Slice of Laodicea

Career slanderer and Rick Warren apologist, Richard Abanes, is on a rampage again. For those unfamiliar with Abanes, you will know him by his obsession with certain ministries such as this one and his open slander and attack on those who stand up for biblical truth online. He has found a new hero in Tim Challies who recently wrote a piece attacking ministries that feature the “bad news” of what’s going on in the church today. I’m sorry, Tim, that Mr. Abanes finds you to be on his team. You have a sorry bedfellow. 

Richard Abanes moves from one blog to the next that features a comment section, never missing an opportunity to smear, undermine and attack those who stand for biblical truth. He is smooth. He signs his emails with the word “peace.” He has the tongue of an adder but he reserves it for those who speak up about false teaching. For those he senses are weak in any way, he moves in to befriend and ally with with them. Another discernment blogger yesterday fell victim to this as Abanes appeared in his comment section, publicly asking him to “break bread” with him so he can share information about those who appear to be one thing but are actually another. The blogger welcomed the overture and assured Abanes that he looks forward to having “fellowship” with him. The whiff of sulfur in the air is overpowering.

I don’t have to recite the activities of last summer when Richard Abanes’ conduct resulted in Ken Silva having to have his entire Apprising Ministry site rebuilt. The damage caused by Abanes’ slander of Ken to iPower web hosting speaks for itself. I don’t have to link to Richard Abanes’ cheerleading of the Online Discernment Mafia site, or his description of myself and others online as “cult-like” and “dangerous.” Abanes is known by his fruit, and its rottenness is apparent to all who love biblical truth.

So why is this happening? Why would Challies decide to turn his sites on ministries that are doing their best to warn others of the endemic spiritual error? Why would another committed Christian blogger agree to fellowship with a known slanderer and enemy of those who warn about false teachers? Why are we seeing this confusion swirling?

A friend of mine wrote to me today about this and really clarified in my mind what is happening. Our enemy, Satan, knows his time is short. He despises nothing more than praying, truth-loving saints of God who, despite their frailty and weaknesses, are standing for Jesus Christ. He knows that a full frontal assault from the emergents, seeker defenders, and false teachers in general will not move us an inch from our positions. He knows that distraction and confusion are far more effective. If he can bring down a few key players and have concerned Christians so busy fighting among themselves that they halt their primary callings, the cause is weakened. So he assigns specific emissaries to contribute to the confusion. They slither from site to site, planting doubts and slander in the comment sections, always, of course, in the name of “peace.” These emissaries stir up someone here to write an ill-advised post. Discord among the brethren ensues. They stir up someone there to plant a doubt or to post a hasty word that adds fuel to the fire. Before you know if, you have additional chaos and confusion. The enemy cheers. The Apostle Paul wrote of such an individual himself. He knew what this was like.

So what should our position be in all this? There have always been the Alexander Coppersmiths in the church. We warn about them just as St. Paul did, and then we continue on with our labors. I warn about Richard Abanes today, and now I am getting back to the work I’m called to do. The Lord is our vindication and our strength!