Legalist Preacher
Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2004 3:53 am
Hi Steve,
My questions revolve around a local preacher whose popularity has risen remakably over the years. He has a TV/radio program named "Ang Dating Daan" (ADD) or "The Old Path" based on Jer. 6:16. Most evangelical ministers tag his group as a cult. My brother joined his group recently and I'm a bit concerned so I am testing their doctrines.
1) He (the ADD preacher) argued that man still needs religion to get right with God, mentioning James 1:27 "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world". He is apparently refuting the famous evangelical line "Man does not need religion but a relationship with God".
I personally believe that faith in/love for God is the sole requisite and any religion prior to this will always be impure and defiled before God. The true religion of Jas 1:27 is an outcome (which God expects) from those who believe.
Appreciate your comment...
2) 1 Cor. 13:13 "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." He ususally equates love to charity (works) and in doing so he argues that charity is greater (weightier before God) than faith and hope and is therefore needed to be right with God.
What was Paul really saying here?
3) Does a person who truly loves God and believes in the death and resurrection of Christ for the forgiveness of sin, submits to the Lordship of Christ, but also to some extent, believes that his salvation is dependent on his obedience to God's commandments (do's and dont's), in danger of falling out of grace (Gal 5:4)? This is actually what I fear about my brother's joining the ADD group.
4) This ADD preacher calls many evangelical (although some are cultic themselves) ministers FOOLS, CRAZY, STUPID, etc.. on radio/TV. He justifies himself by quoting Jesus and Paul uttering the same words (Matt 23:17, Luk 11:40, 1 Cor 15:36, Gal 3:1, etc.) when referring to those disobedient to God..
Do you think he's justified?
How do you see Jesus and Paul's case in the light of Matt 5:22?
Side Note>> This ADD preacher has gained popularity by flaunting (on radio/TV) his mastery of the Bible (the letter but not necessarily the spirit). He even challenged his studio audience to turn off the lights and he will quote verbatim any part of the Bible that they choose. I've watched him debated many evangelical preachers who (to the mind of the impressed audience) were miserably defeated through his barrage of scriptures in favor of his view. Well, I know many evangelical ministers are dogmatic about many things that can be refuted using the scriptures anyway.
I'm playing on the idea that maybe someday you can debate him on many subjects. He: is into dress code & jewelry legalism, does not believe in the Godhead of the Holy Spirit, a millenialist and others (I'm still testing his doctrines). Just an idea.. I'll certainly need to raise money to host your visit.
My questions revolve around a local preacher whose popularity has risen remakably over the years. He has a TV/radio program named "Ang Dating Daan" (ADD) or "The Old Path" based on Jer. 6:16. Most evangelical ministers tag his group as a cult. My brother joined his group recently and I'm a bit concerned so I am testing their doctrines.
1) He (the ADD preacher) argued that man still needs religion to get right with God, mentioning James 1:27 "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world". He is apparently refuting the famous evangelical line "Man does not need religion but a relationship with God".
I personally believe that faith in/love for God is the sole requisite and any religion prior to this will always be impure and defiled before God. The true religion of Jas 1:27 is an outcome (which God expects) from those who believe.
Appreciate your comment...
2) 1 Cor. 13:13 "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." He ususally equates love to charity (works) and in doing so he argues that charity is greater (weightier before God) than faith and hope and is therefore needed to be right with God.
What was Paul really saying here?
3) Does a person who truly loves God and believes in the death and resurrection of Christ for the forgiveness of sin, submits to the Lordship of Christ, but also to some extent, believes that his salvation is dependent on his obedience to God's commandments (do's and dont's), in danger of falling out of grace (Gal 5:4)? This is actually what I fear about my brother's joining the ADD group.
4) This ADD preacher calls many evangelical (although some are cultic themselves) ministers FOOLS, CRAZY, STUPID, etc.. on radio/TV. He justifies himself by quoting Jesus and Paul uttering the same words (Matt 23:17, Luk 11:40, 1 Cor 15:36, Gal 3:1, etc.) when referring to those disobedient to God..
Do you think he's justified?
How do you see Jesus and Paul's case in the light of Matt 5:22?
Side Note>> This ADD preacher has gained popularity by flaunting (on radio/TV) his mastery of the Bible (the letter but not necessarily the spirit). He even challenged his studio audience to turn off the lights and he will quote verbatim any part of the Bible that they choose. I've watched him debated many evangelical preachers who (to the mind of the impressed audience) were miserably defeated through his barrage of scriptures in favor of his view. Well, I know many evangelical ministers are dogmatic about many things that can be refuted using the scriptures anyway.
I'm playing on the idea that maybe someday you can debate him on many subjects. He: is into dress code & jewelry legalism, does not believe in the Godhead of the Holy Spirit, a millenialist and others (I'm still testing his doctrines). Just an idea.. I'll certainly need to raise money to host your visit.