The ‘Cons’ and ‘Pro’ of Hank’s Defection

The departure of Hank Hanekraaff from evangelicalism to Easter Orthodoxy is now well documented, here and here.   I don’t normally address all these ups and downs in the Christian news, but The Bible Answer Man is a prominent and popular radio show in our area and therefore this is relevant. 

I have enjoyed Hank Hanekraaff’s program over the years but of recent, due to an awkward sympathy he expresses about the Roman Catholic Mass; his unusual attention to Mary, the mother of Jesus; and his anti-Calvinism, have alerted me to concerns that obviously come to a head today.  Hank’s book, The Apocalypse Code, could be one of the best books on biblical interpretation that I have ever read.  Sadly The Bible Answer Man, is going to have to answer to the Word of God for this defection.

Here are 2 things that sadden me about this (the cons):

1.  Hank inherited a stellar ministry (The Christian Research Institute).  This ministry founded by the late Dr. Walter Martin has been a true asset and resource to the Christian Church.  In this defection, Hank has dropped the ball.  He has failed to “… to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3, ESV).

2. Hank has not “moved” to another branch or denomination that upholds the Gospel ministry. This move of his will confuse the world, confuse the Church and mar the Gospel.  It is the Gospel that is at stake here, not Hank’s feeling of being “more in sync, spiritually”[1].  It doesn’t get any more complicated than this: “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one . . . If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:6–9, ESV).

Here is the one thing that I’m pleased about (the pro):

1. Hank is at least consistent.   He has not been quiet about his anti-Calvinistic beliefs.  Now there are Arminians (anti-Calvinists) who are beloved brothers and sisters in pursuit of God’s glory.  But they are, to my joy and delight, inconsistent Arminians.  Theologically, to be a consistent Arminian is to embrace the Vatican and points beyond.  The road to Rome is via Arminian theology.  Hank is at least consistent.  Essentially Roman Catholicism is the ‘Galatian Heresy’ wrapped in Vatican architecture.   The Eastern Orthodox Church embraces the same errors. 

Galatians 2:16 (ESV)

¹⁶ yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

“The Orthodox Church is a false expression of Christianity, much like the Roman Catholic Church, that is highly driven by graven images and denies the biblical doctrine of salvation by grace alone through faith alone, and instead, trusts in meritorious works and a sacramental system for salvation.”[2]

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[1] http://www.wnd.com/2017/04/bible-answer-man-converts-to-greek-orthodox-church/

[2] http://pulpitandpen.org/2017/04/10/the-bible-answer-man-hank-hanegraaff-leaves-the-christian-faith/

The Issue of Calf Worship

In our Bible Study of the Prophecy of Hosea, there are a number of references to the calf worship that Israel established in place of the place of true worship in Judah. This idolatry started back in Exodus 32.  One might wonder why.  Here's an article that gives an explanation:

The Issue of Calf Worship

“Our understanding of the golden calf can benefit from an understanding of the iconography of the ancient world. From the ancient Near East (mostly from the Late Bronze Age), there are pictures of gods standing atop various animals, especially lions and bulls, as well as atop composite creatures. Moreover, there are depictions of bovines (these are generally from the Iron Age)— most likely bulls— that have no rider whatsoever. In the first set of images, the animal clearly functions as the seat or pedestal for the deity. In the second, there is no deity, which may raise possibilities for understanding the use of the golden calf here. One idea is that the calf is still the pedestal, but this time of an invisible deity. The ark within the tabernacle functioned as a seat or footstool (see note on Ex 25: 16) for the divine presence without any object to represent that presence. Perhaps, then, the golden calf functioned similarly. Or perhaps the calf is more in the nature of an emblem or symbol that stands in for the deity. The worship is still directed toward Yahweh (note the festival to Yahweh proclaimed by Aaron in 32: 5), but it makes use of a representative, one that embodies Yahweh’s power and protection and brings reassurance to the people with Moses absent. Regardless of how one interprets the calf, the worship in which the people engage angers Yahweh, in all likelihood because it violates the prohibition on making images (20: 4), which they are supposed to know and to which they have already agreed. In this sense, the calf functions more to replace the absent Moses as a mediator than to replace Yahweh as the one who delivered them from Egypt.”[1]

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[1] HarperCollins Christian Publishing. NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, eBook: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture (Kindle Locations 21965-21980). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

How Do Christians Understand the Old Testament Promises of Prosperity?

"Under the new covenant, material wealth is not an indication of divine blessing.  It was so under the old covenant because the inheritance of the people included the physical territory of Canaan as well as the status of nationhood.  It followed naturally that the disposition of the inheritance and the experience of the people within the boundaries of the land involved physical blessing, Under the new covenant, however, the people of God are a spiritual people (1 Peter 2:5) who belong to a kingdom that is not limited to geographical boundaries (John 18:36). The inheritance of believers is in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:4-7) and their blessings are spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3)." [1]






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Thomas Edward McComiskey, "Hosea," The Minor Prophets (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2009), Page 160

The Patience of Christ

Tremendous words from Charles Haddon Spurgeon:

