Note: Permission received to publish this article in full. Thank you Prof. Malan www.bibleguidance.co.za [Picture added by DTW]
Spiritual Deception, Revival and Angus Buchan
Prof. Johan Malan, South Africa (May 2010)
Spiritual deception and apostatising keep on proliferating as we are moving deeper into the end-time. We know that the Spirit of truth wants to guide us into all the truth of God’s Word – including the correct understanding of end-time prophecies (John 16:13). On the opposite side there is the spirit of error who is intent on deceiving people spiritually with a view to preparing them on the coming of the Antichrist (1 John 4:1-6). More than ever before we need discernment to be able to observe the full counsel of God and to allow the Holy Spirit to teach us and keep us from all forms of deception.
It is not always easy to keep our ways pure in all respects by correct discernment of these two spiritual influences since there is, by the devil’s doing, a grey area between them. Satan has the ability to present himself as an angel of light, thereby also deceiving Christians with noble intentions (2 Cor. 11:13-15; Matt. 24:4-5,24). It is one of his main objectives to confuse believers by inciting them to entertain erroneous views on Christ and the Bible. There are many examples of such satanic influence in the Bible.
Peter was conscious of the fact that Jesus is the Messiah and Son of God and honestly thought that he made a very positive statement when he expressed himself against the idea of Christ’s crucifixion. However, it was clearly evident that he was deceived by Satan to take this stand (Matt. 16:14-23). Maybe Peter can be excused for this action since he did not yet have the full enlightening of the Holy Spirit.
But later, as a Spirit-filled apostle, Peter erred again when he failed to discern between the grace of Christ for justification and Jewish law-observance. He even compelled Gentile believers to behave like Jews. Paul reprimanded him in public for doing this (Gal. 2:11-21). Wrong teachings of this nature were also proclaimed by the Galatian congregation, thereby seriously jeopardising their trust in Christ’s work of grace (Gal. 5:4). Similar false teachings are rapidly increasing in our time since many Christians are subjecting themselves once again under the law.
Many of the early Christian churches seriously defected from the truth and all of their behaviour may be attributed to Satan and his accomplices (cf. Acts 20:29-30). Ephesus lapsed into a form of godliness which soon estranged them from their love for the Lord Jesus (Rev. 2:4-5). Pergamum listened to false prophets and compromised with the evil world, thereby allowing the devil to gain a foothold in their church (Rev. 2:13-15). The single person who expressed himself against the stream of deception had to pay with his life for doing so (Rev. 2:13). Thyatira was under the influence of a false prophetess, which caused extreme apostatising and put them on course to the great tribulation (Rev. 2:20-23). Only a small number of church members remained true to the Lord Jesus and walked in worthiness of his kingdom (Rev. 2:24-29). Sardis had a name that they were alive but they were spiritually dead and did not engage in evangelistic outreaches (Rev. 3:1-3). In this church there were also a few believers who persevered on the right way and did not stagnate together with the majority (Rev. 3:4-5). Laodicea completely fell victim to materialism, self-justification and a form of godliness, and were not even aware that the Lord Jesus had withdrawn from them and stood knocking outside the door (Rev. 3:15-17).
All people can be deceived, including the best Christians, and for that reason the Lord Jesus admonished us: “Take heed that no one deceives you” (Matt. 24:4). But if we know the Word of the Lord, accept it by faith and strictly walk in accordance with it, we will not err: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). If we do not strictly abide by the Bible we will stray and also restrict the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. “Jesus answered and said to them, You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Matt. 22:29). The Holy Spirit is willing to fulfil biblical promises which we accept by faith.
End-time deception
In the end-time spiritual deception takes on much larger proportions than in the past – still under the direct influence of the devil and his spirit of error. Postmodern man liberates himself from Biblical mandates by questioning their validity or merely ignoring them as if they do not exist. In their place he observes humanistic philosophies inspired by the devil and propagated by false teachers. These new views are contrary to the guidance and conviction of the Holy Spirit. They are aimed at attacking people’s faith, and for this reason the Holy Spirit warns against them: “Now the Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron” (1 Tim. 4:1-2). The Living Bible paraphrases these two verses as follows: “But the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some in the church will turn away from Christ and become eager followers of teachers with devil-inspired ideas. These teachers will tell lies with straight faces and do it so often that their consciences will not even bother them.” The end result of this deception is that many people’s faith is completely destroyed. They depart from the truth and follow a way that may seem to be right in terms of human rationalising but its end is the way of death (Prov. 16:25).
There are different kinds of false teachings which we have to avoid. Some of them are even propagated by true believers who are ignorant or deceived in certain areas of their spiritual lives. Other teachings represent a more advanced degree of deception and are only proclaimed by false prophets. The following are the ten most common categories of deception which are encountered in a large number of Christian churches and interdenominational movements:
A multireligious orientation: This false dogma propagates the lie that Christianity is not unique but only one group in a large family of co-equal world religions. According to this view, salvation may be obtained by members of any faith. The interfaith dogma also rejects the idea of the Triune God. God the Father is depicted as the universal God of all faiths, and different paths may be followed to approach him. Jesus is only regarded as an ordinary prophet who functions on an equal level with Mohammed, Krishna, Buddha and other mediators to God. The Holy Spirit is associated with all supernatural experiences, including witchcraft, divination and other strange phenomena. A multireligious orientation is promoted by the universal god of this age, Satan, and also preached in Christian churches by his false prophets (2 Cor. 4:4; 11:13-15; 2 Pet. 2:1-12).
Mysticism: Strange techniques from the Eastern religions are often used to establish contact with the supernatural world and also to experience spiritual enlightening. One of the most common mystical practices is transcendental meditation. This is a form of turning to one’s “deeper self” during extended times of silence and exclusion from the world, when people descend to so-called creative levels of their subconscious mind to attune to the supernatural, cosmic world. Mantras (a word or short sentence) are repeated over and over until the person experiences an alternative state of consciousness – which is a type of hypnotic trance. The Bible denounces the use of mantras as a heathen practice which should not form any part of Christian prayers (Matt. 6:7). A mystical orientation leads to the view that there is not a personal God but only an impersonal, pantheistic god within all people and also in nature. Such people do not believe in heaven or hell as specific places, neither in a personal devil. According to them there is only an element of evil in the cosmos (also in people) which should be resisted. They strive towards creating a condition of heaven on earth.
The proclaiming of another Jesus: These people do not deny the biblical Jesus in name but they do question and change His personal attributes and works. Among them are a great number of apostate theologians and preachers who openly allege that Jesus was not born from a virgin, He was not Christ or the Son of God, neither was He resurrected from the dead nor did He ascend to heaven. In the postmodern deconstruction of the Scriptural image of Jesus, the name “Jesus” is retained but is assigned to “another Jesus” who is an impostor of Satan (2 Cor. 11:2-4). A person who turns his back upon the true Jesus inevitably becomes a follower of the Antichrist: “Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is Antichrist who denies the Father and the Son” (1 John 2:22). Those who proclaim another Jesus do not consider the statements of the true Jesus and create their own future scenario. The Lord Jesus said that the world is heading for a great tribulation, but that true believers can escape it by way of the rapture (Matt. 24:21; Luke 21:36). Followers of the “other Jesus” deny the coming judgements and exert themselves for the establishment of a peaceful human kingdom on earth.
The promotion of another spirit and another gospel: According to 2 Cor. 11:4, the inception of a counterfeit Jesus coincides with the adulteration of the Holy Spirit and the gospel of salvation. When people render the Lord Jesus an ordinary, human prophet and fail to worship Him as the only Mediator to God, they subject themselves to the influence of a foreign spirit that comes from the devil. This spirit will not convict them of sin but establish a false sense of peace in their hearts. He may also work strange manifestations in his victims such as falling on the floor while laughing uncontrollably. Within the context of this spirit’s false gospel they regard rebirth as a form of supernatural power that falls on them in a tangible way. Their lives are then built upon the foundation of a false conversion, and many of them will only discover that they have been deceived when it is too late to change the situation (Matt. 7:22-23).
