An Apology to the Eastern Orthodox Community
BY J.D. HALL
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:
As the owner and president of Pulpit & Pen, I feel that I need to
issue a public apology to the Eastern Orthodox community in regards to
my managing editor’s recent words. In
a series of posts,
Pulpit & Pen
editor, Jeff Maples, took it upon himself to essentially anathematize
the Bible Answer Man, Hank Hanegraaff, and in the process said some
hurtful things about an old and revered religious tradition. I would be
remiss not to clarify Jeff’s remarks and in the process, make some
apologies. I pray that it is received well by all of our friends in the
Eastern Orthodox community.
Firstly, we would like to apologize on behalf of
Protestants everywhere for overlooking the grave and damning heresies of
the Eastern Orthodox tradition, compared to our stalwart protest of
Rome. This has been an oversight of Protestants, due mostly to the
revival of actual Biblical orthodoxy (you might call it
Protestantism)
developing primarily in the West, and under the wicked authority of
Rome, and not under the Eastern schismatics known by the misleading name
of “Orthodox.” While we have rightly called the Bishop of Rome the
“antichrist” in
our Confessions of Faith, we have overlooked the
many antichrists that have gone out into the world
and settled in their positions as leaders in the Eastern Orthodox
tradition. It was not right of us to prejudicially focus on the Western
anti-christ church just because they happened to be the ones murdering
us for several centuries. In the future, we will strive to explain that
anyone who seeks the title of ‘priest,’ (a blasphemous title if ever
there were one), lead people into idolatry, claim the sole mediary
position between God and man, practice necromantic prayers to the dead,
engage in corpse worship, and promote meritorious salvation is an
antichrist, every bit as much as the Roman Catholic abomination. We are
sorry for leaving out specific condemnations of your religion in our
Confessions, as it wasn’t very inclusive of us.
Secondly, we are sorry that many Protestants have
stopped protesting, sending the impression that our confessional
doctrinal beliefs don’t anathematize you as not only being
sub-Christian, but being anti-Christian. We are sorry that men like
Albert Mohler,
Paige Patterson,
Russell Moore and
Carl Trueman,
all who should certainly know better, seem to have affirmed you in your
superstitious and pagan religion. While the Intelligentsia class of
evangelicalism are happy to learn about how Rod Dreher’s monasticism
fetish might be a valuable tool for fleeing the culture wars, the rest
of us failed to speak up loudly enough to challenge them on this,
partially because the idol-factory of our hearts are quick to make our
own popes out of mere men, and we don’t like to challenge our popes. The
fact is, Greek Orthodox men like Rod Dreher have no part in the Kingdom
of God on Earth, because they have no part of the Kingdom of God in
Heaven, unless they were to recant their idolatry and believe the one,
true, catholic doctrine of Sola Fide. There’s no such thing as being
“kind of Christian,” and the Trinitarian ontology of the Eastern
Orthodox Church doesn’t undo the fact that trusting in your merit for
salvation is just as damning as being a Modalist like TD Jakes or
believing in 9 divine persons like Benny Hinn. So, therefore, we
apologize for our evangelical leaders who have stopped protesting, even
though they call themselves
Protestants. Much of your outrage
(the thousands of angry, F-bomb dropping emails we have received) is due
to the fact you’ve never heard a Protestant say you’re not a Christian.
It’s not because Protestant doctrine doesn’t say you’re lost (it
certainly does), but because we’ve become a bunch of limp-wristed
milksops. Forgive our cowardice.
Thirdly, we apologize for making it seem, should you
have perceived it that way, that you’re unchristian because your
priests wear dresses and you burn incense. While true religion has
little patience for pretentious pageantry, the issue for us concerning
your doctrinal apostasy is your denial of Sola Fide, Sola Scriptura, and
Penal Substitution. The fact that you adorn your buildings in gaudy and
sacrilegious, bedazzled idols is second to the more blatant
soteriological heresies that damn your soul (although idolatry is
damning enough). The fact that you believe that superstitious voodoo oil
poured over someone’s head fills them with the holy spirit and brings
them back from apostasy is secondary to your hope in your own
righteousness for salvation. We (still-protesting Protestants) shouldn’t
have focused upon your bizarre, extra-biblical rituals that resemble
more seance than Biblical service of worship; we should have focused far
more upon your doctrinal beliefs that oppose Jesus and the very Gospel
itself.
A
Greek Orthodox believer sent this to our email, which was going around
to great applause in Greek Orthodox social media forums. This is Jeff
Maples and his daughter, in hell with the Reformers.
Fourthly, we apologize for letting you get away with
asserting your religious superiority by the age of your church. While
it is true that you happen to live in a part of the world that was first
affected by the Gospel, your geographical proximity to the early church
does not mean that you hold to the doctrines or practices of that New
Testament Church. The fact is, the heresies of Gnosticism,
Antinomianism, and the Judaizers all predate the Greek Orthodox Church.
