Bert Farias and Charisma News are back on the offensive...attacking discernment ministries for daring to name the names of the wolves devouring God's sheep.

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He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. -- Titus 1: 9 (ESV)

https://www.charismanews.com/opinion/the-flaming-herald/70535-it-s-time-for-the-heresy-hunters-to-get-a-life

Perhaps it is just the water over at Charisma News. The Bible says to not fool ourselves in that bad company corrupts good character. You can only hang around the likes of Ryan LeStrange, Lance Wallnau and Sneaky Squid Leclaire for so long before the shoddy doctrinal approaches and biblical compromises start to take over. Today's case in point is Bert Farias, whose latest article entitled "Time for Heresy Hunters to get a Life", grabbed my attention. It is linked above. I have read things before from Farias that have been correct doctrinally and he was one of the few remaining at Charisma that just seemed out of place. Not anymore. Let us reason together once more beloved and tiptoe through the mind of a Charismaniac trying to defend heresy in the pursuit of false unity.

"One of the great obstacles to unity and one of the biggest causes of division within the body of Christ is doctrinal disagreement and disputes. The media and the internet are the largest facilitator of this strife and division within the body of Christ. The gossip, the slander, the defamation of character of godly ministers that is found on websites, YouTube and social media is at an all-time high. Heresy hunters, who appear to be growing in number, are the primary advocates and instigators of this strife. They seem to glory in their self-appointed purpose of policing the body of Christ against what they claim is false doctrine and heresy. To these self-proclaimed heresy hunters, everyone is a heretic except them, including anyone who doesn't believe the way they do. How arrogant!" -- Bert Farias

Yes, that is an unbelievably arrogant opening statement Bert. Beloved see the strategy that Farias is taking and mark it well. It is the same strategy used by many who defend wolves. Like the devil, there are truths mixed in with distortion to cast doubt upon those who would exercise their own discernment. This is a crucial point to understand. Not everyone is called to divide the word of God in preaching and teaching but we are all called to exercise discernment when it comes to the teaching we sit under we are all called to do the work of a Berean. When Jesus explains that we can tell false teachers by their fruits He was speaking to everyone at the Sermon on the Mount. Lay persons and disciples alike. Putting that aside, let's go through his errors:

Discernment is not gossip. Gossip would be "hey did you hear Rick Warren wears Scooby-Doo Underoos?" Discernment would be, "Do you know that the Purpose Driven Church is pure heresy that is leading millions to hell?" The first comment is speculative falsehood designed to embarrass Warren regardless of the truth. The second comment is concerned with the sheep and pointing out what is false. The same goes with slander and defamation. Discernment ministries focus on what is being taught. Of course the names must be named or the information is useless. We are not self-proclaimed. The term heresy hunter was invented by the late Paul Crouch. As for the appointment it comes from God via Titus 1:9. It is not about policing the body of Christ but rather protecting the sheep. This is what the Bert Farias' of the world fail to see. They are so busy protecting the wolves, they show no care whatsoever for the slaughtered sheep. Farias continues:

"For example, there are websites dedicated to exposing even great pioneers of the past who have already departed from us such as Charles Spurgeon, D.L. Moody, Billy Sunday, C.S Lewis, Martin Luther, John Calvin and even the recently departed Dr. Billy Graham, one of the most humble, respected and high-character men of this past century. Then there are the websites who are critical of some of today's preachers such as Bill Johnson, Andrew Wommack, Paul Washer and Charles Stanley, to name a few." -- Bert Farias

I cannot comment on the websites he is referring to because I have never seen them. The point he makes on Billy Graham is interesting though. Perhaps no one was more revered on the planet than Graham. Does that make him untouchable? Was Billy Graham infallible? Is it any more ridiculous to speculate that Graham might be one of the 24 elders in Revelation? That was posited recently on Sid Roth's show. The reality is that 95% of discernment ministries I have seen deal with current teachings in an effort to protect the sheep. Perhaps there are another 5% that for some reason spend their time examining the teachings of preachers past. Is that so bad? Does the Bible say test everything except from sources you deem to be well respected? No beloved -- it just says test everything. Even the men you worship. Just because he was mentioned, does Bert Farias really consider Bill Johnson to be an upstanding Gospel preacher? Wow.

