Let God Be True and Every Man a Liar (Romans 3:4)

by John Henderson, June 1, 2011

A Christian lady who recently attended an interview session for a prospective pastor of a Nazarene church where she attends posted online her experiences from the interview.  Among those were are the following excerpts:  

“no questions regarding anything about doctrine or scripture…except when I asked how he would present the gospel in a ‘positive way‘. One of the people I shared the questions with asked about the inerrancy and infallibility of scripture…..said he did believe it …but when I added in all areas….geographical, historical, and scientifically…he did not agree …..most if not all in favor of his admittedly liberal approach to ministry and admitted that he uses books like Kimball, and the others I listed, like Osteen as a basis for his sermons and ministry approaches…. (although admitted his home congregation didn’t care for those messages)…..looking for a progressive thinking congregation….when I addressed the “sin” issue of the gospel….he suggested not knowing me and my religious background….that I maybe grew up in a legalistic church or maybe was abused as a child….neither of which is true….I had a good cry when I left….not about being alone…just about the state and direction of Christ’s holy Church.”

I am among those Nazarenes who are very weary of neo-Nazarenes or pseudo-Nazarenes who are trying to ascend to leadership among us while dragging along the emergent church heresies.  As former General Superintendent James Diehl said rather recently, they are already here and what we need is a resurgence of old-time holiness among us.  We certainly do not need an “emergent Nazarene” assimilation of socialistic progressivism, eastern mysticism, postmodernism, new age social gospel, and all its accouterments.  We need people who do not hesitate on or apologize about the cardinal questions of sin and biblical inerrancy as well as all other biblical truths.  No human being is qualified to pick and choose as to how the Scriptures are inerrant as they may assert.  They are not qualified to say which ones are and which ones are not inerrant nor how they may be so.  

I highly favor the proposal of change in the Manual presented at the last General Assembly (on which no action was taken):

 “RESOLVED that Manual paragraph 4 be amended as follows:

IV. The Holy Scriptures

4. We believe in the plenary inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, by which we understand the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments, given by divine inspiration, [inerrantly revealing the will of God concerning us in all things necessary to our salvation] inerrant throughout, and the supreme authority on everything the Scriptures teach so that whatever is not contained therein is not to be enjoined as an article of faith.

(Luke 24:44-47; John 10:35; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; 1 Peter 1:10-12; 2 Peter 1:20-21).”  

The phrases they asked that should be added was “inerrant throughout, and the supreme authority on everything the Scriptures teach.”

 

 

Questions that might be asked of anyone who appears to equivocate on the inerrancy of Scriptures are:

If the Scriptures are inerrant only in “things necessary to our salvation” (something the Scriptures do not claim):

1. What are some examples of those Scriptures “necessary to our salvation”?

2. What are, therefore, some examples of those Scriptures NOT necessary to our salvation? Why are they not? Who makes the distinctions, who decides that? What qualifies them to do that? On what authority is that based?

3. Does that not mean, therefore (given 2) that Scriptures NOT necessary to our salvation are NOT inerrant and, therefore, ambiguous?

4. If they are not inerrant, why are they Scriptures? Why are they in the Bible at all? What would be their divine purpose for being among the inerrant passages?

If the Bible is not inerrantly inspired by God in any part, it is not at all trustworthy because there is no one outside of the Scriptures themselves who is qualified to tell us which ones are or are not inerrant.  We could never be sure because we have nothing left but fallible human reasoning as our ultimate authority.  

We need to stop equivocating with the uncertainties of neo-orthodoxy*,  the seedbed of postmodernism, and embrace an understanding of simple things, such as:  If it is Scripture, it is inspired of God and it is infallibly authoritative.

The Holy Spirit did not mix speculation with inspiration.  We need to understand that if we say that any part of the Scriptures are not inspired, we are saying that the Holy Spirit made mistakes and that God is teasing us with error mixed with truth.  We are saying that we cannot trust the passages that declare that all Scripture is inspired of God and that holy men spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.  It is satanic haughtiness right out of the serpent’s mouth that still questions what God has said.  To devalue God’s Word is to challenge God Himself.

