Give Us Discerning Leaders!

For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. --Acts 20:29-30

One of the most common misconceptions in Christendom today is that it is unloving and intolerant to criticize the beliefs of someone else. But life and the history of mankind will not support that allegation. Some may indeed be intolerant and downright ugly about it, but that changes nothing with regard to standing up for the truth. So, whether we are standing against the Open Theism of Gregory Boyd et al, the justification issue touted by N. T. Wright, or lately the universalism/no hell liberalism of popular speaker Rob Bell, many would have us say nothing, or give them a free pass. It's as if the Bible says nothing about these things. And no matter what each teacher's motives may be, we can only operate on the weight of the doctrine being argued. Does what each submits agree with Scripture or not? Read how A. W. Tozer views such a battle and the need for more pastor/leaders to take up the gauntlet and fight these battles in the name of Christ. He writes: 

Within the circles of evangelical Christianity itself there has arisen in the last few years dangerous and dismaying trends away from true Bible Christianity. A spirit has been introduced which is surely not the Spirit of Christ, methods employed which are wholly carnal, objectives adopted which have not one line of Scripture to support them, a level of conduct accepted which is practically identical with that of the world--and yet scarcely one voice has been raised in opposition. And this in spite of the fact that the Bible-honoring followers of Christ lament among themselves the dangerous, wobbly course things are taking. . . .

The times call for a Spirit-baptized and articulate orthodoxy. They whose souls have been illuminated by the Holy Ghost must arise and under God assume leadership. There are those among us whose hearts can discern between the true and the false, whose spiritual sense of smell enables them to detect the spurious afar off, who have the blessed gift of knowing. Let such as these arise and be heard. Who knows but the Lord may yet return and leave a blessing behind Him?

The Price of Neglect, 6-7.

Lord, give us passionate men, impassioned toward your Word and your glory who are careful exegetes of Scripture.