What would you do if a Superintendent of a large denominational district wrote an article promoting a universalist author? And what if this article was published and distributed in a popular denominational magazine? What if, in several months of back and forth emails, the Superintendent never took steps to correct this, and in fact, continued to express his admiration for the universalist?
Neither has the magazine acknowledged the error in publishing the article.
I have not wanted to write about this. I have, I believe, allowed much time to go by, hoping this would be corrected. Well, it’s February. The article was published in late October of 2009.
I am going to provide the link to the magazine article. You will see names like Richard Foster, Henri Nouwen, Annie Dillard, Tony Campolo and Anne Lamott. You will see that the Superintendent quotes from The Message without ever noting it is not the Word of God.
I will get more detailed if I have to. For now, please realize Anne Lamott is a universalist who has a “jesus” as her god: She believes all paths lead to heaven. She is very honest about it. Yet, as you read this article, you will see that she is never identified as anything other than a Christian. This is a terrible thing to spring on the sheep. How many went out and bought Lamott’s books based on this article?
Here is the link to the magazine article: http://pentecostalevangel.ag.org/Articles2009/4981_Habits.cfm
(the Pentecostal Evangel pulled the article but you can see a cached version of the article HERE.)
Here is a Christianity Today article where Lamott acknowledges she is a universalist. Go to page 3: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/january/8.56.html?start=2
All right. I told you more than I wanted to, but have–if necessary–much more to say. This is a sad deal. Superintendent Rachels, if you want us to have “Holy Habits,” then point us to a Bible. Not The Message. And do not allow your sheep to believe they can gain spiritual wisdom from a nice universalist.
More: Quotes from AG Superintendent Rachels and author Anne Lamott: http://mywordlikefire.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/the-ham-of-god/
Thank you for your thoughts. I just wanted to affirm your concerns regarding the false teachings creeping into the church watering down God’s Word. The emerging church is far more deceptive than any honest athiest because it sticks a Christian name tag on it when it is in fact not biblically sound, and therefore not Christianity. It is fooling people in a much more underhanded way and the lack of discernment in the church is very sad and rather frightening. God’s word tells us to expose false teachings so keep it up. You are not alone.
Hi! Brent,
Please continue to ‘…contend for the faith once delivered unto the saints…’ (Jude 3) – because there really are ‘…certain men/women crept in (to evangelical Christian churches) unawares, who were before of old ordained (appointed) to this condemnation, ungodly men/women, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Jude 4)
Well done, Brent Riggs! Continue to stand on God’s Word, faithful Bible Teacher.
In Calvary solidarity and grace
Dr Kenny McClinton