We have no right to posture our opinions and presumptions so as to say that any word, phrase, or account in the Scriptures is not there by a full and complete inspiration of the Holy Spirit, which makes it irrefutable.  Even the words of pagans quoted in context are there because the Holy Spirit recorded them.  God did not waste words in His Scriptures.  We need to be always seeing the divine message, not quibbling over this or that speculation or bogus knowledge about the Bible.  If the Bible seems to have errors, it is not the shortcomings of Scriptures.  It is our own shortcomings comprised largely of ignorance and intentional stupidity.  It is we who missed the message.

The Bible is not a book of science but if it speaks of something of a scientific nature, it is always true, even if some smart aleck of the day thinks otherwise.  No man has the authority or qualification to validate or judge Scriptures.  The Scriptures authenticate Scriptures, and they judge us. God’s Word is always historically and geographically correct.  For us Nazarenes, that means all 66 books and every word in each book.  Every “jot and tittle!!” Those who think otherwise are missing their facts somewhere—or distorting them.

Significantly, it is the only Book in the history of mankind that has never been proved wrong in any respect.  Every alleged discrepancy is easily refuted by the Scriptures themselves.  Its critics have come and gone by the wagon loads.  That Book is still here and will be here when the current crop of naysayer’s carcasses have turned to dust (if Jesus tarries that long).

There was a time when I thought that the elitists among us were few and basically disconnected.  Was I ever so wrong!  They are well organized, well connected, and well-heeled.

Maybe we are lobbing too many soft balls to these people.  Perhaps we should be pitching the hardball-98 mph-questions to these self-appointed experts of the faith, such as:  Why are you here?  Why do you seek to undermine our confidence in the Lord and in His Word?  What do you offer in its place that gives as great a hope and assurance of eternal life and such wonderful guidelines of holy Christian living on earth?  Why do you want to drag us into hell with you?  

*(http://www.gotquestions.org/neoorthodoxy.html)

Question: “What is neo-orthodoxy?”

Answer: Neo-orthodoxy is a broad term, but it is mostly used in the sense of “modern contemporary theology” or “liberal theology.” Fundamentally, neo-orthodoxy differs from orthodoxy with its approach to the “doctrine of the word.” . . . . The orthodox view holds that the Bible is the revealed Word of God, which was given by inspiration of God. By inspiration, both verbal and mechanical, it is meant that the Holy Spirit was in full control of the Bible writer, by either verbally dictating everything he was writing or by using the person as a tool to work through. This doctrine of inspiration comes to the logical conclusion that the original manuscripts are without error or contradiction. Two Scriptures that are quoted in support of this view are 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and 2 Peter 1:20-21.

Neo-orthodoxy denies this orthodox approach of inerrancy and inspiration, saying that inspiration was not given verbally or mechanically, but that the author interpreted the events or word of God, thus writing his own interpretation. This denies what God has revealed to us in the above passages, among others. Scripture in its original manuscripts is the very words of God in the words of men. . . . In orthodox circles the Bible is regarded to be the complete and sufficient revelation of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17, Jude 1:3). Neo-orthodoxy believes the Bible is a medium of revelation (while orthodoxy believes it is revelation). To the believers in neo-orthodoxy, revelation is therefore dependent on the experience (or personal interpretation) of each individual, making truth a mystical experience, rather than a concrete fact. Neo-orthodoxy would make a distinction between the “word of God” and the “revealed Word of God,” calling the Word of God (Bible) the “letter” and the revealed word of God the “Spirit-word.”

Final Word on “Concerned Nazarenes” and Orlando Convention wrap up

From Eric Barger – Take A Stand Ministries

Several have written wondering about the outcome of our efforts during the General Assembly of the Church of the Nazarene in Orlando earlier this month.

One writer simply wrote:

I was wondering if the denomination took any specific action or vote on the matter.  Thanks, Ron

Here is my response.

Ron,

Thanks for writing!

