"Kirk would be allot more credible if he didn't associate with John MacArthur.... who is the Hank Hanegraff of the 2000's..... sewing such division with the Charismatics / Pentecostals...
Look at the Revival in Florida... and some documented 35 "raising from the Dead" around the world as a result of those attending and catching the Holy Ghost FIRE!!!!" -anonymous-
I had problems with Dr. MacArthur for awhile before I was presented with a hard-to-oppose teaching on the sufficiency of Scripture. What he said never made sense until he separated himself from just criticizing charismatics and just taught a great teaching on sufficiency. When he finished - without even talking about charisma - his teaching begged the question: if the Bible is everything we need spiritually, what do we do with "words from the Lord?" That really hit me hard. Yes, the apostles had the gift of tongues and prophecy and whatnot, but think hermaneutically for a moment. The apostles had specifically been given the Holy Spirit power. Jesus told them that they would specifically be given that (I'm speaking specifically of those who were physically spoken to by Jesus).
We were never promised these "powers." However, do we need the Holy Spirit? Oh, heavens - yes! So, what were we promised? That the peace of God that comes through knowledge which produces repentance and faith would dwell in our hearts. Does Paul talk about spiritual gifts? Yes. However, he often refers to them as the lesser gifts. I wondered why for a long time. Well, I think Holy Scripture gives us the answer in Acts 20:21, as well as many others.
What is the ONE thing that the apostles had that we don't have? Jesus Himself dwelling physically with us on earth giving us instructions. So, how did the Apostles get along? They were given the Holy Spirit to speak when they didn't have an answer. And, also to perform signs and wonders to substantiate their claims.
Now, here's the issue: what do we have that the apostles never had? The Bible!!! See, the apostles didn't have access to the written word to pull stuff out whenever they needed? All they had (as if that wasn't enough or something) was the Law (old testament). We have the entire Written Word of God with eyewitness accounts, the epistles and the words of Jesus alongside the law to help soften the heart of the unbeliever and lead them to the Cross. As Galatians 3:24 states, "The Law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ that we might be justified by faith." I believe God gave these mighty men of God words to write down because He knows exactly what he's doing.
You might call those times "a dispensation" of the Holy Spirit.
Now, what does that have to do with today's quandary? Well, for starters, guys like Todd Bentley can just go around saying, "I HAVE A WORD FROM THE LORD!" and say whatever they like and people listen. Why? Because they do not have an adequate knowledge of scripture, nor do people understand that Scripture is sufficient enough to meet our spiritual needs. When people get a Word from the Lord and claim to merit equal status with Scripture, we might as well just become Mormon Prophets who posit the same product. Their folks can just change their "holey moley" books on demand whenever their guys receive a "revelation." That's how it works. God claims He is unchangeable. And frankly, why can't people just open up the Bible and say what it already says, as opposed to claim that it's some "new" doctrine that will bring revival to the world? If their "word from the Lord" is really a Scripture, why not say, "I've been searching the Scriptures like the Bereans, and I am lead to quote" such and such Bible verse. What leads us to repentance and faith? Knowing that the cross is not just something done for us, but something done BY us (quoting from Al Mohler).
Jeff Sandberg, writer, speaker, musician
Monday, July 07, 2008
Saturday, July 05, 2008
The Shrewd Businessman
Ok, so I am listening to my favorite radio show, Way of the Master Radio, and Todd was just talking about how Kirk Cameron is hosting Praise the Lord on TBN. Now, that is just loaded with problems for the non-thinker. First, most thinking, Biblical Christians have a very low view of that particular station. Why? Low view of the sufficiency of Scripture, begging for money, lots of abhorrent (not necessarily heretical) teaching, among other things. However, I consider Kirk's hosting PTL a wonderful thing. What??!?!?! Why? Isn't PTL and TBN an abhorrent station?
Well, as I'm thinking about Kirk, a thought came to my mind - Kirk is a great example of the shrewd businessman. Kirk is a biblical Christian. I've thought about associations with people I don't agree with, and I'm just ashamed of myself. Kirk is, I believe, using his ability to "be at peace with all men, as far as it is possible" with him to get national recognition for preaching the TRUE, BIBLICAL gospel. I'm just ashamed. I'm so thankful that Kirk is using his amicable abilities to get on TBN. He's going to use his "soundly saved" life to preach to MANY people who still hold TBN high on the spirituality scale.
