Social media can be a real blessing and be used for good. But it can also be a curse and a cause for strife, offense and division and “every man doing what is right in their own eyes.”
As a glaring example, many people are correcting Creflo Dollar on his denouncement of tithing as only an Old Testament law and principle. Pastors seeking to protect their own turf, ministers seeking to protect their own projects funded by the tithes of their downlines of churches and sponsors, are offering their two cents worth.
This sort of correction is mostly out of context.
Unfortunately, social media platforms can enable judgmental fault-finders who think they are the assigned watchmen for God. They believe they are the defenders of truth and righteousness, when in fact, they are sowing the wrong kind of seed.
“We, on the other hand, will not boast beyond our proper limit, but [will keep] within the limits of our commission (territory, authority) which God has granted to us as a measure, which reaches and includes even you” (2 Cor. 10:13).
Many on social media have carved out a ministry for themselves and garnered a great following, whose ears are tickled and self-righteous tendencies are gratified. Most of them are out of order and operating beyond the limits and boundaries that God has allotted them. Others are simply following the example and training they’ve received to be bold and defend the faith.
I’ve been guilty in times past of going beyond my own limits and authority assigned to me by the Lord. For this reason, I will not correct Creflo Dollar because I do not know him personally and I am not in his jurisdiction. I have no relationship with him, and I don’t really know his heart.
Of course, I can offer my perspective and understanding on tithing and any doctrine, because I am an elder that has given my life to laboring in the word and doctrine. But it would take a long series of teachings to do that. Every elder can do that in his own territory and local jurisdiction to those who’ve been assigned to him in a local context. But very few have the authority to do this on a national and global context.
There are limits to our grace and authority. Many ministers and local elders do not understand that each of us have only a measure of faith, grace and authority that we are required to steward, and to go beyond that is to err.
The best thing local elders and pastors can do to deal with error is by teaching the truth boldly, accurately and strongly in their sphere of authority to those assigned to their jurisdiction. There are boundaries in the Spirit and to our measure of faith and grace given to us.
The context for righteous judgment and correction should come through the operation of the local church and its elders. Beyond that, apostolic grace and wisdom are needed. True apostles have inherent grace to build foundations in Christ and to establish local churches, until the body of Christ is brought into full maturity and incarnation function.
One of the big problems has been that ministers and leaders with large spheres of influence on national and international platforms have very little accountability to any other Ephesians 4:11 ministry gifts; apostles and elders who would be bold enough to bring godly correction.
It is in this way we will avoid all the strife and idle babblings that only lead to more strife and division within the body, such as the present controversy with Mr. Dollar.
“But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness” (2 Tim. 2:16). {eoa}
Bert Farias’ books are forerunners to personal holiness, the move of God and the return of the Lord. They also combat the departure from the faith and turning away from the truth we are seeing in this hour. Bert’s current passion is to promote a culture of the supernatural manifestations and ministries of the Holy Spirit in the church today and to pass it on to the next generation (Passing on the Move of God to the Next Generation). His newest release, now available on Kindle and on paperback, The Supernatural Church of Love and Power, is a simple blueprint for what the Lord Jesus is doing in His church today. Other materials/resources are available on his website, Holy Fire Ministries. You can also follow him personally on YouTube (Holy Fire Ministries), Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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