Countercult Apologetics

The audio from when Greg Stafford (Jehovah’s Witness apologists) was on The Narrow Mind with (hosts) Gene Cook, Jr. and Robert Morey has been posted online (for a limited time). The three of these individuals discussed the topic of God’s Knowledge. Since then, Greg has posted three articles (see In Medio) on his understanding of the Knowledge of God and the Will of Man.

Although Mr. Stafford seems to think so, there is nothing new under the sun. For critiques of Stafford’s views go here.

A new resource:

Through Western Eyes Eastern Orthodoxy: A Reformed Perspective. Robert Letham (Christian Focus Mentor, March 2007).

Description:
The culture of the Eastern Church is alien to our experience. Yet the more we familiarize ourselves with the Eastern Church the more we recognize, for all the differences, the family resemblances. The family has been parted for a very long time. But chances have arisen to meet again and get to know one another. In recent years, Eastern Orthodoxy has emerged vividly on the radar of Western Christians – hitherto, it was largely ignored. The separation has been due to the long-term historical disruption caused by differences in language, outlook and theology and eventually by the depredations of Islam. Because of these East and West went their separate ways. As a result, the respective theologies appear at times to inhabit parallel universes. However, this ignorance is changing. Eastern Orthodoxy is increasingly popular in the Anglo-Saxon world. It conveys a sense of mystery, of continuity with the past, of dignified worship at a time when evangelical Protestantism is increasingly cheapened and trivialized. This book examines the history and theology of Orthodoxy from a Reformed perspective. There are clear and significant areas of agreement – a common allegiance to the triune God; the person of Christ; the authority of Scripture and the truth of the gospel. At the same time there are many areas of disagreement, where it seems that Orthodoxy and Protestantism are at odds. However, there are also misunderstandings on both sides, where proponents of either position are not normally dealing accurately with what the other holds to be true. In drawing attention to the agreements and misunderstandings Robert Letham trusts that readers may come to a better understanding of exactly where the real differences lie. We can learn from Orthodoxy – if our assumption is that the most important thing is to grow in our knowledge of Christ.

Todd Wilken over at Issue’s Etc. has been doing a lot of interviews on various religions. I list them here, trusting the material will be helpful.*

“Islam & Christianity with Jerry Rassamni, Author “From Jihad to Jesus”

“The Quran, Islam & Jihad” with Adam Francisco. Part 1 (second half) and Part 2

Mormonism and Christianity with Rocky Hulse

Gretchen Passantino has been a frequent guest on the program, doing a series on Religions, Faith Traditions & Spiritualities:

Witchcraft, Wicca & Neo-Paganism (second half)

Satanism

New Spiritualities

Jehovah’s Witnesses

Mormonism (second half)

Buddhism & Hinduism (second half)

Judaism & Islam (second half)

Orthodox Christianity

*I have not listened to these programs, so I can not vouch for the content. While I disagree with Gretchen Passantino on her stand with Hank Hanegraaff on The Local Church, she has been in Countercult ministry for quite some time. I assume (at least) the information in her programs is accurate.

Some say that other religions are a thorn in the side of presuppositionalism. I don’t believe this is the case. While this challenge hasn’t been answered, to a large degree (hold onto your hat), John Fraiser takes up the discussion in his recent post Presuppositional Apologetics and Other Religions.

“Throughout the literature of the Watchtower Society there are appeals to human reason to judge the Word of God. When biblical declarations appear to conflict with what Jehovah’s Witnesses consider reasonable, their publications offer alternatives to historic Christian beliefs. Doctrines such as the Trinity and the two natures of Christ are unacceptable because they seem to be impossible…. at least in practice [they] postulate the supremacy of the human mind over the revealed Word of God”

McGoldrick, James. Christianity And Its Competitors: The New Faces of Old Heresy (Christian Focus, 2006), 113.

We all know that to some extent our lives are shaped by the past, especially in the context of Christianity. The cults accuse us of being influenced by pagan philosophy, so much so that false doctrine has taken over “Christendom.” I don’t buy this bit, but I certainly do not deny that Christianity today is influenced by the Church fathers, etc.

I’m in agreement with McGoldrick and have been stating this for sometime now. What I’d like to see, is for someone to put this together historically. When (in writing) did Russell begin to deny the Trinity and what did he say about it?  How has his view (i.e. reasons for rejection) influenced those within the WTBTS today?

Here is a list of books I have up for sale

http://www.rctr.org/booksale.htm

Here are some new, recent and forthcoming resources dealing with cults the occult and world religions:

10 Questions and Answers on Mormonism PowerPoint Presentation. Ed. Paul Carden, Bill McKeever and Robert Bowman, Jr (Rose Pub. Feb. 2007).

10 Questions & Answers on Jehovah’s Witnesses PowerPoint Presentation (Rose Pub. Feb. 2007).

“The Why of Discernment: Rediscovering the Church’s Neglected Gift”, by G. Richard Fisher.
The Quarterly Journal, Vol. 27, No. 1 (Jan.-March. 2007).

“Reiki: With Minds Wide Open”, by Sharon Fish Mooney.
Christian Research Journal, Vol. 29, No. 6.

The Concise Guide to Today’s Religious Groups: Definitions, Leaders, & Teachings of Hundreds of Contemporary Religions and Christian Denominations (Harvest House, April, 2007)

Christianity And Its Competitors: The new faces of old heresy. James McGoldrick (Christian Focus, Nov. 2006).

God’s Revivals: Why Has God Allowed Different Religions? Insights from the Bible and the Early Church. Gerald R. McDermott (IVP, March 2007). I have a feeling I’m going to have some disagreements with this one, but I am looking forward to it.

Keith Walker’s presentation titled What’s in a name? Pronunciation or Reputation? has been posted online. This is from the 2006 Witnesses Now for Jesus Convention.

Stay tuned to Watchman Fellowship’s upcoming video series Contemporary Spiritualities (March 2007).

Check out this open letter To the Leadership of Living Stream Ministry and the “Local Churches”

 The Press Release begins this way:

January 9, 2007 — More than 60 evangelical Christian scholars and ministry leaders from seven nations have signed an unprecedented open letter (www.open-letter.org) asking the leadership of the “local churches” and Living Stream Ministry to withdraw unorthodox statements by their founder, Witness Lee. The letter also calls onthe movement’s leaders to renounce their decades-long practice of using lawsuits and threatened litigation to respond to criticism and settle disputes with Christian organizations and individuals.

More…