October 10, 2008
Click the post title to be taken to the source.
Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. (Psalm 119:89, ESV)
The fact is that today the evangelical community is in growing rebellion against Sola Scriptura in favor of subjective experience in Contemplative Spirituality/Mysticism masquerading as Spiritual Formation. And one of the tragic results is there are many following man-pleasing men like double-minded Purpose Driven pope Rick Warren and quasi-Christian rabbi Rob Bell along the broad road of the pragmatic Purpose Driven Church and the postliberal cult the Emergent Church who often accuse those of us Christians who insist we must only preach the Gospel the way the Bible teaches us as being guilty of “Bibliolatry.”
You should know that by this slur they mean that we supposedly worship the Book of God instead of the God of the Book. But years ago Dr. Walter Martin (1928-1989) put it very well when he said, “No one has a right to call themselves a Christian and not have the same view of Holy Scripture that the Master Himself did.” And Jesus was quite clear when He said — “If anyone loves Me, he will obey My teaching. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me will not obey My teaching. These words you hear are not My Own; they belong to the Father Who sent Me” (John 14:23-24).
And interestingly enough you are about to see in the teaching below from Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892), which is called Scoff Not At The Book, that the cries of Bibliolatry by these new hipster sinner sensitive emerging Christ-followers…well, look at that; it turns out this accusation is not really so new after all:
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. (Matthew 5:17-18, KJV)
Let me call your attention to the fact that when Jesus had risen from the dead, He was just as tender of Scripture as He was before His decease. He told them that “all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the Law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Me. Then He opened their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and this it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead” (Luke 24:44-46, KJV).
Find Jesus where you may, He is the antagonist of those who would lessen the authority of Holy Scripture. “It is written” is His weapon against Satan, His argument against wicked men. The learned of this hour scoff at the Book and accuse of Bibliolatry those of us who reverence the Divine Word; but in this they derive no assistance from the teaching or example of Jesus.
Not a word derogatory of Scripture ever fell from the lips of Jesus Christ; but evermore He manifested the most reverent regard for every jot and tittle of the inspired Volume. Since our Savior, not only before His death, but after it, took care to commend the Scriptures to us, let us avoid with all our hearts all teaching in which Holy Scripture is put into the background. (At the Master’s Feet, January 30)
October 10, 2008
Click the post title to be taken to the source.
October 10, 2008
Click the post title to be taken to the source.
If you can bear through these first two videos of what are basically karaoke sessions, the last video should make that much more sense to you. They are great examples of what is critiqued in the last video.
This is the New Spring “Church Worship Band”.:
This is a Granger Community “Church” production:
Now, that you’ve seen those, watch this commentary. Try to find how many of the points in the following video are referenced in the first two. (Note: The critique video was made over a year ago. The first video was put up June 9 of this year, and the second was put up on May 5 of this year so Doug Eaton hadn’t seen these videos directly before making this critique. It’s amazing how spot on he is about the trends featured in the first two, though. It just goes to show how original all these “original” Purpose Driven people are.)
Here, again, is Doug Eaton sounding off on the top ten ways for “worship leaders” to hinder Jesus Christ’s Church.
ShareThis
October 10, 2008
Click the post title to be taken to the source.
99 Balloons
End of post.
October 10, 2008
Click the post title to be taken to the source.
Bennet Tyler and Andrew Bonar
The author, Bennet Tyler, was a pastor for many years in South Britain, Connecticut, where he knew Asahel Nettleton (1783-1844) intimately. He eventually became the president of Dartmouth College. He is famous for his polemics against the liberal Nathaniel Taylor and the New Haven theology, a view which countered the Edwardsian and Augustinian view of depravity. This became known as the “Tyler-Taylor controversy” The end result was the constituting of a new seminary, first called the Theological Institute of Connecticut and later Hartford Theological Seminary, where he served as president until his death. Asahel Nettleton was also instrumental in beginning this new institution.1
Andrew Bonar (1810-1892) was a Scottish minister who “remodeled in some parts” this work. He is known for his association with the revival movement in Scotland and his association with the well-known Robert Murray McCheyne, whose memoirs he wrote.2
According to the author, Asahel Nettleton was instrumental in the conversion of 30,000 souls. What evangelistic leader would not want to know about such a man? Nettleton first received his religious impressions at age eighteen in North Killingworth, Connecticut. His agonizing bout with conviction lasted ten months. He was converted in the midst of revival. In fact, the then new publication called the “Connecticut Evangelical Magazine” recorded his conversion as part of its revival intelligence.
