought them out of Egypt and blessed them above all human beings was almost entirely crowded out of their lives and forgotten. Chapters two and three of Jeremiah clearly outline this crowding-out process. The word from God to backslidden Israel commences with a lament concerning the former days:

"I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thins espousals, when thou wentest after Me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown. Israel was boldness unto the Lord, and tbe firstfruits of His increase... "(Jeremiah 2:2-3).

What was had ceased to be. Their early love for God was gone. Holiness was forgotten. Israel no longer delighted the heart of God. A people who had once borne fruit were barren. Those once filled with God were now filled with themselves. Consider carefully the unfolding evidence:

1. "Thus saith the Lord, what iniquity have your fathers found in Me, that they are gone far from Me, and have walked after vanity, and are become vain?" (Jeremiah 2:5). In the vanity of their own minds and hearts, they determined God was no longer important to them.

2. They conveniently forgot the great things God had done for them in former days: bringing them out of the land of Egypt, leading them through the wilderness, and bringing them into a plentiful country (Jeremiah 2:6-7). Whenever great mercies are forgotten, praise and thanksgiving are lost.

3. The religious leaders had joined the backsliding hosts. The priests failed to ask, "Where is the Lord?" Those responsible for handling the law did not know God. The pastors also transgressed against the Lord, and the prophets joined the forces of Baal (Jeremiah 2:8). Thus, all the religious leaders engaged in activities totally devoid of spiritual benefit.

4. With God crowded out of their lives, they cast about for something else to take His place. Not being altogether godless in their thinking, they happily adopted as gods mere figments of their imaginations-gods that were no gods-a truly astonishing and horrible departure from the glory the people had once known and enjoyed. Jeremiah wondered if any other nation ever exchanged its gods, especially the living God, for no gods (Jeremiah 2:10-11).

5. Israel had once drunk at the fountain of living waters, but in their backslidden state they hewed out for themselves broken cisterns that could hold no water (Jeremiah 2:12-13). Imagine-the living waters of a fountain exchanged for the stagnant water of a leaking cistern!

6. Those who had known the guiding and correcting power of a holy fear of God, so absolutely essential to life and happiness, crowded it right out of their lives and began drifting on the vast sea of the backslidden (Jeremiah 2:19).

7. Despite continual disclaimers of any pollution and repeated washings with nitre and soap, the filth of their backslidden condition was upon them. It could not be scrubbed off. Having played the harlot under every green tree, they could not hide their iniquity (Jeremiah 2:22-23).

8. What could be more natural than for those who had crowded God out of their lives to worship and serve the things they made with their own hands rather than the Creator who made them? (Jeremiah 2:27-28). In a time of trouble they might call to a stick and say, "Thou art my father," or to a stone and say, "Thou hast brought me forth."

9. As with backslider of all times and places, they could not be content until they had drawn others into their circle of corruption. A great delight of the fallen is the fall of others, but the blood of their victims is upon their skirts (Jeremiah 2:33-34)

10. Despite these overwhelming evidences of backsliding in Israel, Judah did not return to the Lord with all her heart but only deceptively, so that faithless Israel was less treacherous than Judah (Jeremiah 3:10-11).

When God sent Jeremiah to proclaim this message, He did not lead him to believe Israel was expectantly waiting for a prophet to come and reclaim them. Jeremiah was clearly told, "They shall fight against thee." And they did. Backsliden are notorious fighters. Returning from backsliding requires tremendous grace. Note this demand, "Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger forever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to stranger under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed My voice, saith the Lord. Turn, O backsliding children...." (Jeremiah 3:12-14).

When God sent Jeremiah, it was with a message not merely for the common people, but for the kings, princes and priests as well. Imagine the anger kindled among religious leaden when God used Jeremiah's tongue to declare, "I will give you pastors according to Mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding" (Jeremiah 3:15). If it takes grace for lay people to repent of their backsliding, how much more grace is required for backslidden pastors to repent not only of their own sins but also of the evil of misleading God's people? Imagine the struggle Jeremiah faced with those backslidden leaden God promised to replace!

When God sent Jeremiah, however, it was not only with the promise of a coming fight, but also of certain victory, "They shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee saith the Lord, to deliver thee" (Jeremiah 1:19). Every backslider must face the fact that he is engaged in a fight he is certain to lose. Backsliden never prevail against the God they have crowded out of their lives.

While the term backsliding is not used constantly in the Bible, the problem of backsliding is frequently present. Beginning with Genesis 6:5,6 where we are told, "God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart," and continuing to the Revelation of John where Jesus lamented, "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love" (2:4), man's capacity to grieve his Creator by being filled with himself is abundantly evident.

Backsliding is not a phenomenon peculiar to one age or people. The temptation to backslide is constant with the people of God. However, the sin of backsliding is not always prevalent to the same degree. It was definitely a great evil in the days of Moses. Hosea felt deeply the burden of the evil as did Isaiah and other prophets. In New Testament days the Jews manifested tragic backsliding. Now, in our own day, this great evil is prevalent once more. Literally millions of professing Christians show serious signs of severe backsliding.

God is infinitely patient and understanding of the weaknesses of His people, but backsliding is not merely a problem of human weakness; it is the sin of crowding God out by filling one's life with self. Many who are astonished and disgusted that a dog will retune to his vomit have failed to consider carefully Peter's warning,

For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to her own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. (2 Peter 2:21-22).

Here is an accurate description of backsliding: the washed pig wallowing once more in the mire and the dog eagerly lapping up his own vomit!

What more powerfully proclaims the need of revival in our day than the backslidden condition of hosts of professing Christians? The people of Jeremiah's day had no edge on us in departure from the living God. If there were ever a people wallowing in mud like pigs and consuming their own vomit like dogs, it is the present generation. We delight in our vast progress and entertain ourselves with stories of the wonderful increase of knowledge in our lifetime, but the love of filth and corruption has scarcely ever been greater in the history of the world. We pride ourselves in our understanding and in our love of the downtrodden and oppressed, we do not hesitate to advise the rest of the world how to conduct its affairs, but we are so deeply embedded in the quagmire of self that all our mouthings are like dirty bubbles.

EVIDENCES OF A BACKSLIDDEN CONDITION

Backslidden Christians are everywhere. They are in the churches and out of the churches. They are in the pews ind in the pulpits. They are on boards and are bored. They serve on committees and teach Sunday school. The backslidden seem to be more numerous than the upright and their influence throughout the world vastly more powerful. While backsliders do not all manifest the same traits, evidences of their condition are not difficult to pinpoint. Backsliding is present when:

1. Prayer ceases to be a vital part of a professing Christian's life. It is grievous to realize that many churches have no public prayer meetings of any kind. More upsetting is the fact that many individual Christians have no regular stated seasons of private prayer during which they commune alone with God. How can a person be both Christian and prayerless? But prayer does not need to be entirely lacking from a life for backsliding to prevail. When it becomes perfunctory and without moral earnestness, there is more than ample evidence of backsliding. Some who say their prayers every day never pray. The formulation of thoughts and ideas along religious lines, the mouthing of words, the bowing of the head and body, and the repetition of pious phrases, do not in and of themselves constitute real prayer. If the heart does not earnestly commune with God, no genuine prayer is present. The mere repetition of religious expressions, no matter how beautifully constructed or sincerely spoken, does not constitute genuine prayer. When the heart of man and the heart of God meet in communion, there is prayer. Prayerlessness and mere formality in saying prayers are unmistakable marks of a backslidden condition.

