Posted on 07/14/2017 10:35:19 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Family members of Dr. Walter Martin, founder of the Christian Research Institute, are calling on current CRI president Hank Hanegraaff to step down due to his conversion from evangelicalism to Eastern Orthodoxy.
A majority of the family members have signed a statement asking the "Bible Answer Man" to leave his leadership post.
Jill Martin Rische, the eldest daughter of Dr. Martin and who leads Walter Martin Ministries alongside her husband, Kevin Rische, told The Christian Post in a phone interview on Thursday that she and many other evangelical Christians were "shocked an surprised" when Hanegraaff was formally received into the Eastern Orthodox Church back in April.
She argued that Hanegraaff has since been teaching a blend of Eastern Orthodoxy and evangelical Christianity on the "Bible Answer Man" show, which she called "fundamentally dishonest."
Hanegraaff insisted in an interview with NPR's Charlotte affiliate WFAE earlier in July that for the most part, his theological beliefs have not changed.
"So I stand shoulder-to-shoulder with evangelicals, with Roman Catholics, with Orthodoxy around the essentials of the Christian faith — meaning the main and plain things," he said.
But Rische pointed to an article on waltermartin.com that highlights the major differences between Eastern Orthodoxy and evangelical Christianity, and said it would be dishonest to claim there aren't major aspects where the two traditions disagree, such as on Sola Scriptura, or Scripture alone.
"Evangelical Christianity believes that the Bible is the absolute and final authority, and Eastern Orthodoxy does not," she said.
Evangelicals also believe in Salvation by the grace of God as a gift, she added, while Orthodoxy considers salvation to be a progress based on good works.
Rische argued that Hanegraaff has been "trying to take Eastern Orthodox theology and blend it with Protestant theology."
She noted that her father started CRI in 1960 as a Protestant ministry, and said it is problematic that a man who has now joined the Eastern Orthodox Church is running it.
"It is not OK for an Eastern Orthodox believer to run a Protestant ministry," Rische said.
You have to be one or the other. It is fundamentally dishonest from a theological standpoint for Hank Hanegraaff to be teaching Eastern Orthodoxy on the 'Bible Answer Man' program."
The statement Rische signed calling on Hanegraaff to step down as CRI president also contains the signatures of her husband and other members of Martin's family, including his children — Daniel, Elaine, and Debbie — and his widow, Darlene.
The statement claims that Martin "would be appalled" by Hanegraaff's conversion to the Eastern Orthodox Church.
"CRI was founded on the absolute authority of the Bible and salvation by faith alone, doctrines the Eastern Orthodox church denies. A rejection of that foundation is a rejection of Biblical truth. Historically and theologically, Eastern Orthodoxy and Evangelical Christianity are two distinctly different faiths that cannot be combined," it reads in part.
"In view of this, Mr. Hanegraaff should immediately cease teaching Eastern Orthodox doctrine on the Protestant Bible Answer Man program, and step down from the leadership of Christian Research Institute. To do anything less, from a Biblical perspective, is unethical and profoundly dishonest."
Cindee Martin Morgan, who is also Martin's daughter, did not sign the statemen. In a separate interview with CP in May, she pushed back against critics who have indicated they have a problem with Hanegraaff's conversion.
Morgan told CP at the time that "my father, Dr. Walter Martin, taught that the Catholic Church has the essential 'core' doctrine of Christianity. He didn't agree with some of the teaching added by the Church and warned against it."
She added: "Given the fact that the Eastern Orthodox Church is very similar in ways to the Catholic Church — and holds to the essential core doctrine of Christianity — I believe Dr. Martin would view this Church (Eastern Orthodox) the same way.
"He would never declare that someone had 'left the faith,' in either of these churches, if the person professed faith in Jesus Christ demonstrated by the fruit of their life."
Rische told CP in response that while she does not want to push a sister vs. sister narrative, she contended that Morgan's statement about what their father believed is not truthful.
As evidence, she sent CP transcribed comments from Martin on one of his series on Roman Catholicism, where the late CRI founder said:
"There is a great movement on today in apostate Protestantism to reunite with Rome. The threat of Communism is pushing Eastern Orthodoxy — the Greeks, the Coptics, the Egyptians — and the Roman Catholics together ... I would return to one Universal Church and to one supreme bishop if the theology of that church were consistent with the theology of the Word of God ... We test everything, including the churches, by the authority of Scripture and whatever does not measure to Scripture is not worthy of our allegiance. Our allegiance is to Christ."
