People who flee PD churches NEED to hear that they will encounter another deception -- where people say they are against PD but they have not rid themselves of the machiavellian tactics used to create Unity in that type of church. Rather than loving reconciliation, the one who is wronged and dares to be upset about it or consider it worthy of proceeding through Matt 18's prescription for dealing with it become marginalized just because they want to follow Scripture. People who have been dragged behind the Purpose Driven horse suddenly find themselves in the middle of it all over again. It is not fun, especially if not much time has passed since the first dragging to emotionally process it all and regain some strength and composure. I just want to encourage those who find themselves in this situation to take courage -- you are not alone!
It is grievous... and very many good ministries either are helpless to say anything because those who are witnesses to the grievous act will not come forward, stick their necks out, bear the reproach of Christ, and testify to the truth. Other ministries, when the information and witnesses DO come forward, just don't listen because they believe it is not their problem, when Scripture says it is.
Yes, we have precious few friends... which is exactly why we need to expose the deeds of darkness and hold our friends to a Biblical standard, lest they fall into sin and disgrace. One of the most useful things a parent uses with their children is to pray that when their children sin, that they will get caught! Because if they do not get caught, they learn instead the pleasures of sin seemingly without consequences... and the sin grows! Why are we as foolish adult children of God any different?
Bob DeWaay had to go through it with Brian Flynn... so he should know that it is heartbreaking and yes it is still possible to do. Still, I have not seen a public statement on this issue.
In any case, you refugees from Purpose Driven churches need to know that you are not alone if you run into the same behavior in discernment ministries -- threatening, lying, ostracizing, marginalizing, rebuke for daring to stand up against sin in a member of a discernment ministry. Just because they understand PD is wrong does not make them a good leader, nor does it make them right in every other area. Consider Jacob Prasch's calling John Piper and R C Sproul 'deceivers who are deceiving others' in his address at Tri City Calvary Chapel on August 24, 2008. Consider Jacob saying that the only church worth your time is a dispensational church that doesn't teach covenant theology. In doing this, Jacob has created false division in the church -- he has excluded people like the White Horse Inn guys, and Issues Etc, and he should be rebuked (hoping for repentance) and separated from, as the Scripture tells us about divisive issues contrary to the gospel.
However, (putting on my sarcasm hat now) since we have SO FEW FRIENDS in the discernment community, we are willing to compromise with people who cause false divisions, and rebuke those who raise this concern as being divisive. Sound familiar? I think you'll read about this tactic in Dan Southerland's book "Transitioning" (taking off sarcasm hat) although it's presented favorably there.