2. The quest for biblical truth ceases and one grows content with the knowledge of eternal things already acquired. Almost all backsliders demonstrate a sense of satisfaction with the truth already in their possession. Backsliders are rarely diligent in their study of the Bible. They do not find themselves in the grip of a passion to mine treasures from the Word of God. They are content with the little pearls of wisdom their mothers hung about their necks in the days of their spiritual infancy or with the Scripture gems the pastor mines on their behalf. They do not find themselves daily in the garden of the Lord plucking flowers rare and fragrant. They are content with the wilted bouquet they carried to their baptism. If any new biblical truth comes to them, it must come by the effort of another, not their own. This is not to say backsliders never read the Bible. Many backsliders have long established habits of dutiful devotion they have never broken, but while they go on reading Bible words, backsliders are content with the truth of God already in their possession.

3. The biblical knowledge possessed or being acquired is treated as external fact and not applied inwardly. Not every backslider has totally abandoned the acquisition of biblical truth. Some badly backslidden pastors acquire new Bible knowledge on a weekly basis. It is possible to go on learning new things from the Holy Scriptures without benefit to the soul. If biblical truth does not enter the heart and transform the life, its acquisition is without eternal merit. The Bible was designed by God not merely to inform us, but to transform us. If biblical truth already possessed is not acted upon, the accumulation of additional truth will have little or no effect. Some backsliders teach Sunday school every week. They carefully prepare their lessons and diligently consider the facts they are to present. However, if their contemplation and their teaching of the Word of God do not move from the area of the head to the realm of the heart, no amount of additional study and teaching will alter their backslidden ways. Likewise, the backslider may sit in a Bible preaching church every time the doors are open. He may listen attentively to the words spoken and congratulate the preacher on his unfolding of biblical truth, but if the Word preached does not drive out self, his backslidden condition only worsens every time he hears the Bible proclaimed.

4. Earnest thoughts about eternal things cease to be regular and gripping. In the early days of a person's new walk with Christ, the mind continually turns toward spiritual matters. When backsliding commences, the mind tunes less and less toward heaven, God, eternity, and holiness. In the earliest stages of the decline, spiritual thoughts may come frequently, but they are less gripping. As a person becomes more and more filled with his own ways, there will simply be less room for thoughts of eternity. At first, there may be a conscious awareness that the thought patients are changing, but as backsliding progresses, it becomes less and less obvious to the backslider that this transformation is taking place. Eventually, a gentle rebuke will be treated with scorn and the backslider will rise to justify his own departure from the living God.

5. The services of the church lose their delights. The recently converted find participation in the services of the church a thrill and a joy. They never think they will grow weary of these newly discovered blessings. The singing of every hymn is an experience to be remembered. The hearing of the Scriptures read publicly is sheer delight. They sit on the edges of their seats to hear the sermon and can scarcely find sufficient words to thank the preacher for his immense contribution to their lives. Not content to come only on Sunday mornings, they may even shock the elders by their presence at every stated meeting of the church. Then backsliding sets in. 'What happened to the preacher?" they wonder. "How did he lose his fire? Why do the once stirring hymns now seem to drag?" Even the Scriptures lose their cutting edge. The backslider now finds it difficult to attend even the Sunday morning service. The warmhearted approach of the pastor and the people now seem meddlesome. Rather than risk an uncomfortable conversation with an overzealous deacon, the backslider slips out quickly from the service and makes his way home, spiritually hungry and unsatisfied. Finding no help in such a church, he either abandons attendance altogether or seeks a church home where backsliders are more comfortable.

6. Pointed spiritual discussions are a source of embarrassment. The person on fire for Jesus Christ delights in every opportunity to talk about Him. No place seems inappropriate for vital spiritual conversation. When backsliding begins, the church seems like the best place to discuss religious matters. Soon it seems altogether inappropriate to speak seriously of spiritual matters in mixed company. It isn't long before free discussion of eternal matters becomes a source of acute embarrassment. If anyone takes the liberty of addressing the backslider concerning the welfare of his soul on a street corner, in an airplane or on a commuter train, his temper may flare. For fear of public confrontation, the backslider is apt to make fun of a serious-minded co-worker who persists in speaking freely of spiritual issues on the job. The backslider is apt to go so far as to proclaim vehemently, "There are two things I never discuss-religion and politics!" Mark this, if the public discussion of deeply important spiritual matters is an embarrassment to you, there can be no question concerning your backslidden condition. The person whose love for Christ is current will delight in every opportunity, public or private, to hear Him lifted up with reverence.

7. Sports, recreation, and entertainment are a large and necessary part of your lifestyle. Paul acknowledged there was profit in physical exercise. Jesus demonstrated the worth of drawing aside from daily tasks for rest and revitalization. However, the current focus on fun and games has nothing in common with a biblical lifestyle. So serious has become man's love of entertainment that some churches even compete with one another for a star-studded cast to lead their public services. Few churches even consider holding special meetings in competition with sporting events. Many a preacher is more certain to have the Sunday morning service over by noon sharp than he is to say anything worthwhile. He would no sooner incur the wrath of his recreation-minded congregation by detaining them from Sunday afternoon picnics and games than he would deprive himself of his own Saturday evening entertainment.

Christians are not saved to play but to serve. If sporting events are as important to you as spiritual progress, you are backslidden. If you must choose between church and recreation and recreation wins, you are backslidden. If you devote more time to play and exercise than to prayer and the Word of God, there can be no doubt of your true spiritual condition. In your case, backsliding has not only begun, but progressed to a deplorable level.

8. Sins of the body and of the mind can be indulged in without an uproar in your conscience. Prior to conversion it is not to be expected that sins will play havoc with the conscience. The unregenerate is known to have a seared conscience and can hardly be required to shed tears over sins. But how can a Christian, who has been made a new creature in Christ Jesus, for whom "all things have become new," manifest this same callousness? By one method only: backsliding.

When a Christian is walking in fellowship with Christ, his sensitivity to right and wrong is similar to that which characterized Jesus in His life on earth. If that walk deteriorates, sensitivity vanishes and the backslider manifests a lack of concern over personal sin. What once seemed almost inconceivably awful becomes too insignificant to worry about. Sins that were carefully shunned are now embraced by the backslider with relish. As he grows more and more full of himself, he looks with increasing warmth upon those sins of body and mind which will make his position comfortable and pleasant, demonstrate his freedom from unnecessary restraints and prove that he is as able to discern good from evil as the Almighty. Once sick at the mere thought of sin, the backslider can engage in gross iniquity with scarcely a stir of conscience or a tear of grief.

9. Aspirations for Christlike holiness cease to be dominant in your life and thinking. For the backslidden, holiness seems both unattainable and unnecessary. Not so for the earnest Christian who takes to heart the biblical injunction, "Be ye holy, for I am holy" (I Peter 1:16). Knowing the truth of the words, "holiness without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14), the active Christian makes biblical holiness the great goal of his life. Every time he falls short, even by a fraction, he is grieved and confesses his shortcomings to the Lord with pleas for help that he might do better.

Not so the backslider. Weary of the claims of God upon his life, he crowds out aspirations to holiness with self centeredness until thoughts of holiness lose their grip and actually become somewhat repugnant to him. Whereas he once lived to be holy, he would now sooner die than be holy. Having choked out the love of holiness, the backslider finds contentment with his current condition. He neither hungers nor thirsts for righteousness nor feels grief for its lack.

10. The acquisition of money and goods become a major part of your thinking. When a professed Christian begins to focus on money, cars, houses, lands, stocks, bonds and adornments, he is clearly on the course of the backslider. The Bible does not condemn the possession of money or of goods. Neither does it prohibit their broad use, but in no uncertain language it forbids the love of money and a heart attachment to things. The believer is expected to live as a pilgrim who is passing through this world of goods. He must not attach his heals to that which is perishing but is ordered to set his affection on "things above." He must lay his treasures up in heaven where moth and rust cannot corrupt and where thieves cannot break through and steal.