Though an average student, he maintained a good relationship at Yale with President Timothy Dwight, grandson of Jonathan Edwards, who gave him warm approbation. Nettleton read nearly all of Edwards’s works while in school, and those of his two most famous students, Bellamy and Hopkins.
Though his missionary intentions were thwarted due to debt, he eventually paid off that debt, and, through the providence of God, began itinerant work. He had studied the ill effects of James Davenport, gathering as much information as possible. Davenport had itinerated during the Great Awakening in the mid-1700s and had caused much turmoil with his caustic manner. The result was that the influence of several pastors was marginalized, some churches split, and general confusion prevailed.
Nettleton, much the wiser for this knowledge, was diligent to avoid such sophomoric behavior. He never came uninvited into another’s parish, and sought to build up the pastors, submitting entirely to their authority over their churches. The end product was revival and recovery of trust in the very “waste places” which had been created by Davenport’s wake half a century earlier.
Nettleton was a man of poor health, perhaps suffering from a recurring form of malarial fever. However, his preaching had a powerful effect. A Dr. Humphrey of the “Religious Intelligencer” described one message as “one continued flash of conviction”3.
(click here to read this post)
October 10, 2008
Click the post title to be taken to the source.
Recently Louis Farrakhan, head of the quasi-Muslim group Nation of Islam “declared Barack Obama to be a messiah.” Interesting times. And a reader informs us that they heard an ad today on a well-listened to station in Sacramento announcing that the messiah awaited by the world’s religions was coming. Apprising Ministries has more detail.
October 10, 2008
Click the post title to be taken to the source.
Recently Louis Farrakhan, head of the quasi-Muslim group Nation of Islam “declared Barack Obama to be a messiah.” Interesting times. And a reader informs us that they heard an ad today on a well-listened to station in Sacramento announcing that the messiah awaited by the world’s religions was coming. Apprising Ministries has more detail.
ShareThis
October 10, 2008
Click the post title to be taken to the source.
And after [Jesus] had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into Heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into Heaven.” (Acts 1:9-11, NASB)
Ah, That’s Just What The Bible Says
It seems that with each passing day the time in which we live grows more interesting. Recently Louis Farrakhan, head of the quasi-Muslim group Nation of Islam “declared Barack Obama to be a messiah” (Online source). We need to remember there will be no shortage of false messiahs (Greek: Christ). A reader just informed us that they heard an ad today on KFBK, which is a well-listened to station in Sacramento, announcing that the messiah awaited by the world’s religions was coming. It ran complete with a phone number and even a website:
Many now expect the return of their awaited Teacher, whether they call him the Christ, Messiah, the fifth Buddha, Krishna, or the Imam Mahdi. Millions now know that the Teacher who fulfills all these expectations is already living among us… [He] has not come alone, but with a group of wise Teachers who have long guided humanity from behind the scenes. They are returning to the everyday world to help us solve our most critical global problems. Maitreya is not a religious leader, but an educator in the broadest sense. He is here to inspire us to create a new era based on sharing and justice, so that all may have the basic necessities of life: food, shelter, health care, and education. (Online source)
Yes, it does sound like Rick Warren, but it isn’t. And no, it’s not Rob Bell either. Turns out it’s “Maitreya, the World Teacher, [and h]is open mission in the world is about to begin. As Maitreya himself has said: ‘Soon, now very soon, you will see my face and hear my words.’” For more information on Maitreya Apprising Ministries suggests:
The Christ Has Presented His Credentials to the Media, New Age Organization Says
The Emergence of Lord Maitreya, The World Teacher
“Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not”
(Matthew 24:23-26, KJV).
October 10, 2008
Click the post title to be taken to the source.
Here is my friend, Doug Eaton (deaton29), sounding off on the top ten ways for youth leaders to hinder Jesus Christ’s Church.
Doug’s Youtube Channel:
http://www.youtube.com/deaton29
Author: LaneCh
Keywords: perry noble gary lamb mark beeson tim stevens newspring church granger community deaton29
Added: October 10, 2008
October 10, 2008
Click the post title to be taken to the source.
