Comments on: A review of Christianity in Crisis: 21st Century. By Hank Hanegraaff.

By: Bill Muehlenberg

Bill Muehlenberg — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:21:56 +0000

Thanks Des

Hey, don’t get me started on what we find – or don’t find – in most Christian bookstores today!

Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch

By: Des Morris

Des Morris — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:14:33 +0000

Hi Bill. Thank you for your book review.
I know many conservative, mature Bible believing Christians who show they are well grounded in the Scriptures and of sound theology yet love reading and hearing Benny Hinn. I cannot understand it. The man has made outrageous statements; these people must know he is wrong but yet give of their meagre savings to keep him in a multi-million dollar lifestyle. Why?
Michael says, ‘I believe that Benny Hinn did make that comment very early in his ministry and was quickly corrected and he adjusted his statement.’ The problem with Benny is that he withdraws the statement when challenged but repeats it some time later. It shows that they are core to his theology.
It is very sad when Christian bookstores need only stock a handful of copies of books by sound biblical authors and yet have whole sections of their store dedicated to authors mentioned in your article.
Des Morris

By: Bill Muehlenberg

Bill Muehlenberg — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 01:24:19 +0000

Thanks again Nathan

Here are some quick replies to your three points.

Success in the Bible is not marked by how much money you make or how high you rise on the corporate ladder, but on how faithful you are. As Paul says in Colossians, we are to do all for the glory of God. Indeed, we are not called to be successful, simply to do what the Lord has told us to do, and leave the results to him.

Do we really believe a poor person cannot be a good witness? Often it is Christian integrity that prevents people from getting ahead in the business world. And who decides what a ‘poor businessman’ is? Simply one who does not generate a lot of profit? Is that God’s test of those who are or are not fully in his will?

Can we not bless others apart from being rich? There are in fact plenty of warnings in Scripture about being rich. Plenty of rich Christians are not blessing others, but are just being greedy, and are often choking their own spirituality as a result.

The third objection is simply silly. There are numerous passages which speak of God using and implementing suffering, hardship and trials to do just that – test our faith, make us more Christlike, to refine and purify us, and so on. Start with Job, and move throughout Scripture. People are reading the Bible with blinders on to make such reckless remarks. Try just a few texts here: Psalm 119:75; Isa 48:10; Isa 53:10; Rom 5:3, 4; James 1:2-4; 1 Pet 1:6,7.

But as I say, I will need to write more articles on these important issues.

Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch

By: Barry Koh

Barry Koh — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:57:29 +0000

Bill,
Christians in charismatic churches read the Bible through the ‘word of faith’ lenses and so they cannot differentiate between the different gospel and the one the apostles taught. (Gal 1: 6-9) The different gospel they adhered to is a product attributed to Kenneth Hagin, the father of the word of faith teachings. It’s an ‘all about me’ gospel and Jesus dying to give everybody a better life (health and wealth etc) if we will only claim and appropriate that right as our own. Like the world, many are just concerned about the body, the here and the now. It’s just not Christian positive thinking or confession that is attracting Christians; today we even have Christian Yoga in the form of Christian mystical meditation and other mind and visualisation practices. But the good news is that many are being set free from the teachings of this different gospel and returning to the pure word of God and sound doctrines.
Barry Koh

By: Bill Muehlenberg

Bill Muehlenberg — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:53:00 +0000

Thanks Nathan

Good questions which I am happy to address either in a long comment or a short article. So I will get to it real soon.

Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch

By: Nathan Keen

Nathan Keen — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 07:45:42 +0000

I heartily agree with these condemning comments regarding the greed and selfishness and different gospel etc.
However, I find myself in one of these churches. The reason why I am still there is because the senior minister usually majors on the topic of Regeneration – how a Christian ought to live: ie. pray, evangelise, be without sin etc. – and actually models it himself.
It has been only recently with a leadership and emphasis shift that it has been going downhill.
How do you combat such arguments as:
1. God wants you to be the best (read:most successful, or, richest) in your workplace so that you can be a good witness–a poor businessman is not a good witness; and
2. God wants to make you rich so you can bless others; and,
3. God doesn’t make you suffer to test you – it’s a devil.
Nathan Keen

By: lawrie

lawrie — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:46:56 +0000

Bill, a book that I found of much interest regarding the curses was “Swear to God – the promise and power of the sacraments” by Scott Hahn.
Lawrie McNamara

By: Bill Muehlenberg

Bill Muehlenberg — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:14:20 +0000

Thanks Mansel

Yes the theology of the Osteens is quite simple: Me, Me, Me.

Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch

By: Mansel Rogerson

Mansel Rogerson — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 00:57:29 +0000

Hi Bill,

Touching on the Biblical Illiteracy of many of these prosperity preachers and their devotees; I couldn’t believe my eyes opening a Koorong catalogue a few months ago and noticing Joel Osteen’s wife had written a book with the title “Love Your life”!
Clearly John 12:25 had not rung any alarm bells!

Mansel Rogerson

By: Stan Fishley

Stan Fishley — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:26:05 +0000

I lost a dear friend who was a “namer and claimer”. He refused to take his B.P. pills.

Stan Fishley