What would you do?

[Amy.G]

From what you say, Amy, I tend to agree with OR.

I agree Marcia. And that's another thing that has bothered me for some time. There have been a few teachers in the last year that teach doctrines contrary to Baptist doctrine, like baptismal regeneration. (He has left the church) I don't understand why it's been allowed.

Now that I'm talking about all this, it seem like there has been more bothering me than I have been willing to admit. I am going to have to make some decisions I think.

 

[Johnv]

Hi Amy, I think you have enough info and input to make a decision on your own. I spiritually support whatever decision you make.

In regards to the person teaching nonbaptist doctrine, that should be a no-no. WHen a person agrees to teach a baptist class, s/he should agree to adhere strictly to the Baptist Distinctives as a matter of doctrinal teaching.

 

[Josh the Baptist]

What would you do if you found books in your church library that were written by know false teachers?

I found books by these authors:

Benny Hinn

Joyce Meyer

Kenneth Hagin

The subject of each of these books was the Holy Spirit.



I would bring it to the attention of the pastor. If for some reason he thought these were good books by legitimate authors, I would look for a new church home.

 

[abcgrad94]

We have a tiny "library" at church and people sometimes donate books by just placing them on the shelves. No one is in charge of it, it's just there. One day I found an Oral Roberts Bible had been donated. It was FULL of his views as commentary, and autographed by Oral Roberts. I promptly tossed it in the trash can, and informed my dh in case anyone questioned what had happened to it.

While I hated to throw away God's word, I felt it had been contaminated with false teaching in this case, and needed to go.

 

[just-want-peace]

----and autographed by Oral Roberts.

Was this before, OR after, God "threatened" to kill him???:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:

 

[saturneptune]

But if the church members are not grounded, the above books are going to further mislead them. A pastor is commanded by God to guard the flock. Any pastor that allows such books as the ones above - truly heretical authors, iow -- to be in a church library is not doing his job.

If church members are not well grounded in Scripture, the local church needs to take a serious look at its Bible studies and discipleship.

 

[abcgrad94]

Was this before, OR after, God "threatened" to kill him???:laugh::laugh::laugh::

I don't know, I didn't read enough of it to find out! :laugh:

 

[saturneptune]

I agree Marcia. And that's another thing that has bothered me for some time. There have been a few teachers in the last year that teach doctrines contrary to Baptist doctrine, like baptismal regeneration. (He has left the church) I don't understand why it's been allowed.

Now that I'm talking about all this, it seem like there has been more bothering me than I have been willing to admit. I am going to have to make some decisions I think.

The purpose of the book makes all the difference. For example, I just finished a course in religions of the world. When finished, I gave the book to the church library as a reference to anyone interested in other faiths. It is a fact book. There is nothing in the book that suggests what to believe.

 

[saturneptune]

Was this before, OR after, God "threatened" to kill him???:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:

Ole Oral wasn't really worried. He would just lay hands on his own forehead, shout HEAL, and voila, good as new.

 

[kyredneck]

I'm uncomfortable with the idea of censoring books in a libary, even if it's a church library. Better that the church teach discernment than conduct removals............. if the church members had sound teaching, the books in question wouldn't be an issue.

BINGO! The way to be able to discern a counterfeit dollar bill is to study in detail a real dollar bill. Then the errors of other writers (imo they ALL have some errors, some more than others, like churches) can be ignored and any good articulations of truth the books may contain can be gleaned.

But, on the other hand, I must admit there is a cutoff point to what I would tolerate in the library. I know nothing of the writings of the authors mentioned; you may well be justified to cull them.

 

[donnA]

What would you do if you found books in your church library that were written by know false teachers?

I found books by these authors:

Benny Hinn

Joyce Meyer

Kenneth Hagin

The subject of each of these books was the Holy Spirit.

If I were the one appointed to tend the library I'd remove them, if not I would straight to the pastor.

 

[donnA]

I would go to the person in charge of the library and/or the deacon or pastor in charge of the library. If they see no problem, I would tell that person that I was going to bring it up with the pastor, and then do that.

Don't let this go, Amy. The authors above are all heretical. I have known of this issue in churches and in each case, someone went to the pastor (in one case, the church was so small that the pastor was the only person to go to - people just dropped off books and no one was in charge).

I agree, stand your ground, but be prepared for possible fall out from making a stand. been there done that, it wasn't pretty and in the end I stood alone against fall teachings like these.

I would bring it to the attention of the pastor. If for some reason he thought these were good books by legitimate authors, I would look for a new church home.

I certainly would.