Discrediting of the Bible and its message: It has become a modern fad to reject the Bible as the inspired Word of God by relegating it to the level of human literature which is allegedly full of contradictions and mythological accounts. No biblical prophecies on the end-time are literally interpreted – including prophetic books such as Daniel, Zechariah and Revelation. Theologians who approach the Bible in such an indifferent, subjective way by spiritualising and allegorising everything, or interpreting it historically, are called amillennialists or preterists. Most of them hold the view that end-time prophecies on divine judgements, the Antichrist and the great tribulation, were fulfilled in the first century AD during the reign of Nero and the destruction of Jerusalem. To them, the literal message of the Bible has largely fallen away – also the many prophecies on the end-time restoration of Israel. No wonder that many of them proceed with their systematic dismantling of the Bible by also questioning or rejecting many other doctrines such as the deity of the Lord Jesus, His resurrection and the significance of His death on the cross. Neither is biblical morality seriously regarded but reduced to contemporary guidelines to historical societies. In this way postmodern man “liberates” himself and gives free reign to his fleshly lusts. He even justifies abominable sins such as drunkenness, adultery and homosexuality.
Legalism: Since the religion of many people is not based upon a sound relationship of faith in the Lord Jesus, large numbers of them are reverting to the Old Testament law to give substance to their religious activities. They regard themselves as “spiritual Israelites” and commit themselves to observing Sabbaths and Jewish feasts. Some even have themselves circumcised so as not to be part of the “uncircumcised heathen world”. It is obvious that they understand very little of the covenant of grace with God through His Son, Jesus Christ. Through the value that they attach to law observation they put their relationship with the Lord Jesus in jeopardy as they do not completely rely on His grace (Gal. 5:4). At the extreme side of the movement back to the Old Testament is British Israelism, which is also strongly represented in South Africa. They see the white nations as the continuation of the Old Testament’s covenant people of Israel, and strongly emphasise the position of confrontation which they occupy towards the Gentile world of coloured nations. They have their own prophets, such as “Siener” (Visionary) Van Rensburg, and expect that the modern heathendom will wage a racial war in which they will endeavour to destroy white Israelites in a cruel and merciless way. Virtually all supporters of British Israelism have a hard and uncompromising spirit because of their boundless hatred towards the coloured nations as well as the Jews, whom they regard as a mongrel race that has mixed with Edomites and other enemies of God. They expect that the heathen nations will be utterly destroyed, after which the “white Israelites” will inherit the kingdom of God. It is characteristic of this group that they are dominated by a foreign spirit of extreme racism, hatred and vindictiveness. They do not have any peace in their hearts, and that is the reason why they incite one another and easily lapse into panic and despondency when they lose hope for their immediate survival.
Ritualising and moral justification: Most people wish to be justified in an easy way without complying with the biblical demand of being born again. The Lord warns us that in the end-time there will be large numbers of preachers who will be prepared to proclaim fables of false conversions for the sake of money and popularity (2 Tim. 4:3-4). One of the popular fables which is proclaimed within the framework of Calvinism is that people do not have a free will and that all Christians have been predestined by God to salvation. Their election and salvation are confirmed by the ritual of infant baptism, after which they enjoy eternal security as no one can snatch them form the Lord’s hand. They are baptised into heaven without rebirth and then given the assurance that no sin or apostasy can change their status as Christians. The Bible, however, does not teach this false doctrine and demand that all people (also “covenant children”) must be born again (John 3:3). It is a clear command of the Lord that all of us should repent (Acts 17:30; 2 Pet. 3:9; Rev. 22:17). In most religions – also in degenerate, nominal Christianity – the view is entertained that we should live morally and socially acceptable lives in order to be fit for heaven. But that is also a myth as the cross of Christ plays no role in this doctrine of self-justification.
Ignoring of the biblical message of sanctification: A serious injustice is done to Christians when the message of sanctification as a second work of grace is withheld from them. The consequence of this shortcoming is that they are confined to the category of carnal believers who are described as babes in Christ (1 Cor. 3:1-3; Eph. 4:13-14). They lead a life of stumbling and rising, and have no understanding of the deeper things of God’s Word (Gal. 5:17; Heb. 5:12-14). Such people are not filled with the Holy Spirit and can, therefore, not claim that the Holy Spirit guides them into all truth (John 16:13). They are easy targets for spiritual deception. Since they are not endued with the power of the Holy Spirit, they easily fall into fleshly sins such as drinking and immorality (Eph. 5:18; 1 Thess. 4:3,7-8). We are admonished to be strong in the Lord so that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil (Eph. 6:10-11). This power not only enables us to live victoriously over sin and temptation but also gives us boldness to be successful witnesses for Christ. The Lord Jesus said: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me” (Acts 1:8). Empty yourself of the world and all forms of sin and fleshliness, wait on the Lord, and He will fill you with His Holy Spirit. That will make a very big difference in your life. It will, amongst others, enable you to identify and resist deception. Without this experience and spiritual enlightenment you will be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine (Eph. 4:14).
Signs and wonders as part of a faith based upon physical experiences: In the end-time there is a major resurgence in supernatural manifestations as preparation toward the coming of the Antichrist (Matt. 24:24). Large numbers of people run after preachers and prophets who were allegedly empowered by God to heal the sick and even resurrect the dead. Great credibility is enjoyed by such preachers, e.g. Benny Hinn and TB Joshua, and everything they say and do is blindly accepted. The Antichrist and false prophet will act in a like manner (2 Thess. 2:8-10; Rev. 13:13-14). They will do great signs through the power of Satan, and the whole world will be in amazement. Hurry-scurry decisions will globally be taken to accept and worship these two magicians and deceivers as special representatives of God (Rev. 13:3-4). We should guard against the tendency to seek after miracles, thereby elevating material and sensual experience above our relationship of faith with the Lord Jesus. The devil will increasingly use miracles to get people in his power and into his sphere of influence.
Dominionism, transformations and false revivals: The promotion of a manmade kingdom on earth (dominionism) is a very common characteristic of our time. All churches that do not believe in the future revelation of the kingdom of Christ on earth after His second coming, transfer kingdom promises in the Bible to the church dispensation and exert themselves for the establishment of a Christian kingdom here and now. According to them, a united (ecumenical) church will rule over this kingdom and subject the whole world to Christian control. Various techniques are used to manifest this kingdom, which is dispensationally completely out of place:
- Transformation meetings are held to assemble churches in the same town or city and to present a kingdom vision to them. In this way they are challenged to work together for the good of the entire community. The leaders of the movement express themselves against all forms of crime and human suffering, they join hands with political leaders and take calculated steps to create a world in which righteousness and prosperity will prevail.
- Divine intervention in the interest of peace and prosperity in the entire land is promised in terms of 2 Chronicles 7:14 to every host country where transformation meetings are held. According to this promise which was made to Israel in the Old Testament, the Lord will forgive the nation all their sins during a national repentance and also heal their land.
- A promise of big revivals is made to the entire community. It is stated that the Lord’s Spirit will work so mightily that virtually all people in a country will repent and join the ecumenical city churches. All key positions in society and government will ultimately be filled by Christians, and they will ensure that righteousness will prevail and everybody is justly treated.
Biblical evaluation of the transformation movement: The Bible nowhere promises a position of dominion to believers during the church dispensation between the first and second coming of Christ. The church is in a position of conflict against a depraved world and should rather expect rejection and persecution from the unsaved majority. In the Bible it is often stated that those who are truly saved will always be a small minority. They must shine as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. How can they win a democratic election and take over positions of authority in the world? The kingdom of Christ will only be revealed when He comes as King of the kings, and then His saints will rule with Him. The saved Israel will play a very prominent role in this kingdom and be a blessing to the entire world. During the church dispensation, however, Israel was dispersed among the nations, Jerusalem was trampled and the majority of Jews still reject Jesus as Messiah. Israel is only now, at the end of the church dispensation, restored in their land in preparation for their national conversion.
The promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14 was given to Israel in the Old Testament. However, with the exception of short periods of special dedication they never complied with the Lord’s condition of a national repentance. Ultimately, Israel was scattered abroad because of their unbelief. The spiritual condition of the Gentiles is the same, where only a small minority (a remnant) truly serves the Lord. Because of this, the nations should be warned against the judgements of the Lord during the coming tribulation period. Nowhere on earth is there even the slightest indication of a national repentance as a result of the transformation movement. It is one of the major weaknesses and errors of the transformation movement that they fail to warn the nations against the wrath to come as a consequence of their spiritual stubbornness. Neither do they warn the nations against the Antichrist and false prophet who will rule over them during the seven-year tribulation period, should they persevere on their present course. Multireligious constitutions are the order of the day, and in these policy documents no recognition is given to the position and authority of the Triune God.