The photos from around the world today are being posted at news sites. From Berlin to Tokyo to Kuala Lumpur and New York, there was fear as the financial markets collapsed. Aren’t you glad that having our treasure in heaven is more than a cliche? Here is William Schlueter singing an old hymn written in the 17th Century. Many economic crashes and panics have occurred since that hymn was first published, but its message is as relevant as the day it was written. God has never changed, and our riches that we have in Christ can never be taken away.
ShareThis
October 10, 2008
Click the post title to be taken to the source.
The photos from around the world today are being posted at news sites. From Berlin to Tokyo to Kuala Lumpur and New York, there was fear as the financial markets collapsed. Aren’t you glad that having our treasure in heaven is more than a cliche? Here is William Schlueter singing an old hymn written in the 17th Century. Many economic crashes and panics have occurred since that hymn was first published, but its message is as relevant as the day it was written. God has never changed, and our riches that we have in Christ can never be taken away.
ShareThis
October 10, 2008
Click the post title to be taken to the source.
The photos from around the world today are being posted at news sites. From Berlin to Tokyo to Kuala Lumpur and New York, there was fear as the financial markets collapsed. Aren’t you glad that having our treasure in heaven is more than a cliche? Here is William Schlueter singing an old hymn written in the 17th Century. Many economic crashes and panics have occurred since that hymn was first published, but its message is as relevant as the day it was written. God has never changed, and our riches that we have in Christ can never be taken away.
ShareThis
October 10, 2008
Click the post title to be taken to the source.
My friend, Doug Eaton, weighs in on what may be the most misquoted, misunderstood verse in all of Scripture (Matt. 7:1 – “Judge not lest ye be judged…”)
For more of Doug’s videos, go here, and subscribe if you like.
ShareThis
October 10, 2008
Click the post title to be taken to the source.
In light of recent events on Wall St., it’s good to be reminded that our real treasure is not on this earth. Here is my little brother William singing an old hymn from the 17th century, “What Is the World To Me.” Think about the lyrics and ask yourself if it is true of you.
What Is the World to Me
By: Georg M. Pfefferkorn
What is the world to me
With all its vaunted pleasure
When you, and you alone,
Lord Jesus, are my treasure!
You only, dearest Lord,
My soul’s delight shall be;
You are my peace, my rest
What is the world to me!
The world seeks to be praised
And honored by the mighty
Yet never once reflects
That they are frail and flighty.
But what I truly prize
Above all things is he,
My Jesus, he alone.
What is the world to me!
The world seek after wealth
And all that mammon offers
Yet never is content
Though gold should fill its coffers.
I have a higher good,
Content with it I’ll be:
My Jesus is my wealth.
What is the world to me!
What is the world to me!
My Jesus is my treasure,
My life, my health, my wealth,
My friend, my love, my pleasure,
My joy, my crown, my all,
My bliss eternally.
Once more, then, I declare:
What is the world to me!
Notes:
Hymn # 418 from Lutheran Worship
Author: Ahasverus Fritsch
Tune: Was Frag Ich Nach Der Welt
1st Published in: 1671
October 10, 2008
Click the post title to be taken to the source.
Apprising Ministries with a look at the main problem of the mystic musings of Brennan Manning. As you’ll see in this latest missive “Ragamuffin Spirituality” would be more aptly named Raggity Theology.
October 10, 2008
Click the post title to be taken to the source.
Over at the comments section on my blog post linking to my friend Mike Ratliff’s post on there being only two religions in the World, a guy who calls himself Antithesis has attempted to promote the view of the imperfection of language to convey truth perfectly, in service to his neo-orthodox anthopo-theo-logy. Of course, the fact that he uses language to convey his point of view, and assume that his propositions are able to convey his thoughts perfectly, makes his position utterly self-defeating.
For if language is not perfectly able to convey the truth, then how much imperfection may there be in propositions made by anyone? Who or what determines how much imperfection can exist before there is a breakdown in communication between two people such that communication is impossible? And if communication may not be possible, then why bother trying at all, since you would have no certainty that the person you are talking to would be able to understand you at all? [more]
October 10, 2008
Click the post title to be taken to the source.
Over at the comments section on my blog post linking to my friend Mike Ratliff’s post on there being only two religions in the World, a guy who calls himself Antithesis has attempted to promote the view of the imperfection of language to convey truth perfectly, in service to his neo-orthodox anthopo-theo-logy. Of course, the fact that he uses language to convey his point of view, and assume that his propositions are able to convey his thoughts perfectly, makes his position utterly self-defeating.