The backslider will not live by these standards. He cannot bear to see so much wealth around him without laying up his own share. To live for eternity-so faraway indeed when the present is all around him-is a task in which the backslider will no longer engage. When you find yourself grasping after the here and now, take heed. Your backsliding is showing.

11. You can mouth religious songs and words without heart. Much public singing of hymns and Gospel music must be utterly distasteful to God. Consider the ease with which Christians sing,

My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine, For Thee all the follies of sin I resign when no abandonment of sin is intended and no fresh love of Christ is present, or,

Sweeter as the years go by when bitterness fills the heart more and more with each passing year.

Contemplate the often repeated prayer, "Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven," lifted Sunday after Sunday by men and women who steadfastly refuse to do the will of God themselves and are in no position to assist its accomplishment in the lives of others. Consider testimony meetings in which only events of years ago are narrated because the speaker has no current experience with the Lord he can share. The ability to mouth religious phrases, songs, prayers, and testimonies without depth of feeling is a certain sign of backsliding. Every honest Christian can expect occasions when he bows to the win of God only with the greatest of difficulty, but on such occasions he has the grace of silence. But the backslider finds no difficulty speaking hypocritically. To mouth the words and phrases of affection and commitment actually foreign to his own heart poses no greater difficulty than continuing in his backslidden condition.

12. You can hear the Lord's name taken in vain, spiritual concerns mocked, and eternal issues flippantly treated, and not be moved to indignation and action. The true Christian not only reverences God's name, but also cannot bear the misuse of that name by others without deep hurt and sorrow. To remain silent among mockers is a restraint godly people cannot stomach. To hear sacred things treated with contempt and eternal matters made light of without indignation is beyond the ability of an who truly love God with an their hearts and minds. Those who walk in fellowship with Christ can be expected to take their stand against all the works of darkness, but the backslider has no trouble mingling with the profane. Their contemptuous and filthy language brings no grief to his soul. To offend the swearer by gently asking him to refrain from irreverent speech is unthinkable to the long-established backslider and to leave the room because the tone of the conversation is degrading would never occur to him.

13. You can watch degrading movies and television and read morally debilitating literature. That movies, television, and literature are getting more degenerate with each passing year is obvious. How can Christians allow themselves to be contaminated by this filth of the world? Would Jesus go with you to the theatre to watch the movie of your choice? Would he join your family television circle and listen with you each hour? Could He sanction all that you read? If not, you have clear evidence of backsliding. Whenever a Christian does anything Jesus will not sanction, he is in deep trouble. If you cannot control what you watch and read, you would be better off without eyes. Did not Jesus say it would be better for a man to pluck out his own eyes rather than be led to hell by what he gazed upon? The growing Christian takes Jesus' words seriously and avoids temptation, but the backslider thinks those who refuse to be corrupted by what they watch are narrow-minded. The backslider will defend his right to read anything published and will read whatever pleases him, advertising his broad-mindedness and in the process proving his backslidden condition.

14. Breaches of peace in the brotherhood are of no concern to you. The unity of His Body is a matter of great concern to Jesus Christ. The entire prayer of John seventeen focuses on this. Many of the Apostolic letters plead for unity. Clear biblical guidelines have been laid down for its preservation and its restoration when broken. Every individual with a heart in tune with God is deeply concerned about the unity of the Church. This unity cannot be broken without grief to the believer. The godly person will do nothing to break the unity, nor will he remain silent while others are destroying it.

Not so the backslider. What does the unity of the Church mean to him? He finds no problem in splitting a church over insignificant issues. If no doctrinal difference is available over which to divide the "One Body," the backslider is content to divide it over personalities. He feels no great grief when the fellowship of believers is broken any more than he feels joy when the fellowship is preserved in unity. Personal concerns are always of greater importance to him than overwhelming biblical truth. Like the apostates Jude renounced, backsliders separate themselves for sensual reasons (verse 19). While Jesus pronounced His blessing upon the peacemaker, the backslider is content to find elsewhere.

15. The slightest excuse seems sufficient to keep you from spiritual duty and opportunity. While the soul prospers, duty and opportunity are seized with joy. Faithful Christians delight in the very prospects of usefulness. But let spiritual backsliding begin and opportunities of service once regarded with enthusiasm become burdens too heavy to bear. The backslider becomes a master excuse-maker. Whereas earlier he would have laughed with astonishment at the feeble excuses of other backsliders, he is now able to offer the most unlikely reasons for his failure to take his spiritual responsibilities seriously. He even expects those who hear his excuses to believe his unworthy lies. He cannot attend prayer meeting in the evening "because " and certainly not in the morning "because " He cannot usher on Sunday "because-" You name it and he will have an excuse to explain why he cannot do it. It is not simply that the excuses are usually flimsy, often inconsistent with the real facts, seldom more than slightly accurate, and never appropriate for a professing Christian, but that the excuse-maker is hardly aware of the fallen condition his excuses represent. The backslider is often the last to know his real condition. By then it may be humanly impossible to reclaim him.

16. You become content with your lack of spiritual power and no longer seek repeated enduements of power from on high. The growing Christian, characterized by spiritual yearnings and restlessness, wants more and more of God's grace and fullness. Every experience in the Christian's pilgrimage is but a stimulus to new heights. Yesterday's growth is a reminder of tomorrow's needs and opportunities. A fresh outpouring of God's power and grace whets the appetite for yet another. A precious time in prayer and the Word is an encouragement to further times of prayer and Bible study. However, this is not true for the backslider who is content to sit back and enjoy what he has already experienced. Let others go on seeking power with God; he has found all he wants. Let others press on towards new goals; he is comfortable where he is. No intimations of Spirit outpourings, no descriptions of lofty spiritual heights, and no appeals to fresh consecration disturb his slumbers.

17. You pardon your own sin and sloth by saying the Lord understands. Of course, God understands! Certainly He remembers that we are dust, but what has God's understanding to do with our sin and sloth? Christians are not called to take their ease. They were not born of the Spirit in order that they might remain in sin. To continue in sin and to tolerate sloth on the pretext of appreciating the grace of God are presumptions of the worst sort. This evil approach is certainly not new. When the Apostle Paul asked, "Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?" he vehemently answered his own question by declaring, "God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein?" (Romans 6:1-2). Willingness to condone or pardon one's own sin and spiritual sloth is a certain sign of backsliding.

18. There is no music in your soul and no song in your heart. The healthy Christian is characterized by a spirit of praise. Even those without musical talents will make "a joyful noise unto the Lord" when their souls are in health. The spirit of praise and thankfulness is always the spirit of the growing believer. Past mercies are strong in the memories of prosperous souls. Psalms of thanksgiving fill the hearts of those who walk with God. But let a little backsliding begin and praise turns to murmuring. Thousands of special mercies from the hand of God can be forgotten in the face of one small affliction. Mark the changing attitude of the Israelites who could not remember with thanks the mercies of their God. They fell from the place of sweet praise to backsliding, murmuring and complaining against God and their divinely appointed leaders. The song was snatched from their hearts. The joy was gone from their experience. Backsliding was their lot and portion. It is the same with backsliders of every generation.

Has the music gone from your soul? Are your songs of praise without the ring of joy? Have the past mercies of God grown dim? Do you even now chafe under the lightest hand of affliction? Are you in the grip of a complaining spirit? What further evidence of backsliding do you require?

19. You can adjust happily to the lifestyle of the world. The world sees no great problem with unpaid debts. Bank-ruptcy is perfectly acceptable among today's godless business- men. Dishonesty as a way of life is as acceptable in most business circles as profit. Lying is hardly noticed and certain-ly considered excusable as the means to a good end.

Can the Christian accept such behavior? No! He is required to denounce the hidden things of dishonesty, to resist walking in craftiness and to cease handling the truth deceitfully (II Corinthians 4:2). With hearty earnestness, the growing Christian conforms to biblical standards of right-eousness; but not so the backslider. Bills are carelessly or deliberately paid late or left unpaid. Backslidden Christians take bankruptcy as a way out of legal obligations without serious twinges of conscience, and lying is common among them. Backslidden Christians tell people what they want to hear just as the ungodly do. Appointments are not kept. Promises, even to pray for a need, are not remembered. Many commitments are never honored. When you find yourself able to fit into the world's way of debt, when your word is not binding and truth is not to be found in your inner self, the brand backslider is rightly yours.

20. Injustice and human misery exist around you and you do little or nothing to relieve the suffering. The Lord Jesus Christ was marked by compassion, so are all His followers. By disposition, some are more attentive to the needs of those around them than others, but every genuine Christian must be sensitive to the hurts of others and minister with the grace and mercy of Jesus as he is able. Unlike Christ, the backslider is content to inquire, 'Who is my neighbor?" and pass to the other side of the road. Whenever you are willing to turn a need into an intellectual discussion, you have been marked by the backsliders's pen. Giving a cup of cold water in the Saviour's name is still an elementary requirement for faithful disciples of the Lord Jesus. If your eyes are blind to the sufferings of humanity on every hand and your heart is sealed by indifference, the testimony of your backslidden condition is so loud and eloquent that the whole world can mark your condition.

21. Your own church has fallen into spiritual declension and the Word of God is no longer preached there with power and yet you are still content. It was never God's plan for any church to exist without divine power. More than a few churches are dead, however, and the spiritual power has been gone for so long that this condition has become the accepted norm. How can it be? Jesus Himself is never in decline or lacking in power. The believer has no reason to accept declension and powerlessness in his church, and if he does, he needs to face his own backslidden condition. It is not fair to blame the pastor. He may be partially responsible, but take the condition of your church to heart. If you were always fervent in spirit, instant in season and out of season, ready in prayer, and quick to lift and encourage in all that is right and holy, would your church be where it is now? Perhaps you cannot change the situation in your church, but you can certainly shape the condition of your own soul. If declension and powerlessness mark your church, they need not mark you. If you are content with those conditions in your church, it is proof of your own backsliding.

22. The spiritual condition of the world declines all around you and you cannot perceive it. Growing Christians are perceptive. Just as Jesus could discern signs of spiritual health and vitality, so can His true followers. Most of us can look at someone we know and love and discern when they are feeling physically ill. Such an ability is not considered remarkable in any way. Is it any more remarkable when Christians are sensitive to and concerned about the spiritual welfare of those around them? If you find it difficult, if not impossible, to discern Christians from non-Christians, you may wisely ask why. If you cannot tell when your brother or sister is in spiritual health, it may well be a mark of your own declension. Spiritual blindness marks many that claim the name of Jesus. Knowing virtually nothing of spiritual health themselves, they find it impossible to perceive the spiritual sickness of their own immediate world. Such weakness is unknown to Jesus, the Great Physician. When you cannot see signs of declension around you and you cannot hear the cries of the perishing multitudes, you need to look to your own spiritual welfare.

23. You are willing to cheat your employer. Every employee owes his employer full measure. If the hours of employment are 8:00 to 4:30, these are designated to be the hours of labor. Mere presence on the premises during these hours is hardly sufficient. If one is hired to work forty hours per week, that means forty hours of actual productive employment, not merely forty hours, more or less, on the job site. Obviously, office supplies, tools, equipment, and materials provided at work are not for home and personal use. Christians know these things and earnest believers take such matters seriously. It is inconceivable that a true follower of Jesus Christ would cheat his employer. Can you imagine Jesus robbing His Father in heaven while He was here on earth with a job to do?

The backslider doesn't seem to see it this way. He finds little difficulty coming to work late and leaving early. He considers lunch and coffee breaks flexible, and if two or three hours a day are thus consumed, he has no inward struggles with dishonesty. Nor does visiting with other employees and disrupting their work stir the backslider to anguish. A little theft of time, a little theft of goods, 'What's so unusual about that?" the backslider inquires. Being filled with his own ways, can he really be expected to concern himself with his employer's welfare?

24. You find yourself rich in grace and mercy and marvel at your own godlikeness. Every true Christian is marked by spiritual humility. There is no way a growing Christian can conceive of himself as having arrived. Jesus spoke eloquently on this theme in the Sermon on the Mount: "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3). Who are the poor in spirit but those who know how far they still have to go, those who, having seen God in His infinite majesty and holiness, realize how truly unlike God they are. While appreciative of every mercy received and every grace practiced, the poor in spirit are ever aware that the graces they lack are far more numerous than the graces they enjoy, and the mercy they show is nothing in comparison with the mercy they themselves experience. To His own word on the poor in spirit must be tied Jesus' word to those that mourn. They too are blessed or happy "for they shall be comforted'' (Matthew 5:4). Those who mourn are those who, having seen God as He is, then see themselves as they are. What can the man who compares himself with God do but mourn? Somehow the backslider fails to perceive things this way, and that failure is overwhelming evidence of his tragic condition.

25. Your tears are dried up and the hard, cold spiritual facts of your own existence cannot unleash them. If your prayerlessness does not cause the tears to flow, are you not being confronted with the evidence of your backsliding? If your own personal sin does not provoke you to tears, are you not faced with the hardness of your heart? If the decline of spiritual interest all around you is unnoticed, unalarming and totally incapable of forcing tears from your eyes, is it not because of your backslidden condition? If the lostness of your own children, your parents, your sisters, your husband, your wife, your brothers, your neighbors, your friends, your schoolmates and your companions on the job cannot unleash the tears, is it not because you no longer really care for the very things that stir most deeply the heart of God? When the things that grieve the Saviour have no power to grieve you, do you not have clear evidence that you are in a backslidden condition? Jesus saw Jerusalem and He wept. Do you weep over your Jerusalem? When Jesus beheld the hardness of men's hearts, His own heart was broken. Is yours? Surely no more certain sign of backsliding could possibly exist than an inability to weep with the Son of God and an unwillingness to share His heartbreak.

If any of these aspects of backsliding apply to you, ask these questions: How did I get into such a backslidden condition? Did it happen suddenly? Is it the result of one single moment of carelessness? Was it caused by a solitary sin? No, this would be highly unlikely. Usually backsliding happens a little bit at a time. Let me illustrate: it is rush hour in the New York City subway. The train is crowded and no seats remain. There is, however, a three or four inch space between you and the person on your right. An aggressive passenger, unwilling to stand, spies the narrow gap and sits down-mostly on you and your neighbor. With a few bold wiggles the newcomer manages to force himself into a place a more timid soul would have never considered possible. So it is with the sins that lead to backsliding. Your life as a Christian is seemingly full of Christ and there is no room for self, but an aggressive sin comes and wiggles its way in, crowding Christ out just a little bit. You give place to this sin and soon another does the same thing. Sin by sin, error by error, selfishness by selfishness, the backsliding continues until you are virtually empty of Christ and full of sin and self.

God's word to the backslider is plain: "Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings" (Jeremiah 3:22). "Return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity" (Hosea 14:1). After lamenting the tragic backsliding of the Ephesians Christians in losing their first love, Jesus commanded, "Remember therefore from whence thou are fallen, and repent, and do the first works, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent" (Revelation 2:5).

God is weary of your backsliding. Turn from it while there is still time and opportunity to live for His pleasure and glory.

