Reformed Churchmen

We are Confessional Calvinists and a Prayer Book Church-people. In 2012, we remembered the 350th anniversary of the 1662 Book of Common Prayer; also, we remembered the 450th anniversary of John Jewel's sober, scholarly, and Reformed "An Apology of the Church of England." In 2013, we remembered the publication of the "Heidelberg Catechism" and the influence of Reformed theologians in England, including Heinrich Bullinger's Decades. For 2014: Tyndale's NT translation. For 2015, John Roger, Rowland Taylor and Bishop John Hooper's martyrdom, burned at the stakes. Books of the month. December 2014: Alan Jacob's "Book of Common Prayer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Book-Common-Prayer-Biography-Religious/dp/0691154813/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417814005&sr=8-1&keywords=jacobs+book+of+common+prayer. January 2015: A.F. Pollard's "Thomas Cranmer and the English Reformation: 1489-1556" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-English-Reformation-1489-1556/dp/1592448658/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420055574&sr=8-1&keywords=A.F.+Pollard+Cranmer. February 2015: Jaspar Ridley's "Thomas Cranmer" at: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Cranmer-Jasper-Ridley/dp/0198212879/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422892154&sr=8-1&keywords=jasper+ridley+cranmer&pebp=1422892151110&peasin=198212879

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Mohler & Warren in Twitter-Clash: Warren Demands Apology from Mohler

          Big Al Mohler and Big Rick Warren, Revivalist Spartans, yeah, Mega-Apes fighting, are engaging in a twitter-fight over Big Al’s tweet yesterday about megachurches as the new platform for 19th-20th century liberalism.  Big Rick wants an apology from Big Al.  These two Anabaptist titans spar for visibility, influence, numbers and  market-shares.
          We covered Big Al’s note at:  http://reformationanglicanism.blogspot.com/2012/05/doctrinal-ignorance-megachurch-new.html.  We believe Big Al has registered an excellent and justified invasion into Big Rick's space.  Big Rick doesn't like the "trespass" onto his sacred territory.  He views the "invasion" as actionable.  Big Rick apprehends harm from Big Al's reproach. Yet, is “Big Rick” known for his advocacy of Biblical, doctrinal and historical literacy?  Perhaps personally, but not publicly.  In contrast, at least Big Al is known for advocacy of literacy.
          Big Rick has a notoriously thin skin when it comes to criticism or a trespass onto or into his fiefdom wherein he rules.  Big Rick is a Pastorpreneur at his Starbuck's mega-mall.  He gets sensitive when his child and grandchildren, that is, megachurchdom, dumb-it-down-doctrinal Pastors, Pastorpreneurs, numbers, visibility, and influence are put on report.  Big apes pound their chests in displays of territoriality. At least Bill Hybels had the decency to note that megachurchdom in his neck of the woods produced doctrinally illiterate people. 
          Authoritarianism with Warren and some of his followers has not always been afar off as some witnesses attest when installing the “church growth model.”  Challenge “Big Rick’s” model and be prepared to be cut down. Twitter-critics of Big Rick are routinely blocked. Tim Challies has born witness to the heavy-handed tactics of "church growthers" following Big Rick's model.  So have many others.
          Wait a minute, is it not disrespectful to call these Christian leaders “Big Al” and “Big Rick?”  No, we do not believe it is.  However, we will affirm the objection in part and deny the objection in part.  In the denial, it is justifiable satire and useful truths that service a recalibration, context and perspective.  Compared to church history, both are small.  Ergo, the satire is suitable.  Rick Warren compared to John Calvin?  Al Mohler compared to Thomas Aquinas or Augustine?  Or, compared to the martyrs who died for the faith?  Compared to Cranmer, Ridley, Latimer, Hooper, Rogers, Coverdale, Tyndale and others?  Since, use of the terms "Big Al" and "Big Rick" are objectionable to some, we will affirm the objection.  To satisfy the objection to the terms "Big Al" and "Big Rick," we will say affirmatively “Little Al” and “Little Rick.”  Hence, we affirm in part and deny in part.  These two, like all of us, are quite "small" as Isaiah reminds us (Isaiah 40) as well as quite exalted, or high, being seated with Christ in the heavenlies (Eph. 2.4ff). 
          Here is the update on the Twitter-Titans clashing, bashing, and mashing.   On this score, we must side with "Big Al" or "Little Al," as you deem best.  The megachurchers like "Big Rick" or "Little Rick" (as deemed best), we believe, are the new 19th and 20th centuries liberals.  We believe time will vindicate this prophecy.
          Here is the story from "Christian Post."
Warren Asks Mohler to Apologize for Megachurch Headline

By Lillian Kwon , Christian Post Reporter
May 2, 2012|6:22 pm
A prominent evangelical's recent blog headline – "Is the Megachurch the New Liberalism?" – has irked Pastor Rick Warren, who is calling for an apology for the "sensational" title.
Warren, founder of Saddleback Church, sent a tweet to Dr. Albert Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, on Tuesday, saying: "A TITLE questioning 1000s of churches' orthodoxy due to size is unChristlike.U need to apologize to pastors Al."
In a blog post Tuesday, Mohler described the emergence and growth of the megachurch (which draw at least 2,000 in attendance) and acknowledged that they have "helped to anchor conservative Christianity" in the United States.
At the same time, he noted that some megachurches have adapted to the ever-changing American culture, abandoning certain biblical truths.
Mohler went on to express concerns over a recent message preached by Andy Stanley, pastor of North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Ga. As he described the account of a gay couple, Stanley mentioned the sin of adultery (one partner was still married to his wife) but did not affirm the sinfulness of homosexuality.
"The inescapable impression left by the account was that the sin of concern was adultery, but not homosexuality," Mohler wrote, adding that he hopes Stanley will clarify his view on the issue.
"We must embrace the truth with the humility of a sinner saved only by grace, but we must embrace it fully," he added. "Once again, the megachurches are on the leading edge. We must pray that they will lead into faithfulness, and not into a new liberalism."
Taking issue with the title of the blog, Warren commented: "@albertmohler Would a sensational blog title 'Are THE Seminaries the New Liberals?' be fair if 1 seminary pres. messed up?"
In response, Mohler tweeted back: "@RickWarren Glad to hear from you, Rick. I would certainly not be offended by that title ... In fact, I might use it. Megathanks."
Notably, both Warren and Mohler are megachurch pastors and belong to the Southern Baptist Convention. They both affirm that homosexuality is a sin.
While some have responded to Warren's tweets saying there was no blanket accusation against megachurches in Mohler's blog, one researcher did agree that the headline was unfair.
"As Rick Warren tweeted, it is unfair to paint all mega pastors with the Stanley brush or for that matter, the Schuller, the Long or the Osteen brush," Scott Thumma, who specializes in research on megachurches, stated to The Christian Post.
"As a group, megachurches are a big target, but it doesn't help the Christian cause either to accuse indirectly 1,500 faithful pastors and 6-7 million attendees with the 'L' word on the basis of one pastor's issue."
In the midst of debate over blog headlines, however, one Shawnee, Okla., pastor said the issue of churches neglecting biblical truth should not be forgotten.
"Yes, there are many pastors of megachurches who are faithful to the Bible (as Mohler noted), but the reality is that there are many, not just one, who are not. The pressures of the culture are making doctrinal faithfulness too challenging for many. That was Mohler's point- and one that should be well received," Dr. Todd Fisher, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church, wrote in a blog Wednesday.
Stanley delivered the account of the gay couple last month during his 8-part message series titled "Christian." He told CP that he may issue a statement on the matter but requested that people listen to the entire series, which concludes this weekend.

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