For if language is not perfectly able to convey the truth, then how much imperfection may there be in propositions made by anyone? Who or what determines how much imperfection can exist before there is a breakdown in communication between two people such that communication is impossible? And if communication may not be possible, then why bother trying at all, since you would have no certainty that the person you are talking to would be able to understand you at all? [more]
October 10, 2008
Click the post title to be taken to the source.
In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. (2 Peter 2:3)
Earth To Protestant Evangelicalism; Um, Have You Lost Your Mind!?
While we don’t always agree with everything espoused the great preachers of old such as an R. A. Torrey weren’t exactly “politically correct” when they would speak of preachers in the Cult of Liberal Theology as “women wearing men’s trousers.” Following will be a nauseating example of how those who practice Contemplative Spirituality/Mysticism (CSM) long enough come away with an effete man-centered love of the self (See—2 Timothy 3:2).
The sad fact is this CSM—regurgitated Roman Catholic pietism blended with corrupt Quaker mysticism straight out of the The Cult of Guru Richard Foster—is a festering boil upon the Body of Christ. Don’t think so? Well, consider O, But Baptist State Convention Of North Carolina (SBC) Wanyed You To Know… and Georgia Baptist Convention (SBC) Now Promoting the Cult of Richard Foster for examples of entire state conventions within the pretending to be Protestant Southern Baptist Convention are now busy spreading this spiritual sewage completely counter to the Reformaton.
I know I don’t have all the fancy degrees and the popular ministries of many of the leaders in the SBC (can you even have leaders with an Idol of Autonomy?) but as a high school graduate having never attended college on any level let’s see if we can help the ed-ja-ma-cated think this through using reductio ad absurdum. For a proper Christian spirituality “Protestant” Southern Baptists are today turning to Living Spiritual Teacher and Quaker mystic “Roshi” Richard Foster (and since when were Quakers evangelicals?) steeped in the mysticism of apostate Roman Catholicism—and specifically messed up mystics like Teresa of Avila and seducing spirits like Ignatius of Loyola.
Now consider that ol’ Ignatius of Loyola founded the Jesuits, which were kind of a spiritual Gestapo of the Counter Reformation; in other words they were against it, k. As was Teresa of Avila and her duped disciple John of the Cross who are heretical heroes to “Brother” Foster. O, by the way, have you ever looked into the Quaker view of the Reformation? Their founder George Fox, who tells us he had direct revelation from God, throughly repudiated Sola Scriptura. I mean c’mon, who needs Scripture when you’re “centering down” to chat with the Lord himself, eh. But I digress.
Ok, so as I asked before: If the Roman Catholic Church was deemed apostate during the Protestant Reformation, and it was; and if it hasn’t changed one iota in any of the dogma of demons deemed unBiblical by the Reformers, and it hasn’t; do you suppose it makes any sense whatsoever for Protestant evangelical Christians to now return to practices taught by apostate Roman Catholic monks and monkettes who vigorously and quite specifically opposed the very same doctrines you at least give lip service to believing?
O But Tell Us Another Bedtime Story, Please “Brother” Manning
As yet another example of the grave danger of spiritual deception for those who persist in CSM’s rebellion against the final authority of God’s Word in favor of personal, highly subjective “experience,” in Reflections for Ragamuffins (RfR) by Brennan Manning the daily devotion for May 8 is based on his lovely lament concerning Isaiah 53. O but of course, first using a methodology so often employed by the Emergent Church, he begins by taking a shot at those of us who adhere to Sola Scriptura as he whines about “how difficult it is to receive anyone who has all the answers.”
Of course what is in view here is preachers like a Charles Spurgeon or a John MacArthur who would dare preach a forceful and strong message from Word from God. Manning sees those icky-poo types as “invulnerable, needing nothing and no one…in control of every situation.” Ah, the postmodern (postliberal) postevangelical and Emerging Church method of skillfully weaving men of straw inorder that they may then tear apart with their supposedly superior erudition. You mean you really cannot yet see through the smary air of quiet arrogance—Jesus wants to save Christians—of a Rob Bell? Save them from what there Rob?
