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Open Letter to the Christian Leaders' Association (CLA) of Palmerston North
Posted by: AdminMagill on Friday, October 13, 2006 - 08:10 PM |
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Truth Watch represents a network of Bible- believing Christians who lament the current state of Christianity in New Zealand and seek a reformation in Christian belief, practice and action.
30 July 2006
Dear Pastor, Greetings in Christ Jesus.
Having examined the Palmerston North church leader’s fraternal values statement on www.palm.org.nz. Truth Watch NZ, an evangelical discernment ministry, would like to express its concerns. We hope you will take a few minutes to read what we have to say and reflect on our suggested remedy. Our critique is based on a desire to strengthen the church in New Zealand.
The six values statements on the web site, when cross-referenced against a list of the churches in the Palmerston North Fraternal, will alarm any discerning evangelical Christian. It reads like the membership rules of a club, not a set a guiding values for a church prepared to meet today’s doctrinal and humanistic attack aimed on the church in the Western world.
The first thing that strikes us is not what is said but what isn't. The gospel and evangelism are not mentioned. Absent also is a bold affirmation of the Scriptures and ultimate truth. There are no goal statements and any references to responsible biblical leadership are conspicuously absent. It's a Laodicean compact between people who are in comfortable stasis, who don't want to rock certain unstated denominational 'boats'. Its lukewarm and ecumenical ‘qualities’ are striking.
These fraternal values are obviously carefully worded to avoid and dismiss what should be differences that separate, not unite, truth and error (1 Corinthians 11:19). We have reproduced these misguided values in case you cannot recall them.
1. To walk humbly and not assume to have the final interpretation of all matters of doctrine.
2. To affirm the right of individual Christians to determine before God which particular local church they will belong to.
3. To commit ourselves to pray for each other and fulfil Christ’s desire for spiritual unity.
4. To affirm fellow ministers and leaders with grace and refrain from criticising each other
5. To care about the welfare of each other.
6. To uphold Biblical standards of integrity and compassion.
We will begin a quick canvas of these statements, starting with the last one first. Its incongruity astounds us. Where is the Biblical integrity and compassion for the lost in the previous five when they are obviously intended to ignore the serious doctrinal and historic differences that should exist between the Evangelicals and Catholics in the fraternal? Truth Watch imagines those differences should also extend to the World Wide Church of God and The Society of Friends – who also form part of the fraternal.
We have it on hearsay that the Church of Christ [in the fraternal] has recently decided to ordain homosexuals. If this is correct, they are in good company, because the protestant churches in the fraternal have probably done the same. What are Palmerston North's 'evangelical' leaders doing in such an association? Linking 'compassion' to ‘integrity’ is ingenious. The evangelical leaders in this fraternal are showing little compassion for the spiritual well-being of the Church and the eternal fate of those in false churches, when they associate with such unlikely bedfellows.
Turning now to the first value. It betrays the huge sacrifices made by Christians over many centuries to preserve doctrinal truth, often at the cost of their lives. With a short one-liner, clear doctrinal differences, that should be a stumbling block to any evangelical involvement in this unholy alliance, are dismissed. How can there, for example, be any doubt on the 'final interpretation' of the doctrines associated with grace alone and Scripture alone?
What really lies behind the second value statement? Amongst other things, Truth Watch suspects it means there is to be no proselytising among Catholics. Is this statement a micro 'Evangelicals and Catholics Together' [ECT] provision? You might recall a raft of misguided evangelical leaders in the USA signed such an agreement with the Catholic Church in the 1990s.
The remaining three values just affirm a determination to ignore matters of serious doctrinal, spiritual and practical import. Let's ignore, they are [in effect] saying, the issues about truth that have never been resolved. Let's not let the true gospel get in the way of mutual fellowship. The eternal destiny of our charges, the people we are supposed to shepherd, shouldn't mar our brotherhood. Why worry about the Catholic Council of Trent or Vatican II, which roundly curse evangelicals?
This unscriptural and obvious quest for unity at the expense of just about anything that really matters is something Truth Watch seeks to resist. We hope this fraternal and its values statement is not a reflection of the state of evangelicalism in New Zealand.
Our concerns are exemplified in a re-worked treatment of the values. Truth Watch believes the changed wording more accurately reflects a correct evangelical approach:
1. To walk humbly before our God and rightly interpret the word of Truth on all matters of doctrine. [Delete: not assume to have the final interpretation of all matters of doctrine].
2. To affirm the responsibility of Church leaders to warn Christians seeking to embrace false creeds. [Delete: of individual Christians to determine before God which particular local church they will belong to].
3. To commit ourselves to pray for each other and fulfill Christ’s desire for unity, providing it rests in spirit and truth.
4. To affirm fellow ministers and leaders committed to correct doctrine and godly discernment. [Delete: with grace and refrain from criticising each other]
5. To care about the welfare of each other.
6. To uphold, without compromise, properly exigeted Biblical standards of integrity and compassion.
Truth Watch’s concern is based on a love for God’s Word and His Church. This is an open letter and will therefore be published on our website.
We call on all evangelical Christian leaders in the Palmerston North Fraternal to:
• Reconsider their fraternisation with certain churches
• Publicly reaffirm that salvation comes through repentance and faith in the full and final atoning work of Jesus Christ alone.
• Publicly affirm that the Scriptures are their only source for faith and practice.
• Actively seek a revision of the fraternal’s values statement
Yours in our Lord Jesus Christ
Chris Salt
Truth Watch NZ spokesperson
Email Chris Salt
This letter has been authorized for distribution by the Truth Watch national committee.
NOTE: To date Truth Watch's open letter to members of the Palmerston North pastor's fraternal, about the statement of values on their web-site, has not prompted a single response. Despite the legitimate and important points we raised it is now clear that the church leaders we approached are not interested in discussing the issue with Truth Watch. We can only hope and pray someone will have the discernment and courage to take some action.
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