There was no action taken by the Nazarene Church as a body on the matter of the Emergent Church philosophy. Also, there was at least one very pro-Emergent seminar session presented at the General Assembly by John Middendorf of Oklahoma City, who is perhaps the best known Emergent-leaning pastor in the Nazarene denomination. During the Q&A time after Middendorf spoke, Pastor Joe Staniforth of Brownsville, TX, stood and asked if there was any forum where he or other “Concerned Nazarenes” might be allowed to present an opposing view. Pastor Joe was summarily shut down – and that was with General Superintendent Dr. Jess Middendorf (John’s father) sitting in the front row, I am told. Though I was not present at the Middendorf session, the pastor of a prominent Nazarene church from a major southern city (who attended two of the seminars that I presented while in Orlando) told me personally that he was ashamed and embarrassed for the way Pastor Staniforth was treated for merely asking a question that opposed the endorsement of Emergent thinking.

As we have known for quite a while, opposing voices are not welcome when criticizing Emergent ideology in at least some sectors of the Church of the Nazarene and elsewhere. As I have constantly cited, Emergents rarely attempt to present a defense for their beliefs and ideas. Rather than answering the charges that biblically-based thinkers bring, many Emergents simply use the unseemly political tactic of attempting to discredit their opponents through character assassination, baseless charges, guilt-by-association and the like. I know those are serious charges but I am all too aware of this first hand. Recently I have been called numerous things such as a “liar,” “unqualified,” “uneducated,” a “trouble maker,” a “church splitter,” an “online discernment ministry,” a “fundamentalist,” a “Calvinist” and on and on – all to simply try and portray me and our ministry in what the Emergents would consider a negative light. One pastor even inferred that because one-time radio host, Bob Larson, endorsed my book, From Rock to Rock, in 1991 I couldn’t be trusted. It didn’t matter that I haven’t had any communication whatsoever with Bob Larson in 15 years and for better or for worse have never endorsed his ministry! The fact that Larson interviewed me long ago was in this particular Nazarene pastor’s eyes the best argument he had to try and discredit me. To this very day, Emergent Nazarenes have attempted again and again to make me the issue but have failed to address the real problem – the Emergent heresy they insist on promoting.

Moving on to perhaps the most important issue, it is apparent that there is great disagreement inside the Church of the Nazarene concerning biblical inerrancy. Their current articles of faith are very carefully worded to avoid the idea that they affirm the Bible to be inerrant. I perceive that this is how some in the Nazarene universities have successfully introduced Open Theism and evolution without much opposition.

One thing is certain – Bible believers in the Church of the Nazarene are not going to be silent. Nor are they going to go away. I suspect (and hope) that at the next General Assembly in 2013 there will be an even stronger push to affirm inerrancy. That will probably mean a fairly nasty showdown IF (and that’s a big “if”) there is a large and organized push to bring the issue to the floor of the convention.

Concerning the three new General Superintendents elected by Nazarenes in Orlando… What I am hearing from conservative Nazarenes seems to indicate that the three, Eugenio Duarte (Africa), David W. Graves (U.S.) and Stan Toler (U.S.) are not in any way Emergent – at least not publicly. Duarte did use the phrase missional church during his address to the Assembly in Orlando but the consensus is that he may actually be the most biblically evangelistic and conservative of the three new G.S.s. (His use of this Emergent buzzword may indeed hold a completely different meaning than its use in Emergent teaching.) Though I surely do not know with certainty, it would appear that the new G.S.s range from fairly to very conservative. Time will tell but from the reaction I have read by some of the Emergent-minded Nazarenes it would appear that the new General Superintendents are not what they had hoped for. Praise the Lord! However, no one should presume that the election of conservative General Superintendents fixes the encroachment of the Emergent philosophy inside the Church of the Nazarene. As a long-standing and well-known Nazarene evangelist told me yesterday, “Regardless of the hope we might have in these three (G.S.’s), it still remains our schools have to be purged of this heresy, along with the professors promoting it, or we die as a denomination!”

Finally, as I mentioned in my video updates to our subscribers on June 26 and 27, I am so glad to have been involved in this effort with the group of biblically solid “Concerned Nazarenes.” Again, our efforts were surely not without opposition and this opposition continues in some pretty ugly and unbiblical ways. However, when the truth is obscured and error is exalted, standing on the side of the Bible is always the right thing to do – even if it’s unpopular. Ultimately, anything we did in Orlando was for one goal – that in the future the lost would hear the unadulterated gospel of Jesus Christ faithfully taught and preached.