Yeah, whatever did the Church do ’til he and his postliberal pythons slithered in? But you see, over in the real world no true preacher of the Bible actually feels the way Manning muses above; in fact, often we feel quite the reverse. He has zero idea of what the Lord puts me through to “encourage” me to write thusly. Then Manning opines that these very meany-pants people he is talking about only make us “feel unnecessary, unneeded and reluctant to receive.” *sniff, sniff* This next part you really have to read for yourself to believe just how exactly backward Manning’s ear-tickling man-centered-on the self message actually is:
So Jesus comes in the way of weakness, giving us the chance to love him and making us feel that we have something to give him. Isaiah prophesied that he would be “like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers”(53:7 NAB). Jesus, who understands the human heart, allowed the image of a dumb, helpless animal to be applied to himself. (129)
This is the kind of trite pious people-pleasing pabulum that has even begun affecting mainstream evangelicalism in the Chuck Swindolls, the David Jeremiahs, and the Charles Stanleys (the SBC is fine shape) because the level of Biblical discernment today is so low. Popular evangelicals like Max Lucado and Philip Yancey long ago succumbed. Lucado writes of Manning that “he does a masterful job of blowing the dust off shop-worn theology” and Yancey says, “I consider Brennan Manning my spiritual director in the school of grace.” And SBC minister Dallas Willard, Spiritual Formation friend of the aforementioned Foster tells us that Manning “throws firebrands into your soul and makes you wonder why you are not living stripped, standing in the arctic ‘Sonshine’ of God’s love” (back cover).
O please; it becomes obvious that these men are reading the Bible and then still thinking only as men think. Yes, Jesus came to give man the chance to love Him alright but the Bible is painfully clear in that He was roundly rejected. Christ came “making us feel that we have something to give him”? And what pray tell would we give to Him “brother” Manning; filthy rags? You should have read a little further on in Isaiah — All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags (64:6). The Bible teaches very clearly that mankind was helpless on his own to do anything to please God — when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly (Romans 5:6).
The terrible truth is that we have absolutely nothing at all to give God that is even remotely worthy of His incredible gift. Here’s the issue, Manning is mangling the metphor of Isaiah 53 and taking it well beyond its intended meaning. Uh-oh; I infer that I know what this passage of Scripture means, what a faux pas because my Emergent “brothers” would tell me I can’t know for sure what Isaiah 53 means. You see, they who say to us it’s humble to admit we don’t know for sure are in turn sure that they know I’m wrong. Ah, Alice; what color is the sky in Wonderland? But as has been pointed out well elsewhere:
Metaphors are often used in Scripture to help the reader understand an abstract concept that might otherwise be lost or to emphasize a particular element. It is dangerous, if not completely off-base, to motivate a position using an element of a metaphor that is not supported or called out by the context. Jesus is the Lamb of God, like a sheep lead to the slaughter… The imagery is that of a blameless sacrifice who willingly, and without protest (see Isa. 5:5), takes upon Himself the wrath of a Just and Holy God in our place.
The context simply does not support the proposition that Jesus wants to be viewed as a “dumb, helpless animal” or did so for the purpose of giving us a “chance to love him.” Manning uses a novel and unsupported interpretation of the metaphor to develop a point he wants the reader to accept. In addition, Manning is a master at building an ambiguous straw man argument on the basis of feelings the reader might have, especially those of inadequacy. The fact that the reader can identify or relate to a particular story becomes the support for the proposition espoused. The methodology appeals to the reader’s experience rather than the truth contained in God’s Word.
Sola Scriptura; Sola Christus!
But therein lies the very grave spiritual danger in following these pied pipers of the postevangelical and Emergent Church rebellion against the authority of the Bible. These fools (look it up in the Bible) have elevated their own corrupt and fallen human reasoning above the text of the Word of God. In simpler terms, these people with their neo-Gnostic mysticism-lite are interpreting the text of Scripture by how they “feel” about it rather than going by what the text clearly says. And it’s a hallmark of the neo-orthodox approach to the Bible. Ever notice how many Emerging Church followers praise Karl Barth?
Neo-orthodoxy is the term used to identify an existentialist variety of Christianity. Because it denies the essential objective basis of truth—the absolute truth and authority of Scripture—neo-orthodoxy must be understood as pseudo-Christianity. Its heyday came in the middle of the twentieth century with the writings of Karl Barth, Emil Brunner, Paul Tillich, and Reinhold Niebaur… Familiar terms are used, but are redefined or employed in such a way that is purposely vague—not to convey objective meaning, but to communicate a subjective symbolism. After all, any “truth” theological terms convey is unique to the person who exercises faith. What the Bible means becomes unimportant, What it means to me is the relevant issue.