There is no Christian empire which can be promised to any nation during the church dispensation since they all form part of the present evil world and its humanistic institutions. Even true Christians should not prepare themselves to take over the kingdoms of the world during the end-time, but rather to escape the coming judgements of the tribulation by means of the rapture. After that, they will appear before the judgement seat of Christ to receive rewards of grace (2 Cor. 5:10). However, preaching on the second coming is completely absent from transformation meetings because the outpouring of divine wrath is contrary to their kingdom vision for the last days.
The expectation of big revivals is completely out of place for the end of the church dispensation. The Bible in fact only refers to a time of great falling away directly preceding the second coming of Christ. It will again be as in the days of Noah and Lot (Luke 17:26). Most people will grow cold in their love for the Lord (Matt. 24:12) while a large-scale spiritual and moral falling away will occur in the church (2 Thess. 2:3; 2 Tim. 3:1-5). Revival will only be experienced by small groups of true Christians who will further separate themselves from the world and from sin to serve the Lord with their whole heart (Rev. 22:11).
The only worldwide spiritual awakening which the Bible refers to in the end-time will, according to Revelation 7, occur during the seven-year tribulation. During this time, 144 000 Jews will first be saved and spiritually equipped to act as evangelists during this very trying time. A big harvest of souls will be gathered in Israel and also among the other nations (Rev. 7:9-14).
After the tribulation, Christ will return to judge His enemies and take the kingdoms of the world upon His shoulders (Rev. 11:15; 19:11-21). His saints will rule with Him then – not now (Rev. 2:25-27).
True and false prophets
How should we judge the large number of prophets, preachers and their messages? As indicated above, there are false prophets who are guilty of outright heresies due to the denial of basic Christian doctrines. They should be resisted and rejected. To be able to do that, we must have a sound knowledge of the truth lest we may also be deceived: “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed” (2 Pet. 2:1-2).
These false prophets will give evangelical believers a bad name and completely reject their narrow, biblical views. Peter seriously warns us not to be influenced by them: “You therefore, beloved, since you know these things beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and for ever” (2 Pet. 3:17-18).
Then there are those preachers who do have a saving faith in the Lord Jesus, although there may be various aspects of God’s counsel which they do not correctly understand. Because of their ignorance on matters such as the end of the church dispensation, the rapture, the judgements of God during the tribulation, the Antichrist and false prophet, the second coming of Christ and His subsequent millennial reign, they often become involved with a completely distorted eschatology and kingdom vision, as well as the transformation movement and its associated ecumenical movement. We should be cautious not to reject such brothers as Christians if they have a testimony of being born again and truly honour and serve the Lord Jesus. But it is nevertheless our duty to take a strong stand for the truth against their wrong views on certain issues. We cannot be onlookers while thousands of people are lured away after wrong teachings on eschatology as well as the purpose and calling of the church.
Angus Buchan
It is obvious that the South African revival preacher, Angus Buchan, does have a relationship with Jesus Christ as his Saviour and experiences Him as a living reality in his life. He also exhorts thousands of people to repent, and helps families to reconcile with each other, which is praiseworthy. On the other hand, worried voices are being heard that he reveals great ignorance on various aspects of biblical doctrines – to such an extent that he has embarked on the way of kingdom theology, the ecumenical movement, and even the promotion of dubious signs and wonders. On certain occasions he has made positive comments on false prophets such as Benny Hinn and Kathryn Kuhlman. His perceived ignorance on these matters is disturbing and even bewildering.
Great concern is also mentioned about Angus’ method of mass evangelisation where he usually brings one or two messages before leaving again. It is inevitable that this is like sowing the seed of the gospel on shallow ground, and many questions arise from this strategy: How can sustainable work be done in this way? What about the further message of sanctification which should be preached to all converts? What happens to young believers who are returned to their homes and mostly dead churches without the equipment of a Spirit-filled life, and consequently also without a sound grounding in their life of faith? These are the major questions on the shortcomings of his ministry.
The other questions relate to the kingdom deception which Angus proclaims to the crowds. How can he, according to his own insight, promise people that South Africa and Zimbabwe will be completely restored? In this regard he acts contrary to Jesus Christ Himself, who said that in the end-time there will be great tribulation such as has never been on earth (Matt. 24:21). Someone who correctly understands the biblical message on the end-time would warn his followers against a time of great spiritual and moral falling away, while also mentioning the possibility of the persecution and rejection of evangelical Christians. These matters are not part of Angus’s message. Neither does he proclaim the blessed hope of the rapture to Christians to encourage them to remain steadfast until the Lord Jesus takes us away to our heavenly home (1 Thess. 4:16-18).
The fact that so many people stream to the meetings of Angus is proof of the lack of leadership which the whites in South Africa experience in both the political and religious fields. They are looking for somebody to come and lead the Boers. Even some of the Israel groups (British Israelism, or White Theology supporters) allege that Prophet Van Rensburg has referred to a leader who would lead the Boers to a Boer state where they can be free from domination by the blacks. Could this perhaps be the reason for the popularity that Angus enjoys?
Many disappointed Christians perceive that Angus, unlike Paul, does not proclaim the full counsel of God to his thousands of followers. This is a relevant observation because, if he would have done so, he would in concrete terms have achieved much more than is the case at present. He cannot even remotely be mentioned in the same vein as a revival preacher such as Andrew Murray. It is in fact highly questionable whether the movement which he describes as a revival indeed qualifies to be defined as such.
Source: http://www.bibleguidance.co.za/Weekly/117%20BuchanEng.htm
Just commenting on Angus, you say he does have a relationship with JESUS and that he preaches repentance and need for salvation. You then attack beliefs that are not clearly established in the Bible ie Rapture. Where does the Bible talk of the Great Escape? It doesnt it talks of that day of Translation but not escape so your dubious doctrine should not be the lynch pin so to speak of someones Rigthtness in Christ. Also, you believe in a future fulfillment of Matt. 24, I believe it was totally fulfilled in 70 AD. Does that make me less of a Christian in your eyes because I dont believe as you do. Do you worship modern Israel as the Israel of old?
If you believe this man Angus has a Personal relationship with Christ, then why not listen to what CHRIST maybe saying to him instead of being so sold on doctrines of men. One thing is sure we have been given the Ministry of Reconcilitation beyond that you maybe making up your own doctrines to bash a fellow brother in Christ.
If Angus is thus ignorant of Bibical Doctrine why has nobody told him? Does anyone have his number as I would love to set up a meeting and ask him personally as to why he thinks the way he does,Or is he like Ray Mccauley who only takes appointments from well know rich folk. I am rich in GODS annointing. Maybe they dont think so as my bank balance does not show it. Oh well.
Open Letter to Angus Buchan
Amanda was that letter from Alan ever replied to by Angus?
Louise
Sadly, I don’t think so.
Small Error Huge Consequence Angus Buchan MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2008
How sad. I often wonder if people really think they can get away with false doctrine or are they so blinded that they really belive they are doing the WILL OF GOD. I have so many questions to ask when I get to heaven.
Louise, as long as they have a following they don’t care and they don’t believe they need to be accountable to critics or those who question them. It is the delusion of power when the
masses follow them. They must believe that the fact that the masses follow them that God is blessing their message.
I know that is the false belief of many megachurch pastors – they believe growth is blessed by God when in fact it is due to their falling away from the Word and tickling ears.
louise
I can confirm that Alan Lester never got an answer from Angus as I have email contact with Alan. Yes it is so sad that one cannot even hold and teacher accountable for their error any more. If one has to speak out against it if one is in a false church you will be ignored, pushed out and made to look the baddie.
I had a discussion wit an elderly couple two nights ago. The elderly man was a Prof in theology and and a Dominee (Afrikaans for Pastor) in the old days from the Dutch Reformed church and he told me and hubby of an incident when he was still a student at varsity. One of his Prof’s brought in a form of false teachings and this old man and 3 of his fellow students reported the spesific prof and the case took 12 months for the church authority to investigate and at the end the false teacher prof was expelled from teaching thleology. Wonderful to know those years like 40 years ago Christians could still speak out against false teachings.
I’m So so Sad to say THIS WILL NOT BE THE CASE TODAY as there are too much deception and blind and deafness that has been allowed into the church. That is also why I think people will always think one is judgmental toward exposing false teaching. We are to test everything to see whether it proceed from God.
John 12:40
He has blinded their eyes and hardened and benumbed their [callous, degenerated] hearts [He has made their minds dull], to keep them from seeing with their eyes and understanding with their hearts and minds and repenting and turning to Me to heal them.
