As Long as we Tolerate Phonies…

July 27, 2008 Christian Life, Theology

…like Kenneth Copeland, we will deserve the derision we receive.

4 comments

4 comments

  1. Pilgrim says:
    July 27, 2008 at 13:46

    amen and amen.

    Sorry I you missed me today at The Point. After the 20 hour day friday and going back in at 9am Saturday I was wiped out. Slept till 1130 this morning.

    Reply
  2. Rev. Russ Westbrook says:
    July 27, 2008 at 16:17

    One has to extrapolate who the “we” is in your comment. If “we” means “Evangelicals”, then yes; your comment is right on target. But then, thanks to the influence of the Billy Graham crusades and other “open” approaches to ministry where we link arms with anyone who wants to come on board, we’ve come to the point where we tolerate ANYTHING “in our ranks”. The Evangelical Church (i.e.- that which is SUPPOSED to be the actual Visible Church) is no longer definable.

    I don’t wear the “Evangelical” title anymore. Believing in a religion which begins (speaking practically) with the accceptance of the inerrancy of Scripture, I’m Reformed and I’m Orthodox.

    Reply
  3. Amir says:
    July 27, 2008 at 16:39

    Russ: bastards like Copeland are far more insidious than our favorite former SBTS theology professors. I say that because whereas Molly and Frank espouse terrible theology, their scope of influence is relatively small.

    I’d bet money that I can go to Highview Baptist and ask 100 random members about Molly or Frank, and few of them would have a clue who I am talking about.

    Copeland, Dollar, Osteen, et al, on the other hand, have international reach. Their theology is fraudulent, and their “ministries” are lucrative financial scams.

    Worse, they appeal to folks who might otherwise identify as conservative.

    By “we”, I mean the larger Body. Where the heck is CT on these guys? Where the heck is Mohler? Where is the outrage from the evangelical–and even Reform/Orthodox–leaders? Outside of Hannegraf, I don’t see too much static going on.

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  4. Rev. Russ Westbrook says:
    July 27, 2008 at 17:44

    Eh; heresy is heresy. To be lead by any of the above is to walk the path to Hell; why quibble over the tour guide you’re with?

    My point is that the church that wants to wear the “Visible Church” badge can’t spot phonies of ANY stripe- and when they do, they don’t have the love and compassion needed to rebuke the sin in the camp and get rid of it. Evangelicals have become a loveless people- permitting wolves to ravage whomever they will, in the name of “niceness”.

    I pray to God I’m never known for my “niceness”. Love demands firmness these days………..

    For the record, BTW: my post above is not intended to implicate Rev. Graham as a heretic. I doubt he was aware at the time of what a compromise it would be to allow the unsaved to “minister” at his crusades. But it has wounded his own firm convictions, the church at large, and the whole gospel witness in the world today; and that was a terrible price to pay.

    Reply

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