Defending Truth Against Slander & Factionalism

08-19 Theological Lecture: Defending Truth Against Slander and Factionalism

Defending the Truth Against Slander and Factionalism

A Theological and Chronological Outline

**Objective:**To address and refute the slanderous accusations being leveled against this ministry, specifically the charge that this teaching is invalid because it is “under the covering” of a fallible man. We will establish from the Word of God that our sole authority and covering is the Lord Jesus Christ and that factionalism, human worship, and hypocritical judgment are condemned by Scripture.

Introduction: The Accusation and the Authority

1. **The Point of Contention:**It has been brought to my attention that individuals are actively discouraging believers from attending this Bible class.

  The specific accusation is that this ministry is invalid because I, the teacher, am under the “covering” of our former pastor, Robert McLaughlin.

0 This slander is an attack from the enemy, designed to suppress the teaching of divine truth. He will use friends and family to accomplish his purpose. This has led to a noticeable decrease in attendance, though the speaker emphasizes this is acceptable as the mission is not about numbers.

2. **The Declaration of True Authority:**My position and this ministry are under one covering and one authority alone.

8 I am under the covering of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I stand for His truth as revealed in the Word of God.

- While Pastor Bob McLaughlin was an amazing teacher who opened my eyes to many things, he was a man. My authority comes from God, not from any man or woman.

3. **The Motivation for This Message:**This is not about numbers; it is about defending the truth of God’s Word.

1 The doctrines taught here—the essence of God, soul structure, the sinful nature, the ten problem-solving devices—are all principles derived directly from Scripture.

9 The enemy attacks this place because the truth is taught with depth and clarity.

 This message is from the heart, to arm you with the truth against the attacks that will come. The speaker shares his personal motivation, stating he is present not out of obligation but out of deep love for God, desiring to share what

God has revealed to him. He expresses disappointment that people, even those previously close, are willing to abandon the truth based on others’ words.

I. The Prerequisite for Receiving Doctrine: Fellowship with God

A. **The Principle of Rebound:**Before we can learn from God, we must be in fellowship with Him. This is accomplished only by being filled with the Holy Spirit, which is the sole means to glorify God. The speaker notes that this crucial principle of being in fellowship with God is rarely taught in most churches.

B. The Application of Rebound: 1 John 1:9

> “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

C. **Opening Prayer:**A moment of silent prayer to apply 1 John 1:9, followed by a vocal prayer dedicating the study to God’s glory and asking for divine enlightenment.

II. The Biblical Condemnation of Division and Human Allegiance

A. The Apostolic Appeal for Unity (1 Corinthians 1:10-17)

1. 1 Corinthians 1:10: The appeal is made “by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ,” not the authority of Paul or any pastor. The command is to eliminate divisions and be united in thought and purpose.

2. 1 Corinthians 1:11-12: The problem in Corinth is identified: factions based on allegiance to human leaders. “I am a follower of Paul… of Apollos… of Peter… or… only of Christ.”

3. 1 Corinthians 1:13-17: Paul exposes the absurdity of these factions with a series of rhetorical questions.

* “Has Christ been divided into factions?”

* “Was I, Paul, crucified for you?”

* **Exegetical Point:**Paul’s primary mission was not to baptize or build a personal following but “to preach the good news—and not with clever speech, for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its power.” The focus must remain on Christ and His finished work.

B. The Proper Perspective on Spiritual Leaders (1 Corinthians 3:4-11)

1. 1 Corinthians 3:4-5: To say, “I am a follower of Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” is to be carnal and act “just like people of the world.”

2. **Exegetical Point:**Who are Paul and Apollos? They are “only God’s servants through whom you believed the good news.” They are instruments, not the source. The speaker stresses that attendees should not be present because of him, Joe Ganadero, but solely to hear the Word of God and understand what God has for them, as only God’s words truly matter.

3. 1 Corinthians 3:6-9: God is the source of all spiritual growth.

* “I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.”

* The human instruments—the one who plants and the one who waters—are not the

important thing. “What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.”

4. 1 Corinthians 3:10-11: The singular foundation of the Church.

* Paul, as a “master builder” (NLT: “expert builder”), laid the foundation.

* **The Foundation is Jesus Christ.**No other foundation can be laid.

* This is a warning to be careful how one builds upon that foundation. Building on the name of a man is building on sand.

III. The Teacher’s Accountability: To God Alone

A. The Teacher as a Steward of God’s Mysteries (1 Corinthians 4:1-6)

1. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2: We are to be regarded as “mere servants of Christ” and stewards entrusted with “explaining God’s mysteries.” The primary requirement for a steward is to be found faithful. The speaker identifies his unique gift as the ability to simplify God’s word, making it understandable for everyone, regardless of their background or intellect, ensuring the truth is accessible to all.

2. 1 Corinthians 4:3-4: The irrelevance of human evaluation.

* “As for me, it matters very little how I might be evaluated by you or by any human authority. I don’t even trust my own judgment on this point.”

* **Exegetical Point:**A clear conscience is not proof of righteousness. “It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.”

3. 1 Corinthians 4:5-6: The prohibition against premature judgment.

* “So don’t make judgments about anyone ahead of time, before the Lord returns.”

* Judgment is God’s prerogative. He will bring dark secrets to light, reveal private motives, and then give each person the praise they are due.

