I'm quite perplexed about the seemingly increasing number of these self-proclaimed spiritual mavericks that are popping up: They don't attend church, they don't "follow men," they hold to many false doctrines, "the Holy Spirit" teaches them everything they know.
Let's examine this for a second. The reason they don't attend church is due to "error" typically, yet they hold to so many errors no true church would allow them to join. They are heretical at worst and heterodox at best, but in reality they are both at the same time in their false teachings.
These speak with in a loathing manner about the body of Christ. Hey, going use candor here -- if you hate your brothers, you aren't saved. I don't know how much Bible you know or use. Yes, when talking about how they loathe the body of Christ, the church, we know the church is the people. That is what they hate, better yet, these are who they hate. These people need to be rebuked sharply and ignored by those who follow Christ. Don't lend them an ear. How many times have they been warned? Titus 3:10?
These also disagree with God's mandate that He gifted men to lead the church, and how we should respect them accordingly &c: Ephesians 4:11ff; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Timothy 5:17; Acts 20:28; Romans 12:8; 2 Timothy 4:1ff.
But they do not respect them. These men of God also write great books, commentaries, hold conferences, lecture, preach &c all to our advantage -- that is why God sent them and ordained them. Learning from other godly men; pastors, teachers &c is not "following men." That is only said in attempt to deride others as they think it exalts themselves in a false humility.
To leave the church and become a loner is to be following men; because you're following yourself. Stop blaming it on God. God doesn't lead people away from His church and then train them in false doctrine that opposes orthodoxy along the way. To believe He does so is to be thoroughly deceived.
Let's examine this for a second. The reason they don't attend church is due to "error" typically, yet they hold to so many errors no true church would allow them to join. They are heretical at worst and heterodox at best, but in reality they are both at the same time in their false teachings.
These speak with in a loathing manner about the body of Christ. Hey, going use candor here -- if you hate your brothers, you aren't saved. I don't know how much Bible you know or use. Yes, when talking about how they loathe the body of Christ, the church, we know the church is the people. That is what they hate, better yet, these are who they hate. These people need to be rebuked sharply and ignored by those who follow Christ. Don't lend them an ear. How many times have they been warned? Titus 3:10?
These also disagree with God's mandate that He gifted men to lead the church, and how we should respect them accordingly &c: Ephesians 4:11ff; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; Hebrews 13:17; 1 Timothy 5:17; Acts 20:28; Romans 12:8; 2 Timothy 4:1ff.
But they do not respect them. These men of God also write great books, commentaries, hold conferences, lecture, preach &c all to our advantage -- that is why God sent them and ordained them. Learning from other godly men; pastors, teachers &c is not "following men." That is only said in attempt to deride others as they think it exalts themselves in a false humility.
To leave the church and become a loner is to be following men; because you're following yourself. Stop blaming it on God. God doesn't lead people away from His church and then train them in false doctrine that opposes orthodoxy along the way. To believe He does so is to be thoroughly deceived.