Martin added, "And in the words of Martin Luther that I proudly echo though I am a Baptist by persuasion, he was asked, 'What shall we give our people, Father Luther, they are so used to relics, prayers to the saints, and all the things the church has sanctified through the ages. What shall we give them if we accept what you say?' Luther responded, 'Jesus Christ, reverend father. Jesus Christ alone. He is sufficient for the church throughout all ages. Christ only. Here I stand, God help me, I can do no other.'"
Rische clarified that the specific disagreements between evangelicalism and Eastern Orthodoxy need to be talked about, not fought about.
"We are different from the Greek Orthodox Church, and have been for centuries. We cannot allow these differences in terms of theology — how we interpret the Scriptures — we cannot allow these differences to be taken and blended together because Hank Hanegraaff feels he needs to do that," she said.
Still, Rische said that she continues to pray for the CRI president, especially in light of his battle with mantle cell lymphoma, a rare form of cancer he was diagnosed with in May.
"I wouldn't want anyone to go through cancer. I've seen it up close, and it's a terrible thing, extremely painful. I would never want to see anyone suffering that, and I would pray for him and his family, and have," she stated.
Aren’t Orthodox Christians, too?
Big nothing burger.
If the Patriarch of Constantinople professed the Reformed faith he would have to step down.
Hank is an interesting guy. Get well, Hank!
Some are, some aren't. The same can be said about any "Christian" sect or denomination.
Bartholomew Calvin I would be an odd name for a patriarch...
Growing up in an evangelical Christian household, I witnessed two churches go through bitter and contentious splits. The first over whether divorcees could serve in leadership positions (deacon, trustee, Sunday school teacher and the like). The second was even more petty, over a proposed remodel that some didn't felt made the church look too different from the old church and that the pastor was allowing music that was too secular (anything other than century old hymns).
If Christian sects spent one tenth the time and energy defending Christianity and working to make the world a better place than they do trying to destroy each other, we would probably be living in a much better nation.
If Christian sects spent one tenth the time and energy defending Christianity and working to make the world a better place than they do trying to destroy each other, we would probably be living in a much better nation.
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there is nothing on this board that I agree more on.
Thank you for saying it.
The denomination wars on this board are painful and off-putting.
Maybe Hank should set up shop over at Ancient Faith Radio. I know I’d listen to him.
ORTHODOX ARE CHRISTIANS
Doctrine does matter, but all sides have been particularly ungracious towards each other.
If a Roman Catholic Broadcaster on a Roman Catholic show suddenly tells everyone that he has been baptized into a Reformed Church, would he still be allowed to broadcast as a Roman Catholic?
HERE ARE SOME DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT EVANGELICALS AND EASTERN ORTHODOX BELIEVE...
Beliefs Evangelical Christianity Eastern Orthodoxy (EO)
Authority of The Bible
Evangelicals: Sola Scriptura (Scripture Alone). The Bible is the absolute and final authority
Eastern Orthodox: The Bible is not the absolute and final authority; it is subject to the interpretation of EO church tradition that include councils, the writings of the saints, and other sources
Salvation
Evangelicals: by Faith Alone Sola Fide (Faith Alone). Salvation is by the grace of God as a gift through faith, not by works and not as a daily progression. Genuine faith is manifested in one’s life.
Eastern Orthodox: The progress of Salvation includes baptism, faith, good works, the Eucharist and other
sacraments; it is a continual progression
throughout life
The Eucharist
Evangelicals: The Bread and the wine/grape juice
do not literally become the body and blood
of Jesus in any way—physical or mystical. Jesus said, “This do in remembrance of me.”
Eastern Orthodox: “The ‘Sacrament of all Sacraments’….In the Eucharist, we pass continuously from death to
life and obtain God Himself. By partaking of Holy
Communion divine life flows into us and
penetrates the fabric of our humanity.”
“The Eucharist, as St. Ignatios of Antioch said, is
‘the medicine of immortality and the antidote
against death, enabling us to live forever in
Jesus Christ.’ In Christ we become gods by
grace.” (1) The Eucharist becomes the body and
blood of Jesus in a mystical way (not actual flesh
and blood) and his power flows through the
body.
Patron Saints
Evangelicals: None – The saints are with the Lord and cannot be contacted. Their lives are useful for emulation.
