Cutting to the Chase

Recently my Pastor started reading a book. He liked it so much that he bought one for each of the staff. I’m still in the process of reading it but it has changed several of my methods. The book is, “Why Men Hate Going to Church” by David Murrow. Currently it is only 13.99 from Lifeway.

To cut to the chase, it says I write too much. I agree. So I’ve decided to cut to the chase on a few issues. The number of words may have scared off some people so I’m going to be brief.

First, the root of the articles on Calvinism is: You are either a Calvinist or you are not. Hyper-Calvinism is a myth. Hyper-Calvinism is really, plain, old, authentic Calvinism. If you embrace all the points of Calvinism – you are a Calvinist. If you embrace any of the points (even just one) you must embrace them all. Each point of Calvinism is inseparably linked to each of the others. You can say you are a four point Calvinist but to embrace the reality and doctrine of the four points forces you to also embrace any of the other points you do not wish to embrace.

Secondly, Calvinists are always claiming to be based on Scriptures Alone. This is a lie. They base their doctrine and theology on a combination of the Bible AND Creeds AND Confessions AND Catechisms. If you don’t believe me just ask them about non-elect infants burning in hell if they die as an infant. That is not based on the Scriptures Alone.

Third, now we come to Speaking in Tongues. Again let me cut to the chase on the issue: ecstatic utterance as found in Pentecostal and Charismatic churches is not scriptural. Nowhere in scripture do we find even one instance of ecstatic utterance. Compare the events in Acts. Compare the instructions in the TOTAL chapter of 1Corinthians 14. Ecstatic utterance has no history in the church. Even books about Azusa Street confirm that ecstatic utterance was brought into the church from the outside. In the 1600’s, 1500’s, 1400’s, 1300’s, and so on, where do you find this ecstatic utterance? An interesting article is found here: http://home.bluemarble.net/~heartcom/capturedbytongues.html . It agrees, as do several other sources, that before ecstatic utterance was in the church it was in Satanic Worship but never in the Scriptures.

Fourth, 1Corinthians 13:8-11 is claimed by a group of people who do not accept ecstatic utterance in the church, who say they are cessationists. A cessationist is a person who agrees with the ecstatic utterance view of tongues but uses this passage to say it is no longer in existence. I have news for you, it never did exist in the church at that time or in the Scriptures. If it never existed in the church it could not have ceased. This passage speaks of things existing today that will cease when Jesus comes. I believe the Scripture to be the inerrant, infallible, plenary, Word of God. But the Bible is not what this passage is referring to when it says, “When that which is perfect is come…” knowledge has not vanished, neither has languages, neither has prophecy (last I checked, Revelation has not happened yet, no matter what Hank says.)

These four summaries should help you understand the roots of my other longer articles. I will try to not be so verbose in the future so you don’t have to wade through a bunch of stuff before finding the root of the issue. Until next time, Keep Studying the Scripture.