Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Letter from PN

Reply from Ps PN regarding the split of HGI from Ps PN. I do understand a statement from HGI have been released, but all i can say is hopefully we will make the right choice and not join the leadership of PN. There are just too many unanswered questions and though Hope church teach us to obey and submit. We only do so when it concerns issues of Administrative in nature, but not in issues that are of spiritual and legal in nature.

I still personally do no undestand the term disagreement ? There is nothing to disagree. In regards to the finance allegations it was illegal in nature and a matter that could land people in jail. The idolatory teaching is a spiritual matter, while their family issue regarding was a matter of leadership nature and also preached in 1 Tim and a matter of the 10 Commandments.

I do not understand why it would be just a simple disagreement, but i am not them so... maybe as leaders we are allowed double standards. I wonder if someone else other then them committed such allegations would their judgment be still the same and allow the alleged leaders to continue in their ministry, its just a thought but an interesting one.



Re: เอกสารจาก อ.ปากกา ถึง Elder
จากการอ่านคิดว่า ก็ไม่น่าจะมีอะไรเสียหาย
ขอ 1 อย่างนะครับ วิเคราะห์ได้แต่อย่าเหน็บแนม

Date: Mon, Feb 2, 2009 at 7:42 PM

Dear Simon and RMCs,
I am writing on behalf of the leadership of Hope of God Churches in Thailand. We have received a copy of your letter sent to DJ concerning the decision you have made to part ways with DJ already. Thus, I would like to communicate the position of the leadership team of Hope Churches in Thailand and how HGI and Hope of God Churches in Thailand should work together in the future.

First of all, I would like to confirm that the leadership of Hope of God Churches in Thailand, which includes Hope of Bangkok Church and Hope Churches in over 60 provinces of Thailand still pledge to be under the covering of DJ as the apostle of Hope Movement. Despite the fact that DJ has no official title relating to Hope Churches in Thailand and has expressed his intention to withhold the assertion of his authority and leadership over us, we still welcome his insights at any time and on any issue.

Secondly, we would like to see Hope international churches and Hope churches in Thailand serve the Lord together in unity because we believe that unity is very essential to receive the Lord’s blessings and is a solid foundation which was laid in Hope for the purpose of the effective advancement of the Kingdom of God. We hope that as you and Hope of God churches in Thailand still do not agree on a number of issues, the leadership of both sides should find time in the near future to discuss our disagreements until we can come to some agreeable conclusion for the best purposes of the Kingdom of God. Despite disagreements, I and leaders of Hope of God churches in Thailand still uphold our covenant and the unity we share among Hope churches. We believe that as both sides have pledged to learn more of God’s Way and to abide by it, the Holy Spirit is able to lead us to truly understand His Way. We would like to extend an open invitation for you to fellowship and discuss unresolved matters with us at any time in the future.

Thirdly, I would like you to warn the leaders of international churches whenever they use an unbiblical approach toward leaders. Matthew 18 should be strictly practiced. Otherwise leaders will be misled to think that such practices are appropriate, and will thus undermine biblical practices that should be upheld.

Fourthly, I would like you to be mindful of the difficult situation that has occurred among Hope churches in Thailand and thus cooperate with us in resolving them. As I have learned of the intention of some ex Hope of God churches or groups of members in Thailand to seek covering from RMCs of international churches (due to their misled belief that they share the same position as you), so I would like you to abstain from taking any of these groups to be under your covering because from our point of view, it is not so that you share the same position as they hold. Issues relating to these ex Hope churches or groups of ex Hope members in Thailand are somewhat complicated and their procedures in resolving disagreements are not biblical. Besides, some groups have attacked the leadership also. As we still love them and have grave concerns for them, we hope that God will give us good opportunities to talk to them until they are restored to biblical principles in building the Church of Christ. We are willing to explain to you more on this if you so desire.
We would like to reiterate our goodwill toward you despite our disagreements. I hope to be able to fellowship with you and discuss further on several issues at stake in the near future.

Yours in Him,

Pitsanunart Sritawong and the leadership team of Hope of God churches in Thailand

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

To all Hope pastors,

This is what will happen to you when you start to question the leadership: Your original concerns will be ignored, but they will start isolating you from people you are responsibile for. They will ask to meet with your church to "discuss" the issue, but in fact will be looking for anyone who wants to follow them and split your church. Once the issue comes to a head, the blame will be entirely laid upon you. The leadership will not acknowledge any responsibility for wrongdoing at all. (Notice how PN did not address the core issues, but instead laid the blame on those who are "divisive".) This has happened again and again.

Once you know you disagree, you need to make a decision. Don't try to convince the leadership of their error ... and definitely don't ask them to publicly repent!

The lesson is that the local church should be autonomous. Authority cannot be separated from relationship.

Anonymous said...

That is exactly what happened in Seattle... isolate you and try to convice others to abandon you... better to be united regardless of the situation. God blesses unity...

If anyone is reading this, also be aware that if the Hope leaders can't convince you to follow them, they will go through your spouse and try to get them on their side.

Thank God that these things are now finally being revealed.

Ex-Member in Seattle.

Anonymous said...

I forgot to mention.

Washington DC
Dallas Texas
Tokyo
Los Angeles, California
Vancouver, Canada
Portland, Oregon

These are all churches that were under the leadership in Seattle. PN and Somtop came to Seattle during a big meeting and convinced the others to stay with Hope.

The Pastors in Washington DC moved back to Seattle and remain here till this day. As far as I can tell, DC evaporated as well as Portland, Oregon.

Later, Arizona joined with Seattle and remains with us today.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the update. Now we get a better picture

Anonymous said...

1. We need to learn to avoid spiritual abuse, the abusers of God's given authority.

2. We must not believe that the day of the pharisees is over. False teachers, we have plenty today in modern churches. For it is written,

2 Cor 11:14-15

And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

3. To be beyond reproach one has to live a blameless, holy life. Col. 1:22-23.

Sinful ministers of God are shame to the body of Christ and must be removed from office. These are the divisive ones that cause dissensions due to their waywardness.

4. Finally, if leaders who behave as if there is no God, continue to be wayward and still think they can get away with it.

Ezekiel 34:1-6, NIV
The word of the Lord came to me: "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them."


Bible says in end times, what ever can be shaken will be shaken. So be a wise builder. Not a foolish one.

Slickdrums said...

Perhaps someone should remind PN of 1 Tim 19-20 :

"19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses. 20 Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear." (NKJV)