Replies

>> I think you are misrepresenting what I said. <<

You stated multiple times that Hank should not be doing a show called the Bible Answer Man because he joined a church that doesn't follow scripture. You compared it to a Communist country claiming to be "Democratic" when they doesn't have democratic elections. Orthodox Churches use and teach bible scripture regularly, and many of them do so more frequently than many "mainline" protestant churches. The only one doing the misrepresenting here is you, by continuing to assert that studying and learning bible scripture is not a part of Orthodox Christianity when the reality is that is a MAJOR component. Again, it would akin to me saying Billy Graham should not talk about heaven or hell because he is a member of a church that doesn't believe in an afterlife.

>> It just breeds suspicion and undermines credibility as well as making you look dishonest if you pretend there’s no differences. THOSE DIFFERENCES form the dividing line between Evangelicalism and Eastern Orthodoxy even as they share many things in common. Let’s not pretend that there are no differences. <<

Nobody is claiming there is "no differences" between Evangelical Protestant Christianity and Eastern Orthodox Christianity, we are merely pointing out the fact that both teach and use bible scripture routinely and that BOTH are considered mainstream "Christian" churches. Numerous protestants here apparently refuse to accept that and continue to insist that Hank joined a church that is NOT "scripture based". If Hank was hosting a show called "The Contemporary Music Prayer Service Answer Man", you would have a valid point that he joined a church that DOESN'T use that element in its teaching, so he is really not suited to be talking about it on television.

>> Second, he should have simply added some Orthodox material to balance things out. <<

That is exactly what he is doing and why they want to remove him. The article itself notes "Rische argued that Hanegraaff has been "trying to take Eastern Orthodox theology and blend it with Protestant theology." He is adding supplemental Eastern Orthodox material to his television show since he is now a member of an Orthodox church. He hasn't STOPPED teaching basic Christian dogma from the bible.

>> “Jesus’ death on the cross provided a penal substitutionary atonement for the sins of humanity. In salvation we are rescued from God’s wrath <<

That statement is perfectly compatible with Orthodox Christianity, Catholic Christianity, and any mainstream Christianity. The only ones I can see objecting to such a statement would be some group like Unitarians or Jehovah's Witnesses.

>> For that matter, why doesn’t Hank just come out and say he doesn’t believe in Sola Fide and Sola Scriptura anymore and explain why? <<

If he joined an Orthodox Church, I have little doubt he no longer believes in in Sola Fide and Sola Scriptura anymore. Perhaps the reason he doesn't is because his focus The Bible Answer Man is to address topics in the bible for all Christian viewers, not to speak out AGAINST a doctrine that many of his listeners believe in.

Again, if the situation was reversed and a Catholic TV show host had a show named "Lives of the Twelve Apostles", I would NOT object if he wanted to continue hosting the show after becoming a member of a Dutch Reformed Church, nor would I claim he's unsuited for the job because Dutch Reform Christians don't believe in the twelve apostles. Were he to specifically start blasting Catholic doctrines that had nothing to do with the twelve apostles, like having a segment saying he longer believed in the rosary and its a false concept, I would object. As it stands, I can't imagine Hank is planning to do any "Why John Calvin is a heretic and Total Depravity is a lie" segments.

<< If we had an Eastern Orthodox radio host who became a baptist, do you think they would leave him untouched? <<

If an Eastern Orthodox Christian hosts a show called "The two natures of Christ" and he wants to continue to discuss the subject after becoming a Baptist, that's perfectly fine with me. I wouldn't pretend the Baptists don't believe Christ is both human and divine and say "He can't host the show now because he is no longer part of a church that teaches Christ is both God and man" because I disagree with them on OTHER stuff.

>> And the very act of PRAYING TO MARY is what Evangelicals disagree with as well <<

Again, he is hosting a show called The Bible Answer Man, not "Praying 101". If he starts his television program by whipping out a Chotki and instructing viewers that he is going to lead them on The Rule of the Theotokos each week, THEN you'd have a valid point that "he is no longer the Bible Answer Man" is specifically promoting only Eastern Orthodox beliefs.

>> The first part of the Hail Mary prayer is scriptural. It was the statement made by the Angel Gabriel to Mary. <<

Gosh, but you were saying over and over again that those churches don't use scripture?