Eric Barger

Duarte, Graves, and Toler installed as general superintendents

Orlando, Florida

Thursday, July 2, 2009

from www.ncnnews.com/

Eugenio Duarte, David W. Graves, and Stanley A. Toler were officially installed as members of the Board of General Superintendents on July 2, 2009, as part of the denomination’s 27th General Assembly in Orlando, Florida. This was the final service of the event, bringing this joyous and historic quadrennial gathering to a close.

Prayer of Consecration: Duarte (front left), Graves (front center) and Toler (front right), pray while surrounded by current members of the BGS and BGS emeriti.

Eugenio and Maria Teresa Duarte, David and Sharon Graves, Stan and Linda Toler.

The new Board of General Superintendents and their spouses.

Charge and Installation of the new generals.

May God lead and direct the new Board of General Superintendents in all their decision.

Stan Toler elected 39th general superintendent

Orlando, Florida

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Stanley A. Toler, pastor of the Oklahoma City Trinity Church of the Nazarene and recently elected district superintendent for Southwest Oklahoma, was elected as the 39th general superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene on July 2, 2009. Toler was elected on the 16th ballot at the denomination’s 27th General Assembly in Orlando, Florida.

When the ballot results were revealed, Toler wept as he was surrounded by dozens of congratulators. General Secretary David Wilson escorted him to the platform, where he was greeted by the presiding and newly elected general superintendents.

After collecting himself, the casually-dressed Toler joked he “didn’t dress for the occasion.” He then spoke of his history, saying he was saved in a Sunday School class when he was four years old, was called to preach just a few years later at a West Virginia revival, and became a pastor when he was just 17.

“I have spent my whole life as a pastor,” he said. “I have never aspired to be anything but a pastor. But, four weeks ago on a Sunday morning I heard the words of Carl Summer and Talmadge Johnson ringing in my ear: ‘Don’t be so closed minded’ … and I thought if I was elected Southwest Oklahoma District Superintendent, I would do it.

“I never dreamed I’d be standing on this stage four weeks later.”

Citing a poem from father, Toler expressed peace at the center of his soul.

“I humbly accept this election,” he stated.

Toler was elected Southwest Oklahoma District Superintendent on June 4, an election which was to be effective approximately 30 days from that time.

He has been serving as pastor of Oklahoma City Trinity since May of 1997. He also served as pastor for Nashville (Tennessee) First, and Oklahoma City First.

He is a graduate of Circleville Bible College (Bachelor of Theology), Southern Nazarene University (Bachelor of Arts), Florida Beacon Bible College (Master of Theology, Doctor of Divinity), and Marantha Seminary (Doctor of Ministry).

For several years he taught seminars for John Maxwell’s INJOY Group, a leadership development institute. Toler has written over 70 books, including his best-sellers, God Has Never Failed Me, But He’s Sure Scared Me to Death a Few Times; The Buzzards Are Circling, But God’s Not Finished With Me Yet; God’s Never Late, He’s Seldom Early, He’s Always Right on Time; The Secret Blend; Practical Guide to Pastoral Ministry; Total Quality Life, and his popular Minute Motivator series. His latest book, ReThink Your Life, debuted at No. 23 on the CBA Christian Living Best Sellers list.

Toler’s writings form the foundation of his teaching in 50 seminars and conventions each year. He is also speaker and seminar leader for major corporations and organizations, nationally and internationally.

Born in West Virginia, Toler was raised in a home that taught the values that have influenced his life. His father was killed in a construction accident when Stan was 11 years old; a traumatic event that shaped his future ministry, and is recounted in his book The Harder I Laugh, the Deeper I Hurt.

He and his wife, Linda, an educator, have two sons, Seth and Adam, daughters-in-law, Marcy and Amanda, and one grandson, Rhett. The Tolers reside in Oklahoma City.

With this election and the elections of Eugenio Duarte and David W. Graves earlier this week, the next Board of General Superintendents is now complete. General Superintendents James H. Diehl, Paul G. Cunningham, and Nina G. Gunter are retiring, and Duarte, Graves, and Toler will join re-elected superintendents Jerry D. Porter, Jesse C. Middendorf, and J.K. Warrick to comprise the Board for the next quadrennium.

