Mike Corley at the Epitome of Hypocrisy
This article speak for itself. I could hardly believe what I was reading when I found this today on The Expositor website. Mike criticizes CRN info and Analysis for “devot[ing] entire internet sites to analyzing people.” Well Mike, could you please explain the what exactly Apprising Ministries, Christian Research Network and World View Network are doing?  Why, even your own website has tags dedicated to criticizing Erwin McManus, Rob Bell, Rick Warren. How, pray tell, is that that any different from what others are doing?
Here is an excerpt from his article:
One case in point is what I call the “mock site†guys. I will not call them or their “blogs†by name because I will not give them the satisfaction or the publicity, but these are folks that devote entire internet sites to analyzing people like me, Ken Silva, Steve Camp, Ingrid Schleuter and others.
The first time I actually visited one of these sites, my first thought was ‘do these folks have jobs?’. I guess I should be flattered to mentioned on the same pages as the names listed above, but to be honest with you I am not flattered. Frankly I am neither impressed or intimidated by their rantings and rhetoric. I have come to expect it quite frankly, even though most of these mock sites have the same four or five contributors who are constantly commenting on whether Ken Silva is too sarcastic, I am just plain ignorant, or Steve Camp is too forward. And they really have it out for Dr. John MacArthur who they flippantly refer to as “Johnnie Macâ€.
I don’t know how Mike Corley can attack sites like this for devoting themselves to the “criticism” of other ministries, when most of his radio show is almost solely dedicated to the public attack of other ministries! This to me is the epitome of hypocrisy. The ministries of Mike, Ken, Ingrid are dedicated to the tearing down of churches and ministries that they feel are out of line. What goes on here is exposing the falsehoods behind these men and women, and continuing to build up those churches who are actively drawing people to our lord and savior, Jesus Christ.
In response to your question about jobs. We do have jobs. We don’t simply plead for money or ask for speaking engagements to further the destruction of the kingdom of God. Our lives, not simply our careers are dedicated to exposing the truth where it is distorted, building up the saints and drawing others into a relationship with a living God.
Lastly on John MacArthur. Most of us here do not have a huge problem with John MacArthur. In fact, most of us respect what he does. What we react against is the fact that “discernment ministries” such as Corley, Silva and Schleuter often use more of MacArthur’s material to prove their points than scripture. This is often because there is no scripture that backs up their point of view. We use Jonnie Mac or J-Mac because it is comical how much he is quoted among the discernment camp.
I think this quote from Corley’s interview with MacArthur sums up and affirms this
“I came to the conclusion, or at least the thought…Â that God almost didn’t call anyone else to preach the gospel but John MacArthur”
10 Comments(+Add)
Well, I just responded. Here’s what I asked. I’m not holding my breath that I’ll get a response.
“I’m curious, if you could explain to me how what you complain about is any different than what you do? In other words, I write for one of these “mock blogs” and all we do is look at what you’re saying and writing and compare it to Scripture. Ken’s entire blogs (both apprising and CRN) are dedicated to that which you deride here? Would you mind explaining the difference?
Thanks,
Joe”
As well, I for one, attempt to refrain from “mocking” and analyze the issues…
Neil
apparently analyzing the issues and finding discrepancies in the truth is now “mocking”
I TRIED TO POST THE FOLLOWING ON THAT ARTICLE A FEW DAYS AGO BUT IT HAS YET TO BE POSTED. MY INTENT WAS TO TRY AND DIALOGUE WITH HIM ON THE ISSUE THAT NO ONE AT SLICE WOULD EVER RESPOND TO. THAT IS HOW DO THEY EXPLAIN FRUIT FROM THE CHURCHES THEY CRITICIZE.
Mike,
Although, we would disagree on a few issues, I enjoy listening to your show on http://www.oneplace.com and think it is presented in a professional and entertaining way. Regarding this subject and yesterday’s show about getting people back in church, I think my story typifies the many differences in this small blogging community. The emergent stuff has lots of truth problems but the seeker-sensitive / mega church movement gets lumped in with these guys.
I have attended a seeker-sensitive / mega church in Rockwall, TX (www.lakepointe.org) for 14 years. That is where I heard the Gospel preached. I confessed Jesus as Lord. I grew through small group bible fellowship, mentor discipleship, God-exalting modern worship music, and biblical preaching. I am involved in numerous ministries and mission work. While I have a long way to go I am growing spiritually through what the Lord has done in that church. At our church, the Word of God is the absolute truth and salvation is found in Christ alone.
I am witness to the same thing happening to hundreds of others in my church and many similar churches. I have also witnessed the same thing in very traditional churches. So those contributors and commenters like me are a little offended when it is suggested that we do not have a legitimate church. Now the mock site you are referring to might suggest that CRN devotes an entire internet site to analyze same 4 or 5 people. Needless to say, flippant names for Dr. MacArthur, as well calling Rick Warren the anti-christ on the old Slice site are not helpful. I think we should all write and comment as if we were on a long car ride together. That keeps things civil.
Admittedly, there are a few churches today that spend so much time on presentation to attract the lost; they forget to give the most important message to the lost. I think that number is extremely low. I would liken this to the very few traditional churches that care more about tradition than that most important message they should be presenting. I think that in a nutshell, the broad brush is painted to often.
Sincerely submitted,
Darren
Is anybody really shocked by this? (cyber eye-rolling)
They know the Truth and are the holy remnant that protects it. Apparently, despite God’s sovereignty, He is incapable or incompetent to do so Himself.
They are doing God’s work and they are accountable to God alone. In their hierarchy of being, then everyone else is accountable to God through them.
Do as I say, not as I do, ya know?
I wonder how they would react if their own pastors agreed with their criticisms, but told them that their tactics were questionable? I suspect they would find a reason to remove themselves from the spiritual authority of those leaders and start smearing them too.
Anyway…
It’s classic: People who obsess over God’s power and control as the fixed point of definition for God and His character do so because they want to feel powerful.
“If our God is powerful, then we are powerful.”
again, I say:
Oy.
AN,
Rob Bell writes in Sex God:
I would take that to our relationship with Jesus, as well. Love is not about power and control – that’s not what His Lordship is about. It is about submission and dying to self…
The difference between this site and CRN/Slice 2.0 is that we defend people from persecution from within the church, and that they (often, but not always) are the persecutors and shepherds of Ezekiel 34 – gone amok for the sake of misplaced ego/power/control in similar fashion as Tomas de Torquemada…
Torquemada…
wow. that’s a comparison. =)
Great quote from Rob Bell
any thoughts on the little “squeak” from Ingrid on Rick Warren?
Still quite shrill…
As one who finds fault with all of us, I cannot fathom how some could hold everyone else to such scrutiny, sometimes legitimate and sometimes self serving, cannot at least admit that everyone has the blog right to criticize anyone, rightly or wrongly.
When a tennis player hits a ball over to the other player, how can he find fault when the other player hits it back? One man’s dialogue is another man’s ranting rhetoric. I might enjoy a good steak but not served on a garbage pail lid. I might agree with the issues some espouse but the serving tray renders it inedible.
For anyone whose interested Rick Warren pays no attention to any of it.
Mike sent me a very courteous e-mail thanking me for mine and said that he would address the jist of my e-mail on Tuesday’s show. I am not sure if he will address the issue of this post by Nathan, but I hope so.
Darren