This is now 5/2003 "tell it to the church" with Dick Roberts, John Sale, PeaceMakers and Bill Fields

International Awakening Ministries, Inc.
http://www.intl-awaken.com/
P.O. Box 232
linois
60189-0232
(630) 653-8616
richardowenroberts@juno.com

Valley Center Community Church
Pastor John Sale formerly of Keeneyville Bible Church
P.O. Box 293
Valley Center, CA 92082-0293
(760) 749-5151
Fax: (760) 749-1809
Email: pastorsale@aol.com

I was thankful for our phone conversation Saturday.  I 'm also committed, through Christ, to have a Biblical relationship with you.  You may have some issues we need to discuss and I'm open to including them and others as the Spirit leads.

Here is a brief summary of issues I see we need to discuss:

1.  As you related, the press of ministry and Christian brotherhood. I was missing and wounded, you did not come to find me.  As you mentioned, I and our fellowship loved you,  honored you, came to you and worked hard to help you.  How should we reflect John  13:35  & John 17:21?

2.  My personal failings and how they blaspheme God.  I could never be without sin in these kinds of exchanges.  But are my sins worthy of this treatment?  Should I be treated as a  non-believer?  A cult leader?  An abusive leader and abusive fellowship?

3.  How could you when you were aware of XYZ being removed from our fellowship  and yet you continued to treat him as a brother, listening and spending time with him?  When your fellowship removed AB., we immediately counseled her that we must also treat her as a non-believer and she would have to go back and make things right with your fellowship.  She ended our relationship as well.  By your listening to XYZ, it seems you participated in slander and gossip.  Shouldn't you have sent/brought him back to us to address any real/perceived wrongs?

4.  It seems you were aware of our broken relationship with John Sale and the Keeneyville church for failing to exercise Church Discipline with XYZ, yet I waited and prayed (as you had instructed I should for such conflicts) for action to bringing us together to effect reconciliation.  In light of Matthew 5:23 how can this be right?

5.  John Sale and the Keeneyville church you support mistreated us and remained silent to our pleas.  How can this be anything but contempt?  Remember how the Presbyterian church  treated Keeneyville the same way?  Could it be Galatians 6 for Keeneyville too. When people came to me for help, from Keeneyville, I made sure to establish Keeneyville's Biblical authority in their lives and worked in concert with John as their Spiritual authority.  Shouldn't this be a reciprocal fellowship principle?

I see these issues as opportunities to draw closer to Christ and each other as Christians.  May God bless you as you minister in HIS Holy Name.

I pray to be a Christian Brother to you,
 
 

Bill Fields
 

P.S. I've enclosed copies of our letters to XYZ and John.  Since XYZ has identified you as a Spiritual authority in his life, and has spent considerable time giving you his story, it seemed you should have them.  Should XYZ be seeking the leadership of Keeneyville for assistance.  Is it possible he has not joined Keeneyville?  Wouldn't you then be usurping you own church's authority.  If you believe not, then do you practice any believers can/should practice Matthew 18?  Why shouldn't the PeaceMakers Fellowship practice it?  Why not respect their stewardship of spiritual authority?  Has any of the accusations (if true) render our action unBiblical?  If yes, then why haven't you, John and/or the Elders of Keeneyville come to us?

As you can see there is a lot to talk about.  I pray we will enjoy the company of the Lord, as two or more try to decide these things.

As you witnessed my tears, I'm very concerned about your's and my relationship as well as with XYZ.  I believe God has given me a love for you and XYZ.  I found your responses so shattering.  I've tried to understand you.  I tried talking in principles not details.  But when you could/would not accept the heart issues of XYZ in principles I was forced to give you, as one XYZ identified as a spiritual authority in his life, a few of the shameful details.  I was not surprised XYZ did not tell you the severity of his spiritual issues.  I was not surprised XYZ did not tell you the fellowship had practiced Church discipline with XYZ and he refused to hear.  Possibly the "tell it to the church" information of XYZ I shared was so intense you could not process it except in shock, to reject it.  I would understand this.

Whatever the case, I left sorrowfully.  I am now reporting my results of hours of study based on your challenges.  At the least you will find that PMI and my  beliefs and practices are within the central beliefs within the Historical Church even though you may not agree or practice them:

Before I begin, I need to reiterate that people from all over the United States are telling of phone calls by XYZ that are slandering and tale-bearing about me and our fellowship.  He has added to broken families by way of his flesh, rather than by rightly exercising God's Word.   I'm fairly sure he believes he is defending the faith and honoring God.  I have attempted to call XYZ but he has not returned my call.  You also know I said I would meet with him but there has been no response.  I tell you this because, as I warned before, your participation with XYZ has contributed to empowering him to do and say these things.  It is my belief he is leading/harming others away from Christ.  You should also note, XYZ is getting smarter and more educated on how to preempt our fellowship’s discipline--he's now admitting some sin, but has yet to confess, and/or remove the plank from his own eyes.

1. "You know things you shouldn't know about people and you use them. You probe too much."

Dick, I was stunned by your words and beliefs.  In fact your challenge is central to what I believe is my calling.  Here is a summary of my findings and thoughts.  I wonder if I heard you correctly?

Our HOLY FATHER spoke quite explicitly about what/how HIS people should/should not live.  Here are just a few examples I recently discovered.  God intended the imagery of HIS commands.  I'm sure the imagery did not escape HIS people.  It is graphic and shocking...

Deut 22:20 "tokens of a damsels virginity."
Lev. 18:22 "Shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind."
Lev. 18:23 "women shall not stand before beasts or lie with them."
Eze.  16:17 "made yourself male images that you might play the harlot with them."
Mat. 5:28 "who ever lusts after a woman..."
Rom 1:27 "men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their lust for men."
Gal 5: "the lusts of the flesh..."

 It would seem God felt it necessary to be specific and explicit.

Since God HIMSELF spoke of such things, might I assume your objection was knowing this kind of intimate information about someone specifically.

Surely God did not expect to issue a command that would not be enforceable because "we should not know these things and use them."  Quite the contrary, God issued HIS commands to all HIS people and expected HIS people to exercise HIS judgment/instructions/corrections, for their well being and righteousness..

Since God expected HIS people (OT&NT) to execute HIS commands, might I assume your objections then is who would be the correct people.

In the Old Testament the examples of people instructing, warning, correcting and rebuking God's people (I know this is basic to you) were Kings, Prophets, Priests and Judges.  The New Testament examples include Apostles, Teachers, Prophets, Elders, under-Shepherds, Priests, Pastors, and other believers, etc.  The Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic say to: examine, investigate, discern, scrutinize, try, prove, know, recognize, acquainted with, perceive, test, judge, as the means to practice Righteous, Mercy, Grace, Forgiveness, Justice, and Judgment.

Therefore, I offer that it is appropriate that I (Pastor/Counselor) know vital intimate information, to righteously shepherd a case involving God's people, calling them to righteousness.

In XYZ's case, XYZ was complaining to our fellowship about... [graphic details omitted from internet version].   It was Biblically appropriate to seek the facts and source of the real issues, according to the duties as one responsible for the spiritual (to include the emotional, rational and physical) well being.  XYZ asked for help, and so did his wife.  XYZ's orginal problem presented to PMI was an obsession with another woman, keeping contact with her, after he left the pastorate.

I assume we both agree that out of ones mouth proceeds what is in their heart, (Prov. 16:23 & Matt. 12:34) therefore sharing/relating/telling his/her perceptions showed many of his/her heart issues.  Only God knows all the issues and the complete truth of those issues.   HIS maturing/spiritual people are called to discern good from evil (Heb 5:14) and restore the fallen (Gal. 6:1).  Recognizing (through humility & meekness) we HIS people have limited spiritual vision, we are to use the details of the case to create as truthful context as is humanly possible.  If there is sin, the details will imply the severity of the nature of  the heart sin.  If/when sin is found, motive is always Biblically assumed from a heart - habitually of the flesh.

