Yesterday I discovered that I have numerous Facebook friends who are friends with a nomadic street preacher/abolitionist–a person with no real attachment or accountability to a local church.
Three Groups of Facebook Friends
I realize that among these Facebook friends there are likely some who…
- Have no idea the person with whom they are Facebook friends is a nomad.
- Are aware the person with whom they are Facebook friends is a nomad, but they neither “like” his (or her) posts nor otherwise encourage him in his nomadism, and/or they have called the person to repent of his nomadism.
The above being understood, there is, however, the third group among my Facebook friends, which is a mere segment of other Christians who are either actively engaged in street evangelism and abolitionism or are supportive of those who are.
- They know the person is a nomad and they “like” his posts and otherwise encourage him in his “ministry” and therefore encourage him in his nomadism.
This third group is the one I would like to address with the following comments.
If You “Like” the Nomad
If you know a person is a nomad and you “like” his (or her) posts and otherwise encourage or support him in his “ministry”…
- …then your ecclesiology is potentially weaker than you might think.
- …then you are potentially a nomad within the church or you may have nomadic tendencies.
- …then you are potentially validating an unbiblical self-call to ministry and you are possibly supporting the false doctrine of extra-biblical, personal revelation.
- …then you are potentially validating the qualifications of a morally and/or spiritually unqualified man or woman.
- …then you are potentially undermining the authority of the local church in the life of the nomad.
- …then you are potentially usurping the authority of elders in the life of the nomad–men who are trying to bring him to repentance and reconciliation with a local church.
- …then you are potentially putting “the cause” (e.g. abolitionism or open-air preaching) before Christ Himself
- …then you are potentially propping up a false convert–someone who claims to love Jesus but does not love His Bride–someone who loves “ministry” more than he loves God’s people.
If you know a person is a nomad and you “like” his (or her) posts and otherwise encourage or support him in his “ministry” then you are NOT loving the nomad.
Repent of “Liking” the Nomad
That the nomad may appear to have an “effective” ministry, that the nomad may even preach a biblical gospel, that the nomad is popular among otherwise solid Christians does not justify nomadism. The ends do not justify the means.
If you are encouraging and/or supporting a nomad, please repent. Repent for the sake of Christ’s honor, for the integrity of public evangelism, for the purity of the Bride of Christ, and with love for the nomad.
Michael Duncan says
Thanks Tony
I have a question. I am a member of a Reformed Baptist church in Aberdeen Scotland. Myself and five other men including the pastor engage in street evangelism and open air preaching.
We have an issue because there are heretics on the street who deny the Trinity and refuse to submit to the church they attend. And they are preaching! I have confronted this man before and he refuses to repent. The problem is that the church he attends isnt biblical and likely doesn’t even know that he does this or what he now believes about the Trinity.
Have you dealt with any such people in the past? I have mentioned to my pastor and we agree that we should inform the church he attends. Have you any advice?