In fact, the sect of the Nicolatians (founded by an Acts 6 deacon)
predates your church considerably. Logic, of course, would not deduce
that these groups, because they are older, are right. We apologize for
not being more forward in pointing out that
Jesus specifically wrote
to the Ephesians Church (where there is now the Greek Orthodox
Patriarchate) that he would remove the lamp stand (IE the Holy Spirit)
from their church for forsaking their first love, the Gospel of Jesus.
The Scripture contains a very explicit warning, directly from the
dictation of Jesus, that the church that would become Eastern Orthodox
would have the Holy Spirit depart it should they continue on their path
of abandoning true religion. While the Eastern Orthodox church is older
than, for example, churches in other parts of the world, that doesn’t
make it better. It just means that the Eastern Orthodox Church has been
apostate longer than most churches have existed. Big. Stinking. Deal.
You don’t get brownie points for the number of centuries since the Holy
Spirit left your building.
Fifthly, we apologize for not pointing out, as you
rage in anger that we anathematize you, that you anathematized us first.
Like the Roman Catholic apostate church, Eastern Orthodoxy has also
declared Protestants to be hopelessly damned for trusting in Christ’s
accomplished work alone for our salvation. While the Eastern Orthodox
community has ranted and railed with lamenting and gnashing of teeth
toward
Pulpit & Pen in recent weeks, they seem blissfully unaware that, like many cults, official Eastern Orthodox teaching declares that only
they are the one true church and more specifically, they teach that actual Christians like ourselves
are damned for trusting only in Jesus.
We apologize for not pointing out that your man-made tradition
similarly anathematizes, only it does it wrongly. There is no moral high
ground of tolerance and open-mindedness that you can confess toward
outsiders without denying the official teachings of your church, a
church you believe infallible based upon nothing but the amount of time
it’s held to its heresies.
I pray that you, as the Eastern Orthodox Community, will receive our
apologies charitably. There has been much confusion because of the
inability or unwillingness to articulate what Protestants actually
believe about those who deny Sola Fide and Penal Substitution. We aim to
fix all that, and do better in the future.
There is no justification outside faith alone in his accomplished
work. Christ’s accomplished work includes his substitionary and
vicarious death in our place, being for us our propitiation.
No amount of smells and bells, chanting absurdities, or calling out
the gods of Ba’al and Asherah with much incense-burning, bell-ringing
pomp and circumstance will change that.
Cordially,
JD Hall
_________________________________________________________
JUST DOING A JOB FOR CHRIST???
JEFF MAPLES WEARS BANGS:
SEE ALSO:
Visiting Hank Hanegraaff’s New
Greek Orthodox Church
BY JEFF MAPLES
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:
One of the biggest complaints against Pulpit & Pen we get
consistently is that we somehow don’t “have all our facts,” or are
“misrepresenting” someone or something. I received countless emails
claiming that I “misrepresented” Greek Orthodoxy in my
recent posts
regarding Hank Hanegraaff and that I should do more research. Well,
what better way to research than to go straight to the source in person?
Saturday, April 15, known as Holy Saturday in the Orthodox tradition, I
along with a couple of friends went to visit
St. Nektarios Greek Orthodox Church in Charlotte, NC–the church that
Hanegraaff was recently chrismated in.
The service began at 11:30 pm, and was still going strong showing no
signs of slowing down when we decided to leave at around 2:00 am. While
we hoped to have the opportunity to confront Hanegraaff in person, being
that we all had to get up early the next morning to worship the living
God on Easter morning, we decided to call it a night early. However,
there are quite a few things that we can take away from this experience
in this church.
1.) I have sat through many Catholic
masses. I was married in a Catholic church, and I can definitely say
I’ve “been there done that.” But I’ve never sat through anything so long
and tedious as the Greek Orthodox mass. Perhaps being a special
Saturday night “resurrection service,” this wasn’t the norm, but it was
excruciatingly long. 2 1/2 hours in and no sign of slowing down.
2.) The cliche, “bells and smells” is
actually a true reality. The burning of incense and ringing of bells was
a noxious combination. It reminded me of being in a college dorm
smoking weed and blowing the smoke through toilet paper rolls stuffed
with dryer sheets.
3.) The liturgy was vain and repetitious.
Literally, the same ritualistic prayers and chanting were sung over and
over. Every prayer included an invocation of Mary and the Saints.
4.) While there was actually quite a bit
of Scripture reading, there was absolutely no teaching. In fact, the
vast majority of Scripture reading was sung in the eerie Byzantine
chant. You’d really have to pay attention and try to listen really hard
to even understand what they were reading or reciting.