"What a patience that was which Jesus exhibited for us in our redemption! To come from heaven to earth, to dwell in poverty and neglect, and find no room even in the inn! Admire the patience of Bethlehem. To hold His tongue for thirty years—who shall estimate the wonderful patience of Nazareth and the carpenter’s shop! When He spoke, to be despised and rejected of men, what patience for Him whom Cherubim obey! Oh, the patience of the Christ to be tempted of the devil! One can hardly tell what patience Christ must have had to let the devil come within ten thousand miles of him, for He was able to keep him far down in the abyss below His feet . . . do I need remind you of the patience of Christ for us when the Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all? Patient as a lamb, He opened not His mouth but stood in omnipotence of patience, all-sufficient to endure."[1]

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[1] http://www.spurgeongems.org/vols34-36/chs2028.pdf

Don't Trust Your Perceptions

“We must remember this perspective in our times of desolation, grief, and loss.  How things appear to us, and how they actually are, are rarely the same. Sometimes it looks and feels like the Almighty is dealing “very bitterly” with us, when all the while he is doing us and many others more good than we can imagine. God’s purposes in the lives of his children are always gracious. Always. If they don’t look like it, don’t trust your perceptions. Trust God’s promises. He is always fulfilling his promises.”[1]

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[1] Jon Bloom. Things Not Seen: A Fresh Look at Old Stories of Trusting God’s Promises (Kindle Locations 1317-1321). Crossway.

An Important Balance to the Prosperity Gospel

In a thought-provoking essay by Rev. P. Andrew Sandlin, titled: Economic Atheism, he offers some important challenges to our Christian view of wealth.  Within the context of his discussion he makes an assertion that I would hope all evangelical Christians would support.  He writes:

"The prosperity Gospel is a travesty of the biblical Gospel."  

Now by the prosperity Gospel he means that view whereby "God wants everybody to be healthy, fat, rich and happy -- and if we aren't, it is because we lack faith."   I'm not sure that this perversion of the Gospel includes "fatness" but basically he is correct. I would add that usually proponents of this view include the proviso that if you aren't healthy and wealthy, it is either a lack of faith (as he says) or sin in your life (example: Job).

But then Sandlin goes on to touch a nerve.  This nerve, I confess, seems to pervade even some of my own favorite preachers and authors.  Sandlin writes, "An overreaction to the prosperity Gospel is the poverty Gospel."   Here we get this notion that God always sides with the poor; and poverty (if not subsistence living) is to be the norm.  We can accidentally fall into the trap that says poor, simple, living receives God's blessing, whereby the pursuit and creation of wealth is an abomination.  The reality is that this is not so.  More importantly, Sandlin writes,

"When we attack wealth and its creation as such (not its perversion) we are attacking a critical part of the Lord's plan for extending his Kingdom in his world."

The problem among some well-meaning, anti-capitalistic, often "back-to-earth", "back-to-the simple-life" dwellers is that they forget that their choice of minimalist simplicity also diminishes their capacity to further the Lord's work.  Thank God for the entrepreneurial profit-seeking Christians who, in good conscience, and with right motives, support the millions of missionaries world-wide in accordance with how the Lord has prospered them.

There are of course a multitude of things that inhibit the expansion of God's kingdom.  But in my experience, in relation to money, there are two that stand out.  One has to do with Christians who live so beyond their means that their debt-load renders it impossible for them to help others and support the endeavors of the Church.  The second has to do with well-meaning Christians who reflect a cynical and judgmental attitude to those who are seeking to work hard, invest well, earn a substantial profit and of course: support the Lord's work both at home and abroad.  Both views limit Christian endeavors.

In our abhorrence with the prosperity Gospel, let's not buy into the poverty Gospel.

Do We Need Crosses and Images to Enhance Our Worship?

I had an interesting discussion today about icons, idolatry and the incomparable glory of God.  A summary of that discussion could be clarified through this simple syllogism [1].  It would go this way:

Premise One:  Nothing created adequately describes God in all His glory.
Premise Two:  To use earthly representations to facilitate worship is idolatry.
Premise Three:  The written Word of God is an earthly representation.
Conclusion: The Bible should not be used as a means of worship.

The conclusion may be logical but it is wrong.  What was not included in the logic is that the Bible is God's ordained means to reveal God in a redemptive sense.  Although the Bible does not contain all truth, the Bible is all true.  And more importantly the Bible is sufficient.   The Doctrine of the Sufficiency of Scripture is an important aspect to our Evangelical worship.

The Scriptures ALONE are able to lead a man or woman to saving faith and through to sanctification in grace.  No other created thing, no picture, icon, or image can do that.  No program or mountain peak can do that.  Although we are called by the Second Law of the Ten Commandments not to be devoted to any created thing or image, we can be faith know that the Bible is the exception.  The is the pulse beat of Christianity.  It is the heart of what it means to be Protestant.  It is this truth that separates us from Roman Catholic and Eastern churches.

God's Word ALONE is sufficient.

2 Timothy 3:15 (ESV)

¹⁵ and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Acts 20:32 (ESV)

³² And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

No, we don't need crucifixes, icons, images and pictures to inform our worship of God.  The Bible is sufficient -the rest is insufficient, and by default: idolatry.
 




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1. A syllogism (Greek: συλλογισμός syllogismos, "conclusion, inference") is a kind of logical argument that applies deductive reasoning to arrive at a conclusion based on two or more propositions that are asserted or assumed to be true.