Those who think that unsound ministers ought never to be exposed and held up to notice, and men ought never to be warned against them, would do well to study this passage. No class of character throughout our Lord’s ministry seems to call forth such severe denunciation as that of false pastors. The reason is obvious. Other men ruin themselves alone: false pastors ruin their flocks as well as themselves. To flatter all ordained men, and say they never should be called unsound and dangerous guides, is the surest way to injure the Church and offend Christ.
– J. C. Ryle
1816 – 1900
HT: CrossTalk Blog
Christ Alone Wyoming 
Now ya talking! ………
“To flatter all ordained men, and say they never should be called unsound and dangerous guides, is the surest way to injure the Church and offend Christ.”
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He’s right, as usual. Would be nice to know to what passage he was referring.
A “lay elder” at my former church told me he “waiting on permission from the Holy Spirit” to confront the preacher on a known sin. Another told me he would not confront the preacher on error in the pulpit unless it were to be outright heresy.
They lost whatever respect I had for them, regarding the office they held; and shouldn’t have.
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Amen!
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According to the source where I got this, it was a text in the tenth chapter of the gospel of John.
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This is an outstanding example of someone willing to stand in front of the “many” and be with the “few” on the narrow road.
This is quote is something that could be used in teaching our children about standing up for what is right and correct in eyes of the Lord.
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