Denny I think you are right that the root of all heresy is the failure to believe God's Word <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/BigThumbUp.gif" alt="" />; to ask with the Serpent "hath God truly said?" when we know good and well he hath. But while liberals, New Agers, and relativists may openly deny the authority and inerrancy of the Word of God, most of the others that I listed do not consciously do so. Their interpretations of Scripture are strained, distorted, misleading, sinful, and wrong, but ask any of them and they'll say they believe the Bible is God's Word.
I did limit the question to dangers within the evangelical church, so Roman Catholicism in any of its diverse manifestations was not itself an option, although via ecumenicism , pluralism, relativism, the Emerging Church, and the New Perspective on Paul, considerable Roman Catholic influence may be creeping in unawares (or in the case of Evangelicals and Catholics Together, "awares").
I would also not agree that all of the heresies I listed stem from denying justification by faith alone and the imputation of Christ's righteousness. Certainly the New Perspective on Paul denies this, as do most advocates of universalism, relativism, and liberalism. But most Arminians do not consciously reject these (John Miley is an instructive and notable exception), nor do Third Wavers, or Seeker-Sensitive churches. The others are I think somewhat mixed.
You could go even further and say the root of all heresy is just plain sin, but while that is true, I don't think it is very helpful in determining which heresies pose the greatest and most immediate threat (even if they are not themselves the most odious and abhorrent) to the evangelical church.
I voted "Purpose Driven" basically for the same reasons you did. The Purpose Driven model has crept into both Arminian and Calvinist Churches. In fact I know a few Calvinists who have bought into it wholeheartedly. Anyone says anything against it and they will say that we are being nitpicky.
Didn't Paul write to a church putting down something like this or a variation?
I bought a book like this when it came out in hardcover, read about three pages and put it up. It was bad. I probably ought to throw it in the creek lest the kids pick it up one day.
Josh "...the word of God is not bound."--2 Timothy 2:9
I think that would be a good sixth sola!!! <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
SEMPER FIDELIS = Latin for always faithful. Faithful to God, Family and the Church. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/BigThumbUp.gif" alt="" />
Just a little correction though Boanerges.... "Hua" is the army. Like in Blackhawk Down. "Hoora" is for the Corp... like in Heartbreak Ridge. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
I was Navy.... we just said "aye aye".... like in Popeye. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> the bright side was that we didn't PT alot. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Dave
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. - Galatians 2:16
One grunt or snort sounds pretty much like another so don't blame yourself. I liked the Navy because wherever you went there was probably going to be air conditioning. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> (At least in the Hospital where I was).
Josh "...the word of God is not bound."--2 Timothy 2:9
“Hua” , “Hoora” , or “aye aye".... you guys watch too much TV. My DI said what he desired to say when he desired to say it. Most of it was not as elegant and inspirational as “Hua.” <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
And now we're experiencing the most dangerous problem in the church--distraction.
The Company Commander to whom I was subjected in boot camp was capable of more profanities per breath for longer periods of time than should have been humanly possible. We began to think, after a few weeks, that he was really a robot with an air hose hooked into his voice box...
I'm sorry, what were we talking about?
Josh "...the word of God is not bound."--2 Timothy 2:9
The Company Commander to whom I was subjected in boot camp was capable of more profanities per breath for longer periods of time than should have been humanly possible. We began to think, after a few weeks, that he was really a robot with an air hose hooked into his voice box...
I'm sorry, what were we talking about?
Actually this topic is very pertinent. Unfortunately it appears you had a Company Commander that used cussing as a way of life. In my circumstance it was a little different. My DI had TWO main things to teach by his language (which he explained near the end of our experience with him). Though one may have questioned his methodology, it kept many of us alive later in life.
First, many military personnel are taken captive during war time. One of the purposes of breaking us down BOTH physically and mentally (using language, etc) was to equip soldiers with the grit to “get thru” interrogations, torture, war, etc. Second, when one gets “use to” the *&%$#@ it actually becomes a valuable teaching technique. Soldiers get use to the *&%$#@ all the time, however when the DIs language suddenly changes then you find yourself listening and learning. You pay attention. See the ______s between the *&%$#@ was really what was important. Actually you will find a “similar" (but with obvious differences) parallel to this technique in the Bible with Hebrew chiasms (see attachment)….
Heresies are taught in somewhat an inverted fashion. Normally a heresy is taught between TWO (or more) truths. In this fashion you do not even see the evil approaching. The cuss words here are in the middle as opposed to the ends, i.e. (God is love. God does not hate. God loves Jesus.).
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