Tim and David Bayly said some very nice things about their visit here over on their blog. That resulted in some interesting discussion in the comments thread, to which I simply want to add a couple of comments. It would obviously not be appropriate for me to add something like “yes, we really are wonderful, and are glad the Baylys said so.” I wouldn’t say anything like that because we really do see all the areas where we fall short of our desire to fully live out what the Scriptures describe as a God-honoring community. In our worship services every week, we confess as sin the various ways in which we fall short — and we are not “just saying that.”
That said, the Bible tells us what we should be looking for. The Bible tells us how we are to measure these things. The devil knows what the real measuring stick is, and that is the one he is most interested in affecting.
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matt. 7:15-20).
When this point is brought up in the context of doctrinal discussions (in this case, the FV), there is one facile response that is not really dealing with what Jesus said. To counter the Lord’s explicit instructions with “well, I am sure Pelagius was a nice guy too” does not really help us. Jesus anticipated that, and said that wolves would frequently be in sheep’s clothing. But “sheep’s clothing” is not the same thing as the wool still attached the way it is supposed to be. The two can be distinguished, and need to be, because this is the standard of measurement we are to use. Artificial fruit tied on to branches can be distinguished from the real thing, that which is really growing there. And so, at the end of the day, Jesus told us to judge by the fruit. He did not tell us to judge by doctrinal hyper-precision because we have now discovered that fruit can be faked. He warned us that fakers would come, and so we are invited to look at the fruit closely. But we were commanded to look at the fruit. Are these people evil and corrupt? Or are they good Christian people?
There was one comment made in the Bayly thread that needs a specific response. I would also refer interested readers back to the “Justice Primer” archives on this blog for more on this.
“And, as an outsider, I cannot comment on the veracity of the various allegations regarding various pastoral abuses that have been swirling around Moscow for some years. I am prepared to believe that they are 100% false, but if even 10% of them happen to be true, then the 2nd to last paragraph of this article ought to fall flat to the readers.”
And before I give the counter to this, let me say at the front end that I don’t think I’m Jesus. But I do think I am supposed to imitate Him, and if I am following Him I do think that I shouldn’t be surprised when I am falsely accused. Jesus told us that we were not greater than He, and that we will get the same treatment. And, when we do, we are commanded to deal with that in a certain way. This is something that the Bayly brothers understand, and their understanding of this has been displayed in quite courageous ways.
That said, here is my response.
“And, as an outsider, I cannot comment on the veracity of the various allegations regarding various ethical abuses that have been swirling around Jerusalem for some years now. Glutton, wine-bibber, consorter with prostitutes . . . I am prepared to believe that they are 100% false, but if even 10% of them happen to be true . . . then the Christian faith is false, and we are all still in our sins.”
It is not voice of moderation to limit oneself to believe only ten percent of the false accusations. To hear 100 lies and limit oneself to entertaining only ten of them is not being judicious.