Tuesday, 15 July 2014

Who are the radical grace or hyper grace preachers?

Who are the radical grace or hyper grace preachers?
Of course, I am not talking about any preachers from the traditional churches who always preach grace. However, if they have been influenced and corrupted by the words or teaching of the modern radical grace preachers, they could have become one of them without knowing it. They could have received the mark which brought lawlessness to the world in the past and will now bring the doctrine and working of lawlessness into the churches today.
So, who are the modern radical grace preachers and how do we know that they are different from those who preach grace with sound doctrine or the doctrine of Christ? It is quite easy to identify them although many of them would argue that they have believed and preached grace just like Paul preached the gospel of grace. They may argue that they have preached like Martin Luther, C.H. Spurgeon, Hudson Taylor, John Sung, Watchman Nee, A. W. Tozer, John Wesley, .. or many old preachers who were the founders of denominational or traditional churches. However, a quick check on the fundamental doctrine of their radical grace revolution will reveal that their 'grace' revolution is not the revolutionary call for the sinners to repent; but their revolution for the sinners
  • to change their minds only, 
  • to have good opinion of God, 
  • to skip the confessing their sins before God and those whom they've offended or sinned against, 
  • to think that they can never be judged even if they keep sinning again and again,
  • to boast that they have no more sins even if they will sin again because all their past, present, and future sins have been forgiven
  • to be totally blind to the wrath of God even if they do not repent like the normal sinners do(Luk 18:13-14, Luk 19:7-9)
  • to give thanks, think of only the favour of God, believe, and just 'repent' (or 'metanoia') like the Pharisees did (Luk 18:11-12, Mat 3:5-9)
I don't think any of the old preachers eg. Martin Luther or C.H. Spurgeon had preached like the radical grace preachers today. However, most of the old preachers or traditional preachers preached like Christ. They preached repentance and the doctrine of Christ. Yes, the Greek definition of 'metanoia' or repentance is 'change of mind'. But the early church or the Apostles would never just define repentance as though they were fantastic Greek scholars; they preached repentance and they will preach the right type of repentance. It's because the Lord had shown us that there are two types of 'metanoia', thinking, or change of mind, but we must preach the 2nd type:
  1. change of mind by the Pharisees - from one level of hypocritical thinking or belief to a deeper level of it or to a constant good opinion of God and themselves
  2. change of mind by the sinners - from thinking of sinning, doing sins, and living in sins to turning away from it 
  • Luk 18:10-14 KJV  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.  (11)  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.  (12)  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.  (13)  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.  (14)  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
  • Luk 19:7-10 KJV  And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.  (8)  And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.  (9)  And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.  (10)  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
  • Mat 3:6-9 KJV  And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.  (7)  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  (8)  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:  (9)  And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
     

