Ergun Caner recently preached twice at Clough Pike Baptist Church (as reported here). Ergun preached with, apparently, both of his brothers in attendance. There were a couple of things that struck me as I listened to his messages, but most of all I noticed that most of his criticized material was gone, and he had some new material in his presentation. He did not make claims to know Arabic, or to have been raised in Istanbul, or anything else of that kind (that I noticed). I hope this shows a change in Dr. Caner's approach, and that he will stick to this kind of presentation going forward. It would be nice if he would set the record straight on the points on which Dr. Geisler attempted to defend him, but perhaps he still plans to do so. (A.M. message)(P.M. message)
-TurretinFan
Thursday, December 23, 2010
5 comments:
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You would think he would mention his bad ways, and how he wants to leave them behind, and go forward, and glorify our Lord with his gifts.
ReplyDeleteDon't need to dig up stuff. But, he may need to talk about it a little, so that people can see the repentance. That would be good fruit.
Sort of like Michael Vick has done.
TF,
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your gracious tone, as always. But Caner is telling people at prayer breakfasts and on twitter that the "evidence" against him are merely edited videos. And yes, on Twitter he put evidence in quotation marks. Therefore I don't think he has any intention to come clean.
His house is for sale, but apparently he is not going far because he is slated to teach some Theology classes at LU next year, according to his own tweets.
And one parting comment: Caner's defenders (though much, much quieter now) contend that we refuse to go to Caner directly in private and discuss the issue. But Liberty mountain and the Norman Geisler types circled the wagons many months ago and they aren't talking. I've sent respectful and sincere emails to Dr Caner and his pastor, Jonathan Falwell, and received no reply. Apparently there are reputations to protect and bills to pay, and their machine must grind on.
Sometimes we wonder how those grand old colleges with such wonderful Christian heritages turned into humanistic wastelands of today. I fear we may be watching the early stages of that at Liberty University. Never mind Joe Happy student. Watch the leadership. What is the leadership willing to sweep under the rug?
"Only Christianity has a Father. . .No other religion on the planet defines the relationship between God and man in terms of 'Father.' No other religion." (EC 23:46 Sermon on World Religions).
ReplyDeleteI don't know why people say false religions don't call God 'Father.' Zeus is "father of gods and men" in Homer, we are his children:
"Most glorious of all the Undying! many-named girt round with awe,
Jove, author of Nature, applying to all things the rudder of the law;
Hail! Hail! for it justly rejoices the races whose life is a span
To lift unto Thee their voices—the author and framer of man.
For to us Thy sons didst Thou give the echo of speech at our birth
Alone of the things that live and mortal move upon earth." (Cleanthes, Hymn to Zeus)
Though veneration of Zeus was never anything more than an express elevator straight to hell, you pray to Zeus as 'O Father Zeus.'
"I fear we may be watching the early stages of that at Liberty University."
ReplyDeleteMy nephew goes to Liberty, and it has some crazy stuff going on for sure. They had Glen Beck as the speaker to the graduating class. Glenn Beck?
I fear your fear is genuine.
May our Lord move upon the leadership of Liberty U. Amen.
After listening to Dr. Caner preach to those folks these Words came to mind:
ReplyDeleteRom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
Rom 1:19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.
Rom 1:20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Rom 1:21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Rom 1:22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
Rom 1:23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
Someone is playing him like a fiddle.
There was "Truth" heard in his messages.
He, however, was changing the Truth and one is left with no clear path with regard to the Gospel or to responding to the faith of Islam.
Oh well! With God, all things are possible and for God's people involved in this sordid affair, all things work together for our good.