Francis Chan Warns Against Those Who Cause Division in the Church

Amen! We need to get serious about John 17, praying for unity in the Church, forgiving others as Christ has forgiven us, and walking in love.

Does God view gossip, slander and division in the Church any less of a sin than immorality?

Francis Chan is aligning himself with people from the NAR who speak false things and promote people to shake while proclaiming it is the Holy Spirit moving. I don't know why Francis has done that but I would warn everyone 'buyer beware' that you are not seduced into the grouping that Francis Chan is embracing.

I listened to Francis sermon. It began great but then I sense a slow gentle turning. Francis goes on to name some preachers who he respects and in his sermon he seems to be rebuke anyone who would cause division because of them but these preachers he names are actually preaching heretical thing.

I like Francis but I don't like it when he preaches something like this where he upholds people preaching falsehoods and if you confront that falsehood then you are guilty of division. That is how a cult is gently created.

Francis is allowing himself to be caught up in a web of deceit and I hate to see it.

True believers hate division and they hate gossip and slander. Yet true believers are at times guilty of all of it.

The Church is comprised of the children of the light, they walk in the light and become lights to others. Those outside are of the darkness and they walk in darkness and present darkness to others.

The division between these two kinds of people is already made by God himself.

Yet, God has not appointed any tare-rippers to pull up the tares that grow among the wheat-of-God.
To point out what consist of a weed-believer is every spiritual leaders job. To judge the weeds whereby they are rounded up, cast out and executed is a job given to the angels of God, not the wheat-of-God.

The Church's responsibility is to guard the sheep, to do that there must be discerning, judgments, corrections, warnings and rebukes. This responsibility is not limited to pastors, in fact it can be said that wayward sheep are so by way of other sheep saying and doing nothing to resist their straying hearts. The love of God is not sentimental, squishy, politically correct, or absent of harsh words.

If the love of God is understood as a love that genuinely cares for those whom are loved, those whom are loved would be treated as Christ treats us.

When I hear sermons directed at correcting 'divisions, gossip, slanders, strife and that sermon is corrective, contains the judgment of God, contains warnings and direction for repentance, am I to assume that the corrective is divisive? Am I to assume the warning or rebuke is strife and mean-spirited? So, if I judge the correction as divisive, when and where can I be corrected? If God's beloved ministers cannot offer a correction as the Spirit of God leads with that same minister being accused of doing what he condemns...just what constitutes a genuine corrective and warning?

Singular sermons that deal with errors that arise among God's people do not contain all that needs to be said on the subject, but in fact contain what needs to be said to those individuals/groups that will open their hearts to listen to the Spirit of God.

If Francis is really trying to issue warnings to the Church at large that they shouldn't judge Bethel or NAR or whoever because Francis is personally motivated to protect a preferred group of his own...then Francis could be reproved, but until that is actually proven, it is wiser to judge the sermon on its own merits and obey what you know is of God.

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If Francis is really trying to issue warnings to the Church at large that they shouldn't judge Bethel or NAR or whoever because Francis is personally motivated to protect a preferred group of his own...then Francis could be reproved, but until that is actually proven, it is wiser to judge the sermon on its own merits and obey what you know is of God.

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This is what I did. I judged this sermon on its own merit. Francis names people in his sermon as great ministers but if you take each one of them and evaluate their doctrine they do not preach the Gospel but he admonishes them as if they are brothers in Jesus. This is my point and it is very dangerous and borderline heretical.

I think Francis said what he said because he knows those who named are under scrutiny and he is looking to bring everyone together but how do you do that without rebuke to false doctrine?

Follow Francis Chan in the future and see what he says and he would fellowship with. Evaluate their doctrine and then ask yourself if rebuke is in order or we should remain silent against what he has said in his sermon.

He didn't rebuke anyone except those apparently causing divisions because he was preaching that sermon in a church that has been rebuked. To me he is wanted to unrebuke it if that is a word.

Francis is not a false teacher but if he hangs out with them how long before his message is subtly replaced by something false?

Let's hope that never happens. Pray for someone to confront him on these things.

John

Again, irony abounds in this common theme going through recent threads, posts and responses. Someone claims that too high a percentage in the broader church ( not all ) in the West are engaged in unhealthy systemic sin or they assert that the doctrines being taught by an individual or group of churches are false and hurtful, then they are called accusers, slanderers, gossipers, or destroyers of the temple of God. That will certainly quickly shut down consideration and prayer of whether God is speaking. However, in the very act of making those comeback statements, those making them are doing the very thing they claim the others shouldn't be doing. So, if someone asserts that something is very wrong in the broader church system, that God is displeased and that He has led them to believe that there will be a corporate, temporal, corrective and loving judgement, then they are labeled a co-worker with Satan and destroyer and couldn't have heard from the Lord because He loves His children too much and would never do such a negative thing and those who would say otherwise are laboring with Satan in destroying the church. In their very comeback, however, they are then theoretically destroying God's temple themselves in their counter accusing of brothers. Its all so circular. Besides that, there is way too much counter argument from OT and NT for that response that He would "scourge" His children for that position to stand long.

What I perceive in this is far too much opinion and predisposition to seeing God a certain way or perserving personal preferences and traditions and too little Scripture or words from the Lord. Is it not possible that those who exhort and rebuke in love of the Body may possibly be led by God or have many become so worried about unity that they have lost a love for the whole counsel of God. Unity can certainly be achieved if we label those we disagree with as co workers of Satan. That will get every one in line. It is not disunifying, slander, or gossip to rebuke in love if God has directed it. That's the ultimate question then. Has God directed it.

Building up the Body of Jesus includes by definition removing that which destroys, renders unhealthy or weakens her. Building up the Body is more than positive reinforcement. There are seasons, people and churches that require comforting, and strengthening of weak hands and knees when they have been dealt serious blows by the enemy. Then there are also times and situations that require loving but clear diagnosis, warnings and often painful surgery in order to bring about health and life by unrepentant self inflicted behaviors and beliefs. The only question is what is the need of the time and the Body and what does the Lord say?

I don't think any of you know me or what I do which is better because hopefully the only issue will not be the messenger but the message. I think there is a long history on this site of trying to avoid winning disagreements by trumping each other with spiritual resumes or quotes from other well known pastors. What does the Lord say? In much love to Jesus, the Family and each of you who have spoken into this rather "sharp disagreement". Thankful for all.

Whenever we as believers encounter false teaching,
we should never fear bringing correction, however it needs to be done in the right spirit.

I have seen way too many accusations and many of them are false against true brothers in the Lord. There is a vast difference between a false teacher and someone that is a true brother, but is wrong on some area of doctrine.

There is not one among us that has never missed it on issues of doctrine. I would much rather err on the side of mercy than to falsely accuse a true minister of Jesus Christ and bring further division to the Body of Christ.

Whenever we as believers encounter false teaching,
we should never fear bringing correction, however it needs to be done in the right spirit.

I have seen way too many accusations and many of them are false against true brothers in the Lord. There is a vast difference between a false teacher and someone that is a true brother, but is wrong on some area of doctrine.

There is not one among us that has never missed it on issues of doctrine. I would much rather err on the side of mercy than to falsely accuse a true minister of Jesus Christ and bring further division to the Body of Christ.

You are diverting the conversation with this post by saying you have seen too many accusations that are false against true brothers in the Lord................can you affirm that those that Francis mentions in this message true brothers in the Lord? They preach a different Gospel and it is a me center message along with one that includes mysticism. To whitewash it is to accept deception. Don't go there. Stand up for what it right and call out that which is wrong and don't make excuses. it is very easy to do when we like certain preachers. I like Francis but if he is doing down this road I have to call him out as a Christian.

* "Try every spirit"

* "You will know them by their fruit"

* "be not unequally yoked"

* "Light cannot live with Darkness"

These are the urgent calling's I hear from the Spirit of God concerning this age. Ministries that are making money of the Gospel in song and teachings. Shepards that are allowing the congregation to be influenced from doctrines of devils and allowing false signs and wonders to build up attendence. That are becoming friends to false dotrinal teachings and beliefs.

My brothers and sisters in Christ are not formed because we enter the same building made from dirt! My Brothers and Sisters are those that do the will of our Father and have denied themselves and let thy kingdom come on earth. When a Preacher teaches from the pulpit, its not his skill to teach or his ability to reason and persuade my thinking, it is the power of the holy spirit bringing fourth the truth of the word into my spirit to renew my mind and edify my spirit in the truth of Christ.

I see an unholy union today being pushed onto the pulpit, The talented salesman and the compromiser. Each one tickles the ears and plays the emotions like a harp to get what they want.

How do we respond as Gods ambassidors on earth? do we just say be in peace and walk past as millions die through lack of knowledge? Or is that God has sent a strong delusion to those that are seeking for there own will and not his?

It is my prayer that Gods will be done on earth as it is in heaven. That God can use us for his light in a darkening world, that we are the salt of the earth. I don't judge these preachers as we all can fall with out the Mercy of God over our eyes but i judge the works of Satan that oppress Gods people and make a mockery of Christ name before the heathens. I pray against the greed and selfish spirits behind many of these preachers and if that means that God has to hashly chastise those who have fallen away from his will then so be it. We all must die to our flesh nature and drink of the same cup as those that are baptised in Christ.

God Bless

There is a danger in this manner of public airing of differences. We may be right in nearly every thing we write, but the more we write, the more vulnerable we are to "miss the mark" - even if the error is only a "little leaven."

My spirit discerns a little leaven in these threads. I will not allow that leaven to cast aside the valid concerns being expressed, but it is unfortunate when thoughts that should have been taken captive and kept to ourselves, are allowed to move our fingers to type and post.

Otherwise valid concerns can be corrupted by personal feelings that have been allowed to leaven our heart toward other brothers with whom we are exhorted to have "unhypocritical love".

mak

While I did not agree with every single point of interpretation and application in the message, overall I thought it was a great and much needed exhortation for us. In the past I have been way too quick to publicly put down certain preachers with whom I disagree on non-salvific issues, and this message was convicting for me in this regard, much appreciated. This scripture comes to mind:

"So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God."-James 1:19-20