Elliot Miller has responded with a lengthy but admirable examination of the attacks made over the last 20 years against the Christian Research Institute and Hank Hanegraaff by Bill Alnor, Jay Howard and many others. Contrary to claims that the response isn't on CRI's website, it can be found here http://www.equip.org/PDF/BTS2010.pdf
Bob,
ReplyDeleteYou don't find it problematic and quite self-serving of Elliot to spend the time he does trying to boost the reputation and boast about the "fruits" of CRI and BAM under Hank and his leadership? The BAM broadcast has become one of the most self-exalting, money pleading minstries on Christian Radio that spends full shows devoted to "Listener Appreciation" which under most ministries would be a time of the ministry offering back thanks and gifts to the listeners but has been reversed into a self-serving, self-exalting and glorifying CRI and BAM to promote more giving to the minstry and rarely if ever do you hear them express the priority of the listener's first obligation being to their church.
To even consider the answers Hank gives as Biblical/Bible Based answers anymore is to ignor what it means to be Bible based - referencing clear and instructive Scripture passages to respond to the inquiries of the callers. You can listen again and again to Hank answering questions, and even go to his Bible Answer Book and CRI's website answers and it is rare that he has more than an alluding inference to Scripture - most of the answers are philosophically driven - IMHO - drivel that often leave the question unanswered in a clear and Scripturally defensible position.
Might I suggest people listen to a ministry like Alpha and Omega Ministries founder James White who is clearly a prolific debater of false religions and defender of the faith from the Bible and an expositor of the Biblical texts rather than a philosopher who has presented ideas that are sub-Biblical, i.e. Love must be free with regard to his ideas against Calvinism/DoG/Sovereignty of God in Salvation, 6 literal solar days of Creation yet young earth creationists have it wrong and dinosaurs existed and died before Adam and Eve, to name but a few.
The fruit of CRI and BAM is much like the recent Willow Creek backtracking after recognizing that their instructions were not producing strong Christians and then bringing our Brian Maclaren to speak at a Willow Creek event - huh???? They bemoan shallow Christian's throughout evangelical Christianity - yet are feeding their followers the very shallow and uninformed eisegetical teachings that leave people ill equipped in their battle against sin and the flesh and the world.
Just some thoughts,
Soli Deo Gloria
William Burke
I do not know William Burkes but it is interesting to note that the fellow that he mentions, James White, White is a personal friend of Hanegraaff. There friendship goes back at least 15 years.
ReplyDeleteAlso White is one of the very few people in the field of cult research and Christian apologetics, that does not know or seem to care that Hanegraaff is a charlatan and was never meant to head CRI.
Bob, Thanks for your support of Hank Hanegraaff and CRI. God knows how many lives have been helped by the ministry of CRI, both under Walter Martin, and Hank Hanegraaff. Eternity will be the true measure of each man's and ministry's worth. I have had the honor to know and love Walter Martin, Hank Hanegraaff, Elliot Miller, and Everett Jacobson. Each of these men have had their accusers, and each of these men will stand before the judgment seat of Christ - as will those who accuse them. It will be interesting to hear God's assessment of these men from His own mouth - not from those who claim to speak so knowingly on His behalf. As far as Walter's opinion of Hank, one can hear him speak for himself here:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.waltermartinjude3.com/nmccbc19890409.html
Thankfully, we will be judged by Christ, who indeed knows all things, and not by mere men who are led more by their own agendas than the Spirit of God.
Genuine debate over theological positions, when bathed in prayer and love, are edifying to the Church. Sadly, those two elements are lacking by those who thrive on trying to keep this controversy alive.
Rick Morgan
www.WalterMarinJude3.com
Thanks, Rick!
ReplyDeleteThe mutual admiration society - one that true believers pay zero attention to. Irrelevant!
ReplyDeleteJust like the mutual admiration society between you, Jay Howard and the other critics?
ReplyDelete