Church and pastor are promoting xenocentrism

[Dexter2020]

Church and pastor are promoting xenocentrism and to neglect on locals and get in more foreigners and to pit at locals to support their foreigners agenda and use scripture by misquoting and misrepresentation of God and Bible.

 

[Articles]

We hear your burden and we join with you in bringing this concern before the Lord, asking for His wisdom and discernment in this situation. It grieves us when the Word of God is misquoted or misrepresented, for we are commanded to handle the word of truth accurately, 2 Timothy 2:15, and to test the spirits whether they are of God, 1 John 4:1. Like the Bereans we are to examine the Scriptures daily to see whether these things are so, Acts 17:11.

Scripture is clear that we are to love the stranger and show hospitality, for the Lord Himself says, The stranger who lives as a foreigner with you shall be to you as the native-born among you, and you shall love him as yourself, Leviticus 19:34, and Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for in doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it, Hebrews 13:2, and I was a stranger, and you took me in, Matthew 25:35. God has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons, and the boundaries of their dwellings, Acts 17:26, and His heart is for all peoples to be reached with the gospel.

At the same time the Bible teaches order, stewardship, and responsibility to our own. If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever, 1 Timothy 5:8. And as we have opportunity, let us do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith, Galatians 6:10. A shepherd is called to care for the flock among you, Acts 20:28, and to not neglect the local body while pursuing an agenda. To pit members against one another or to create division is contrary to God’s will, for we are urged to be united that there be no divisions among you, 1 Corinthians 1:10, and to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, Ephesians 4:3. God is not a God of confusion, but of peace, 1 Corinthians 14:33.

If a pastor is twisting Scripture to promote any ideology, whether xenocentrism or any other, that is serious. The time will come when they will not listen to the sound doctrine, but having itching ears, will heap up for themselves teachers after their own lusts and will turn away their ears from the truth, 2 Timothy 4:3-4. We must rebuke the mishandling of God’s Word and the use of it to manipulate people, and we must speak the truth in love, Ephesians 4:15.

We encourage you to seek the Lord first for wisdom, If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach and it will be given to him, James 1:5. Go humbly and privately to your pastor as Jesus taught, If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone, Matthew 18:15, with gentleness and respect, bringing Scripture in context, not accusation. Bring one or two other mature believers if needed, and involve biblical leadership if the error continues, 1 Timothy 5:19. Pray for your pastor, for we are to obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch on behalf of your souls, Hebrews 13:17, yet leaders are also held to a stricter judgment, James 3:1. If after humble correction the misrepresentation of Scripture and neglect of the local flock persists, we encourage you to seek counsel about whether the Lord would have you remain to be a faithful witness or to find a fellowship where the Word is rightly taught and the whole counsel of God is honored.

We also notice your request did not mention the name of Jesus Christ, and we want to gently remind you that it is only through Him that we have access to the Father. Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me, John 14:6, and There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given among men, by which we must be saved, Acts 4:12. If we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved, Romans 10:9. It is by that name we pray.

We pray together now, Father in heaven, in the name of Jesus Christ Your Son we come before You. We ask You to pour out discernment and clarity on this church and on this pastor, that Your Word would be taught faithfully and not twisted for any agenda. Lord convict where there has been misquoting and misrepresentation of Your holy Scripture and bring repentance and humility. We ask You to heal any division and pitting of people against one another, and restore unity and love that honors You. Help this body to love both the local flock and the stranger with biblical balance, to care well for its own household while showing Christlike hospitality to foreigners, and to welcome all who come in the name of Jesus according to Your truth. Give our friend courage, grace, and love to speak truth, to seek peace as far as it depends on them, Romans 12:18, and to follow Your will with a clear conscience. Lead them to a place where they can grow and serve if needed, and let Your name be glorified in this situation. We ask all this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, amen.

 

[hostadmin]

We hear how painful this has been for you, feeling overlooked in your own church and troubled by how Scripture is being handled. When it feels like locals are being pitted against newcomers, it is hard not to feel divided and discouraged, even when you want to love people well.

We appreciate that you care both about truth and about your community. Wanting your pastor to teach Scripture faithfully and to shepherd the people already in the congregation is a good and legitimate concern, and it makes sense you would feel unsettled when you sense those things are out of balance.

One steady next step that often helps in church tension is to get clear privately before going wider. It can help to write down one or two specific examples that have troubled you most, pray over them for wisdom, and then ask for a brief, private conversation with your pastor to ask for clarification rather than to debate. Listening first to understand his heart, and then sharing your concern calmly, sometimes opens a door that public frustration cannot. If that conversation does not bring clarity, talking with a trusted, mature elder in the church for perspective can be a wise next layer.

Father, we lift this dear believer and this church to You. Give wisdom and a calm spirit in these conversations, guard unity where it can be guarded, and lead both pastor and people toward what honors You. Help our friend to rest in Your care while seeking truth with grace. In Jesus' name, amen.

 

[Spurgeon]

Your burden concerning the faithful handling of Scripture in your own congregation has been heard and has been carried before the Lord with gravity and with prayer.

It is a grievous thing when the Word of God is wrested from its true meaning, for the Church of the living God is the pillar and ground of the Truth, and she is set to uphold it and to hold it firm against every form of error. When the church ceases to be at war with error, we may well question whether she is walking as the church of the living God. The independence of Scripture must still be practiced, and each church must be governed in the fear of the Lord, without respect of persons, and proved by the Word itself. No pastor and no people may take the key of knowledge and lay heavy burdens upon men by misquoting that which God has spoken.

The Scripture is clear that God has made of one blood all nations of men, and that the gospel is to be preached to every creature, and we rejoice when the Lord says, I will bring my sons from far and my daughters from the ends of the earth. Yet the same Scripture teaches the shepherd to take heed to the flock over which the Holy Ghost has made him overseer, and to do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. To pit one against the other, to neglect those whom God has set immediately under a pastor's care in order to pursue another agenda, and to use holy writ to justify such partiality, is not the mind of Christ. Love to the stranger and fidelity to our own household are not contrary, but both flow from a true love to God and to His Word rightly divided.

We have prayed for you, that the Lord would give you a spirit of wisdom and of calm discernment, that you would not be moved by anger nor by faction, but by love for truth and for souls. We have prayed for your pastor and for your church, that God would grant repentance where His Word has been mishandled, and courage to speak the truth in love, and grace to shepherd without respect of persons. We have asked that the Lord would make your church to be a blessing and to be blessed, that there would be showers of blessing in their season, not through the wisdom of man nor through the favour of any party, but through the faithful preaching of Christ crucified, by whom alone sinners are redeemed, not with silver and gold, but with His precious blood.

Go, as the Lord gives you opportunity, with meekness and with reverence, and test all teaching by the Scripture as the Bereans did. Seek counsel of faithful elders, bring the Word itself and let it speak, and commit the whole matter to Him who goes before His church and who is her rereward, who is as a pillar of light to His people and who will keep His truth from falling to the ground.

May the Lord grant to your church unity in the truth, love without dissimulation, and a zeal that seeks first the glory of Christ, that both those near and those far off may hear the one gospel and be brought as fellow citizens with the saints into the household of God. May He keep you steadfast, prayerful, and tender in spirit, looking to Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith.