Who Are the Piranhas?
SEE: http://www.wayoflife.org/index_files/who_are_the_piranhas.html;
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational,
and research purposes:
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational,
and research purposes:
Public reproof toward a fellow Baptist preacher is invariably mischaracterized as cheap gossip, slander, and carnal backbiting, regardless of how true it might be. It is called “shooting the wounded” and is always characterized as a harmful thing.
You will wait in vain for these men to characterize public reproof of prominent Baptist preachers as a positive, biblical thing that can be done from a sincere, God-led heart or for any encouragement to be given by these men to reprovers.
The most recent example of the maligning of reproof is an article by Cary Schmidt entitled “What Christians Can Learn from Piranhas” published on the Ministry127.com blog.
The following excerpt sets the tone for the whole of the blog: “God’s Word warns us repeatedly about devouring each other, but it’s too easy to fall into this trap. We often mask our slander as ‘concern’ or ‘standing for the faith’ but in the presence of Jesus, those flimsy rationalizations will be vaporized, and our true hearts will be revealed. ... This thought brought to mind the picture of a piranha--a regular fish that rabidly devours” (“What Christians Can Learn from Piranhas,” Ministry127.com, Sep. 5, 2015).
The author goes on to list the characteristics of the piranha and applies this to “critics.” For example, piranhas “school together ... in fear and insecurity” and “attack their weak and often wound each other for dominance.”
He implies that piranhas are motivated by pride, as are piranha-like critics, and he quotes Romans 12:3 and Galatians 5:26 as a warning in this context.
This is amazing both from the standpoint of natural science as well as of preaching, since the author can no more know what motivates a fish than he can know what motivates a “critic.”
I, for one, reject and despise backbiting, gossip, and carnal criticism. It is very harmful to the cause of Christ. Any time I have found myself to be guilty of this, I have repented. The churches we have planted have been hurt by it many times. I have personally been the target of it countless times. Anything that comes of deceit and false speaking and the spirit of James 3:14-16 is wrong and is not of the Spirit of God, and I renounce it most emphatically.
“But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work” (Jas. 3:14-16).
Yet by no means is this what the author of the piranhas article really warning about. When these men speak of piranhas and shooters of the wounded and buzzard chasers, they are talking about much more than the danger of carnal gossip, and IN TRUTH THEY ARE REVEALING A SERIOUS LACK IN THEIR OWN MINISTRIES.
First, they lack a biblical foundation and spiritual wisdom in this matter.
Though they have a biblical foundation in some areas of their ministries,* in this particular matter they lack one, because Scripture shows us the example of preachers who reprove often and plainly and name names in the process. We see this in Jesus’ ministry with the scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees (Mat. 16:6; 23:13-33). We see it in Paul’s ministry in the case of Hymenaeus and Alexander (1 Tim. 1:20), Phygellus and Hermogenes (2 Tim. 1:15), Hymenaeus and Philetus (2 Tim. 2:17), Demas (2 Tim. 4:10), and Alexander the Coppersmith (2 Tim. 4:14-15). (* For example, the author of the piranhas article has a book entitled Just Friends that is helpful for preparing young people for marriage.)
They lack a biblical foundation, too, because they fail to make a distinction between godly reproof and carnal backbiting. The latter is condemned in Scripture, but the former is most forcefully commended!
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; REPROVE, REBUKE, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:2).
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, forREPROOF, for CORRECTION, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).
“These things speak, and exhort, and REBUKE with all authority. Let no man despise thee” (Titus 2:15).
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather REPROVEthem” (Ephesians 5:11).
“But all things that are REPROVED are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light” (Ephesians 5:13).
“He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth REPROOFerreth” (Proverbs 10:17).
“Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth REPROOF is brutish” (Proverbs 12:1).
“Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth REPROOFshall die” (Proverbs 15:10).
“As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise REPROVER upon an obedient ear” (Proverbs 25:12).
“The ear that heareth the REPROOF of life abideth among the wise. He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding” (Proverbs 15:31-32).