5.) The facility was adorned, literally,
wall to wall, floor to ceiling in graven images of the saints. The
images were painted in such a way that the expressions on their faces
were devoid of any emotion. They looked like lifeless figures just
floating around in space.
6.) The enthusiasm of the clergy and
participants in the service was extremely low. Those participating in
the rituals walked around with lifeless expressions on their faces. The
entire ritual was empty and dead.
7.) There is obviously little to no
pursuit of holiness in this church. Several times during the service,
the ushers and deacons could be seen stepping out to take smoke breaks.
Many of the women and even some of the younger girls were dressed less
than modestly.
8.) Repeatedly, the chanting and liturgy
included a summons to God to perform certain acts. It was clear that
they believe that God works through and is dependent upon these rituals
to activate the work of the Holy Spirit.
9.) The Greek and Eastern Orthodox church
is clearly a lifeless church. There was absolutely no gospel in this
service. A lost person could not walk into this church and walk out a
changed man. It was literally a Pagan practice. Like a seance. Pure
witchcraft was going on in this place. In this religion, salvation
doesn’t come through Christ’s imputed righteousness and substitutionary
atonement on the cross, it comes through these dead rituals that they
believe ontologically changes them into divine beings. It was truly one
of the most wicked experiences I’ve ever seen.
This is what Hank Hanegraaff has apostatized to. He knows the Bible,
he has taught it his entire life. He now rejects it. The bible clearly
teaches against the wickedness and error found within the manmade
traditions and doctrines of demons in the Orthodox church. It would have
been easy for one to let their guard down and become entranced by the
production. While in the West it is likely less common for practitioners
of the religion to take it that seriously, it’s easy to see how those
who do take it seriously could achieve an altered state of mind which
would in effect by a spiritual experience for those truly seeking it.
After my experience at this church, not only do I fully stand by what I
have written, but it is even more clear now that this religion is not of
God and should be avoided.
[Contributed by Jeff Maples
]
___________________________________________________
GOSPEL AS LAW??? TREATING OTHERS AS YOU WOULD WANT TO BE TREATED
LUKE 6:
27But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.
30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
QUOTE FROM MAPLES BELOW:
"While we are glad to see her go, we also want to show the love and grace
of Jesus Christ."
BUT THEN THIS BLOG HAD ISSUES WITH MAPLES TOO!:
(Email chain below is word for word unedited, except for the email addresses being removed):
"Let's Extend Grace to Those Who Least Deserve It"
Meet Haley Nicole.
This
is a girl that moved to the Charlotte area a few years ago and started a
major "pro-choice" movement at the abortion mill that I minister at.
After months and months of relentless attack on us, she is obviously
getting burned out with her efforts. She has verbally attacked our
children and our families. She has campaigned against our local churches
in the area who have tried to offer help. She banged pots and pans in
our faces while we try to preach. As a matter of fact, she has even been
asked by the abortion clinic itself to stop coming due to her erratic
and disruptive behavior.
This poor woman is so lost. If anyone deserves the wrath of God more than her, I would be surprised.
"...but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." --Romans 5:8
We are certainly under no obligation to help her after all she's done to
us. But we believe that if the grace of God in His Son Jesus Christ was
sufficient to save wretched sinners such as ourselves, then we should
extend that grace to others. Christ was certainly under no obligation to
take the punishment on the cross for our sins, yet he did so because he
loved us.
While we are glad to see her go, we also want to show the love and grace
of Jesus Christ. If anyone wants to help this woman and her young son
move back to her home state, she has a GoFundMe
page here. If you decide to help her, please leave a comment in your
donation about the grace of God found in Jesus Christ. She has heard the
gospel preached for months, now it's time for her to see it in action.
She
may ultimately end up spending the money elsewhere. We have no control
over that. The Lord will deal with her if she does. But one of the most
humbling things a Christian can do is set aside
our pride and extend grace where it is least deserved. I hope that you will prayerfully consider helping her.
The link to her GoFundMe page is here:
https://www.gofundme.com/pzejda
Jeff
_________________________________________________________
Mr. Maples,
I read and appreciate the articles on Pulpit & Pen very much. Of
all the authors, how is it that you are the only one who has had, and
still has, a problem with Donald Trump, expressing your distaste for the
man at every opportunity, it seems? Granted, the man is a
self-described "professing" Christian, but has shown his worldliness.
But why criticize him, when the other choices for President were far
worse? In your case, "let's extend grace to those who least deserve it",
meaning Trump as well, to avoid appearing hypocritical.
I would also like to know why the authors, yourself, and the
organization have not published any email addresses or phone numbers
prior to this missive?