Eastern Orthodox: Chosen at chrismation (confirmation); Saints are part of the “living” church and can be
“communed” with, prayed to, and asked to
intercede with Jesus.
God shares His power and glory with his saints,
but they can do nothing apart from Him.
Confession
Evangelicals: Confession is made directly to God.
Eastern Orthodox: Confession is made to a priest as God’s earthly representative but only God can forgive sins;
According to Orthodox teaching, “the penitent
confesses to God and is forgiven by God. The
priest is the sacramental witness who represents
both Christ and His people.”
Mary
Evangelicals: Chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus, Mary was not sinless; She lived a good, normal earthly life as a wife to Joseph and mother to his children.
She was not assumed bodily into heaven at her death, so she did not leave an empty tomb. She is to be honored as an obedient, chosen vessel of God, but is not to be prayed to, nor should she be considered our intercessor to God.
Eastern Orthodox: Known in the EO church as the “Theotokos” or Mother of God. “Mary is Ever-Virgin, All-Holy, Most-Pure…free from actual sin, but...she did fall
under the curse of Original Sin as does all
mankind.”
“She was assumed body and soul into Heaven;
and her tomb was found empty.”
Mary and the saints with her intercede for us
with Jesus and through His power miracles or
messages may occur.
There are no dead saints—all are alive and all
the saints commune with each other as the one
true church.
Icons
Evangelicals: No Icons. God does not share His power or
glory; we cannot communicate with the saints and ask them to help us. We can study and learn from their lives and emulate their devotion to God, but that’s as far as we can go.
Eastern Orthodox: Saints are Called “Windows to heaven” they are part of the “Divine Liturgy”– Parishioners “venerate” by making the sign of the cross, bowing and kissing icons to pass on respect to saints who still
intercede for us.
Theosis or Deification
Evangelicals: None
Eastern Orthodox: A mystical union with God. Each Christian is involved in a movement toward God which is
known as theosis or deification.
The Orthodox church understands theosis as a
[true] union with the energies of God and not
with the essence of God.
Original Sin
Evangelicals: All men are born sinful—guilty of the
same sin as Adam and Eve: rebellion against God. Human
nature is corrupted by evil and the
penalty for sin is death.
Eastern Orthodox: Mankind doesn’t inherit the guilt of Adam’s sin, we only inherit Adam’s punishment—death. Sin
violates the human conscience and the law of
God; individuals are responsible for their own
sins.
Chrismation
Evangelicals: Confirmation (in some
denominations).
Eastern Orthodox: Includes the renunciation of false teachings and teachers—any beliefs prior to choosing the EO church. The Holy Chrism is prepared from oil
and other fragrant essences, which symbolize
the variety of gifts of the Holy Spirit that the
chrismated Christian receives…..Through the
administration of the sacrament of Chrismation,
the baptized receive gifts (charismata) that are
transmitted to them by the Holy Spirit.
Hmmm. That's odd. I could have SWORN that the name of the organization is the "Christian Research Institute" and the name of his show is "The Bible Answer Man", not "the Protestant Research Institute" and "The Evangelical Answer Man"
If a Roman Catholic was a member of an organization called "American Christianity Studies" and hosted a show called "Tridentine Godhood Talk", he would certain be able to continue in that role if he switched from Catholic to say, Dutch Reform.
Sounds as if some members of the Christian Research Institute (never heard of it) are ignorant bigots.
Eastern Orthodoxy is ancient Christianity & they do believe in the Bible.
Doctrine does matter, but all sides have been particularly ungracious towards each other.
_______________________
Not as much as you think. There seems to be a loss of the idea that we are all Christians first.
When we face God at judgement I wonder how much sadness He will have at our bickering
Hmmm. That's odd. I could have SWORN that the name of the organization is the "Christian Research Institute" and the name of his show is "The Bible Answer Man" -- NOT "the Protestant Research Institute" and "The Evangelical Answer Man"
If a Roman Catholic was a member of an organization called "American Christianity Studies" and hosted a show called "Trinitarian Godhood Talk", he would certain be able to continue in that role if he switched from Catholic to say, Dutch Reform.
Can we agree on the Lird God, was fully God and fully man, was born of a virgin, lived amongst us while fulfilling the law, was crucified, dead and buried. On the third day He rose again and after a further time preaching, ascended into heaven
How about that as a start?
So you can believe as you will.
I am more concerned about the rise of Islam and Mormonism and nihilism
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