Jim Wehde's Blog

The Children of the Father have been given an incredible priviledge: We can do what only the High Priest under the faded covenant had done, and draw near to Father with a clear conscience (Hebrews 10:19). He now calls us friends (John 15:15). Therefore, unlike the Israelites who were afraid to hear the voice of Father directly, we may commune with Him daily without fear, ask what He desires, and sense His heart through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

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Today I received an email from a Christian leader (my brother in Christ, to be sure) who regularly asks me to do otherwise. When I clicked on the link and went to the website, I was told that I needed to join the drive to "stop the attack on religious freedom" by encourage the congress to oppose the current Hate Crimes Legislation before them. I was made to feel that something very vital hangs in the balance, and could very well fall if I (and several million of my brothers and sisters) did not act immediately.

Now, my purpose here is not to discuss whether I support or oppose the Hate Crimes Act of 2007. This would be a distraction. What really gets to me about all of this is that this leader (and others) regularly does several things that go against the believer's priesthood:

1. He very subtly asks me to let him do the thinking for me.
2. He casts an unstated assumption that to disagree with him would make me a less faithful Christian.
3. He limits the input he receives from other believers.

1. He very subtly asks me to let him do the thinking for me.

This leader (and those like him) present themselves as more "in touch" with the issues. He (and his people) have educated themselves so as to be able to understand all the important aspects of the different topics far better than I, as a layman, have time to do. Since they have educated themselves so well on these things, it would be wise if I would listen and act in the ways that they recommend.

The most obvious sign of this in the current example is the fact that this Leader does not post a link to the actual text of the Hate Crimes Act on the web page I was directed to. When I click the link that says, " For more information about this threatening legislation, click here," the resulting page does not contain either the text of or a link to the bill, either. This man would rather I NOT read the bill at all...but just trust that the conclusions he has drawn are trustworthy.

I admit that I do appreciate people who feel called to spend their time researching issues they feel are important to them...and to make their opinions known. But to ask me to take their opinions carte blanche, without question, is something the Lord asks me, as His child, NOT to do. Jesus tells me that, as his sheep, I will know His voice (John 10:4). When an issue such as the issue that this man is raising comes into my awareness, my first place to go for wisdom is to Father. Father may very well use the voice of others to bring me to wisdom, but never should I treat the voice of any person as a final authority.

2. He casts an unstated assumption that to disagree with him would make me a less faithful Christian.

Those people that do not agree with leaders such as this are accused of ungodliness, of wanting to dismantle our nation, or silence Christians. No room is given in any way for those who may be hearing a different message from Father. There is no encouragement to prayerfully consider anything.

Those who have allowed leaders such as this to make their decisions for them often extend the same behavior - not allowing for other Christians, in good conscience, to come to different conclusions. This is VERY damaging for the body of Christ as a whole - because it relies on a bullying tactic to whip the church of Christ into submission.

3. He limits the input he receives from other believers.

Several times I have sought a way to gain the ear of this brother to let him know that there are Christians who don't agree with him, based on what we are hearing from Father. There quite simply is no outlet provided by him. He will not hear from those who may be at another place in their walk; neither will he grant a forum for open discussion on his web site, one which would give him valuable input from fellow members of the body of Christ (even those who AGREE!). I could write a snail-mail letter to my brother...but I am quite confident that I know how it would be treated.

On his radio program, he also grants not a minute of time to those who may be of a different opinion...even to engage them in open, honest debate.

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This is the kind of leadership that I pray would slowly disappear from the body of Christ...that which steps in the way of Father relating to His children. I do not hate this man...I believe he has set a goal that he believes is good, and will glorify God, and then set out to achieve that goal by any means possible. God has used men like Him to accomplish His purposes.

But the Good News is that you and I, as children of the Father, can hear from Him just as clearly as those in authority, or the educated, or the "connected"...and to be members of His body just as fully as all others. I think God is jealous of this Good News...and weeps when it is ignored in this way. I do not pray that leaders such as this fall from Grace, unless that is what Father wants. No, I pray instead that those who understand what Jesus is doing with His body would come along side men such as this and share His heart!