God commends reproof and correction, and if ever there were a time that calls for it among Baptist churches, it is today! Surely God is stirring preachers to reprove, rebuke, and exhort in this day, and nowhere do we find that certain preachers are out of bounds, particularly so if they have large public ministries and thus influence large numbers of people.
Two, they lack forthright honesty and (possibly) courage.
I believe that it is dishonest to hide one’s warnings behind generalities, innuendo, and strange metaphors. It is a lack of biblical candor.
Further, by this tactic, the preacher can always deny whom he is targeting. Is that not cowardly and disingenuous? Third, they lack love.
Those who speak about spiritual dangers in vague generalities lack love for the Lord’s sheep. If there really are piranhas in our midst, we need to know exactly where and who they are!
By not being specific, the preacher creates carnal suspicion.
What if the people hear such warnings and mistake a harmless reprover who is a man of God for a hurtful piranha who is an enemy of God, and in their confusion they try to net the man of God and do him harm?
In truth, and I speak by personal experience, if a preacher warns about the music philosophy or evangelism program or some other thing that pertains to a prominent Baptist leader, he will be the one who is the target of “piranhas” in the form of that preacher’s supporters and apologists!
______________WHY MOST INDEPENDENT BAPTISTS WILL BE EMERGING WITHIN 20 YEARS. ISBN 978-1-58318-155-3. This book documents the collapse of separatism among fundamental Baptists over the past 20 years and the reasons for it: Biblical shallowness, the maligning of warning and reproof, unquestioning loyalty to man, following the crowd, ignorance about important issues, soft separatism, lack of serious discipleship, carelessness about music, and Quick Prayerism. Available in print and as a free eBook from www.wayoflife.org.
He implies that piranhas are motivated by pride, as are piranha-like critics, and he quotes Romans 12:3 and Galatians 5:26 as a warning in this context.
This is amazing both from the standpoint of natural science as well as of preaching, since the author can no more know what motivates a fish than he can know what motivates a “critic.”
I, for one, reject and despise backbiting, gossip, and carnal criticism. It is very harmful to the cause of Christ. Any time I have found myself to be guilty of this, I have repented. The churches we have planted have been hurt by it many times. I have personally been the target of it countless times. Anything that comes of deceit and false speaking and the spirit of James 3:14-16 is wrong and is not of the Spirit of God, and I renounce it most emphatically.
“But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work” (Jas. 3:14-16).
Yet by no means is this what the author of the piranhas article really warning about. When these men speak of piranhas and shooters of the wounded and buzzard chasers, they are talking about much more than the danger of carnal gossip, and IN TRUTH THEY ARE REVEALING A SERIOUS LACK IN THEIR OWN MINISTRIES.
First, they lack a biblical foundation and spiritual wisdom in this matter.
Though they have a biblical foundation in some areas of their ministries,* in this particular matter they lack one, because Scripture shows us the example of preachers who reprove often and plainly and name names in the process. We see this in Jesus’ ministry with the scribes, Pharisees, and Sadducees (Mat. 16:6; 23:13-33). We see it in Paul’s ministry in the case of Hymenaeus and Alexander (1 Tim. 1:20), Phygellus and Hermogenes (2 Tim. 1:15), Hymenaeus and Philetus (2 Tim. 2:17), Demas (2 Tim. 4:10), and Alexander the Coppersmith (2 Tim. 4:14-15). (* For example, the author of the piranhas article has a book entitled Just Friends that is helpful for preparing young people for marriage.)
They lack a biblical foundation, too, because they fail to make a distinction between godly reproof and carnal backbiting. The latter is condemned in Scripture, but the former is most forcefully commended!
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; REPROVE, REBUKE, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:2).
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, forREPROOF, for CORRECTION, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).
“These things speak, and exhort, and REBUKE with all authority. Let no man despise thee” (Titus 2:15).
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather REPROVEthem” (Ephesians 5:11).