IV. The Purpose of Gifted Teachers: To Equip the Saints for Maturity

A. The Divine Gifts for the Church (Ephesians 4:11-16)

1. Ephesians 4:11-12: Christ gave gifted men—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers—to the church.

2. Their Responsibility:“to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.” My responsibility is to equip you with the Word of God.

3. Ephesians 4:13: The goal of this equipping is spiritual maturity, “measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.”

4. Ephesians 4:14-16: The result of sound doctrine is stability and growth.

* We will “no longer be immature like children… tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching.”

* We will not be tricked by clever lies that sound like truth.

* Instead, by “speaking the truth in love,” we grow to be more like Christ, the Head of the Church.

V. The Folly of Trusting in Man

A. The Curse on Human Reliance (Jeremiah 17:5-10)

1. Jeremiah 17:5-6: “This is what the Lord says: ‘Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord.’” They are like a stunted, hopeless shrub in a barren wilderness. The speaker contrasts the class’s focus on deep biblical study with typical church services, asserting that the in- depth pursuit of God’s Word, understanding His will, constitutes the highest level of worship.

2. Jeremiah 17:7-8: In contrast, “blessed are those who trust in the Lord.” They are like a tree planted by water, with deep roots, that is always green and fruitful.

3. Jeremiah 17:9-10: The reason for this curse is the state of the human heart.

* Exegetical Point:“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things and desperately wicked.” This is the doctrine of the Old Sin Nature. It is part of our spiritual DNA.

* Since this is true of every person, it is folly to place ultimate trust in any human being.

VI. The Universal Depravity of Man and the Universal Sufficiency of Christ

A. Righteousness by Faith, Not by Man (Romans 3:21-31)

1. Romans 3:21-22: God has provided a righteousness apart from law-keeping, which comes “by placing our faith in Jesus Christ.” This is true for “everyone who believes, no matter who they are.”

2. Romans 3:23: The universal indictment: “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” This includes every pastor, teacher, and critic.

3. Romans 3:24-26: The divine provision: We are declared righteous freely by His grace through Christ’s sacrificial death. God demonstrates His own righteousness by justifying the sinner who has faith in Jesus.

4. Romans 3:27-31: Therefore, all human boasting is excluded. Our acquittal is based on faith, not on our performance.

B. The Hypocrisy of Judgment (Matthew 7:1-6)

1. Matthew 7:1-2: The command: “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.” The standard you use to judge others is the standard by which you will be judged. The speaker challenges those who judge, noting that they claim holiness and knowledge of God’s Word, yet easily forget the clear biblical injunctions against judgment.

2. Matthew 7:3-5: The illustration of the log and the speck. It is hypocritical to focus on the speck in another’s eye when there is a log in your own. The Lord’s command is to deal with your own sin first.

3. Matthew 7:6: The principle of discernment: “Don’t throw your pearls to pigs.” Do not waste divine truth on those who will trample it and then turn and attack you.

C. The All-Sufficient Atonement (Isaiah 53:6-12)

1. Isaiah 53:6: The universal condition: “All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s path to follow our own.” This “all of us” includes every believer, without exception.

2. Isaiah 53:6b-12: The universal remedy: “Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.”

3. **Application:**The sacrifice of Jesus Christ was sufficient for the sins of Pastor Bob,

just as it is for our sins. To hold him to a different standard or to use his acknowledged sins as a reason to reject the truth is to deny the efficacy of the cross. He was a man who sinned, just like all of us.

VII. The Believer’s Mandate: Serve Christ and Extend Grace

A. Our True Master and Reward (Colossians 3:23-25)

1. Colossians 3:23-24: “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people… the master you are serving is Christ.”

2. Colossians 3:25: The principle of sowing and reaping: “But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites.”

3. **Exegetical Point:**This refers to temporal, not eternal, consequences. Sin has consequences in time, but the eternal penalty has been paid in full by Christ. We want grace for our sins, yet we refuse to give it to another human being, even one who is deceased.

B. The Hypocrisy of Selective Judgment

1. The Bible is filled with flawed heroes of the faith whom God used mightily: Paul (a murderer), Solomon (an idolater), Peter (who denied Christ), Abraham (who lied), Lot (who offered his daughters).

2. To condemn one man while excusing these others is inconsistent and goes against the clear teaching of Scripture.

3. The sin of gossip and slander is just as real as any other sin. The speaker personally commits to never speaking ill of other pastors or ministries, emphasizing that he does not judge or dictate where others should attend, as that is a matter of individual volition. His sole purpose is to teach the truth.

Conclusion: A Charge to Stand for Truth

A. **Be Aware:**This is spiritual warfare. The enemy is attacking the teaching of the Word of God. You will hear more things, and you must be prepared. The speaker expresses disappointment, rather than anger, at the ongoing spread of these false narratives.

B. **Remember the Source:**Your authority is the Word of God. Your covering is Jesus Christ. Your presence here must be for Him, not for me or any other man. I am just a vessel; He is the power.

C. **Stand Firm:**Do not be swayed by the judgments of men. We are here to learn the mind of Christ, to build our soul structure, and to grow in grace so that one day we may hear, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

D. **A Prayer for the Opposition:**We pray that those who are spreading these things will hear this message and have their eyes opened to the truth of God’s Word concerning grace, forgiveness, and the sin of causing division in the body of Christ. The closing prayer reinforces these themes, emphasizing that unity in the church stems from seeing Jesus in one another and that the Word of God serves as the unifying “glue.” It reiterates that judgment belongs solely to God, not to humans, and encourages believers to live boldly in the truth, as overcomers in Christ.