"There are even websites that refer to the apostle Paul as a heretic. Can you believe that? The reason given was that Paul's teachings conflict with some of the gospels and what Jesus said. I'm convinced that most of these heresy hunters are like trolls just looking to promote their divisive agenda by sowing discord on the internet by starting quarrels or upsetting people; by posting inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community (such as a newsgroup, forum, chat room or blog) with the intent of provoking readers into doubting godly ministers. Frankly, these heresy hunters need a life. Apparently they don't have enough to do. These self-appointed heresy hunters are hard to please. They will always find ground for disagreement. Just like many of this magazine's commentators, the majority are critical, cynical, and use the comment section to promote and ride their little pet hobby horse or slander another minister. I can hardly read the comments on my own articles anymore because many of them are so downgrading and derogatory. I'm sad to see such negativity that is so unbecoming to Christians." -- Bert Farias

C'mon. Even if true, there is no mainstream effort afoot to discredit the Apostle Paul. That is just silly. Farias is trying to paint with a broad brush to dismiss all discernment for the actions of a random kook. As for the commenting trolls, methinks thou protest too much. Charisma News is a virtual cesspool disguised as a Christian resource. This year alone Jennifer Leclaire has released angels of abundant harvest, angels on assignment and a sneaky squid spirit. There is not a false teacher/prophet that Charisma will not promote. You have had false prophets claim Donald Trump is a new King Cyrus with an Elijah anointing. Doesn't any of this even make you blush? The other part that Farias is omitting is that many of the commenters on Charisma are actually unsaved. The resulting comments section can devolve into a free for all but do not lose sight that it is the heretical article that started it, not someone pointing out that it is heresy.

"People are free to disagree with any topic and express their opinion, but when you personally attack ministers whom you don't even know, it is so grievous to the Lord and will cause you to eventually reap judgment, especially when you refer to them as an agent of Satan, a wolf or a heretic controlled by a demon." -- Bert Farias

The Lord says to mark those that cause division by the false doctrines they bring in. The key verse today commands us as minsters to rebuke those that are false. You cannot go one chapter in the New Testament without tripping over another warning about false teachers. It is odd that God would go to these lengths yet you think it grieves Him to have what is false pointed out. Let's also dispel another myth Farias is propagating here. Ministers are not being attacked. Their teachings are being exposed. If I said Bill Johnson dresses funny and talks with a lisp -- I would be attacking him personally. Saying he is a heretic and explaining why using the Bible? That is what we are instructed to do. As for the term wolf -- it came from Jesus Himself, so I think I feel comfortable using the analogies He Himself provided.

"Heresy hunters believe they somehow have the right in their minds to attack, slander and falsely accuse ministers by name, and in some cases completely misrepresent what these ministers teach. For example, I came up under the tutelage of the late Kenneth E. Hagin, one of the finest men of God of this past century. He was a true prophet of God with impeccable character, a deep prayer life, with many visions and visitations that contained phenomenal messages for the body of Christ. For decades, I never heard one critical word about another person come through this beloved man's lips. Yet some people, who call themselves Christians, have the gall to call him an agent of Satan. Wow! Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin was also one of the most scripturally sound ministers of this past century, and yet again, heresy hunters who somehow think their theology is heaven's standard, identify him with hyper-faith, hyper-prosperity and teaching that Jesus went to hell. How lopsided a view that is of his life and ministry to those who really knew what he taught." -- Bert Farias

Beloved, this is the problem when we venerate any man. Listen I love my pastor but if he ever started preaching name and claim it, grab it and blab it word faith nonsense like Hagin did, I would be the first to correct him. I do not doubt the sincerity of Bert Farias or his feelings for one of his mentors and friends. The good thing is I also do not need to rely upon his subjective feelings when I have empirical data from Hagin's teachings. Two of his esteemed prote'ge's are Kenneth Copeland and Robert Tilton. Then all I need to see is all of the video when he claimed to be drunk in the spirit. This is eerily familiar to when I confronted Dr. Michael Brown about Bill Johnson. If your only defense is "I know him" then you have no defense.

