The Mailbag: Potpourri (Answering a discernment objection… - by Michelle Lesley

Found here. Our comments in bold.
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Michelle Lesley gets pretty nasty here. Her hostile responses to this man's statement seems to indicate that she doesn't like to be disagreed with. She disproportionately mocks, denigrates, and disrespects the man for no other reason than he finds a particular Bible teacher to be of benefit.  

Arrogant, condescending, and boorish. Not great qualities for a self-professed Bible teacher to possess.

Now, we do not intend to defend Tara Leigh Cobble. We've never heard her speak. We are here to examine Ms. Lesley's presentation. 

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Welcome to another “potpourri” edition of The Mailbag, where I give short(er, kinda? sometimes?) answers to several questions rather than a long answer to one question.

I like to take the opportunity in these potpourri editions to let new readers know about my comments/e-mail/messages policy. I’m not able to respond individually to most e-mails and messages, so here are some helpful hints for getting your questions answered more quickly. Remember, the search bar (at the very bottom of each page) can be a helpful tool!

Or maybe I answered your question already? Check out my article The Mailbag: Top 10 FAQs to see if your question has been answered and to get some helpful resources.

The other day, a man left this comment on my Facebook page on a 2022 post* in which I shared my article about Tara Leigh Cobble / The Bible Recap / D-Group (henceforth, “TLC”). I wanted to share my response to him with you (below, slightly edited) to provide an example of how to think biblically and critically, as well as respond biblically to one unbiblical claim professing Christians often make about false teachers.

A doctrine that’s crucial to keep front of mind in situations like this is the doctrine of the authority of Scripture. When we’re presented with a choice of believing rightly handled (2 Timothy 2:15), in context Scripture or believing a fallen, sinful human being’s personal testimony, beliefs, opinions, etc., which conflict with Scripture, we are commanded and obligated to believe Scripture over that person’s testimony.

(*Why do people dig up Facebook posts from years ago to comment on? I’m baffled.)

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You are sadly mistaken! She has completely changed my bible study for the better by making the scriptures speak to me. She and her ministry are truly blessed by God!!

I’m afraid all your comment has accomplished is to prove that everything I said in the article is true.

You’re a man who apparently doesn’t know that God doesn’t want women teaching the Bible to men in the gathering of the Body. (The man never mentioned anything about the gathering of the Body. 

But more to the point, the link takes us to 1 Timothy, from where Ms. Lesley gets her doctrine:

1 Tim. 2:12 But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.

We deal with this verse in some detail here, but suffice to say, this verse does not mention "the gathering of the Body," and does not tell us about women not teaching men, it says "a woman" and "a man."

But notice also the snotty, superior tone as Ms. Lesley ironically teaches this man. This will persist throughout the entire article.) 

If TLC is such a great Bible teacher, how come she’s never taught you that? (Snotty. Apparently a teacher needs to repeatedly cover every doctrine Ms. Lesley considers important. 

We examine the linked article here.)

Maybe because she’s too busy rebelling against that part of God’s Word? (Snotty.)

False teachers cannot make anyone’s Bible study better. (Ms. Lesley links to two verses:

2 Timothy 3:13 But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

Romans 16:17-18 Now I urge you, brothers, to keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and stumblings contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. 18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own [a]stomach, and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

Ms. Lesley can't be bothered to actually quote these verses. She probably avoids doing so because they don't tell us what she just said. Neither mentions false teachers. In fact, Ms. Lesley hasn't even bothered to demonstrate that Tara Leigh Cobble is a false teacher. She may be, but we don't know that aside from Ms. Lesley's hyperbolic claims.)

If TLC is such a great Bible teacher, how come she’s never taught you that? (Snotty.)

(See #3 here.) (This is a link to another of Ms. Lesley's articles, where she claims:  

Second Timothy 3:7 clearly says that those who follow false teachers are “never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.”

In actual fact, the verse refers to the evil people who are "never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth,” not that their followers are "never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.” Let's quote it:

2Ti. 3:6-7 They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.

The interlinear Greek is much more simple than that NIV translation: 

out of this sort indeed are those who entering into households and leading captive weak women burdened with sins being led away by passions

Every descriptor is about the evil people. Starting back in verse two, Paul described "people" who will be evil in a multitude of ways [vs 2-5], "they" [these evil people] deceive weak women, they [these evil people] are loaded down with sins, they [these evil people] are always learning but never able to come to the truth, they [these evil people] are men of depraved minds.

