Posted on 04/23/2017 2:27:13 PM PDT by vladimir998
One of the biggest complaints against Pulpit & Pen we get consistently is that we somehow dont have all our facts, or are misrepresenting someone or something. I received countless emails claiming that I misrepresented Greek Orthodoxy in my recent posts regarding Hank Hanegraaff and that I should do more research. Well, what better way to research than to go straight to the source in person? Saturday, April 15, known as Holy Saturday in the Orthodox tradition, I along with a couple of friends went to visit St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church in Charlotte, NCthe church that Hanegraaff was recently chrismated in. The service began at 11:30 pm, and was still going strong showing no signs of slowing down when we decided to leave at around 2:00 am. While we hoped to have the opportunity to confront Hanegraaff in person, being that we all had to get up early the next morning to worship the living God on Easter morning, we decided to call it a night early. However, there are quite a few things that we can take away from this experience in this church.
(Excerpt) Read more at pulpitandpen.org ...
Vulgar anti-Christian bigotry from Mr. Maples.
I don’t know anything about Hanagraaf nor do I care. However, it seems presumptuous that after attending a single service at a particular Orthodox church this poster could condemn ALL Orthodox churches. I think the poster saw what he wanted to see.
I know nothing about Hanegraaf but whoever he is and whatever his sins, this attack on Orthodoxy is illtempered and unwarranted.
I have never met the man, I have no grudge against him.
He is a Prederist.
The Divinely-inspired Scriptures ARE the final authority....what mere human or human organization has any authority ABOVE them? There certainly are levels of human knowledge and understanding of God's word, but that doesn't change the fact that what God has spoken through the prophets/holy men of God as the Holy Spirit carried them along, by design, is the highest authority and determiner of what is the truth. That is why we must continue to study to show ourselves approved of God able to rightly divide the word of truth and be able to give an answer to everyone that asks us of the hope that is within us with gentleness and respect. Some believers are better equipped to do that than others because they HAVE done the work while others are still learning. Nonetheless, God's word is the authority.
BTW, the argument is between "the Bible in the hands of the individual Christian believer" versus "the Bible as understood by the church whose corporate memory and institutional continuity goes back to the Apostles". Nobody in the discussion is positing an authority superior to the Scriptures, so that's just a red herring.
But that wasn't my point in posting, as I believe I've already explained.
“I have never met the man, I have no grudge against him.”
This:
“Hanegraaffs con game is all to obvious.”
Made it seem like you do.
I wonder how many people they have turned away from Christ by their arrogance and nastiness.
That they had to leave the service early because they had to worship the living God in the morning says it all. If they had stayed, and if they werent so ignorant, they would have found the living God at St. Nectatios. Christos anesti!
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Well and truly said!
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I’m more concerned with the masses that they’ve confused with their false doctrine.
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He has a well develope cache of platitudes and cute little ditties he has used for many many years now. Total canned answers that he will restate the callers question in his words so the answer he uses will fit.
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Precisely true. I used to listen to his show a number of years ago and can confirm the accuracy of your statement.
If you listen to him for one week you will hear everything he has to say and will started to be able to mouth the words before he gives his answer.
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That’s a humorous way to describe him, but you’re right on the money.
It also makes no sense in view of the theology he formerly professed. If the Bible in the hands of the individual believer is the final authority, of what use is a “Bible Answer Man”? His own theology denied that his “ministry” had any purpose!
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Perfectly true and perfectly stated, and the same conundrum applies to every other ordained minister who preaches the false doctrine of sola scriptura. It has always astounded me how many countless, well-meaning Christians simply fail to recognize this undeniable truth.
Ridiculing the Orthodox Church because it has a sung liturgy and lasts more than the usual 45 minutes, is the kind of shallow and disrespectful reaction we have regretfully come to expect from the scantily trained pseudo Christian 21st century Protestant.
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OUCH! That’s going to leave a hell of a bruise, albeit a very well deserved one!
Listen to his “show” considering he is a full blown Prederist.
If you follow many of his canned answers the contradictions are so obvious that you cannot assume anything other than he is continuing doing it for financial gain only. 15-17 years ago he answered with a little more heart and charity.
This has nothing to do with a “grudge” and is nothing personal since I do not know the man other than listening to his show.
Walter Martins wife claimed Hanegraaff as a phony years ago.
Ever heard him talk about God as a “cosmic rapist”?
How about his claims of celestial sex in Heaven?
What you believe is up to you. I was pointing out that Hanegraaf’s self-appointed “Bible Answer Man” title didn’t make sense in view of his own theology, not yours or mine.
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Yes. The Gospel according to Minister X has always been in direct conflict with the bedrock Protestant doctrine of Sola Scriptura. Not to mention the fact that numerous scriptural verses are given various interpretations by the multitude of Protestant denominations.
I think the beef they are most up in arms about isn’t the Catholics and Orthodox but other conservative style Protestant Christians whom they think should conform to their particular thinking about things. So hopefully not too many get turned off by these mouth breathers.
Freegards
It was no red herring. My response was to your assertion that: If the Bible in the hands of the individual believer is the final authority, of what use is a "Bible Answer Man"? His own theology denied that his "ministry" had any purpose! Your implication was pretty clear that Hanegraaff couldn't be the "Bible Answer Man" if his authority is the same as any other individual's who has a Bible in his hands. What you seem to have missed is that not everyone has studied the Bible extensively which was why his call-in radio show was designed to answer questions listeners had about the Bible and the Christian faith. I listened to his program infrequently when we were living in N.C. and when I did I didn't think his answers were unfounded. Most of his callers expressed appreciation for his studied responses. There were times when I and some callers did not agree with him and challenged him and from what I remember - like I said, I didn't listen to him all that often - he came across as set in his ways and closed to any correction using Scripture. Even then, he did not assert he was in authority over Scripture, just an authority with the Scriptures. No one denies that there are such things as disputable matters, but that doesn't change the fact that God's word - BECAUSE IT IS God's word - is the ultimate authority.
I'm glad to hear you agree that the Scriptures are the superior authority based upon their origin (inspiration of the Holy Spirit). It is common for Roman Catholics on this forum to assert the traditions and the magisterium of the Roman Catholic church are equal to the authority of the Scriptures. This was and continues to be a major sticking point of disagreement between Catholics, non-Catholic Christians and the Orthodox.
I don't think you understand what the doctrine of sola Scriptura means. What it doesn't mean is SOLO or ONLY Scripture can be used to know the truth. Because Scripture, as the sole Divinely-inspired word of God, is the superior and ultimate authority and determiner of the truth of the rule of faith. It means that Scripture is the measuring rod by which any doctrine must be held to. It cannot go against what God has said. Paul taught, "Do not go beyond what is written. Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other." (I Cor. 4:6). That is sola Scriptura.
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