What does this mean for me? Well, how about I need to be in the Bible to become more godly, which will then allow me to have friendships with LOTS of different people, which will then allow me to use those friendships in a godly way to influence people inside of those relationships. In my view, Kirk is doing that with Paul Crouch. I don't always agree with his theology, but Kirk will remain friends with Paul Crouch in order to influence, Biblically speaking, those who flip through the channels looking for something "to fill the hole in their heart."
That's my view.
Well, as I'm thinking about Kirk, a thought came to my mind - Kirk is a great example of the shrewd businessman. Kirk is a biblical Christian. I've thought about associations with people I don't agree with, and I'm just ashamed of myself. Kirk is, I believe, using his ability to "be at peace with all men, as far as it is possible" with him to get national recognition for preaching the TRUE, BIBLICAL gospel. I'm just ashamed. I'm so thankful that Kirk is using his amicable abilities to get on TBN. He's going to use his "soundly saved" life to preach to MANY people who still hold TBN high on the spirituality scale.
What does this mean for me? Well, how about I need to be in the Bible to become more godly, which will then allow me to have friendships with LOTS of different people, which will then allow me to use those friendships in a godly way to influence people inside of those relationships. In my view, Kirk is doing that with Paul Crouch. I don't always agree with his theology, but Kirk will remain friends with Paul Crouch in order to influence, Biblically speaking, those who flip through the channels looking for something "to fill the hole in their heart."
That's my view.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
A "Purpose Driven" Plea to Pastors
Ok, so I changed the title a bit from the original...but wow...Todd says it straight. Is he right? What do you think?
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A Purpose Plea to Pastors
By Todd Friel
Would you let a surgeon operate on you or your family if he didn’t know the procedure perfectly? Of course not. How much more accurate should a pastor be with the Gospel that is the power unto salvation?
If you are responsible for introducing the Purpose Driven Life to your church or small group, please consider the following verses. “I (Paul) have laid the foundations like an expert builder. Now others (you) are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful.” I Cor.3:10.
How careful have you been in endorsing the Purpose Driven Life? Did you study it with a critical eye? Did you know the theology and history of Rick Warren before you fed Purpose to your sheep? Were you “very careful?”
“There is going to come a time of testing at the judgment day to see what kind of work each builder has done. Everyone’s work will be put through the fire to see whether or not it keeps its value. If the work survives the fire, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builders themselves will be saved, but like someone escaping through a wall of flames.” (I Cor.3:13-15)
Hold it, it gets worse. Paul tells us that “God will bring ruin upon anyone who ruins this temple.” (v.17) Uh oh.
For 57 pages, Pastor Warren does not describe sin, righteousness, judgment, God’s holiness, hell, repentance, shedding of blood, atonement or resurrection. Yet on page 58 of PDL, Pastor Warren invites the reader to become a Christian by “whispering the prayer that will change your eternity.” This prayer better be surgically accurate or we have a pastor who is guilty of malpractice (pardon the mixed metaphor). So what is the prayer that will save?
“’Jesus, I believe in you and I receive you.’ Go ahead. If you sincerely meant that prayer, congratulations! Welcome to the family of God.”
If you believe that James 4:9,10 describes the conversion experience of godly sorrow that leads to repentance, then you recognize that Pastor Warren’s presentation of salvation is, and I state this very carefully, not Biblical.
Friend, we can argue about many things in Christianity, but salvation is one message we must have complete accuracy and agreement on. Paul warned that any other Gospel is no Gospel at all. “Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including myself, who preaches any other message than the one we told you about. Even if an angel comes from heaven and preaches any other message, let him forever be accursed.” Gal.1:8
We cannot say, “Well, he sort of presents the Gospel.” Jesus shed His blood for this Gospel, we must get it right. Eternity is at stake.
“Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.’” (Mark 1:14,15) “Repent and trust” is the Biblical response to the Gospel, not whispering a prayer. God commands all men everywhere to repent.