Ms. Lesley gets it wrong. Does this make her a false teacher?)

No human being can “make the Scriptures speak to” anyone. (Ms. Lesley is reduced to picking nits. Her interlocuter used a colloquial expression and Ms. Lesley jumps all over it as if he was conferring superhuman status to Tara Leigh Cobble.

This is just dumb.)

Only the indwelling Holy Spirit does that, and only for genuinely regenerate Believers. It’s called illumination. (Her interlocuter did not deny the Holy Spirit, he simply complimented Tara Leigh Cobble. Does a compliment upstage the Holy Spirit?

Again, this is just dumb.)

I’m sure you didn’t mean to, but by attributing the role and the work of the Holy Spirit to a human being, you’ve been unintentionally blasphemous. (No, he was not. Apparently there are things one is allowed to say about a preacher, and any deviation is blasphemy. Ms. Lesley has sole access to this secret list, the rules of which she will brandish at any perceived deviation from approved language. 

So, we would wonder about these statements:

• "That was a great sermon, pastor Gary." Approved or not?
• "I liked your point about that verse." Approved or not?
• "I finally understand that verse. You really opened it up for me." Approved or not?
• "That was a truly inspired explanation, pastor." Approved or not?
• "I have never heard a better teaching, reverend." Approved or not?
• "Pastor John is one of the best Bible teachers in the world." Approved or not?

Not content to be part of the "Doctrinal Police," Ms. Lesley is happy to be the speech police as well.)

If TLC is such a great Bible teacher, how come she’s never taught you all of that? (Snotty.)

God does not “bless” false teachers and their ministries. (Ms. Lesley has yet to demonstrate that this woman is a false teacher.)

False teachers and their ministries are God’s judgment on those who follow them. If TLC is such a great Bible teacher, how come she’s never taught you that? (Snotty.)

If TLC is such a great Bible teacher, how come your comment has no Scripture in it whatsoever? (Irony Alert. Up to this point Ms. Lesley has quoted no Scripture, even though she has had hundreds of words of opportunity to do so.)

All I see is your feelings about her and your personal, subjective opinion about her. (Irony Alert. Ms. Lesley has done nothing but express her opinion about Tara Leigh Cobble as well. She has never quoted her, never documented her opinion about her, and has quoted no Scripture regarding anything about her teaching.)

If you’re a Christian, your authority for life and the practice of Christianity is Scripture, not your feelings and opinions. (Her interlocuter said absolutely nothing about his feelings or where his authority lies.)

That’s called the doctrine of the authority of Scripture. If TLC is such a great Bible teacher, she would have taught you how to defend her with rightly handled, in context Scripture. (Snotty. 

It seems Ms. Lesley hasn't been taught in how to refute false teachers by "rightly handled, in context Scripture.")

You’re judging me unbiblically, (Right on cue, Ms. Lesley hides behind a persecution complex. However, the only thing her interlocuter wrote about her was "You are sadly mistaken!" Apparently his egregious error was to simply disagree, and that was enough for Ms. Lesley to go on a personal attack, accusing him of judging her.

This is just dumb.)

because you’re judging my warnings about TLC by your feelings and opinions instead of judging them by rightly handled, in context Scripture. (Her interlocuter is neither judging her nor judging her warnings. He simply disagreed with her. 

By the way, which is it, is Ms. Lesley being judged, or are her warnings being judged?)

 If TLC is such a great Bible teacher, how come she’s never taught you the difference between biblical and unbiblical judgment and how to judge biblically? (Snotty.)

A minor point, but how come TLC has never taught you that the words “Bible” and “Scripture” are capitalized? (Nit picky.)

In Matthew 7:15-27, Jesus teaches us about the fruit false teachers bear. (Why not quote it?)

Not just the fruit of their personal character and practices (such as teaching men and yoking with false teachers) but also the fruit of their ministries.

As someone who follows, receives teaching from, and defends TLC, you are the fruit of her ministry. And, as I’ve outlined above, that fruit is ignorance of, misunderstanding of, and disobedience to Scripture. (Really snotty.)

That is bad fruit (you) from a bad tree (TLC), once again proving that Scripture is true and everything I’ve said in the article is true. (Ms. Lesley takes a victory lap.)

TLC isn’t the great Bible teacher you’ve been deceived into thinking she is. Get out now while you still can.

For further reading: Answering the Opposition- Responses to the Most Frequently Raised Discernment Objections