We expose the radical grace preachers not because they are grace preachers
Did Jesus condemn the Pharisees because they preached too much law or sinned more greatly than the sinners? No, Jesus condemned the Pharisees because they were hypocrites who twisted the words of God and make His commandments of none effect.
Hence, we warn about the radical grace preachers not because they preach too much grace or sin more greatly than others; but because they have too much bitterness against the laws and commandments of God and preach too many things which contradict against the words, teaching, warnings, commandments, and doctrine of Christ; for example, they twist the teaching of the Lord to preach:
  1. that he Lord and the Holy Spirit can never convict or reprove the believers of sins and judgement (see "It is normal to have godly sorrow or conviction against sins in true repentance" in my previous post here.)  
  2. that the only sin every sinner or believer can commit is only the sin of unbelief, and therefore, any other sins which are immoral, deceitful, ungodly, lustful, or lawless, are not considered serious enough to affect their salvation or righteous standing before God
  3. that God has forgiven all their past, present, and future sins, and therefore, if they commit adultery or lie with bitterness against God's words in the future, it will not be considered as a sin but a weakness or a defilement of the fresh which can be cleansed 'supernaturally' if they will just keep taking the holy communion ritualistically, repetitively, and radically, without any heart of repentance
  4. that they repent by believing only (or by changing their minds to think that God can never judge them or convict them of any sin and judgement; but only righteousness) and therefore any preaching of repentance which tells people to do more than believing only is false repentance, self-effort, and condemnation
  5. that the traditional churches are mostly condemnation churches who believe in 'self-effort', repentance, and preaching of sins, condemnation, and judgement
  6. that the traditional churches are mostly full of mixture of grace and law preachers who still tell people to live under the law with the teaching of God's commandments, warnings, and do's and don'ts for godly living
  7. that the traditional churches are mostly full of legalistic repentance preachers who tell people to confess sins every minute and second like the Pharisees 
  8. that the traditional churches are mostly the 'elder brothers' who persecute the grace churches   
  9. that the traditional churches have fallen from grace because they could not preach grace as radically as Paul preached
  10. that the traditional churches are not the churches who understand grace because they had not preached grace until everyone, including all the sinners and believers, misunderstood them. 
  11. that the traditional churches are proud people who boast like the Israelites who said, "All that the Lord command, we do", and, therefore, their preaching of repentance to confess sins before God is false humility
  12. that the traditional churches are all guilty of preaching too much self-effort or the works of the law because they focus more on doing righteousness rather than just preaching, believing, and confessing righteousness
  13. that the new radical grace preachers are the new 'Benjamin' generation of preachers and believers who have more favours, more faith, more power, more prophecies, more prosperity, more wisdom, more grace, and more anointing, than the old, traditional, poor repentance preachers. I will tell them, Yes, when you preach this, you may have more power, more riches, more blinded followers .. etc, but you have more boasting, more lies, more deception, more unrepentant spirit, more rebellion, more self-righteousness, and more unregenerated character of Saul too:
** Is it really the favour of God to be of the Benjamin generation, like Saul or Paul? 
No, if you know the Bible history, you would never boast to be of the generation of a king or prince:
  • Act 13:21 KJV  And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years.
  • 1Sa 15:19-26 KJV  Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?  (20)  And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.  (21)  But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal.  (22)  And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.  (23)  For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.  (24)  And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.  (25)  Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.  (26)  And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.
Some may argue, "No, we are not talking about the favours of being Saul; but of being Paul or the Benjamins.." I will ask them, Have you read the New Testament. Paul was named Saul by his father who was probably proud of the name of their king, Saul. Anyway, whether 'Saul' was the name of a king or another name, Paul had no interest in that name. He changed it to 'Paul', to 'little', or to something of very 'low rank'. Obviously, Paul was not interested in the name of any great man, great king, great tribe, or greatly favoured generation. He was only interested in being common or being humble in the name of Christ. I believe that most of the true believers who read the Bible know Paul's heart and passion and they know why:
  • Rom 11:1 KJV  I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
  • Php 3:2-8 KJV  Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.  (3)  For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.  (4)  Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:  (5)  Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;  (6)  Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.  (7)  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.  (8)  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Hence, Paul would never boast about favour or grace to promote himself as a great man of God or great man of 'Grace'. He would only boast about his infirmities, weaknesses, necessities, and lacks, which made him look more like a fool to those who always pursue for the favour, glamour, or blessing of this world in the name of another 'Jesus', another 'spirit', another 'gospel', or another doctrine:
  • 2Co 11:3-30 KJV  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.  (4)  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him .... (16) I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little.  (17)  That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting.  (18)  Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also .... (23) Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.  (24)  Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. .. (27)  In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. ..  (29)  Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?  (30)  If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities ... (12:5-11) Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities.  (6)  For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.  (7)  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.  (8)  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.  (9)  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  (10)  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.  (11)  I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
I will ask the radical grace preachers, Did Paul say that we should think more of power, prosperity, riches, strength, or favour? No, probably he had thought more of grace that the thorn be totally removed from him, but God said to him, My grace is sufficient for thee. Hence, Paul said, 2Co 11:10 KJV (10)  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities.., after knowing the will of God. Hence, he won't tell us to think more of grace, more of radical grace, or more of hyper grace too when he knew that God's grace is sufficient for him.


::


2 comments:

  1. Do you have a list of these free grace movement preachers? I would like to look into what some of them have been preaching. I disagree with their teachings, but would like to look into them firsthand.

    ReplyDelete