“But all things that are REPROVED are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light” (Ephesians 5:13).
“He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth REPROOFerreth” (Proverbs 10:17).
“Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth REPROOF is brutish” (Proverbs 12:1).
“Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth REPROOFshall die” (Proverbs 15:10).
“As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise REPROVER upon an obedient ear” (Proverbs 25:12).
“The ear that heareth the REPROOF of life abideth among the wise. He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding” (Proverbs 15:31-32).
God commends reproof and correction, and if ever there were a time that calls for it among Baptist churches, it is today! Surely God is stirring preachers to reprove, rebuke, and exhort in this day, and nowhere do we find that certain preachers are out of bounds, particularly so if they have large public ministries and thus influence large numbers of people.
Two, they lack forthright honesty and (possibly) courage.
I believe that it is dishonest to hide one’s warnings behind generalities, innuendo, and strange metaphors. It is a lack of biblical candor.
Further, by this tactic, the preacher can always deny whom he is targeting. Is that not cowardly and disingenuous? Third, they lack love.
Those who speak about spiritual dangers in vague generalities lack love for the Lord’s sheep. If there really are piranhas in our midst, we need to know exactly where and who they are!
By not being specific, the preacher creates carnal suspicion.
What if the people hear such warnings and mistake a harmless reprover who is a man of God for a hurtful piranha who is an enemy of God, and in their confusion they try to net the man of God and do him harm?
In truth, and I speak by personal experience, if a preacher warns about the music philosophy or evangelism program or some other thing that pertains to a prominent Baptist leader, he will be the one who is the target of “piranhas” in the form of that preacher’s supporters and apologists!
______________WHY MOST INDEPENDENT BAPTISTS WILL BE EMERGING WITHIN 20 YEARS. ISBN 978-1-58318-155-3. This book documents the collapse of separatism among fundamental Baptists over the past 20 years and the reasons for it: Biblical shallowness, the maligning of warning and reproof, unquestioning loyalty to man, following the crowd, ignorance about important issues, soft separatism, lack of serious discipleship, carelessness about music, and Quick Prayerism. Available in print and as a free eBook from www.wayoflife.org.
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PAUL’S REPROOF OF PETER
(Friday Church News Notes, October 16, 2015,www.wayoflife.org, fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - I have never seen anything in the Bible that would limit a ministry of biblical reproof so that influential pastors are not subject to it. And I have never seen anything in the Bible that requires that a preacher give reproof only in a private context. The prophets of old reproved even godly kings for their spiritual compromise. “Then Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because thou hast joined thyself with Ahaziah, the LORD hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish” (2 Chronicles 20:37). Paul publicly reproved Peter for his hypocrisy (Galatians 2:14). If Peter’s friends had been like some independent Baptists, they would have lashed out at Paul for his audacity at reproving the man of God, and especially for reproving him before others. “Why didn’t Paul talk with Peter privately instead of making a public issue of it?” they would ask. “Was he jealous of Peter? Yes, that must be it. Who is Paul compared to Peter? When Paul wins 3,000 to the Lord through one sermon and pastors a church of thousands, then he might be qualified to reprove the great man, but not before. Why, when Paul preached on Mars Hill, only a handful of people responded, probably because he made too much of repentance! And unlike Peter, Paul didn’t walk with Christ through His earthly sojourn and see the miracles firsthand and hear the Master’s teaching with his own ears. Who does he think he is to reprove Peter for hypocrisy? Does he think he is the epitome of Christian perfection? That must be it. He is probably puffed up with pride and besotted with jealousy. Further, Paul is nit-picking. Peter’s little “hypocrisy” is no big deal. Paul needs to stand back and look at the bigger picture of Peter’s fruitful ministry. Why doesn’t Paul aim his guns at real errors instead of shooting the wounded? Doesn’t he realize that it is wrong to be divisive? Further, Paul isn’t even a member of the Jerusalem church, so he needs to mind his own business and respect the autonomy of the church. If he wants to reprove someone, let him reprove the Judaizers and the Gnostics and leave the man of God alone.” This is the thinking of many independent Baptists, but it not scriptural. No preacher is above being tested by God’s Word. Any preacher is liable to compromise and error. And if his compromise and error is public and has a public influence, the reproof should be public. While no man enjoys reproof, a godly man knows that reproof is necessary. “Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish” (Proverbs 12:1). I’m not talking about a carnal, critical, nit-picking spirit. I’m not talking about cheap gossip. I’m not talking about criticism based on personal opinion. I’m talking about a godly critique issued with spiritual wisdom and based solidly upon the Scripture rightly divided by men who love Christ and have His glory in view.