John
________________________________________________________
Not sure why you are lumping me in as the only one who
"has had a problem with" Donald Trump. But to answer your question as
best as possible, my main point of contention against Trump has always
been against those Christian leaders who have held him up on a pedestal
as though he is some kind of messianic savior. If you read my articles, I
have defended Trump on issues that I believe are defensible and
criticized him where appropriate. Further, I would treat Trump the same.
First, I would never allow him to think that I believe he is a true
Christian... that would be the most unloving and ungraceful thing I
could do.
Yes, the alternatives are worse. I've always said that.
And I have no problem with those who in good faith voted for Trump from
that perspective. Where I have the problem is with men like Robert
Jeffress and Dobson who go around proclaiming this man a born again
believer, and trying to get people to vote for him because of that. It's
a lie, and I'm more concerned with people's eternal state than the
state of this nation.
Donald Trump is our president, and to the
best of my ability, I will support him in his efforts to do his duty to
this nation. I will continue to criticize him where it's due, and I will
continue to defend him where it's due.
As far as email
addresses, I'm not going to publish my personal email address online for
the world and spammers to see. We have always had a contact form on our
website that comes directly to the inboxes of all the contributors of
the site. Further, every author has a link to their Facebook profile to
which many people have reached out to us before. And you could always
reply to the weekly emails that go out... the replies come directly to
me. We are not hard to contact.
I hope this answers your questions.
Grace & Peace.
Jeff
Jeff Maples, Editor
Pulpit & Pen
_______________________________________________________
Mr. Maples,
My name is John, and you omitted same in your response. Likewise, your
tone is blunt, defensive and dismissive. Why? Not very courteous, I have
to say!
I don't think I've either missed or misread your
articles, so I have a hard time seeing exactly where your self
justifications are actually in print. Can you send them to me?
Especially the ones where you say you have defended Trump where
defensible? I maintain that peoples' "eternal state" directly affects
the "state of this nation". For me, it's not an "either/or" as you
imply. I have to say also that the "semper reformanda" of the reformed
crowd is typically apostate and corrupt, and in practice is a reproach
on Christianity. You should change your logo for those reasons.
I am well educated, yet I have never been able to decipher how to
respond to any one author. But that is not my fault. It's purposely that
way, isn't it? I hate using impersonal contact forms. Why are you
screening for the other authors? I'm not suggesting that personal email
addresses be published; you assumed that in error. Do the other authors
have email addresses ending in @
pulpitandpen.org, like yours? Why can't they be published? Or must you exercise total control?
John
________________________________________________________
Considering we get hundreds of emails every day, I'm not so sure why you
have such a problem with it. I don't screen anyone else's email, sir.
And you're the one contacting me making assumptions.
Yes, every contributor has a .
pulpitandpen.org
email address. The only emails that come directly to me are the
responses to the newsletter. Why? Because I'm the one that sends them.
Simple as that. Other than that, like I've said, every contributor has a
link to their profile at the bottom of every single article. It's not
my problem that you don't want to use an "impersonal contact form." We
respond to every inquiry that isn't spam, and every time we respond,
it's with our own individual .
pulpitandpen.org email address.
Below
is the author box that you will find at the bottom of every article.
Feel free to add me on Facebook or message me if you like.
There
is also a link to our facebook group on our website in which all of the
contributors are active and participating members. We post all of our
articles in there and interact with people on everything. That's under
the resources menu. Here is the direct link to it.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/638527459548792/
We
also have a Facebook page which is open to the public. We do the same
there. There is a slide up that advertises this resource on every page
on our website. Here is the direct link to it. We respond to ALL
messages that aren't spam on that page.
https://www.facebook.com/pulpitandpen/?ref=bookmarks
So
with all the ways you could have tried to reach out to us, it doesn't
appear you put in too much effort. If anything else, you could have used
one of the methods to ask for a specific contributor's email address.
Have you tried? Apparently not. So how about less griping about what we
should be doing when you're the only one that seems to be walking around
aimlessly trying to contact us.
Grace & Peace
Jeff
______________________________________________________
Mr. Maples,
Looks like you've been triggered like an anti-Trump rioter? So you
degenerate into disrespect, rudeness, further assumptions, ridicule, and
demeaning sarcasm? How "reformed"! How "Christian"!
I
don't use Facebook because of its tracking and censorship of late. If
you don't know about that, look that up! Other than that, no reader
should have to put a lot of effort into contacting authors, unless it is
designed that way. Which it is, because of your paranoia about
constructive criticism which hurts your narcissistic ego. Links to
author profiles do not contain email addresses, do they? NO.
You need to repent about your poor way of relating to subscribers. Such
behavior is juvenile and un-Christian to say the least. And you have
the hypocritical gall to sign in "Grace & Peace". No wonder you got
hit with abuse from Haley Nicole!
In Christ,
John
______________________________________________________