I had a nasty virus on my e-mail address book. I am back
Lol I dont believe it was gremlins just a matter of life.
I agree wholeheartedly on the issue of Spiritual deception in this article but must point out that prof Malans’ inclusion of certain doctrinal beliefs to which he subscribes in order to make his point is misplaced.
Prof Malan confuses Roman Catholic teaching regarding baptism of infants with what Reformed Calvinists believe – which is definitely not salvation through baptism! I wonder when last he witnessed a baby being baptized in one of the reformed sister churches and listened unprejudiced to the reasons for this holy sacrament.
I wonder what prof Malan describes as an “alive” church. It is patently clear that when he refers to a dead church, he has the DRC in mind. If a church which display its “aliveness” by showmanship preaching, tongues, prophesy and loud music instead of their support of with the sick, blind, deaf, lost and hungry over decades in the mission fields of Africa, and solid “Sola Scriptura etc.” preaching from its pulpits, then I must disagree with him. I wonder to which “alive” church [if any] prof Malan throws in his weight, or may I respectfully enquire whether prof Malan is waiting for the perfect church.
Why do people stream to Angus meetings?. Because they are looking for signs and wonders which they cannot expect to find on display in a true Bible-believing reformed church. Also, those who do not underwrite the all sufficient price Jesus paid on the cross and are impressed by the extra requirements for Jesus + actions to boost their shaky faith, get it at Angus meetings. And I wonder how long it lasts, because I know quite a few attendants who retained the quoted bible texts as clichés, but display very little of its substance after a few weeks .
Ewald
You said:
I doubt if that is what Prof. Malan meant. It seems to me that the DRC has nothing but good works and mysticism left. Moreleta Park is DRC and they had Bruce Wilkinson enticing them with a report of a Jesus appearing in the Amazon and Bruce prophesied in their church. You are aware that the New Reformers attacked the heart of Christianity, the resurrection and that the DRC caved? Have you seen the “Nuwe Strominge” DVD that exposed the UP? You know of the recent debate where Dr. Craig and Dr. Licona defended the traditional understanding of the resurrection as a physical, historical event against the atheists Prof. Wolmarans and Prof. Spangenberg? Are you aware that Christians have fled the DRC, tired of it’s “theological double-talk” and their advocacy for a “more humble hermeneutic”? So if you can point me to some solid, Bible preaching DR churches, preferable those with sermons available on line, I will gladly check it out. You said:
Maybe that is true. But maybe their reformed church have left them starved for the Word and for Jesus Christ and Him crucified for our sins.
Ewald
I cannot agree with you it is clear to me what Prof is saying and certainly no confusion in what he says, maybe you should read again.
Ewald
Sorry Ewald but that is just a ridiculous enquiry to make as you yourself should know the answer to that. The perfect church has been in existence for almost 2000 years in the hearts of true Christians AND it is not a denomination. Prof Malan is only waiting for the return of Jesus.
Ewald
I can give you two examples from last Sunday to show what I mean by reformed preaching leaving Christians starving.
Prof. Hennie Stander preached on RSG (national radio) Sunday morning. You can download the sermon here. Dr. Stephan Joubert preached at Moreleta Park Sunday evening and you can download that one here. Both men are prominent in the Dutch Reformed Church, both lecture at the University of Pretoria and both have published books for the Christian market. Both of them preached dead sermons.
I know there are one or two exceptions in the DRC and if you can point me to them, I would really be grateful.
Ewald
This was an open letter written to Angus Buchan. I will just post and excerpt here:
THE SHOCK OF JOB’S “COMFORTERS ”
You will remember what God said to Job’s “comforters” after they had mashed him with their counsel: After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, ” I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.” (Job 42:7-8 NIV Emphasis mine)
What a shocking thing it must have been for those men to have sat with Job in his calamity, and to have advised him according to what they thought was accurate, God honouring counsel, and then have God declare that He is angry with them because they had not spoken of Him what is right. What they thought was right and what was actually right were two different things. In fact, in verse 8 God calls their application of what they thought was right to Job’s case, folly.
THE CHURCH IS TRANSFORMED BY THE TRUTH
Down the centuries since then, human minds are still plagued by the haze of sin. Our thinking has been damaged by sin so that what we think is right may not actually be right at all. What a blessed thing it is to sit under the teaching of a true servant of God who has uncovered some element of truth from Scri pture, and he teaches it so clearly that our sin-warped perspective is suddenly cleared in that area! To grasp a glorious new truth from Scripture is a wonderful thing. Something like this happened at the time of the Reformation. A central truth of Scripture that had been hidden in the blackness of the 1000-year Dark Ages was suddenly re-discovered. Coming to understand this basic teaching of Scripture revolutionised the church, so much so that God’s people were willing to have their blood spilt to protect this new ray of light, beaming from the pages of Holy Scripture.
UNIVERSAL PRONENESS TO COME TO WRONG CONCLUSIONS
What I am saying dear brother is that the fallen human race-as you surely know-is prone to coming to the wrong conclusions about their standing before God, about God, about God’s universe, the meaning of life; everything. Neither you nor I are exempt from this wretched haze of sin. What seems right to a person in this world may actually be the pathway to death (Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25). Our thinking is deceptive (Jeremiah 17:9). God says that there is not one person who understands accurately (Romans 3:11). Our thinking did not escape the fall of Genesis 3.
I SPEAK AS A SON TO A FATHER
Brother, I speak to you with the respect of a son to a father; If the entire human race fell into this erroneous thinking (among other things) with Adam as Romans 5:12-21 teaches, it is entirely possible that you and I have both believed a certain degree of error, and have both taught a certain degree of error ? Would you not be filled with joy if this error could be shown to you clearly and you could see the truth? I surely would, and I surely have been filled with joy as my beliefs have been challenged over the years and my errors have been pinpointed. It is the wise man who listens to advice, but the fool who persists in his own way because he thinks it is right (Proverbs 12:15).
WHAT DID WE SAY WRONG ?
If God were angry with you as he was with Job’s counsellors, because they didn’t speak of Him what was right, wouldn’t you want to know what it was you said that made God angry? Wouldn’t you want to repent of what you had said and believed and wouldn’t you want to go out and preach the truth with full confidence that what you are saying has God’s blessing? I certainly would! Supposing you have agreed with what I have said, may I put before you, for your consideration, what I have noted while watching your sermons on DVD? I have made it my express purpose not to nit-pick, but to be helpful on major issues in which it appears to me, brother, you have not spoken of God what is right. May it never be said of you or I that we are zealous for God, but our zeal is not based on knowledge (Romans 10:2).
WHAT MUST I DO TO BE BORN A GAIN ?
The first issue I would like to raise is the issue of being born again. You will remember that this is one of the items I commended you for at the start of this letter. I was so thrilled when you announced at Loftus that by the end of this event, everyone will know what it is to be born again. Brother, I waited in eager expectation for you to preach to the people on what it is to be born again, but I was left hungry. The people went away not knowing what it is to be born again.
I took notes and tried to understand from your preaching, what concept you have in mind when you speak about being born again. You spoke about personal decision , you seemed to be challenging the people to do what is right, you taught that people should be committed to Christ, and you even ended your message with the statement that it is not good people who go to heaven, but believers . Don’t misunderstand me, I support you wholeheartedly in your appeals to the people to do these things. My concern is that these things do not add up to what it means to be born again. Dear brother, the Lord could use you so powerfully if you laid hold of the true, potent Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and preached it with the passion He has given you! I desire to see you drawn up higher in your spiritual understanding so you shine with a new vibrant message!
GUTTING A FISH
Before I describe something of the wonderful landscape of the glorious Gospel of the Bible, may I quickly make one more observation that saddened me? There is so much wrong teaching today that guts the Gospel much like we gut a fish we have caught. It urges people to believe that the critical focus of the Gospel is that there needs to be reconciliation between people and people . While I agree sincerely with reconciliation between people, that does not form the heart of the Gospel. People who have been genuinely born again do exhibit a sense of urgency about being reconciled to people they have sinned against and who have sinned against them. Reconciliation between people is a breathtaking result of being born again, but it is not the substance of being born again. If a person makes a decision to be reconciled to a father, son, mother, daughter, friend, as a result of hearing the preaching of the Word of God, that is something to praise God for, but that doesn’t mean the person has been born again. Please forgive my repetition; it is not meant to be disrespectful, but to bring clarity, that I may not be misunderstood.