In XYZ's case, his perceived sin of his wife's sin was in large part XYZ's own sin -- NOT her sin.  Only the most intimate details would have shown this truth.  "Transgression speaks to the ungodly within his heart; There is no fear of God before his eyes.  For it flatters him in his own eyes, Concerning the discovery of his iniquity and the hatred of it.  The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit; He has ceased to be wise and to do good.  He plans wickedness upon his bed; He sets himself on a path that is not good; He does not despise evil." Psalm 36:1-4.

I find it hard to believe of you, that you would advocate continued [details omitted from internet version]  by XYZ to his wife.  By the very fact that this [details omitted from internet version] was practiced for many years against his wife, indicates XYZ's rejecting GOD's correcting his heart and behavior.  Plus, once an offense is known it's GOD's people's responsibility, as HIS instruments, led by the HOLY SPIRIT, in agreement of HIS WORD, to instruct, correct, and rebuke. (2 Tim. 3:16,17)

2. "I don't know of anyone in church history who does what you do."

Though I believe I have demonstrated by GOD's WORD that HIS people should/must know, examine, etc. only enough to rightly discern/judge the issues, I will further attempt to show extra Biblically others who practice these principles.

XYZ's information was vital to Biblically correcting XYZ and his wife's perceived sin.  I know both John Sale and the counselor, upon whose board he serves, were trained at Westminster Seminary, in a program designed by Dr. Jay E. Adams.  I called Jay and posed your concern.  Jay responded that such information/intimate details, when sought for Biblical reasons of instruction, correction, and reproof, is appropriate.  There are hundreds of thousands of pastor, laymen and counselor's using materials designed by Jay, that presents these principles.  See Competent To Counsel, Dr. Jay E. Adams, Zondervan 1970.

It is my practice not to solicit/extract any unwarranted details of a case.  It's also our practice of not reporting details except within the frame work of Matthew 18:15-17 or verses about warning against those who are false teachers.  In my studying of God's Word, I note that the specific details are not reported, but there is no reason to indicate they weren't at times known.

There are those who believe that God gives insight to His children into others lives in as 1 Corinthians 14:24,25 says, "But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all.  the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you."  Jay Adams believes this insight is based on maturity in God's Word and depth of experience.  Others say it's a gift/inspiration directly from God for the benefit of the those involved.  I  say, information occurs to me that I seek to verify with the person to whom I am speaking.  I have never said I'm absolutely right.  Only God has that authority and Glory.

I have encountered those who believe this kind of examination should be by the person being examined and between them and God alone.  I don't remember this being a point with you Dick, but I wanted to give you this portion as part of this current study.

1 Corinthians 11: 28 "But let a man examine himself,..."  This verse is often used to wrongly say this self-examination is mutually exclusive of using others within the Body of Christ for help in such an examination of the self.  It is wrong to assume this concept and verse means it's only Biblical to examine ones self by ones self.  With that error one would then exclude the HOLY SPIRIT and GOD'S WORD.  What is meant is one should examine himself, with all of God's graces (i.e. GOD's WORD, The HOLY SPIRIT, and Faithful believers).  For example...

Matthew 7:1-6 speaks of removing the plank from one's eye before attempting to remove the beam from your brother's eye.  This command does not mutually exclude God's whole counsel of remedies and practices for plank removal.  Matthew 7:4 & 5 assumes a brother helping a brother.

As you know Dick, the Old Testament and the New Testament are filled with examples of sought for help and un-requested help.  Your own insight into Saul and David stands as examples.  The passage in James 5:14 calls for calling the Elders to pursue any sin that may have caused sickness.  The ministry I do is exactly as Matthew 7:1-6, Matthew 18, James 5:14 and Galatians 6:1 et.al. suggests.  The participation of others in the examining of self is well documented.

Ephesians 5: 12 "For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret." is often used to exclude the kind of details necessary to expose the darkness.  This verse does not  exclude speaking the sins, rather it produces shame to practice/speak such despicable sins. The Wesleyan Bible Commentary says: " While the secret deeds of the wicked are too shameful for the righteous to discuss, they nevertheless demand courageous and outspoken exposure and condemnation by the truth of God at the hands of HIS faithful servants.  Here, as elsewhere, Paul lays bare the heart of wickedness to the truth of God's righteousness (cf Rom 1:18-32).  Jesus said, "...nothing is hid, that shall not be made manifest; nor anything secret, that shall not be known and come to light," (Luke 8:17).

Calvin's Commentary states, "But do you, by reproving them, bring forward the light, that they may be ashamed of their own baseness.  Such shame, arising from an acknowledgment of baseness, is the first step of repentance.  'If there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of  all, he is judged of all; and thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so, falling down on his face, he worships God.' (1 Cor. 14:24, 25.)

XYZ was shamed by the light and instead of repenting has turned and attacked. He has tried to enlist former members of our fellowship to be witnesses against us.  Matthew 7:6, "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye pearls before swine, lest they trample them under feet, and turn again and rend you."  This is one reason we're careful speaking to XYZ.  I remind you, you're aware a Pastor; a layperson who teaches about cults; and a Ret. Judge,  has told of XYZ using your conversations with him, against me and in support of him?

3. "Bill, you expect to me to treat others as you treat them." There are times God wills that when one is stubbornly wrong that all believers are to stand back and call the wrong doer to repentance.

Ephesians 5:11, "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."

1 Corinthians 5:7-13 gives direction by naming sin (inclusively by category and not exclusively - meaning only the ones named) by one who calls themselves a Christian and we should not  eat (Lord's Supper & social fellowship) with them and, "... put away from among yourselves that wicked person."

2 Thessalonians 3:14, "And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.  Vs.5, "Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother."

Titus 3:10-11, "A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject; knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself."

It appears God's WORD is clear there are times to be separate from others who call themselves Christian.  Then possibly you object that you must act based upon someonelse's decision?

Paul  only heard of the son sleeping with his father's wife and wrote rebuking the congregation at Corinth and expected them to follow his commands.  Possibly you see this as an Apostle's actions and not as a instructive to us.  What about the Thessalonians and Titus directives, given by Paul, to the faithful (and us) describing erring brothers.  The Corinthians were to observe the fellowship and if one continued in wrong they  were to remove him from their midst?

Would some think Paul felt his directive superior to Christ's in Matthew 18:15-17?  It's possible to think the Scripture's guidelines are clear enough that anyone acting wrongly (as Paul described) was self-condemned and only the removing them from the fellowship was left.

John Wesley practiced that if one who called themselves a believer was acting wrongly in business, etc. they were removed immediately without further action.  He would preach in the evening and have them removed before daybreak.  I give example to say with XYZ we (as a fellowship) offered what we believed to be a patient process of Matthew 18:15-17 over an extended period.  We could be judged we acted too slowly but it is just that, a judgment call.

Should you object that our fellowship practices these principles too broadly - meaning to those in other regions (versus the local body within the local region) we would answer by the following examples:

1 Timothy 1:20 and 2 Timothy 2:17 name specifically Alexander, Hymenaeus and Philetus as those who left the faith and all were to beware of them and those like them and not even associate with them.  This warning was from Paul in his region to Timothy in his region and any other region who chose to read/hear the warning.  Other warnings about false prophets and the like were global to where ever they roamed, not just their current region.  Do you think/believe 2 Peter 2:1 and 1 John 4:1 were warnings to only those who discovered false prophets and teachers.  Wouldn't it seem wrong/callous that those who discovered such false believers would keep this vital information to themselves?  I think they were (as we are) to "tell it to the church," to warn everyone to beware.  Matthew 7:15 calls them wolves in sheep's clothing, wouldn't a father warn a son about a deceptive wolf, even if the son lives in a part of the world which the wolf would visit?  I think yes!  Then are you a shepherd who has failed to warn others because they don't live in your town? Why don't you warn others when a wolf has international influence?

