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There Is A Difference
In contemporary religious literature, publishing, radio, television and the
Internet - there are some men who enjoy wide popularity: John Stott, John
MacArthur, Max Lucado, Tony Campolo, Dr. James Dobson, Philip Yancy, Charles
Colson, Charles Stanley, Chuck Swindoll and many others.
The books these men publish are nice looking books, professionally printed and
marketed. And I've never picked up any of these books and found everything to be
false. In fact, you may find some good and helpful information in some of these
books and perhaps some good insight into what the Scriptures teach.
But I think - ever so often - we just need to stop and remember, THESE MEN ARE
NOT INSPIRED WRITERS!!
Luke, Paul and Peter were writing as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. That
claim cannot be made of Swindoll, Dobson or Lucado!! And I'll just say to you -
on some fundamental matters, I have decided that these men are teaching things
contrary to God's Word!! Most of them are under - to some degree - the influence
of John Calvin. Many of them write to uphold and advance some denominational
viewpoint or political agenda.
Lucado is associated with a church of Christ in San Antonio - yet he is almost
embarrassed to stand up and tell people what the New Testament says about
baptism for the remission of sins. If he ever really bought the truth, he has
apparently sold it (see Prov. 23:23).
Now - you don't need to go home and throw all your books away. But I think -
ever so often - we just need to stop and remember, these men are not inspired
writers!! Do not accept and do not get excited about anything they write -
unless you are convinced it is in God's word. That's the rule we all need to
apply. And you need to apply it to Berkley and Quinn, and everything in
Expository Files too!
There is a difference between the oracles of God, and the words of men! (See 1
Pet. 4:11; Gal. 1:6-12; 1 Tim. 1:3).
"If any man speak let him speak as the oracles of God." In our teaching and
preaching; in our work as a local church - in our attitude and behavior as
individuals, we must be loyal to the Word of God! We owe no loyalty to the
religious world around us; none to history, any movement or association of
people. But we must be loyal to the Word of God.
By Warren E. Berkley
The Final Page
From Expository Files 5.2; February 1998