THE GLORIOUS GOSPEL OF THE BLESSED GOD
The Gospel of the Bible is all about people being reconciled to God, not people being reconciled to people . Even as you read this, I’m sure you know this, but there is an astonishing element to the Gospel that I believe I need to describe in more detail. Please brother, if you are feeling annoyed at my personal manner, I humbly request your forgiveness. Please do not let my awkward, perhaps abrasive words stop you from sitting back now and enjoying with me the subject that thrills our hearts the most-the glorious Gospel of the blessed God (1 Timothy 1:11). For the purpose of clarity and organization, I have arranged my comments on the Gospel under three headings: Your Hearer’s Need, Your Hearer’s Hope, and Your Hearer’s Reward.
Your Hearer’s Need
People Resembled God
God created man in His image (Genesis 1:27, 9:6). God created man more like Himself than any other creature on the face of His newly created earth. Man was a glorious being, who, when the animals and angels looked upon him, resembled God. This is how the words image and likeness are intended to be understood in Genesis 1:27 and 9:6, judging from the way Moses uses the words image and likeness again in Genesis 5:3. Just as a son is like his father in a limited number of ways, so mankind was like God in a number of ways. Surely he was a superb being.
People are Disgraced
This glorious resemblance to God, however, didn’t last long in its unstained form. Oh the disgrace as Eve, then Adam, choose the lies of the devil over the promises of God. We find them disgracing themselves in front of the kind, spotless, radiant God, hiding in the garden because they are afraid and ashamed. Instead of holding their heads high in joy and purity, they now hang their heads in shame. The have reason to be filled with shame because they have done an immeasurably sham eful thing. One can only imagine the sorrow in the hearts of the heavenly host as Adam and Eve are driven from Paradise and out into a weed-infested, thorny, cursed, unfriendly environment. While work in the garden was always a thrill and brought satisfaction, work was now harsh, unpleasant and slavish (Genesis 2 and 3).
People are Seriously Separated from God
Mankind, who had once been nearer to God, in fellowship and likeness, than any other created being, is now driven from God’s presence in disgrace. Man is now alienated from God, separated from God, in exile from God. The wonderful fellowship in the garden is smashed. The majority of unbelievers today don’t consider this separation from God to be a serious thing. They still think that all that is needed for a person to come back into the presence and favour of God is a decision, a commitment to Christ, 7 an effort to live a more holy life. This mindset is at war with what the Bible teaches about man’s true, macabre position before God.
People are Dead!
Scripture gives us the perfect analogy for this condition of separation from God; death ! (Ephesians 2:1, 5, 5:14, 1:19-20, John 5:21, 25, Romans 8:2, Colossians 2:13, 1 John 3:14, etc.) When a person dies a natural death, death brings about such a changed state in his person that his body is no longer able to communicate in this world. You can speak to a corpse, but he can’t hear. You can urge a corpse to make a decision, but he can’t. You can urge a corpse to commit his life to Christ, but he can’t. (See Jesus teaching on this inability in John 8:47) God says that the barrier between Himself and the unbeliever is like the barrier between a living person and a dead person. That is how you and I need to think about unbelievers. They are dead.
People are Avoiding and Blaming God
The effects of this death , (the fulfilment of the warning of God before Adam and Eve fell into sin-Genesis 2:17) are immediately visible, even in Paradise. Look at Genesis 3. They sin against God and as soon as they hear Him walking in the garden they feel shame (verse 7), they hide from Him (verse 8), they fear Him (verse 10), and they make excuses for their sin, shifting blame (to God ultimately) (verses 12-13). See how radically they have changed. Judgement has come crashing down upon their heads. The Judge of the Universe is confronting them on this tiny spec of cosmic dust (earth), and they think they can argue their way out of the offence they have caused! Notice further that their minds are so warped that even though they are gripped with fear, their fear is like that of a self-preserving scavenger dog. They no longer have a twitch of respect for God, even daring to blame Him for their sin! (verses 12-13, see also Psalm 36:1, 55:19 and Romans 3:18).
People Won’t Beg God for Mercy
Still more needs to be seen. Notice that when God does what He is obligated to do- judge sin-Adam and Eve are so disrespectful and so righteous in their own eyes that it doesn’t even occur to them to beg God for mercy. Doesn’t this whole situation scream out “Mercy!”? Don’t you want to shout out on their behalf, “God have mercy on me, a sinner!”? (Luke 18:13). But no, this is what death looks like; spiritual death. No ability to see God clearly. No ability to understand God’s economy. No ability to see the desirability of doing what is right.
Death is Universal
Sadly, this was not the end. Paul thumps the corpse down before us again in Romans 5:12. (This theme is taught forcefully in many texts in between Genesis 3 and Romans 5, but I am moving ahead to Romans 5 for the sake of brevity.) See what he is saying. Paul is reminding us of a sobering fact. At exactly the same time that Adam stood before God and received his death sentence (dying spiritually, and the process of death beginning in his physical body) so you and I, along with the entire human race died. No, of course we weren’t born yet, but when a “dead” person marries a “dead” person, they bear “dead” children. This condition of death has passed from Adam to every single person born into this world. The unsaved person is dead. He cannot see God, he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3), he cannot sense his sinfulness or his true distance from God (Psalm 36:2). Oh the dreadful sadness of this state. Being so blind that you cannot even see your own need!
We Preach to Dead People who Need Life
Brother, it is to dead people that we preach. What is their need? They are dead and they need to be raised to life . I will discuss this raising to life under the next heading, but allow me the liberty to comment on one more matter in your Loftus sermon. You asked your audience what their need was. Oh I was so saddened when you elaborated on their need. Instead of their true need, dead people who need to be raised to life , you identified their needs as things like cancer, sickness , financial problems , relationship problems , etc. Oh dear brother, see that lost, miserable crowd’s need! They are deprived of the truth, starved to death, suffocated. They are dead and face the terrible wrath of God for ever and ever (See the terrifying truth of Romans 1:18-32). Whether they appear this way or not, God says they are hostile toward Him in their hearts and they cannot (like a corpse) submit to God’s law (Romans 8:7). What they need is not a cure from a painful sickness. They need LIFE ! (John 10:10). (Incidentally their pain may be accomplishing God’s purpose of driving them to Christ in repentance (Psalm 107:12, Revelation 16:11)) The modern scourge is that the masses see Jesus as the great genie in the lamp. They are happy for Him to respond to their expedient rubbing of the lamp to heal their sicknesses and cause their businesses to prosper, but He must leave them to be the kind of people they want to be (John 5:40). Yes, you preached against sin, but you didn’t deal with their real need.
Your Hearer’s Hope
How are Dead People Raised to Life?
Upon grasping the gravity of man’s true need before God, the thought must begin to prickle within out minds. If an unbeliever is truly dead, as Scripture declares, then how does he come to life? How can I even speak to him about Jesus? How is it that he ever comes to see Jesus at all and call out to Him for mercy (like blind Bartimaeus in Mark 10:46-52). It is here that the Gospel shines so brightly. This is why I have been so burdened that I have felt compelled to write this letter. It is only the Gospel that God uses to blast life into unbelieving corpses so that they can see God, see the kingdom of God, see their true sinfulness and repent (John 3:3).
Faith Comes From Hearing THE Message
God uses the medium (the “hosepipe”) of faith to grant salvation life from spiritual death. This is exactly what Paul is teaching in Romans 10:17, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message , and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” Is this not remarkable? You have a corpse who can’t hear a thing because he is dead. But there is one point of access , and that is faith that is given to that corpse, as he is exposed to the Gospel message . Do you see what is happening? The preacher preaches and the sound waves of his voice shake the surface of the eardrums of the dead person. Nothing happens, just as nothing happens when you preach to a tree. But then suddenly, faith comes ! How does it come? God gives that corpse, at the moment of His (God’s) choosing, faith (Ephesians 2:8).
Please feel read the complete letter here at this link : http://web4.sa-media.com/articles/gr-829084333-6.PDF
I think that Angus Buchan is GREAT, I listen to him whenever I get the chance. He is truely a man of God.
Keep going Angus doing the Lords work.
Thanks.
John
I bet you have never read your bible.
You know we have allot to say and I do not judge anyone of your comments. Not knowing the bible the way most of you do from your Emails above I cannot comment. I would like however to point out two things.
1) I suggest you talk to God about your issues and questions.
2) He who is without sin may cast the first stone.
Lol at Deborah and John not reading his bible.
