Article on Online Heresy Hunters, Pulpit Pimp Hunters, and Preacher Bashers!

I read an awesome article in Ministry Today Magazine by Pastor Dave Cannistraci! This article is on the many Online Heresy Hunters,Pulpit Pimp Hunters, and Preacher Bashers Online! He has written a work that should be shared by many in The Body. It is a splendid read and a must have for every major Christian Church and every major Christain Media Ministry in the world! It helped me to understand why I am being attacked by a few strange acting individuals, one of whom is an alleged small time kid’s tennis instructor in Greece who masquerades as a theologian, who doesn’t even know me. It’s one thing to fight for a cause, but it’s another to fight just because. I don’t refute all of their stances on the many excesses and problems in The Body of Christ, but I refute the spirit in which they take most of their stances! Many of these online bashers are sowing disunity in the Body! What do you think? Well here’s a few excerpts from the article:

The War on Error

By David Cannistraci

Are online heresy hunters bringing needed correction in the church or sowing disunity?

Infidels beware: A new generation of crusaders is on the march, ignoring history’s warnings about the damage unrestrained spiritual zeal creates. Their mission? To protect us all from religious fraud and dangerous doctrines by investigating and exposing those who push past the accepted boundaries of conservative evangelicalism. They have pledged themselves to defend truth and liberate the kingdom of God from the threat of apostasy. From discernment ministries to watchdog groups to bloggers to anonymous Web site commenters, the Internet has created a breeding ground for unbridled criticism. Though truth and correction are essential to the health of the church, this new wave of heresy hunters may be taking things too far. Their targets are not the likes of David Koresh or Jim Jones—we would thank them for that. Instead, they’re aiming at many of today’s most popular charismatic Bible teachers, including Joyce Meyer, Joel Osteen and T.D. Jakes.

These zealous soldiers of orthodoxy aren’t afraid to fight dirty, either. Armed with ample evidence to prove their case, they quote, deride and scoff at any ministry they “discern” as dangerous. In this biblical blitzkrieg, no question is too trivial, no accusation too personal and no ridicule too cruel.

Ministry Today Article-Must Subscribe to View Entire Article

Dave Cannistraci Website

Bashing Preachers Online!

There is a lot of preacher bashing going on all over the Internet. I would submit that there are times when the direction that some in the Body of Christ are heading are not in line with the Scriptures. My battle is not that the heresy hunters/pulpit pimp hunters don’t have a case, but I have challenged the spirit in which they have chosen to comple what they feel like is their assignment from God. Reproof and Correction may be needed in a great way today, but we don’t need bashing and name calling of preachers by other Christians. The writings of Paul are often quoted to define the role of women in Ministry, but many of Paul’s other teachings about treating one another correctly are not heeded by many of these Preacher Bashers!

Second Timothy 2 verses 24-26 reads as follows-(24)-And the Servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, (25) In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; (26) And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. This passage of Scripture calls for the Servant of the Lord to be patient and gentle to all men. It also teaches to not strive and to instruct in meekness. This is not the Spirit in which the Preacher Bashing on the Internet is carried out like. One is made to feel like he or she is watching one of the Barber Shop or Beauty Shop movies on these websites that spit out rumours that are unfounded and some rumours that are founded, but it is the Spirit in which these sites operate with that I oppose.

It would appear that the owners of these websites/attack blogs have no problem following the admonition of Paul about the role of women in the ministry, but they virtually ignore the manner in which Paul suggested that they carry out their ministry assignments. Paul also recorded these words in Titus 3 verses (2-7)-(2) To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle shewing all meekness unto all men. (3) For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobediant, deceived, serving divers lust and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another (4) But after kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared (5) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (6) Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; (7) That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

These attack blog owners should keep these scriptures in mind, and realize that it is foolhardy and hypocritical to bash others with reckless abandon, when one does not have his or her own self together. It’s as if they believe that God will forgive their mess, but God will not forgive the televangelist or the megachurch pastor that goes astray. These scriptures doesn’t call us to be wimps at all, but it would seem to suggest that those who are attacking others should develop meekness and patience if they are supposed to be carrying out their “ministry assignments”. Maybe you will consider these words before you move your mouse in the direction of one of these attack websites that are attacking Christian leaders all day long every day!

Respectfully Submitted,

Pastor Stephen F. Smith

Sure House Church, Inc.

The Man in the Mirror

There are so many Christian Blogs where attacking other Christians is now the norm. We have Heresy Hunters, Church Gossip Columns, Michael Baisden’s Pulpit Pimps, The Scores of other Lesser Knowns Lightweights  Who are also Looking For Pulpit Pimps, and the many other generally unhappy Christians who seek to have other Saints join their misery! Maybe we should look at the man in the mirror before we throw stones at others. Many Christians are now living in elaborate glass houses of theological correctness and have the audacity to throw stones. This is a word to the “such were some of you” crowd that has forgotten the depths of sin that God has delivered you from. Should we book Michael Jackson for the next mega Christian Conference to sing his hit Man in the Mirror? Sure he is not a Christian, but the words of his song applies to many Christians in this day! Sweep around your own front door before you sweep around the front doors of others. Start changing the Christian world with correcting the man or woman in the mirror first! I have a  story to illustrate this point. There was an older successful pastor who was asked by a younger pastor, How Do I Build a Perfect Church? The older pastor instructed him to go home and put everybody out of the church and while doing so he also needed to make sure that he did not go in himself, then when the building is completely empty then he would have a perfect church. Yes, the church has problems as virtually any other institution in this world that deals with people has. Don’t air all of those problems over the web! In your quiet time consider how you could make the church a better church. Look at the man in the mirror first!

Final Response to Play Theologians/Pretend Standard Bearers

I have run into a bunch of Internet Groupies-(Make Believe Internet Bishops and Apostles) who feel like they are the standard bearers for God in these last days. I didn’t respond to these individuals because I don’t know them, nor did I see the need to respond to anyone who sends in sarcastic posts or posts that are simply combative. Many of their posts are mean spirited and do not reflect the Spirit of God. However; I am eagerly praying for them. How can one slander an individual when one doesn’t know anything about that individual? God simply fights all of my battles! I simply don’t have to fight Internet Theologians! Who are you? What are your credentials? Are you speaking the mind of God? Does the fact that one has not seen a need to post anything that you and your groupies have presented, make you angry? Give me your names, so I can call out your names in prayer. May the blessings of the Lord be upon you, I bless each one of you in the name of the Lord!