John Calvin further states concerning Ephesians 5:11, "and have no fellowship.  As  'the children of light' dwell amidst the darkness, or, in other words, in the midst of 'a perverse and crooked generation,' (Deut. 37:5) there is good reason for warning them to keep to themselves apart from wicked actions.  It is not enough that we do not, of our own accord, undertake anything wicked.  We must beware of joining or assisting those who do wrong.  In short, we must abstain from giving any consent, or advice, or approbation, or assistance;  for in all these ways we have fellowship.  And lest any one should imagine that he has done his duty, merely by not conniving, he adds, but rather reprove them."

"For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh.  This is the deceiver and the antichrist.  Watch yourselves, that you might not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward.  Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son.  If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds." 2 John 1:7-11.

It is my belief, especially in light of you're not being a member of KBC, you acted wrongly, by hearing XYZ's accusations outside a Biblical forum.  XYZ  failed to tell you he was removed from our fellowship.  I told you he was removed following Matthew 18.  You, by your own opinion treat XYZ as a believer and usurp God's authority in our fellowship.  I gave you facts concerning others who call themselves Christian including the Biblical principles that were/are violated.  I gave you facts, substantiated by witnesses, about these men and you refuse to listen.  The Church is awash in error in part because they believe as you seem, closing their ears, demanding their own experience with the stubbornly erring, before they warn others.  this is not unity of believers.  I believe this is isolation, self-protectionism and arrogance, not Godliness.  Christ commanded a righteous forum in Matthew 18:15-17, to hear the facts; to correctly treat one not listening to the Church.

You now possess questions concerning me and our fellowship that can not be addressed in a right forum.  You've now been touched by evil speaking.  XYZ is buoyed by your actions, manipulating your participation as support.  I fear/wonder how this kind of action, or  any possible ungodly action on my part "closes the door of heaven" on those seek HIM, Matthew 23.
I call you to clearly speak to XYZ God's Word for fear of his eternal well being and earthly witness that currently shames our Lord, and is unrighteously divisive.

5.". "You misuse Matthew 18.  If you think someone is not a Christian, you shouldn't use Matthew 18."  Your Theology is correct but inaccurately applied in XYZ's case.  It could be argued that if  XYZ did not give a credible profession of faith, we erred by exercising Matt. 18.  But to the fellowship XYZ did give a credible profession and it took nearly three plus years to unmask the very level of self-deceit XYZ practices.  It was in the Matthew 18, Galatians 6, Matthew 7, etc. process that XYZ was instructed, corrected, rebuked and finally removed from fellowship and invited back to our meetings as a non-believer.  It wasn't until XYZ became so abusive, violent and divisive that we exercised Titus 3:9-11 and 2 John 1:7-11.  As you mourned, we've all had those we believed were Christians only to have them later bring judgment upon themselves--they no longer evidence God's Spirit and/or Godly fruit.

Concerning the Wheat and the Tares, Matthew 13:25-30, a right practice of these verses is that when is noted/marked/known by actions/words etc. to be a tare, then Matthew 18 should be exercised.  There should be no tare hunt lest we hurt some wheat, but there must be tare removal,  lest we allow the self-identified tares to lead others away from God.  It is my belief and my desire to be different that today's church is weak/feeble because it fails to rightly exercise one of God's Key's for HIS Kingdom.

What about churches who fail to practice Church Discipline? L. Berkof, "Systematic Theology," Erdmans, Grand Rapids, MI. "Calvin and Reformed theologians....found the true marks of the Church, not only in the true administration of the Word and of the sacraments, but also in the faithful administration of Church discipline."

Westminster Confession of Faith: Article XXX, 1. The Lord Jesus, as king and head of is church, hath therein appointed a government in the hand of church-officers, distinct from the civil magistrate.  To these officers the keys of the kingdom of heaven are committed, by virtue whereof they have power respectively to retain and remit sins, to shut that kingdom against the impenitent, both by the word and censures; and to open it unto penitent sinners, by the ministry of the gospel, and by absolution from censures, as occasion shall require."

G.I.Williamson adds, "Church censures are necessary for the reclaiming and gaining of offending brethren; for deterring of others from the like offenses; for purging out of that leaven which might infect the whole lump; for vindicating the honor of Christ, and the holy profession of the gospel; and for preventing the wrath of God, which might justly fall upon the church, if they should suffer his covenant, and the seals thereof, to be profaned by notorious and obstinate offenders."

(Continuing in summary)...It seems  important to note the Reformation was to purify the Church from error and when the Lutheran church was content to leave the exercise of Church discipline in the strict sense of the word in the hands of the civil government and retained the right to exercise discipline only by means of the ministry of the Word, that is, by admonitions and exhortations addressed to the church as a whole, the false doctrines which the reformers sought to purge from the church returned, to the detriment of souls and church.  There are Churches noticeablely lax in discipline, to place a one-sided emphasis on the reformation of the sinner through the ministry of the Word and --in some instances--through personal contacts with the sinner, and to steer clear of any such measures as excluding one from the communion of the Church.  This is a great error stressing the church as a great missionary agency, and forgetting it is first of all the assembly of the saints, in which those who publicly live in sin cannot be tolerated.  After all Christ gave both the call to make disciples and to discipline.  Christ also rebuked the Pharisees for going to great lengths to proselytize but ignored justice, Matthew 23.

Adams in his Handbook of Church Discipline pg 103 (summarizing) agrees that if a church is unwilling to practice church discipline on the analogy of Matthew 18, it should be declared to be "as a heathen and publicans." that is to say, they should declare them to be "no church" since they will not draw a line between the world and the church by exercising discipline.  This decision should never  be taken unless the most careful and kind attempts have been made to try to effect proper discipline with the erring church.  There must come a point at which the matter is set to rest.  God will have no loose ends dangling in HIS church.

Some parents overreach Ephesians 6:1-4 saying children have no standing to seek help with their parents: Yes Children are to honor their parents, and parents are to treat children reasonably raising them with Christian discipline and instruction.  There is established a standard by which children are to be judged  and so a standard by which parents are to be judged.  Therefore, both children and parents are subject to Christian discipline.  One family stated quite forcefully  the difference between a parent giving a child freedom and a parent abandoning a child as, freedom means the parents taught God's truth and allowed the child to decide to follow Christ; Abandonment means the parent ignored the child, leaving the child to survive by their fleshly instincts.

Some teach parents are exempt from these truths when it's their children asking for help.  In my personal life and in our fellowship we practice that if, for any reason--legitimate or not, our family members can appeal to other believers for help.  We do not want to give our adversary any real or perceived ground to lead us or our loved ones astray.  We are not alone in our beliefs and practices...

Adams notes "Strangely, some never think of using church discipline, even informal discipline, when the two parties are husband and wife.  Why Not?  A Christian husband and wife are not merely married persons, they are also brother and sister in Christ's church.  Most marital problems could be resolved early by active, informal disciplinary action."  I add Christian  children are not just biological offspring, but also younger brothers and sisters in Christ's church.

