Believe it or not we can test a churches faithfulness to Holy Scripture and the Lord through tidbits and nuggets of truth and information from what that church itself puts out for all the public to see.
We can go to their website, listen to their podcasts, watch past sermons, read their blog posts, and see all their social media posts. This doesn’t test how they are behind close doors and how they handle private matters, no, we aren’t analyzing that.
What we are analyzing is the truth they actually proclaim and the services they offer for members and their local community. All of this can be understood through what they, themselves, post for everyone to see and know. This goes to the heart of Matthew 22:37-40:
37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 Upon these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets.”
It’s not a full proof method, but helps people watch out for churches they may not want to attend if they are preparing to move to a certain area. It can also be used as a means to call a church to repentance if they are in doctrinal error. It can also be used to praise a church for its faithfulness to truth and to their community.
Things that we consider and analyze to properly critique are:
The detail and content of their Statement of Faith. Review Facebook Live and or YouTube videos of recent past sermons and the content of the sermon and doctrine being taught. Review of elder and or pastor blog posts and social media posts. Review Facebook Live and or YouTube videos of the worship style and music. Any statements about the administering the sacraments. All the listed ministries and corresponding blog or social media posts supporting the stated ministries objectives. How the church supports proclaiming the gospel to the public in their community. And, when we begin a critique, the church is contacted via email or website contact form for comment or to address questions we may have directly. We may also may privately contact obvious and clear members, regular attendees, and people consistently and directly are involved in the Church, for any sort of statement or comment directly.
All the above information collected, we then test it with and compare it to Holy Scripture.
Why are we doing this?
So many churches all over the place teaching so many different things, how are any of them unified, held accountable (1 Cor 5:6–7), and rightly Judged ( Jn 7:24; 1 Cor 5:12) as pure and undefiled, as Jesus prescribed (Eph 5:25–27; 1 Cor 5:7–8)? How is the church to rebuke those who claim to be within the church if they don’t know what to even rebuke, correct, or hold steadfast in? Does the church not care about the Lord being blasphemed before the world because of their own sin (2 Sam 12:14)?
Obedience to God:
Holy Scripture commands us, including those at Theosprotos.com, to “be on [our] guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him” (Luk 17:3) but be mindful who whom we are rebuking and to watch our tone out of respect (1Ti 5:1). Though we too are sinners, we are still told “to take the speck out of your brother’s eye” with a clear conscience (Mat. 7:5). Holding brothers and sisters in Christ accountable who continue in sin, a public rebuke in front of everyone is eventually called for (1Ti 5:20). Our standard and authority for rebuking and correcting is literally Holy Scripture (Mat 7:1-2; 2Ti 3:16, 4:2), and, yes, we do have the authority to rebuke (Tit 2:15) and are commanded to literally expose evil deeds (Eph 5:11). The mindset that rebuking is bad or wrong, is an unbiblical mindset because God said “those whom I love, I rebuke and discipline, therefore be zealous and repent” (Rev 3:19). We pray that through correction and rebuke, the Holy Spirit moves them to repentance and God is honored; this is our goal.
From a Distance?
How can we, from a distance, dare to rightly judge a pastor, elder, or church? Well, it’s simple, all the things they, themselves, put out in public and on the internet is their witness and their testimony. We then receive that witness and testimony and compare it to Holy Scripture. Information not supported by 2 or more witnessed testimonies shall not be considered as to avoid slander and perpetuation of gossip. It’s that simple.
Paul rebuked churches through letters, the disciples of the Apostles rebuked persons through letters. And there are no more Ecumenical councils of a unified church anymore. Rebuke in distance through publication and letter is justified, as long as their is verified reliable witness testimony. In our case, it’s that which they themselves put out in the internet and social media. They are their own witness and it is their own testimony that is tested against the testimony of Holy Scripture.
Jesus’ Church Discipline Prescription
If there is witnessed evidence of serious sin, such as blatant false teachings contrary to sound doctrine, a different gospel, heresy and blasphemy, Jesus’ prescription in Matthew 18:15–20 is followed. 1) We will reach out to that person/church directly, privately, for comment and hopefully repentance before any article is published. If they do, no public article will be published and they shall be praised for returning to truth and forsaking sin. 2) If they refuse to repent, the witnesses and the evidences will be provided to them, and a second call for repentance shall be called for. 3) If they still refuse and deny, an article shall be published detailing all the evidences and an open public call for repentance shall be made. 4) If still they remain unrepentant, that church will be listed as mark and avoid and will be accounted as an apostate false church, set along side Mormons, Christian Science, and Jehovah’s Witnesses. And all our publications about that church, it’s pastor, and or it’s teachings, shall reflect this.
Denominationalism
It doesn’t matter the Denomination or Non-denomination (which is a denomination of itself). Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Luthern, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Anglican, Evangelical, and so on… all of these are all compared to the one true Word of God. There is only 1 God. Though there are different parts to the body of Christ, all are under the authority of God and his Word. A church can claim a denomination or not, but they will all be tested by the same divine standard, individually.
The Article
The Articles, if needed, will be drafted upon a Churches rejection of truth and rejection of repentance after being presented with the evidence and witness against them. The daft will then be sent to them for comment before being published online, publicly. It will protect the identities of those who are not involved and will only specifically address the error, the evidence, the truth in Scripture, and the elder who failed to shepherd the flock Christ put under his care. In the event the church/individual comes to repentance, supported by 2 or more witnesses and evidence at a later date, the article will be removed from public view and notated that repentance and reconciliation was potentially achieved.
If you would like us to look into a certain church or teaching feel free to contact us
Let us know what you think!