Prominent Christian Rapper 'Phanatik' of The Cross Movement Publicly Renounces Christianity [see Comment]

ChristianHeadlines.com ^ | January 21, 2022 | Milton Quintanilla

[daniel1212]

Goodwin was one of the co-founders of the influential Christian rap group The Cross Movement,..“I sent a letter to my church withdrawing my membership and saying that I am denouncing the Christian faith that I have believed, professed, proclaimed, and defended for the last 30 years,”...“I literally told God, ‘If I find one more thing in the scriptures that doesn’t have a good explanation without resorting to having to bend over backwards and hop over barrels to explain it—I might lose my faith,”...“It got to the point where the liberal dudes were the ones bringing the most comfort because they were the ones being the most honest about the issues,” he noted.

In the video, Goodwin confirmed the rumors that he had walked away from the faith after spending the last 30 years “traveling the world, preaching to others, preaching to others about what I wholeheartedly believed.” “In those five or six years since seminary when I wasn’t living in the text, all my presuppositions had fallen off,” he added.

Throughout 2021, Goodwin brought his issues to professors who knew the scriptures and the original languages. To his surprise, the professors looking at him were like, “you finally got here.”

Among those he met, one person told Goodwin, “If you can learn to deal with these issues, then you’ll be a mature Christian. To have wrestled with this and found a way to still believe—that’s when you know you’ve made it.”.

At the same time, however, Goodwin felt that adopting liberal Christianity would be uncomfortable and dishonest. As such, Goodwin decided to renounce Christianity altogether. He said in the video that he no longer believes in the gospel or the scriptures despite his understanding of it.

[Rurudyne]

There is a story where a popular London congregation with a beautiful building on day was vandalized when someone painted “Ichabod” on the roof. After much investigation it was found to have been the work of a house painter.

At his trial he said he’d done it out of obedience to the previous pastor who had for years said that if liberal theology were ever to be taught there that “Ichabod” should be painted on the roof to signify that glory had departed from the congregation.

Apparently congregant after congregant then proceeded to say that they’d heard him say that and also that his replacement was indeed teaching liberal theology.

[Spok]

Some people’s faith is paper thin, especially those who profess it for monetary gain or to virtue signal. Jewelry and bumper stickers are not reliable indicia of sincerity of belief.

[Scarlett156]

“I literally told God, ‘If I find one more thing in the scriptures that doesn’t have a good explanation without resorting to having to bend over backwards and hop over barrels to explain it—I might lose my faith”

I’m sure there’s a lot of worrying going on in Heaven right now. “Oh no! He’s figured us out!”

[Rurudyne]

Or a homosexual.

[Westbrook]

Part of “the Great Falling Away”.

[RoosterRedux]

Have you read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation word-by-word?

[antidemoncrat]

I wonder when he passes if he will just close his eyes and sleep forever or will he feel the burn.

[odawg]

“The breaking point seems to be the American Protestant evangelical tenet of complete Biblical inerrancy.”

So you substitute the Catholic tenet of complete Papal Infallibility?

[Skywise]

Wow... the guy’s so sooper smarty that he doesn’t realize the fallibility of man vs God’s Word.

As a “truth seeker”, as a “intelligentsia” he can’t even do the one thing that he claims is his highest goal - say what exactly it was he had a problem with.

Nope - just “it all aint true”

Everybody questions God dude... even Job.

[DannyTN]

1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

[Billie Bud]

If he doesn’t believe in God now, why demand God answer and answer in the way this rapper wants?

I’m still waiting for one of these guys who have huge followings and public platforms to “walk away” quietly. But no, they’re so insecure in their disbelief, they have to do so publicly and look for others who “walk away” or believe in themselves as the final authority to ease their guilt.

Why does one’s adamant lack of faith in God need so much assistance from others??

[Mr Rogers]

“Goodwin said he initially began to doubt Christianity while he was at Westminster Theological Seminary in 2014. He clarified, however, that being in seminary is not what ultimately led him to renounce his faith....

“I’ve always only ever been a seeker of truth and a relayer of what I believe to be true…the best way I know how to love is in truth—speak the truth in love.”

---

Seminary can encourage an intellectual analysis of God. However, the fall of man involved the fall of ALL OF MAN. Including reason.

And what shines thru in his comments is the idea that HE has, not just the right, but the ABILITY to judge God! If God the Creator exists, of this inconceivably enormous Universe, then the Creator is obviously vast beyond our comprehension. A flea would have a better chance of analyzing humans than a human has on analyzing the Creator!

So at its root, this guy is full of unbelievable PRIDE. CS Lewis’s “God in the Dock” explains so much - that modern man is willing to accept God IF God can prove He is acceptable to us! We are the judge. God is the defendant. And we’ll give Him a light sentence provided He confesses His guilt to us!