Matthew 10:32-42 finds Christ saying he came to set family members against each other.  Not that the goal was family feuds, but those who were faithful to HIS WORD would find family members opposing the faithful.  Christ promised those who confessed HIM before men, HE would confess them before HIS HOLY FATHER

Luther: "It would be well in addition to address the parents in order to explain to them their office and how they should treat those committed to their authority.  Although the Ten Commandments do not expressly state the duties of superiors, they are abundantly prescribed in many other passages of Scripture.  God does wish them to be included specifically also in this commandment in which He speaks of father and mother.  For God does not want scoundrels or tyrants to have this office and authority; nor does He grant this honor--the power and authority to govern--to certain persons in order that they may be objects of veneration.  Rather parents should recognize their responsibility to obey God and, above all, to be genuinely and faithfully concerned to fulfill all the duties of their office.  These duties are fulfilled not only by providing for the material support of their children, servants, subjects, etc. but especially by training them to the praise and honor of God.  So do not imagine that the parental office exists for your own pleasure and caprice.  On the contrary, it is a matter of God's strict command and directive, and He it is who will hold you accountable for it."  Luther's Large Catechism, Concordia, St. Louis, pg.39

Calvin: "But we also ought in passing to note that we are bidden to obey our parents only "in the Lord" [Eph. 6:1].  This is apparent from the principle already laid down.  for they sit in that place to which they have been advanced by the Lord, who share with them a part of HIS honor.  Therefore, the submission paid to them ought to be a step toward honoring that highest Father.  Hence, if (ed. parents) spur us to transgress the law, we have a perfect right to regard them not as parents, but as strangers who are trying to led us away from obedience to our true Father.  So should we act toward princes, lord, and every kind of superiors.  It is unworthy and absurd for their eminence so to prevail as to pull down the loftiness of God.  On the contrary, their eminence depends upon God's loftiness and ought to lead us to it."  Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 2, Ch.8, Sec. 39, pg 404, Westminster Press, Philadelphia
Wesley:Heb 13:

4. "You don't expect me to drop everything to... Matt.5:23

7. "I didn't gossip and slander."  Vincent's Greek, "... slanderous, accusing falsely, ... in 1 Timothy 3:11, where the reference is to those who are given to finding fault with the demeanor and conduct of others, and spreading their innuendos and criticisms in the church;  in 2 Timothy 3:3, and Titus 2:3."

John Wesley, in his Sermons on Several Occasions, Wesleyan Conference Office, London, "Speak evil of no man, says the great Apostle: as plain a command as, 'Thou shalt do not murder.' But who, even among Christians, regards this command?  Yea, how few are there that so much as understand it!  What is evil-speaking?  It is not, as some suppose, the same with lying or slandering.  All a man says may be as true as the Bible; and yet the saying of it is evil-speaking.  For evil-speaking is neither more nor less than speaking evil of an absent person; relating something evil, which was really done or said by he that is not present when it is related."

" 'Speaking evil of no man?'  If thou seest thy brother do evil, wilt thou 'tell him of his fault between thee and him alone'? afterwards, 'take one or two witnesses, and then only 'tell it to the church'?  If this be the full purpose of thy heart, then learn one lesson well, 'Hear evil of not man.'  If there were no hearers, there would be no speakers, of evil.  And is not (according to the vulgar proverb) the receiver as bad as the thief?  If, then any begin to speak evil in thy hearing, check him immediately."

9. The newest accusations by XYZ as reported by ABC - "Bill and PMI think they're the only true church." Per  our phone conversation 7/17, "Bill uses mind control over the fellowship." These accusation are false.  There are no basis for these claims.  XYZ has never brought these claims to the fellowship either individually or as the church.  XYZ was encouraged to fellowship with a same denomational Church in Lombard, when he came to PMI for help.  XYZ had just resigned a pastorate in a Breathern Church nearby.  PMI sent him to his former elders and those whom he wronged to correct his errors.

For the record, the PMI fellowship ministers to far more outside our fellowship, than inside--it's our missionary concern.  These people, both locally and of course, out of state/country, attend their own home fellowship.  I and PMI encouraged all/anyone within the fellowship to attend other churches. In the summer of 1993 I recommended KBC where XYZ now attends.  For the summer of 1994, we disbanded the formal fellowship encouraging members to attend to search for other churches  (those who practice the all the keys to the kingdom), of their own choosing.

Sermons are read verbatim from Charles Spurgeon, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Charles Wesley, and the Puritan Sermons, David Wilkerson, as well as other material individual members would bring.  XYZ participated in all of these practices.

When men outside our fellowship were nearby we always asked them for a time of fellowship. Jay E. Adams and Don Baker are recent examples.  The fellowship was encouraged to sit under these men's teaching.  Also, the names of other (your on this list) men who they could turn to for additional help and to whom they could call if they felt I personally was in error and refused to address that error.  You personally were invited to speak and to return anytime you were able to fellowship/teach with our fellowship -- even knowing there are non-central areas where we disagreed.

Only the self-deceived would say that keeping to God's Word is mind control!  In those matters where God's Word is clear and central, there is to be no equivocation.  All other matters require freedom within God's boundaries of unity.  You know, PMI has always published our beliefs and practices.  We are clear, upfront with what we believe and practice, and invite any non-churched to attend our fellowship.  Any who have left another fellowship, we take/send them back (as we did XYZ) to clear any conflicts/errors.  If a church (according  to the doctrine of the keys) stubbornly fails it's spiritual responsibilities, we welcome those people into our fellowship and/or encourage them to find a fellowship of their own choosing.  XYZ  chose PMI.

We encourage members of the PMI fellowship to attend with their families where their spouse/children attends.  Those who ask for PMI's help are always encouraged to work with the Spiritual leadership of their home church,  with PMI adding to the churches gifts -never replacing them.  Our materials from the very beginning have promoted other local churches.

10. Confess: Matt.3:6; Mark 1:5; Acts 19:18; James 5:16

All in all Dick, I've learned some new things of God and His people, through this study.  Thank You!  I look forward to discussing this with you.

May 28, 2003
Bill Fields
Peacemakers

Dear Bill:

I was surprised to receive the copy of the XYZ letter and was unaware
that he was using me as a reference against you. I have not seen him for
a long time

To my knowledge, I never rebuked you for cult leader behavior. I have not
thought of you as a cultist although I believe that any sinner with a
religious bent can be cultic and I include myself as well as you in this.

An any rate, thanks for the e-mail. I miss our former fellowship.

Cordially,
Richard Owen Roberts

cc:PeaceMakers Fellowship

bill

[Rev. John Sale, former pastor of XYZ, at Keeneyville Bible Church, is the pastor ofValley Center Community Church, Valley Center. He is President of the board of directors of International Awakening Ministries, Inc. and Reformation & Revival, Inc., where he serves with Richard O. Roberts. ]

May 31, 2003

Dear Pastor John, you  and your wife have been in my prayers often and I've missed the fellowship we were beginning to build when it was broken.  You may remember XYZ was under church discipline in our fellowship when he came to your church, long after you and I were praying together for revival with Dick Roberts and others.  When I contacted you by phone and letter asking to meet with you to address the spiritual issues-you refused, saying you had met with XYZ and his wife, and had accepted them.

I bring this to you because XYZ, for years has, in our understanding of God's Word, bares false witness, slander, evil speaking, etc. against PeaceMakers and me on the internet.  Just this week, Dick Roberts upon seeing some of XYZ's materials falsely using Dick against us, wrote that what XYZ was saying was not true.  I believe you carry, in some part, responsibility by listening to XYZ's false witness and by not having practiced Biblical discipline.

I'm contacting you now because there is an opportunity that the broken fellowship between Dick and myself and our PeaceMakers Fellowship might be reconciling, and I wanted to invite you again to be reconciled as well.

XYZ has made this all very public and now we must publically work to God's reconciliation and God's glory.

in prayer, bill fields

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