Imagine your spouse committed adultery against you and returned to you and said, “Honey, I believe in you and I receive you.” Would that be acceptable to you? Why would we think that is acceptable to God? It isn’t. That is a false Gospel. That is a damning Gospel.
Luther, Calvin, Moody and Tozer all preached repentance and trust. Charles Spurgeon proclaimed, “While the gospel is a command, it is a two-fold command explaining itself. "Repent ye, and believe the gospel.’"
If you believe that is the only saving Gospel, then you stand at odds with PDL.
While we could discuss the Pastor Warren’s faulty forty day premise, man-centered theology, rampant mis-use of Scripture, using a dozen liberal translations and his questionable connections and endorsement by Robert Schuller, his salvation message alone should disqualify Purpose from being promoted in evangelical circles.
Please, you are the shepherd of your flock. Your sheep are being fed another Gospel. You will be judged for this. All I ask is that you consider what I am saying and check it with Scripture. This is your duty.
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A Purpose Plea to Pastors
By Todd Friel
Would you let a surgeon operate on you or your family if he didn’t know the procedure perfectly? Of course not. How much more accurate should a pastor be with the Gospel that is the power unto salvation?
If you are responsible for introducing the Purpose Driven Life to your church or small group, please consider the following verses. “I (Paul) have laid the foundations like an expert builder. Now others (you) are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful.” I Cor.3:10.
How careful have you been in endorsing the Purpose Driven Life? Did you study it with a critical eye? Did you know the theology and history of Rick Warren before you fed Purpose to your sheep? Were you “very careful?”
“There is going to come a time of testing at the judgment day to see what kind of work each builder has done. Everyone’s work will be put through the fire to see whether or not it keeps its value. If the work survives the fire, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builders themselves will be saved, but like someone escaping through a wall of flames.” (I Cor.3:13-15)
Hold it, it gets worse. Paul tells us that “God will bring ruin upon anyone who ruins this temple.” (v.17) Uh oh.
For 57 pages, Pastor Warren does not describe sin, righteousness, judgment, God’s holiness, hell, repentance, shedding of blood, atonement or resurrection. Yet on page 58 of PDL, Pastor Warren invites the reader to become a Christian by “whispering the prayer that will change your eternity.” This prayer better be surgically accurate or we have a pastor who is guilty of malpractice (pardon the mixed metaphor). So what is the prayer that will save?
“’Jesus, I believe in you and I receive you.’ Go ahead. If you sincerely meant that prayer, congratulations! Welcome to the family of God.”
If you believe that James 4:9,10 describes the conversion experience of godly sorrow that leads to repentance, then you recognize that Pastor Warren’s presentation of salvation is, and I state this very carefully, not Biblical.
Friend, we can argue about many things in Christianity, but salvation is one message we must have complete accuracy and agreement on. Paul warned that any other Gospel is no Gospel at all. “Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including myself, who preaches any other message than the one we told you about. Even if an angel comes from heaven and preaches any other message, let him forever be accursed.” Gal.1:8
We cannot say, “Well, he sort of presents the Gospel.” Jesus shed His blood for this Gospel, we must get it right. Eternity is at stake.
“Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.’” (Mark 1:14,15) “Repent and trust” is the Biblical response to the Gospel, not whispering a prayer. God commands all men everywhere to repent.
Imagine your spouse committed adultery against you and returned to you and said, “Honey, I believe in you and I receive you.” Would that be acceptable to you? Why would we think that is acceptable to God? It isn’t. That is a false Gospel. That is a damning Gospel.
Luther, Calvin, Moody and Tozer all preached repentance and trust. Charles Spurgeon proclaimed, “While the gospel is a command, it is a two-fold command explaining itself. "Repent ye, and believe the gospel.’"
If you believe that is the only saving Gospel, then you stand at odds with PDL.
While we could discuss the Pastor Warren’s faulty forty day premise, man-centered theology, rampant mis-use of Scripture, using a dozen liberal translations and his questionable connections and endorsement by Robert Schuller, his salvation message alone should disqualify Purpose from being promoted in evangelical circles.
Please, you are the shepherd of your flock. Your sheep are being fed another Gospel. You will be judged for this. All I ask is that you consider what I am saying and check it with Scripture. This is your duty.
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