Monday, November 04, 2013

Doug Phillips of Vision Forum Resigns Due to Sexual Immorality

No, he didn't have sex with that woman....however he lusted in his heart for a "long period of time", so according to Jesus, he is guilty of sexual immorality. Here's the report.

Mat 5:27  "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28  But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

While there is forgiveness for those who truly, biblically repent of their sins, there still are consequences to something like this: far reaching ones. It destroys more than just one family, but at least two, including two women, all the children, and who knows if there's a husband also affected also. It also affects friendships and ministry partners, as well as the church in which he serves. 

Time will tell if he's truly repentant. How long did it go on? Did he get caught and so had to 'fess up? Or did he confess of his ongoing sin on his own?

It amazes me how men in leadership get to be so arrogant and hypocritical, when what we need is humility, integrity, and strength. Being the head of the family doesn't mean the man is lord of all he surveys, gets everything he wants or demands, nor does it make him a spiritual leader. Being a spiritual--a biblically spiritual leader---is by the power of the Holy Spirit in humility, leading by serving.

"I've also wondered at times, why the Vision Forum form of Dominionism seems to fly under the radar, as opposed to the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) form of Dominionism. Probably because the NAR is so easily dismissed, with its angel feathers and gold dust silliness, while the Vision Forum crew are so theologically buttoned up as to seem to earn them a pass." ~Sola Sisters

The larger theological issue here is that as Solasisters points out, Phillips is part of the Dominionism movement that is just like NAR but minus the Charismaticism. Same end, different means. Take dominion over the world for Christ, by populating it.

Such is not the way of God. He has historically worked with the smallest of numbers, the most feeble, the most unlikely:

He changed the world through 11 men chosen to be Jesus' disciples; none of them of great repute, all of them leading others to Christ through preaching His Gospel and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Israel as His chosen nation which He creation: the smallest of all Middle Eastern countries, and one of the world's smallest.

David first taking on Goliath and then later to become king of Israel: he was a young shepherd first and used rocks to kill the giant.

Mary, a young maid chosen to bear Jesus. She was not only young, but unknown. Joseph her husband also was unknown. They were from an insignificant village.

Jesus' entrance into the world wasn't by way of a palace and trumpets sounding, but  a feeding trough surrounded by animals because there was no proper room available. Talk about humiliating both for the King of kings and Lord of lords, but also for a woman giving birth!

The Narrow Road to eternal life vs. the Broad Road to destruction.

Simply put, contrary to Dominionism, His kingdom is not of this world.

Joh 18:36  Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world."

Wrong doctrine will have its consequences; thinking by the flesh will lead to living in the flesh. I have to wonder that this serious error had some affect on Phillips's behavior.

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