F.C. Jennings: “People do not love unpalatable truths, and when they have the alternative of listening to soothing assurance, moving eloquence, pleasing illustrations, and entertaining anecdotes, they not unnaturally avoid and withdraw as far as they can from the scathing rebukes of the prophet” (Jennings, Studies in Isaiah).
R.A. Torrey: “It is clear that there must be difficulties for us in a revelation such as the Bible. If someone were to hand me a book that was as simple to me as the multiplication table, and say, ‘This is the Word of God; in it He has revealed His whole will and wisdom,’ I would shake my head and say, ‘I cannot believe it; that is too easy to be a perfect revelation of infinite wisdom.’ There must be, in any complete revelation of God’s mind and will and character and being, things hard for the beginner to understand; and the wisest and best of us are but beginners” (Torrey,Difficulties in the Bible).
F.C. Jennings: “People do not love unpalatable truths, and when they have the alternative of listening to soothing assurance, moving eloquence, pleasing illustrations, and entertaining anecdotes, they not unnaturally avoid and withdraw as far as they can from the scathing rebukes of the prophet” (Jennings, Studies in Isaiah).
R.A. Torrey: “It is clear that there must be difficulties for us in a revelation such as the Bible. If someone were to hand me a book that was as simple to me as the multiplication table, and say, ‘This is the Word of God; in it He has revealed His whole will and wisdom,’ I would shake my head and say, ‘I cannot believe it; that is too easy to be a perfect revelation of infinite wisdom.’ There must be, in any complete revelation of God’s mind and will and character and being, things hard for the beginner to understand; and the wisest and best of us are but beginners” (Torrey,Difficulties in the Bible).
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Private Reproof vs. Public
Jun/05/12 13:18
The following is excerpted from the new book The Hyles Effect, which is available in print for purchase or as a free eBook from the Way of Life web site -- www.wayoflife.org.
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The very fact that there are still many preachers today who believe a public warning about influential independent Baptist leaders is wrong is evidence that the spirit and error of Jack Hylesism is alive and well.
It is time for this heresy to be buried.
They say, “Who do you think you are to speak against such men?”
I can’t answer for others, but my personal answer to that is, “I don’t think I’m anybody at all. I’m just a frail and simple man God saved and called to preach, but I have His authority to speak and so does every other God-called preacher.”
God solemnly charges the preacher to identify false teachers, to exhort, reprove, and rebuke with all authority, to speak as the oracles of God, to earnestly contend for the faith, and even to warn about born-again compromisers (Romans 16:17; 2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 2:15; 1 Peter 4:11; Jude 3; 2 Thess. 3:6; 2 Tim. 4:10). Nowhere in Scripture are these commandments restricted in their scope. Nowhere does God say that a Bible preacher can reprove and rebuke only the members of his own church or that he can reprove and rebuke anyone who errs except an influential Christian leader.
To reprove public sin and error publicly by the Word of God under the guidance of the Spirit of God and in His wisdom is not slander and is not gossip and is not “throwing rocks” and is not“shooting the wounded” and is not hateful and is not dishonoring to Christ.
Private offenses and private sins need to be dealt with privately, but public errors need to be dealt with publicly. When a man builds an ecclesiastical empire, of sorts, and influences thousands of people beyond the borders of his congregation, his errors are no longer private matters and they are no longer matters pertaining only to his church.
