Seeking clarity in an age of deception

My top priority for NOQ Report is that it focuses only on the truth. Facts are facts, opinions are opinions, but nothing discourages me more than when we post something in a supportive manner that turns out to be false. For example, we were supportive of the Johnny Bobbitt scam before the world learned it was a scam. He is the homeless veteran working with the couple from New Jersey who used a GoFundMe page to support a false story.
A post yesterday has stirred up much contention from the John MacArthur camp. We are getting threats, being accused of horrible things, and being attacked as an organization for this well-researched article. Unless it’s proven that the accusations our writer and Charles Evers have made against Pastor MacArthur are false, we stand by the reporting.
But I’m not here to whine about threats. Over the years, I’ve become quite accustomed to people getting upset with me or one of our writers. The thing that’s discouraging about all this is the way many of these attacks are being framed. It’s as if pursuit of the truth is being superseded by personal grudges against people in a battle that has apparently been going on for a while. Now that we’re in the middle of it, I am compelled to learn more about what’s been happening and how it influences the people in their understanding and appreciation of a Biblical worldview.
As noted earlier, my top priority for NOQ report is the truth, but my top priority as a man is to serve my Lord and Savior. Therefore, I’d love to talk to those who are involved in this apparent battle. As most believers are aware, there are false teachers working through a self-serving interpretation of the Gospel. Then, there are those who profess to fight for the truth who are knowingly or unwittingly being driven down a bad path. Both of these groups of people are leading others astray.
Once the dust settles from this, I will begin my own investigation into the people involved on both sides. I have listened to a handful of MacArthur sermons over the years and found much of it beneficial. I disagree with certain attempts at exegesis, but it’s nearly impossible for any two people interpreting Scripture to always agree.
I’d never heard of Brannon Howse before all of this and at this point I haven’t even confirmed that he was the person who did the interview with Charles Evers. I’ll research him and his organization, Worldview Weekend, to see where they stand on the truth as well.
The author, Paige Rogers, has my full support. She handled her research independently and the end result is something I proudly published here.
It’s times like these that I’m so grateful to be living today. We’re in a wonderful part of history, one that offers the thrills of reaching the masses with the right message while also being surrounded by the spirit of antichrist that is at work in the world today. It’s not uncommon for there to be disagreements between faithful groups in these contentious times. My hope is that through research and discussion, I can determine if there’s a need to “pick a side” on these issues. Perhaps both sides are right. Maybe they’re both wrong. It might even be one big misunderstanding between the groups that simply needs clarity and a kind hand in order to bring them together.
For all I know, there are other groups involved of which I’m unaware. I know it sounds inadequate to not know these things, but I am hopeful that through prayer and discernment I’ll be taken down the right path. With that said, I call on anyone involved on either side to reach out to me. I’ll be doing my own research as well, but context through personal interaction is always preferred.
The world is growing increasingly hostile to believers and practitioners of a Biblical worldview. It’s important to know when there’s contention between believers, someone needs to step up and cut through to the truth of the matter. We’ll try to do just that.