Christ
1) I think it’s time you start to read your bible.
Why is that so many Christians resort to criticising other Christians? A good tree bears good fruit. Angus is bearing good fruit. We are all growing in the Lord and the knowledge of his Word, we will spend eternity learning about Him. I’m sure Angus is well aware that he doesn’t know it all, but thankfully the Lord is bigger than any mistakes he may make, I think Angus is just out there operating in the Word and truth that he knows and God is backing him up and people are being saved, healed and blessed. All those people wouldn’t come to the meetings lest the Holy Spirit called them. Thank God for His people who will step out in faith and let God take up the shortfall. If you think there are areas where Angus needs revelation knowledge, PRAY FOR HIM. I will pray for you, as Christians we need to operate in LOVE towards our brothers in Christ. God is also big enough to bring in the labourers to feed the sheep once they’ve received salvation and if there are none, the Holy Spirit Himself will teach them. The Lord has resorted to using an ass when there was nobody else, He’s not particular. Whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of a good report…think on these things. God bless you.
Oh my, with people like Michelle it is easy to see why false teachers flourish.
Michelle
Sorry to hear you don’t read your bible. Let me know when you start ok. When you do you will realise that what Angus preaches is a load of nonsense.
I would like to thank The Lord for working through Angus by converting my husband, an atheist of 40 years! I also thank him for responding to my email during the Revive London campaign and for being EXTREMELY EASY TO GET HOLD OF! God forgive those who speak ill words about your children and may they for once have the decency to speak face to face with those who they believe to be mislead in theological terms. For if it was not for a simple message but the incredibly complex wording of this article, there would not have been much success.
Thanks Michelle,
let us not let the spirit of pride overcometh us. Yes God is able to do all things. let us pray so that God leads believers who truly want to see God to His stream of living water. let us not judge one another but if we speak what is right and correct the brothers who do wrongs, it is enough, and let God do the judgement for He is mighty and able. James 3:17-18. 1 John 2:9. Rom 14:1-12. Those who have a Bible may open the scriptures and read. And peace be with you.
I came across this thread of conversation because I was looking for some more information on Angus. I’m amazed at firstly the garbage in the initial posting by the “prof”. I don’t know who he is or what qualifications he has earned. It came across as the usual rubbish from people that call themselves Christian, but who have no real relationship or life with Christ – they are indeed “deceived” that they have earned their way into heaven by their “learning” of the mystical codes. In reality, they are the deceived who in turn lead stray the self-righteous ones, and give them an excuse to criticize and puff themselves up.
When you who would tear down the work of real believers, have a real relationship with Christ, then maybe you will be truly able to perceive the truth. Go and preach the Gospel to the starving masses as Angus has, and then come back to talk about the miracles God has worked through you. Only then may you be worthy of an opinion that counts. Until then, don’t be deceived – the work of the Holy Spirit MUST not be denigrated as you have been doing.
Alan Parker
>> they are indeed “deceived” that they have earned their way into heaven by their “learning” of the mystical codes.
I am very very interested to understand this gibberish you speak here??? Who are you speaking about and what are these mystical codes?
I found you website useless. I would expect these type of comments and gossip from non-belivers.
maria
unbelievers always find my website useless :)
The conflicts on this blog appear to be between a) Man- centred gospel (false) and b) God-centred (True).
When I was given the gospel many years ago I was given a tract called the 4 Spiritual Laws which was a simple explanation and I cannot deny that it helped me to understand my need for salvation but as I grew in faith and studied the scriptures and made many errors (because I listened to man and neglected diligent study of the real truth what the scriptures say)and fell victim to false teachings by listening to tele-evangelists and w.o.f. and prosperity preachers.
In the last couple of years I began to see the lies that these people preach (some very deceptive as they will mix truth with error….sometimes blatant but most times subtle so as to deviate from the context).
I came across this article which I believe is correct as the Holy Spirit has directed me…indeed it will assist those who are genuinely seeking on the other-hand it will attract criticism of those who are trapped in false teachings. If you permit me to post it as it is excellent.
“The Four Spiritual Laws”
vs.
Paul’s Gospel
from Campus Crusade Examined in the Light of Scripture by Dr. Charles Woodbridge
——————————————————————————–
[Dr. Woodbridge was supportive of Campus Crusade in its earliest days but had to withdraw his support and begin sounding a Scriptural warning because of the wrong path this organization has taken.]
Basing my judgment upon the plain teaching of the Bible, I regard these “Laws” as a totally inadequate, indeed an emasculated and misleading presentation of the blessed Gospel of the Son of God.
If they had been entitled “Four Pious Principles” instead of “The Four Spiritual Laws,” perhaps I should have little to say by way of rebuttal.
But to begin with, the use of the definite article “The” is disturbing. The implication is that the “Laws,” as the Crusade presents them, are exclusive, definitive and thoroughly adequate. Having discovered and embraced them, a fortunate seeker is presumably bound for Heaven.
When one purports to reduce any subject to four central descriptive items, logic dictates that he must not eliminate from these items the essential ingredients of the matter under discussion. When a physician is prescribing for his patient, he must not remove from his formula necessary but perhaps disagreeable or unpalatable drugs. No faithful analyst, when seeking to abbreviate, must relegate to footnotes the crucial areas of the subject he is publicizing. He must spell out in no uncertain terms — whether his readers are impressed favorably or not — the precise, basic, fundamental, and differentiating character of his proposition.
I believe that Campus Crusade has tragically failed to do this. As the result there is every probability that great numbers of earnest students, whose response to the “Laws” has seemed to be affirmative, have a false and unwarranted sense of spiritual security. If my deduction is correct — and the evidence would lead me to believe that it is — this would be a tragedy of great proportions.
Years ago I wrote the Director of the Crusade with this in mind. I had the positive, constructive, but admittedly forlorn hope that I might be able to help him to extricate his movement from the doctrinal inadequacies in which “The Four Spiritual Laws” had enmeshed him. I received no reply to my letter. Years have elapsed since them. I now feel that it is my solemn duty under God to speak out in defense of the old, well-tested, and thoroughly proved ways.
First, let us examine the “Laws” as a whole, always bearing in mind by way of contrast the glory and wonder of the Biblical Gospel of Grace.
In each of the four “Laws” mention is made of the Divine plan for a person’s life. The story is as follows: God has a wonderful plan for a man’s life; because of man’s adverse spiritual condition he cannot know that plan for his life; when the proper steps are taken he can know the plan for his life.
This is not the way in which the Gospel is proclaimed in the Bible. The Crusade’s approach is anthropocentric (“man-centered”). It implies that the summum bonum, the pivotal issue, is that an individual may know God’s wonderful plan for his life.
The Biblical approach is theocentric (“God-centered”). The writers first laid the background of the being and attributes of God, sublime in His sovereignty, ineffable in His majesty and holiness. They quickly stressed the blazing fact that the righteousness of God has been outraged by human sin and that apart from Divine, unmerited grace, man’s deadly guilt (Romans 3:19) will bring upon him the wrath of God (Romans 1:18), the deserved judgment of the Lord (Romans 2:2), and ensuing death (Romans 6:23). The amazing be-all and end-all of the Gospel, according to the Bible, is not what man may or may not know about the Divine plan for his life; but it is the everlasting glory of the living God.
How different all this is from the “Four Spiritual Laws.” The hell- deserving sinner has far more to reflect upon, prior to his salvation, than the optimistic confidence that somewhere in the dim blue “yonder” God has a satisfying plan for his life!
LAW NUMBER ONE
But now to “Law One” itself: “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.” Then two footnotes: John 3:16 and John 10:10. (Is it not astounding that John 3:16 could possibly be in anybody’s footnote!)
A few reflections concerning this first “Law.”
First, the booklet announcing these “Laws” is used indiscriminately with believers and unbelievers. May I ask a rather obvious question? Precisely what “wonderful plan” does God have for the unbelieving sinner who steadfastly and persistently rejects Christ Jesus as Saviour? Answer: the “lake that burneth with fire.” This is an awesome, rather than a “wonderful,” prospect.
Second, is not the Crusade aware of the fact that even a pious Mohammedan might believe that the compassionate God might have a plan for his life?
This being true, the Crusade is left with only three distinctively Christian “Laws.”
Third, who is the “God” to whom the Crusade refers in Law One? When the apostles wrote of Him, it was against a religious background of understanding — their Hebrew readers knew Who God is. But when Paul spoke to Gentiles on the Areopagus (Acts 17), he explained Who the Almighty is.