NO ONE can come to God believing we get to judge God - asking if God is good enough to join our team! That is arrogance on a scale beyond belief. And that is what this guy has been doing for years. While immersing himself in the world of entertainment. Because CCM is, as it has been for decades, about entertainers. Many of them are sincere Christians, but a great many of them never were. How many are CHRISTIAN FIRST, willing to walk away from the stage if God tells them to?

I hate watching this happen, but it will as long as we act as if “worship leaders” and CCM are anything other than entertainers. As are, unhappily, too many pastors!

[Celerity]

“I literally told God,”
Really ? Are you sure you weren’t talking to yourself?

” ‘If I find one more thing in the scriptures that doesn’t have a good explanation without resorting to having to bend over backwards and hop over barrels to explain it”
Who asked you to do this? God? Did God hire you onto the sales team? Is selling Christianity your job?

“—I might lose my faith,”
You lost it the moment you took on any of these roles.

[daniel1212]

" I wonder when he passes if he will just close his eyes and sleep forever or will he feel the burn. "

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. (John 3:19-21)

And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10)
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again [those who were set free] with the yoke of bondage [going back into what they were set free from]. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if [submission to Judaizers these believers are being warned against] ye be circumcised [signifying justification obtained by keeping all the law], Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become [an effectual change due to their choice] of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace[their former state]. For we [those who continue to believe] through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. (Galatians 5:1-5)

Take heed, brethren, [contextually not a general sense, but as believers] lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God [a departure from their former state s believers]. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin [a change of heart]. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end [[perseverance of the saints]. (Hebrews 3:12-14)

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering [continued exhortation to persevere]; (for he is faithful that promised And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, [indicating departing from the faith, as follows] as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:23-25)

For if [a choice brethren are warned against] we [not just you] sin wilfully [not out of weakness, but with full consent, as a decision not to continue but to depart, signified by giving up being with the believers] after that we have received the knowledge of the truth [a term which refers to believing, as per 1Tim. 2:4; 2Tim. 3:7], there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins [cf. Hebrews 6:6-8; a terminal condition of judgment, with no provision for repentance and forgiveness, having forfeited what saving faith obtained], But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. (Hebrews 10:26-27)

He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified [a past condition, appropriated by faith, now forfeited by a definite denial of the same] , an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:28-29)

Cast not away therefore your confidence, [the issue being faith, out of which obedience flows] which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise [not that doing earns the promise, but that saving faith is that which finally perseveres, which faith as manifested in works God - who gave faith and the ability and motivation to obey - rewards under grace] For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

Now the just shall live by faith [the just live by faith, not merely profess it, with such faith being what appropriates justification]: but if any man draw back [a denial of justifying faith], my soul shall have no pleasure in him [as solemnly, fearfully described above]. But we [who do not draw back, but persevere] are not of them who draw back unto perdition [contextually a terminal condition of judgment, with no provision for repentance and forgiveness due to treating Christ with contempt] but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. (Hebrews 10:35-39)

Such departing from the the living God, drawing backing into perdition, falling from grace, etc., is likely the the "great transgression," (Psalms 9:13) that of having "wickedly departed from my God,"(2 Samuel 22:22) which David stated he did not do, despite his sins, for unlike apostates he overall kept the ways of the Lord, and confessed in repentance when convicted of not doing so, (2 Samuel 12:7-13)

[Tommy Revolts]

He’ll be popping up Muslim in a year or two, you watch.

Or "Polysexual".

[daniel1212]

"At the same time, however, Goodwin felt that adopting liberal Christianity would be uncomfortable and dishonest. As such, Goodwin decided to renounce Christianity altogether. He said in the video that he no longer believes in the gospel or the scriptures despite his understanding of it. From the article. Read that slowly and let one’s lips move. Now read it again."

I do no think he ever moved from the intellectual to living by faith.

[daniel1212]

"The breaking point seems to be the American Protestant evangelical tenet of complete Biblical inerrancy. "

The American Protestant evangelical tenet of complete Biblical inerrancy almost always means in the original writing, while the copies we have (not all) are reliably the word of God as per my first comment.

"The Catholic formula that the Bible is free of substantial moral error is far more comprehensible and defensible."

Please. See my post on that from just an hour ago!

[daniel1212]

"Kind of weird. Presumably, the “liberal dudes” who counseled him and who he praises in this article are still believers but he has chosen to reject Christianity all together."

Not much difference really.

[RKRider]

Why do people think they can give God ultimatums?

[daniel1212]

" He’s onto something, and at some point perhaps he will figure out it is manmade with the help of satan. It’s called Dogma And it has a long history of killing faith. "

Wrong. Authoritative doctrine or code of beliefs is what even a valid secular government needs, and a god that does not provide a coherent body of what He commands obedience to is not the God of the Bible. But when men teach doctrines of men as commandments of God then it gives the whole of it a bad name. Which includes distinctive Catholic teachings are not manifest in the only wholly inspired substantive authoritative record of what the NT church believed (which is Scripture, in particular Acts through Revelation, which best shows how the NT church understood the gospels).