John C. Bowling was elected as the 38th general superintendent on Tuesday, but on Thursday morning, citing a lack of peace with the decision, rescinded his acceptance. Graves then was declared the 38th superintendent, and voting commenced for the 39th.

Upon Toler’s acceptance of the election, General Superintendent Nina G. Gunter declared him the 39th general superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene.

David Graves becomes 38th general superintendent

Orlando, Florida

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

David W. Graves, pastor of the Olathe, Kansas, College Church of the Nazarene, was elected the 38th general superintendent of the Church of the Nazarene on Wednesday evening, July 1, 2009. Graves was elected on the 22nd ballot at the denomination’s 27th General Assembly in Orlando, Florida.

“I’m very humbled by your vote of confidence in me,” Graves said upon being elected. “I feel unworthy. I have a great love for God and a great love for the family called the Church of the Nazarene.”

A fourth generation Nazarene on both sides of his family, he told the crowd, “All I’ve known my entire life is the family of the Church of the Nazarene.”

Remembering his heritage, Graves said his great-great aunt on his father’s side was affiliated with the work of pioneer holiness pastor, evangelist, and administrator J.O. McClurkan. He also told of his great-great uncle on his mother’s side, who drove a horse and buggy to Pilot Point, Texas, because he heard of a holiness group meeting. That meeting began the Church of the Nazarene. Graves said when his great-great uncle returned to Kansas, he told the family, “We have found our church.”

His grandfather on his mother’s side was a district treasurer for the State of Florida for 40 years. He also ran a campground in the state. Graves said he was 11 when he knelt next to a bunk bed at that campground and God spoke to him, saying, “I want you to preach my word.”

From that point on, Graves said all he’s ever wanted to be was a preacher.

“All my life, the only thing I ever wanted to hear was someone to call me ‘pastor,’” he said. “There is no higher honor than to preach the Word of God and for someone to call me ‘pastor.’”

Graves then spoke of how privileged he’s been to be pastor at Olathe College Church. He stated he has “mixed feelings,” but since he was 11, he has always said, “God, wherever you want me to go, I will go. Whatever you want me to do, I will do.”

He continued: “The easy thing to do would be to stay at Olathe College Church. God has not called me to do just the easy thing, but to do His will. My heart’s desire is to serve the church as I serve Him in this role to which you’ve elected me.”

Graves is the third consecutive pastor from Olathe College Church to be elected general superintendent. Graves replaced J.K. Warrick, who was elected to the Board of General Superintendents at Indianapolis 2005. Warrick succeeded Paul G. Cunningham as pastor at the church after Cunningham was elected to the Board in 1993. Warrick began his service at the church in January 1994; Graves in September 2006.

Noting this, Cunningham quipped, “I have one thing to say to that church up there – Olathe College Church – if you want to keep a pastor, you’d better start another denomination.”

Before pastoring Olathe College Church, Graves served from 2001-2006 as Sunday School Ministries director at the Church of the Nazarene’s International Headquarters. His pastorates include Monroe (North Carolina) Cornerstone Community, Broken Arrow (Oklahoma) First, Marion (Ohio) First, Nashville (Tennessee) Grace, and Cincinnati (Ohio) Springdale.

Graves is a graduate of Olivet Nazarene University and Nazarene Theological Seminary. In 2003, Olivet granted him an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree.

He and his wife, Sharon, currently reside in Olathe. They have three sons, Michael, John, and Steven, and a daughter, Rachel. They also have one granddaughter, Avery.

David is the son of Harold and Bettie Graves, who were in the audience when Graves was elected. Graves said thanks to them he has seen holiness in action every day.

With this election and the elections of Eugenio Duarte and John C. Bowling earlier this week, the next Board of General Superintendents is now complete. General Superintendents James H. Diehl, Paul G. Cunningham, and Nina G. Gunter are retiring, and Duarte, Bowling, and Graves will join re-elected superintendents Jerry D. Porter, Jesse C. Middendorf, and J.K. Warrick to comprise the Board for the next quadrennium.
–NCN News