When a man admits and repents of a sin or error, that is one thing and is dealt with in a certain way. But when an influential man covers up sins and errors and lies about them and even goes on the attack against those who try to expose them, that is another matter altogether and is to be dealt with in entirely a different way.
It is time for this heresy to be buried.
They say, “Who do you think you are to speak against such men?”
I can’t answer for others, but my personal answer to that is, “I don’t think I’m anybody at all. I’m just a frail and simple man God saved and called to preach, but I have His authority to speak and so does every other God-called preacher.”
God solemnly charges the preacher to identify false teachers, to exhort, reprove, and rebuke with all authority, to speak as the oracles of God, to earnestly contend for the faith, and even to warn about born-again compromisers (Romans 16:17; 2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 2:15; 1 Peter 4:11; Jude 3; 2 Thess. 3:6; 2 Tim. 4:10). Nowhere in Scripture are these commandments restricted in their scope. Nowhere does God say that a Bible preacher can reprove and rebuke only the members of his own church or that he can reprove and rebuke anyone who errs except an influential Christian leader.
To reprove public sin and error publicly by the Word of God under the guidance of the Spirit of God and in His wisdom is not slander and is not gossip and is not “throwing rocks” and is not“shooting the wounded” and is not hateful and is not dishonoring to Christ.
Private offenses and private sins need to be dealt with privately, but public errors need to be dealt with publicly. When a man builds an ecclesiastical empire, of sorts, and influences thousands of people beyond the borders of his congregation, his errors are no longer private matters and they are no longer matters pertaining only to his church.
When a man admits and repents of a sin or error, that is one thing and is dealt with in a certain way. But when an influential man covers up sins and errors and lies about them and even goes on the attack against those who try to expose them, that is another matter altogether and is to be dealt with in entirely a different way.
We must be very careful about what we say about men of God. We must be careful not to spread unsubstantiated rumors. We must be careful not to give heed to vindictive, disgruntled, backslidden people who are trying to injure the work of God. We must be very wise in what we say and in how we say it. We must make sure that we are speaking the truth, and we must test our hearts before God to make sure we are speaking the truth in the right spirit and for the right reason.
We don’t publicly reprove every pastor who errs or call out every church that compromises. Contrary to the silly and slanderous accusation that some have made against us, we don’t consider ourselves the “policeman of the IFB movement.”
The reality is that some men’s influence is much greater than others. Some men’s ministries effect only their own congregation, whereas some men’s affect tens of thousands.
When the sin of hypocrisy and the compromise of the principles of equality under the gospel was spreading in the early churches, the apostle Paul singled out Peter to rebuke before them all, for the simple reason that he was the most influential personality in that mess. “But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I SAID UNTO PETER BEFORE THEM ALL, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Galatians 2:11-16).
We must be wise in speaking, but speak we must when the situation merits it. Let us fear God more than man.“The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe” (Proverbs 29:25).
“Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen” (1 John 5:21).
One can hide in the crowd in this life and take his “stand” with the weak-kneed majority, but no one can hide at the judgment seat of Christ.
We don’t publicly reprove every pastor who errs or call out every church that compromises. Contrary to the silly and slanderous accusation that some have made against us, we don’t consider ourselves the “policeman of the IFB movement.”
The reality is that some men’s influence is much greater than others. Some men’s ministries effect only their own congregation, whereas some men’s affect tens of thousands.
When the sin of hypocrisy and the compromise of the principles of equality under the gospel was spreading in the early churches, the apostle Paul singled out Peter to rebuke before them all, for the simple reason that he was the most influential personality in that mess. “But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I SAID UNTO PETER BEFORE THEM ALL, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Galatians 2:11-16).
We must be wise in speaking, but speak we must when the situation merits it. Let us fear God more than man.“The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe” (Proverbs 29:25).
“Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen” (1 John 5:21).
One can hide in the crowd in this life and take his “stand” with the weak-kneed majority, but no one can hide at the judgment seat of Christ.