The Crusade must not take it for granted that this confused, untaught generation of college students knows Who the Lord God is. At the very outset of the “Laws” it should be made clear Who the One is with Whom the students have to do. He is the Holy, Sovereign, Omnipotent Creator of the universe.
This observation on my part is not a vague fancy. I heard one of the Crusade’s bright and shining lights, a university football star, give his public testimony. He referred to the God of the ages as “the man upstairs.” Some may regard this as justified puerility [immaturity]. I regard it as blasphemy. I happened to be the other speaker that evening. Before I addressed the crowd, I turned to the student and told him bluntly that before he witness to others he should be sure that he himself had been washed in the blood of the Lamb of God and that he really knew the living and true God.
I do not imply for a moment that the Crusade leaders should give all their hearers a course in systematic theology. But I insist that when men and women handle the things of God they must make clear Who He is, the ineffable [too overpowering to be expressed in words!] Lord of Glory.
A defender of the Crusade might reply: “‘The Four Spiritual Laws’ are just a summary of truth. The personal workers fill in the gaps.” To this explanation my answer is twofold.
First, when one is reducing any subject to four basic points, it is the height of folly to omit crucial matters with the trivial explanation that assistants will subsequently explain them. For example, if one is summarizing the theme “Aviation,” he will not omit the fact that airplanes have wings and a motor, in the confident expectation that the learner will have these addenda elucidated by assistants after his effort to take off from the earth!
Second, if the Crusade assistants do in fact try to explain Who God is, they seem to fail dismally. Else why the shallowness and flippancy in the “testimonies” of so many of their “converts”?
THE SECOND LAW
And now the Crusade’s second “Spiritual Law”: “Man is sinful and separated from God.”
So far so good. I commend the Crusade for putting the matter so plainly.
But Bible believers, taught in the Word of God, might well expect the “Law” to be expanded so as to include its inevitable corollaries.
What are these Biblical corollaries? In a footnote Romans 3:23 and 6:23 are quoted. An explanatory note indicates that the sinner goes his own independent way and fellowship with God is broken; evidence of sin is an “attitude” of active rebellion or of passive indifference.
But no uninformed college student, meditating upon this second “Law,” could possibly understand that sin is far more than an attitude of independence or rebellion. God has given to sinful man His Holy Law, which reflects His perfect nature and sovereign will. Sin is an open, flagrant breach of that Law or a stubborn refusal to obey it. Apart from the Law of God sin cannot possibly be understood. It is far worse than an “attitude” or a going on one’s own “independent way.” It is primarily a heart condition, but it is also an act wrought in defiance of the will of God.
What are the consequences of this heart condition and defiance? The second “Law” states that the sinner is “separated” from God and is out of fellowship with Him. The Bible is far more detailed and explicit. It tells the sinner in no uncertain terms precisely what the separation and loss of fellowship involve. The consequences of willful disobedience are horrible indeed. The Bible speaks of “hell.” It reminds us of the “lake of fire” (Rev. 20:15). It suggests the endless, conscious torment of Christ- rejecting sinners. This is the dreadful doom of unbelievers. And it is from this that believers are saved by grace.
For all this the Crusade substitutes in its second “Law,” apart from a modest footnote quoting Romans 6:23, the dismal consequence that as the result of the sinner’s separation from God “he cannot know and experience God’s love and plan for his life!”
The trouble with this statement is that it is not only weak and anti- climactic, but it is also falsely oriented and misleading. It breeds a naive and unwarranted optimism.
In the first place it is, as in the case of the first “Law,” man-centered and thus out of line with the total revelation of God. The paramount result of sin and separation appears to be the unfortunate inconvenience that the sinner has lost the sense of God’s love and plan for his life!
Secondly, the “Law” omits what the Bible never omits — the eternal, unmitigated, drastic consequences of sin and separation. How can a person possibly know what it is to be saved unless he is made aware of that from which he is saved? Why not follow the Biblical pattern and tell the whole truth?
Once more the Crusade’s rejoinder might be: “We are simply giving a readily understandable summary of truth. We have not space within the confines of the second ‘Law’ to tell the whole truth.” But frankly, can even a “summary” of the Gospel which is worthy to be used as a basis of witnessing to college students possibly eliminate a clear presentation of the actual consequences of sin?
Thirdly — and this is simply an observation — the separated sinner who persists in rejecting the proffered love of God will certainly know the Divine plan for his life! That plan is the “Judgment of the great white throne” and “the lake that burneth with fire”!
Am I unduly critical? Is this merely a conflict between two relatively similar concepts? Is the Crusade’s view simply an exposition of the thoughts of a newer, perhaps more enlightened, generation? Let me assure my readers that nothing could be farther from the truth.
One of the leading Crusade writers has let the cat out of the bag. The Crusade, to put it bluntly, does not like the idea of “hell,” so far as their witness is concerned. The writer in question has carefully explained that in testifying to college students. Crusaders “for ‘hell’ should substitute ‘eternal separation from God.’”
Please do not think that I am quibbling about unimportant ideas. Have you recently studied Romans or Hebrews or Revelation? May I mildly inquire by what authority the Crusade spokesman chooses what words of the Bible he desires to eliminate? And lest any of my readers are still doubtful about the validity of my argument, may I remind them that the same writer has the audacity to declare — and I cannot but wonder why a multitude of old-fashioned Bible believers do not arise in holy protest — that for the word “saved” “we substitute … (in the beginning at least) ‘entering into a personal relationship with Christ.’”
Thus the terrors of Divine wrath are neatly minimized and, probably from the poor student who simply wants a plan for his life, eliminated! The totality of truth is abbreviated, not actually because the “Laws” are a mere “summary,” but because the Crusade has taken it upon itself to abbreviate it!
THE THIRD LAW
The Crusade’s third “Law” really troubles me. It does indeed state that Christ is “God’s only provision for sin.” Splendid! It quotes verses in footnotes (of all places) which indicate that Christ died in our place, that He is the only way to the Father, and that He bridged the chasm between the sinner and God.
But the difficulty is that the “Law” does not tell us Who Jesus Christ is.
College students on the whole have only a glimmering of truth in this area.
Coming, as most of them do, from modernist churches or godless cultures, they do not know that Jesus Christ is God, the everlasting Son of the Father, Who existed from eternity in the bosom of the Father, and Who for the sins of a rebellious race became incarnate and suffered, bled, and died for the remission of our sins.
Moreover, the third “Law” makes no mention of the incarnation, the vicarious blood atonement, the resurrection of the eternal Son “for our justification” (Rom. 4:25). Thus it does not really explain what it means by “God’s only provision.”
This is not the apostolic mode of presentation. “Without the shedding of blood is no remission” (Heb. 9:22). “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (I John 1:7). Such verses as these make the matter plain. Any “Law” which may make passing, appeasing references to related verses but which fails to disclose the identity of our blessed Lord or to mention His outpoured blood for sinners does not remotely resemble the Gospel preaching of the apostles. Is Campus Crusade trying to avoid “the offense of the cross”? It appears to be doing exactly that.
And, according to the third “Law,” what is the net result of Christ’s being “God’s only provision for man’s sin”? Is it a paean of praise from worshipping hosts of angels around the throne? Is it the eternal adoration of believers in glory because the God-man’s work of redemption has been consummated on behalf of lost sinners? Is it antiphonal echoes of wonder resounding through the corridors of Heaven?
The third “Law” gives the answer: “Through Him you can know God’s love and plan for your life”! Words fail me. How incomplete and man-centered can a movement be?
THE FOURTH LAW
And now the fourth “Law”: “We must receive Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord by personal invitation; then we can know and experience God’s love and plan for our lives.”
This “Law” might be regarded as helpful if “Law” Three had explained precisely Who Christ is, how He saved sinners, and what it means for one to call Him Saviour and risen Lord. But the third “Law” has left a great vacuum. No wonder college Crusaders seem to be so uninformed. May I show what I mean?
In the Crusade’s Collegiate Challenge (Vol. 6, No. 2) we read: “Val talked with a girl who wasn’t very interested, but as she listened to the Four Spiritual Laws, she decided to invite Christ into her life. Then she told her girl friend who had also received Christ. ‘Our week had been so dull, but what a change.’ Her friend replied, ‘Yeah, now we’re in the in-group.’”