"The heresy-hunters' motto is if people don't believe and interpret the Scriptures the way they do then these ministers are heretics, and these heresy hunters attempt to prove it with their own version of what the Scriptures say. What a travesty! Most of the time they wind up twisting the Scriptures and presenting them from the small murky lens of their church or denominational traditions, or the brand of theology they've been taught and brainwashed with." -- Bert Farias

Who is defaming now eh? The truth is that there is only one correct interpretation of Scripture and that is what God intended to say. I have never seen a discernment ministry squabble over minor matters or trivial doctrine. This is not a game Mr. Farias. The eternal destination of the souls of men hang in the balance so forgive me if I do not have time to coddle your delicate sensibilities regarding your favorite false teachers. When Kenneth Hagin teaches drunk in the spirit he is a heretic. It does not matter if he was really nice to you. It does not matter if you had fond memories of him. When he teaches that you can create your own reality through your speech he is being a false teacher and according to the key verse I must rebuke him. By the way, if you ever think that I have written something too murky due to some doctrinal underpinning, by all means point it out to me. None of us are above correction.

"It's time for the body of Christ to put away this grievous behavior and grow up, for this type of ungodly behavior is an indicator of gross carnality or spiritual babyhood at best. "Therefore put away all wickedness, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking. As newborn babies, desire the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow" (1 Pet. 2:1-2). It's time for the body of Christ to mature in love and quit being so disagreeable. Everyone has different degrees of understanding and light from the Scriptures. No two people will agree on everything. Do I agree with every minister? No, a thousand times no. Do I believe certain doctrines are harmful to the body of Christ? Absolutely. But I am not going to spout off ministers' names and slander them.

If I don't really know their hearts and have a personal relationship with them, then it's just best to pray for them and leave them in the Lord's hands. They should have people in their lives to hold them accountable. If not, then that's their fault." -- Bert Farias

This is ridiculous. There are a plethora of bible verses, including the key verse, in complete support of discernment related to false teaching. What is carnal are articles such as this that provide no real scriptural support while pointing the accusatory finger at those who would seek to protect the sheep of the Lord. It is not evil to speak the truth. It is time for the body of Christ to stop being so disagreeable? Really? Has Farias read the New Testament? Did Paul not call out false teachers by name? Yes he did. Did he not publicly rebuke Peter when he was behaving like a hypocrite? Yes he did. Did Paul not expel the sinner in the church at Corinth? Yes he did. The Bible says narrow is the way beloved. Narrow. It says few find it. Perhaps nothing sums up the biblical ignorance on the part of Bert Farias more than this:

"Do I believe certain doctrines are harmful to the body of Christ? Absolutely. But I am not going to spout off ministers' names and slander them. If I don't really know their hearts and have a personal relationship with them, then it's just best to pray for them and leave them in the Lord's hands. They should have people in their lives to hold them accountable. If not, then that's their fault."

They do have people in their lives to hold them accountable! Read the key verse! That person is you! Stop with this carnal and babyish response that you have to somehow know their heart before speaking the truth. Read Jeremiah 17:9 if you are confused about their heart. Pray for them? Seriously? Do the sheep even matter to you? So you believe that certain doctrines are harmful? Terrific but let's put that in real terms. You know that certain false teachings will consign people to an eternity of suffering and hell. Given that reality, your top concern is whether you "slander" the wolf because you "don't know their heart." You don't have to! You know their teaching! Mercifully, Farias concludes:

"If you want to challenge a certain doctrine that you believe is causing harm to the church, then do so without naming names and degrading ministers you don't even know. The apostle Paul called some false ministers out because he knew them and because their doctrine or lack of character were endangering the churches he planted or of which he had oversight. Enough said." -- Bert Farias

No, no, a thousand times no. This is the Dr. Michael Brown logic. That sheep, which are portrayed as near helpless in Scripture, should be able to match up in depth doctrinal discussions with individual preachers. Utter nonsense. If I knew that someone was feeding a child poison and I did nothing about it that would be criminal. It is spiritual negligence to know that a preacher is feeding the sheep eternal poison and turn your head and say; well I don't know his heart. If you knew that a friend of yours was being enticed by Jehovah Witnesses would you not intervene until you understood the heart of the person witnessing to your friend? Of course not because the sincerity of the false teacher is irrelevant. The heart or motivation behind a false teaching is completely irrelevant. If your own heart and motivation is not for the sheep of the Lord then it is time to get a new line of work.

Reverend Anthony Wade -- April 16, 2018

Authors Bio:
Credentialed Minister of the Gospel for the Assemblies of God. Owner and founder of 828 ministries. Vice President for Goodwill Industries. Always remember that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.