Whew, I’m here to tell ya it’s a good thing we don’t see any of this going on today, huh *cough* Emerging Church. Hello; it’s time to come home from Wonderland now Alice. The fact is that in his series “The Emerging Church” Dr. Gary Gilley already warned those who would listen when he pointed out:
Many of the unusual positions held by the emergent leaders stem directly from their theology of the Scriptures as well as their hermeneutical approach. First, insiders of the emerging church “conversation” are fond of expressing their excitement and fidelity to the Word of God, even as they undermine it. McLaren says, “I want to affirm that my regard for Scripture is higher than ever.” Bell tells us that for over ten years he has oriented his life around studying, reading, and trying to understand the Bible.
One would have to wonder why Bell devotes so much time to the understanding of the Bible since he apparently agrees with his wife who stated in a joint interview that she has “no idea what most of it means. And yet life is big again.” In order to press home their views, the emergent leaders must perform some interesting gymnastics with the Scriptures… Anyone still clinging tenaciously to the Word, after inspiration is denied, will further loosen his grip when he discovers that the Scriptures are not inerrant, infallible nor authoritative. McLaren said these are words related to a philosophical belief system that he used to hold.
But he no longer believes the “Bible is absolutely equivalent to the phrase ‘the Word of God’ as used in the Bible. Although I do find the term inerrancy useful… I would prefer to use the term inherency to describe my view of Scripture.” By the use of inherency he is dusting off the neo-orthodox view of the Scriptures, which taught that the Bible contains the “word of God” but is not the completed Word of God, for God’s Word can be found in anything He “inspires.” If you have any confidence left in Scripture at this point, McLaren and his friends can take care of that by telling you that you have been misreading the Bible all along. (
Online source)
In closing this for now we return to our utter impotence to please God on our own— when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly (Romans 5:6). If you are a genuine Christian the Spirit of God will rejoice within you to read those words. And conversely, this very next statement from Manning in RfR following his fantasy is so man-centered as to be blasphemous when he says that our Great God and Savior, “allowed the image of a dumb, helpless animal to be applied to himself.”
First of all, God didn’t simply “allow” the image from the foundation of the world concerning Jesus Christ the Lamb Who has been slain (Revelation 13:8); He instituted the bloody sacrifical system itself to graphically illustrate the gravity of sin and what it would then cost Him. There is one primary reason Christ Jesus of Nazareth was led like a lamb to the slaughter and that was to fulfill the glorious plan of salvation through the grace God the Father — Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when His soul makes an offering for sin (Isaiah 53:10). Well now; how about that, why there’s the vicarious penal substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ on the Cross that vipers like Brian Mclaren and his pal Doug Pagitt are so busy attacking today.
Listen, Jesus clearly tells us why He came for His — “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). And since this was recorded by the eyewitness Matthew not even Emerging theologian Scot McKnight can wiggle around it. If you have been reading this kind of sappy sentimentality through Emergent contemplatives like Brennan Manning, then today I urge you to throw away those mystic musings and intead meticulously meditate for a while on the text of Holy Scripture…you’ll be surprised by just how far away from the historic orthodox Christian faith these mystics have actually drifted through their reimagined neo-Gnostic mysticism inherent with their corrupt Contemplative Spirituality/Mysticism.
And know this; mystics like Manning most certainly are not insightful, and they absolutely are nothing new. In the end it is just as Dr. B.B. Warfield (1851-1921) once wrote in his “Mysticism and Christianity” piece:
This Christian mysticism, now, obviously differs in no essential respect from the parallel phenomena which are observable in other religions. It is only general mysticism manifesting itself on Christian ground and interpreting itself accordingly in the forms of Christian thought. It is mysticism which has learned to speak in Christian language. The phenomena themselves are universal. There has never been an age of the world, or a form of religion, in which they have not been in evidence.
There are always everywhere some men who stand out among their fellows as listeners to the inner voice, and who, refusing the warning which Thoas gives to Iphigenia in Goethe’s play, “There speaks no God: thy heart alone ’tis speaks,” respond like Iphigenia with passionate conviction, “‘Tis only through our hearts the gods e’er speak.” (Online source)
See also:
WHOM WILL YOU SERVE BRENNAN MANNING?
October 10, 2008
Click the post title to be taken to the source.
In memory of Elder D.J. Ward.
See John Piper’s blog post
“Remembering Elder D.J. Ward”.
Older Entries