Some sentimental, uninstructed soul might breathe a sympathetic sigh and remark, “Isn’t that sweet?” But I should like to ask every truly informed reader a pointed question: “Does this sound to you like genuine Biblical conversion on the basis of Christ’s atoning work and through the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit of the living God?” Of course it does not. And why should it?
In a sheet prepared by Campus Crusade entitled “How to Prepare a Personal Testimony,” their workers are told: “Don’t use … words such as ‘saved,’ ‘convicted,’ ‘converted,’ ‘born again,’ and ‘sin.’” These words may be precious to the Crusaders, it is intimated, but “they do not communicate truth to the average non-Christian.”
If this dogmatic thesis were true — and praise the Lord it is not — how in the world have faithful evangelists through the years, men of God who used these blessed words in the energy of the Holy Spirit, been so marvelously instrumental in bringing precious souls to Christ? Further, is it not true that the Holy Spirit has blessed the use of these very words in the proclamation of the Gospel to sinners? Was Nicodemus a believer when our Lord told him that he had to be “born again”? Were the people surrounding Simon Peter believers when he warned them: “Repent … and be converted” (Acts 3:19)?
How dare any movement that calls itself “Christian” toss aside lightly the Words of the Omniscient God? Is it to cater to the intellectual or spiritual immaturity of college students? In my opinion this is what Campus Crusade is doing, apparently without fear of weighty contradiction.
May I be a bit more analytical? Three verses of Scripture and words of explanation are given in the footnotes of the fourth “Law.” The verses are:
John 1:12; Eph. 2:8,9; and Rev. 3:20. Of course, we are always delighted to discover the Word of God, even if it is relegated to footnotes, in any set of guidelines which have to do with leading souls to the Saviour. And the words of explanation, if they had a solid foundation, could conceivably be of genuine help. They read: “We must receive Christ; we receive Christ through faith; we receive Christ by personal invitation.” It then adds:
“Receiving Christ involves turning to God from self, trusting Christ to come into our lives, to forgive our sins and to make us to be what He wants us to be.”
All this suggests several questions of supreme importance.
First, not having been told in the first three “Laws” either Who Christ is or how He saved the lost sinner, how can a student really receive the Son of God intelligently as his Saviour?
Second, the word “Saviour” has been bandied about through the centuries.
It is widely misunderstood. It has been given various meanings, some totally false and others deceitfully close to Biblical truth. It is of great importance that true witnesses for Christ always make the title crystal clear.
The followers of Albrecht Ritschl, in referring to Christ, might use the word “Saviour.” They would mean that Jesus saves us, by His moral influence upon our lives, from our base and unworthy motivations.
Mary Baker Eddy, mother of Christian Science, wrote (Science and Health, page 39): “Christ wrought a full salvation from sin, sickness and death.” Yet Christian Science is as far removed from orthodox Christianity as it can possibly be. Behold what Mrs. Eddy actually means: “His consummate example was for the salvation of us all” (page 51). Is it not plain that, in opposition to this sort of false teaching, the true Crusader for Christ must explain that the Lord Jesus saved us from sin by His perfect sacrifice upon Golgatha?
Even Harry Emerson Fosdick, one of America’s leading modernists, did not hesitate to write of Christ: “He died as he lived, a savior. That his saviorhood is unique in its scope and impact is obvious, but the principle of it is not unique. We can all share it” (Dear Mr. Brown, page 134). You see, Dr. Fosdick, one of the leading unbelievers of the twentieth century, called Jesus “Savior.” And, demonstrating his infidelity to the Word of God, in the same book (page 136) he speaks of the substitutionary atonement wrought by our Lord as a “pre-civilized barbarity.”
Cannot the Crusade be brought to understand that the Saviourhood of the Son of God must be meticulously explained? Else college students too may speak of Him as “Saviour” while meaning something altogether different from the truth!
What a glorious opportunity is missed in the fourth “Law”! When Christ as He is depicted in the Scriptures is truly received as Saviour, what vistas of rapture break upon the redeemed soul! Now the sinner has been born again into the family of God. Now he has become a joint-heir with the Son of the Father! Now Heaven, with all its infinity of blessing, has its gates flung open to welcome him!
How does the Crusade’s fourth “Law” summarize all this wondrous treasure- store of delights? Read its words. Ponder them carefully and, perhaps, a little wistfully. Compare them with the Bible. Understand their man-centered nature. Now at long last, the “Law” reads: “We can know and experience God’s love and plan for our lives.” What an anti-climactic conclusion!
Why not spell out the truth of God on the basis of the everlasting Word of God? Why not explain the “plan” which the converted sinner may know? It far transcends a student’s life choices! It reaches beyond the limits of his life pilgrimage. It leads to and enters the portals of everlasting glory!
Why not tell the student this in no uncertain terms? And why not, in all fairness, warn him that rejection of the Son of God spells not a vague “separation” from God — but the eternal miseries of the lake of fire?
Let the student have all the facts before he makes what the Crusade calls a “commitment.” (From Campus Crusade Examined in the Light of Scripture by Charles Woodbridge)
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HOME | FUNDAMENTAL
Maria, apparently you don’t undersand what gossip is.
1. Rumor or talk of a personal, sensational, or intimate nature.
2. A person who habitually spreads intimate or private rumors or facts.
3. Trivial, chatty talk or writing.
There are no rumors here, just the facts.
There are no intimate or private rumors or facts here – these are people in the public eye,with PUBLIC ministries.
The writing here is to serve the Lord and obey His Word to WARN the unwary like yourself of the dangers of false beliefs. Also, it is NOT trivial – unless you consider thet truth of God’s Word trivial.
Burning Lamp , very well put! People that intimate that it is wrong to expose false doctrine and or error, either do not know their bibles and understand how serious this issue is, or they ARE the false teachers themselves not wanting to adhere to the Word of God. AT the bottomm of all false doctrine is pride and a desire for power, and the love of money.
Deborah,
Thanks for sharing this helpful info. Some people from our hometown have invited him to come and speak, and are trying to get all the churches involved. I had concerns and stumbled across this article and several others that helped me get both sides of the story. May God continue to bless you..
Dawn
Thank you so much.
He seems to get in everywhere, I dunno where this guy finds the time.
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Interesting discussion – Many of you have warned of Angus’ teachings. The only specific criticism I have read so far was that he 1) blindly promoted false teachers (not a small problem by the way as can be evidenced by many of these people in “Christianity in Crisis”) and 2) share many biblical truths without “closing the deal” by discussing how to be born again (again, not a small problem). The first issue is common to many people as they think anyone that says “Praise Jesus” must be contending for the Spirit of Truth; he must be shown this error as a brother in Christ earnestly with a sincere heart. I thought the “Open Letter” above was well written but it needs to be placed in his hands if you feel strongly about it. The second issue, while egregious, should be able to be corrected of taken to him.
Too many armchair quarterbacks sit at their PCs and complain about people that are stepping out for Jesus Christ. He gave you, obviously, a discerning spirit. So go to these people first, get out in the field, contend for the Lord and preach the message or correct those that, through their passion, slowly accept lies. Paul directly confronted those people and exhorts us to do the same. I’m not saying you shouldn’t post as well. But make sure that you are not railing against a brother that only wants to do Gods work, when you could be assisting and correcting him. As stated by others, I have no doubt that Angus truly love the Lord and I personally believe that he wouldn’t want to deceive anyone. If you disagree with this, continue as before. If however, you agree, then go to your brother in Christ. All of you put the money together for one representative to go to him that can outline the issues and pray with him, seeking the Lord. Whenever someone, like Angus, starts becoming popular, they need more people praying for them and correcting them, because they will be attacked by Satan more and in different ways to accept slight course corrections. Understand, I haven’t heard in this thread much that was wrong other than name-calling. And before someone says to me “go read your Bible”, I do and have founded an international ministry that is Christ-centered. I also plan on meeting with Mr. Buchan next year and wish to discern and share with him. I don’t expect him to be 100% on, but I also expect to find someone that wants to preach the Gospel and assist in the great commission – join me. We are to exhort and encourage one another, correcting in truth. Imagine, if at the next revival that Angus preaches that he shares the entire salvation message. I would not ask someone to try this with the likes of Benny Hinn as he is just a crook – or Ray McCauley either. A false teacher that intends deception or will not listen to the truth needs to be torn down, but a man that loves the Lord should be corrected if at all possible (although I admit that we all need to be broken from time to time to stay in God’s will)
Bob
What makes you think Angus has not been spoken too? sighs. The man is not deaf, dumb, blind or mute.
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