A Critique of a Modern Mindset Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, Answer: The wicked world.
m the truth, Answer: The wicked world. We see this ideology in the modern
David R. Hutchings
We must not criticise, speak out against, or correct faults.
The following is a four-part critique of a modern mindset that
has infiltrated many modern churchesa mindset that has
enslaved many professing Christiansan ideology or way of
thinking that simply protests against the idea of criticising
unbiblical teachings being promoted today.
1. Unscriptural
The true Holy Spirit who authored the Holy Scriptures wrote
the following:
And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at
Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the
scriptures, came to Ephesus. This man was
instructed in the way of the Lord; and being
fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught
diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only
the baptism of John. And he began to speak
boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila
and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto
them, and expounded unto him the way of God
more perfectly (Acts 18:24-26).
According to the modern uncritical mindset, held by many
today, it is wrong for a believer to correct another believer.
But according to this very passage, Priscilla and Aquila knew of
no such thing.
The Scriptures command us to admonish one another (Let
the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and
admonishing one another in all wisdomColossians 3:16).
We are, in fact, commanded, in Jude 3, to contend for (lit.
fight for, defend) the faith.
The Scriptures admonish us to Prove [lit. test, critique] all
things; hold fast that which is good (I Thess. 5:21).
The thinking that we must not be going around criticising
faults is also against the Holy Spirits express teaching in
James chapter 5:
and one convert him; Let him know, that he
which converteth the sinner from the error of
his way shall save a soul from death, and shall
hide a multitude of sins (vv. 19-20).
Question: How exactly do we apply this truth if we follow the
modern attitude that we must not be correcting faults?
Further, the Holy Spirit speaks through Paul in Galatians 6:
Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye
which are spiritual, restore such an one in the
spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest
thou also be tempted (v. 1).
This is a command: restore. And yet the modern ideology
goes directly against the Spirits instruction here, for,
according to that modern thinking, we must not even be
looking for faults! On the contrary, ye which are spiritual,
RESTORE such an one ...
Many today have fallen into the trap of believing that only the
Holy Spirit can rebuke believers, but other believers are not
permitted to do this. However, Pauls command in Colossians
3:16 for us to admonish one another (Literally: rebuke,
correct, exhort) knows of no limitations. Clearly, the Holy
Spirit uses men and women as means.
Finally, Jesus Himself said in Matthew 18:15, Moreover if thy
brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his
fault. In Luke 17:3, He is even more explicit: If thy brother
trespass against thee, REBUKE him.
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2. Illogical and Self-Contradictory
The ideology that says we must not be criticising or correcting
others beliefs and be pointing out faults is also illogical and
self-contradictory. For in order for one to say to somebody,
You, sir, must not be correcting faults in people. How dare you
do such a thing! is, at that moment, committing that very
thingi.e. in saying those words, one is, ipso facto, implying
that he has found fault with that individual. Sheer hypocrisy.
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3. A Worldly Mindset
Where does this mindset of being religiously uncritical and
indifferent towards teaching, beliefs, creeds, etc. come from?
thinking of political correctness, religious tolerance, non-
judgmentality and the promoting of a one-world-church. It
also has its origins in the Roman Catholic Church.
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4. Unhistorical
save others by snatching them out of the fire;
to others show mercy with fear, hating even the
garment stained by the flesh (Jude 23).
As a fourth criticism of this ideology, I also point out that it is
unhistorical (i.e. you wont find this mindset among any
reputable Christians throughout history. The faintest
similarity of it in the church is found only in late 20th century
liberal Christianityi.e. those who deny the absolute
authority and inspiration of the Bible.
On the contrary, if you happen to read church history, you will
discover that the faithful saints of the past did not hesitate to
defend the Christian faith (i.e. Christ alone, Faith alone, Grace
alone, Scripture alone, to the Glory of God alone), which has
passed through this evil world through the blood of faithful
martyrs (the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church
Tertullian) and openly expose and condemn the false
doctrines, worldly philosophies and ideologies that attempted
to overthrow the beauty of Christs pure and sanctified bride
and make her into a harlot slave of the worldthe majority of
whom were badly treated by the Roman Catholic Church (RCC)
and other religious sects. Many were tortured, and others were
imprisoned or ostracized for speaking out against false
teachings to purify the church.
Martin Luther is a famous example of one who was a bold lion
of the faith, among the millions of others throughout history.
He boldly criticised the Roman Catholic Church (and,
incidentally, also the charismatics of his dayhe even
proclaimed to those lunatics the words I slap your spirit on
the snout). His 95 Theses (or Considerations) which he
publicly nailed to the castle door of Wittenberg on October 31st
1517, formed part of the beginnings of the great Reformation of
the church (of which we celebrate the 500th anniversary this
year).
Gottschalk, another defender of the truth, rotted in prison for
his faith and witness; so also was the author of Pilgrims
Progress, John Bunyan. Jan Hus was burned at the stake,
Polycarp was thrown to the Lions. If the martyrs of Christ ever
caught a wiff of the compromise, bouncy castles and sugary
sweets in the churches today, they would turn in their graves.
 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal,
but mighty through God to the pulling down of
strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and
every high thing that exalteth itself against the
knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity
every thought to the obedience of Christ (II Cor.
THOU SHALT
10:4-5).

I hope the reader is aware that our generation of saints are the
NOT
future to carry the standard bearer of Gods truth throughout
the rest of our days, and that we will be called to account before
God for the teachings and beliefs that we pass on. Therefore,
CRITICISE!
we must be very careful in dealing with peoples souls.

My brethren, be not many masters [lit.

teachers], knowing that we [who teach] shall A Critique of a Modern Mindset
receive the greater condemnation (James 3:1).

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Conclusion

To conclude this critique of a modern mindset we have seen

that it is not biblical, not Christian, not spiritual, but rather the
following:

(1) Unscriptural
(2) Illogical and self-contradictory
(3) A worldly mindset, and
(4) Unhistorical

Useful websites:

www.cprf.co.uk
www.limerickreformed.com
www.prca.org
www.standardbearer.rfpa.org
www.prca.org/prtj
www.rfpa.org
www.britishreformed.org
www.commongracedeliberations.blogspot.co.uk

David R. Hutchings
2017