In regards to the person teaching nonbaptist doctrine, that should be a no-no. WHen a person agrees to teach a baptist class, s/he should agree to adhere strictly to the Baptist Distinctives as a matter of doctrinal teaching.

you would think so wouldn't you, just wish all churches saw it that way. I've seen some real non baptist junk taught, and no finding any problem with it.

 

[preachinjesus]

Great conversation in this thread!

My view is that its a church library, not a public library, censorship of some materials is the least we can do for some in our flock. Not everyone attending our churches has a strong background in doctrine or baptist teaching. They might pick up something like this and read it and begin a dangerous path.

Of course this is for extreme views. Our library has books of many authors with differing, but orthodox, views sitting next to each other. The other day I was wandering around in there and saw Millard Erickson's theology sitting next to Wayne Grudem's theology sitting next to James Leo Garrett's theology. That's a wide range of viewpoints, but all are good for reading and learning.

In our churches we have an obligation to protect those around us who might otherwise not know the difference between good teaching and false teaching.

 

[abcgrad94]

In our churches we have an obligation to protect those around us who might otherwise not know the difference between good teaching and false teaching.

Not only this, but if we have time to read at all, why not fill our minds with the truth, not waste time trying to sift though a pile of junk to glean a few truths?

 

[FlyForFun]

Not only this, but if we have time to read at all, why not fill our minds with the truth, not waste time trying to sift though a pile of junk to glean a few truths?

Aaaaaaaaaaaa-Men!!

This way of thinking has caused me to do only Bible studies in Sunday School. I even avoid topical Bible studies, since it's too easy to pull proof texts out of context.

So we work through a book of the Bible and somehow -- Gasp! -- we address all sorts of issues.

We have plenty of poor to downright awful books in our Librray, but I have learned to pick my battles.

The biggest problem is lack of Bible literacy. When we take a stand that "Breath prayers" are unbiblical, very often the reaction is blank stares:

"Isn't prayer a good thing?"


Our Pastor used the Nooma series last fall for Wednesday night "Bible" study. Sorry, but Rob Bell is as whacked out as can be, and I don't care what Big Name Publisher or Big Name Celebrity Christian endorses him -- and neither should the church care.

But we do...:tear:

 

[Marcia]

Aaaaaaaaaaaa-Men!!

This way of thinking has caused me to do only Bible studies in Sunday School. I even avoid topical Bible studies, since it's too easy to pull proof texts out of context.

I'm all for this! I think this is what Christians need more of.

The biggest problem is lack of Bible literacy. When we take a stand that "Breath prayers" are unbiblical, very often the reaction is blank stares:

"Isn't prayer a good thing?"

I know what you mean.

Our Pastor used the Nooma series last fall for Wednesday night "Bible" study. Sorry, but Rob Bell is as whacked out as can be, and I don't care what Big Name Publisher or Big Name Celebrity Christian endorses him -- and neither should the church care.

But we do...

So glad to see someone is saying don't study Rob Bell's material! I've read Velvet Elvis and it has many unbiblical statements. Some are indirect but they are there. I've views many of the Nooma films as well. In one of them, he says that Jesus believes in us, and that when Peter was sinking on the water, it was because he didn't have faith in himself!

 

[Marcia]

I agree Marcia. And that's another thing that has bothered me for some time. There have been a few teachers in the last year that teach doctrines contrary to Baptist doctrine, like baptismal regeneration. (He has left the church) I don't understand why it's been allowed.

Now that I'm talking about all this, it seem like there has been more bothering me than I have been willing to admit. I am going to have to make some decisions I think.

You're seeing several things that are problematic and need to be addressed and you are realizing the magnitude of it. Sometimes it takes awhile for this to happen because we don't want to see bad stuff or teachings in our church or we haven't sat down and thought about it all. Now you are seeing it and I am guessing that the Holy Spirit might be convicting you to do something about it. When the Holy Spirit does that, you can't not act - or it's painful not to! I've been there.

I agree with what someone said that you need to choose your battles, but in the cases you mentioned, these are things crying out for a need to address them. No matter what the reaction, I think you will be doing the right thing to go to the pastor or appropriate person or both.

 

[Amy.G]

Ok guys, what are breath prayers? I've never heard of that one.

Marcia, I think you're right about the Holy Spirit convicting me. I have to do something. And it hurts to finally face all this. I should have addressed it long ago.

 

[Johnv]

Ok guys, what are breath prayers?

They're prayers I make after 10 minutes on the stair master.

 

[Amy.G]

They're prayers I make after 10 minutes on the stair master.

After 10 minutes it would be more like gasps for me! :laugh: