The Bible, Hank Hanegraaff & Eastern Orthodoxy Introduction • On April 9, 2017, Hank Hanegraaff and his wife were chrismated in a Greek Orthodox Church. • Hanegraaff has been known since 1989 as the “Bible Answer Man,” and the president of the Chris an Research Ins tute.
• Hanegraaff’s conversion caused a significant s r among Bible-believing evangelicals.
The Byzantine Empire ca. 1180 The East-West Schism of 1054 Roman Eastern Catholicism Orthodoxy Divided Roman Catholicism from Eastern Orthodoxy Orthodoxy vs. Catholicsm Differences: Similari es: - Rejects papal authority - Seven sacraments - Allows priests to marry - Real presence of - Rejects the filioque Christ in Eucharist clause - Venera on of saints - Emphasizes mystery in theology more than in - Fasts like Lent Roman Catholicism - Elevates tradi on
Key Question What should evangelicals think about Eastern Orthodoxy?
Three Biblical Criteria NT Warnings Jesus: Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. (Ma . 7:15)
Paul: A er my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. (Acts 20:29)
Peter: But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you. (2 Pet. 2:1) NT Warnings John: Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the an christ. (2 John 7)
Jude: Certain persons have crept in unno ced, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemna on. (Jude 4) Biblical Criteria 1. The Word of God (in Scripture): The true church views Scripture alone as its final authority.
2. The work of God (in salva on): The true church understands that sinners are jus fied solely by God’s grace through faith alone on account of Jesus Christ.
3. The worship of God (in spirit and truth): The true church worships the Triune God in purity of devo on and purity of doctrine. The Word of God (the Scriptures)
The Word of God The true church submits to the Word of God as the final authority. The Word of God The true church submits to the Word of God as the final authority. 2 Tim. 3:16–17 – All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correc on, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. The Word of God
Mark 7:5–13 – The Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradi on of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?” And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is wri en: The Word of God
‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’ Neglec ng the commandment of God, you hold to the tradi on of men.” The Word of God
He was also saying to them, “You are experts at se ng aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradi on . . . thus invalida ng the word of God by your tradi on which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.” The Word of God What about the men on of apostolic “tradi on” in the New Testament?
• 1 Corinthians 11:2 • 2 Thessalonians 2:15 • 2 Thessalonians 3:6 The Word of God 1. The word “tradi on” simply means “things handed down.”
Apostolic tradi on refers to apostolic instruc on given to the church either “by word of mouth or by le er” (2 Thess. 2:15).
It does not include elaborate liturgical customs or prac ces that developed in later centuries.
The Word of God 2. Apostolic tradi on (instruc on) is preserved for us in the wri ngs of the New Testament.
We don’t have to wonder about the content of apostolic tradi on, because it is recorded for us on the pages of Scripture.
The Word of God 3. Believers are called to evaluate all teachings and tradi ons in light of God’s Word.
1 Thess. 5:21 – Examine all things carefully.
Col. 2:8 – See to it that no one takes you cap ve through philosophy and empty decep on, according to the tradi on of men.
The Word of God 3. Believers are called to evaluate teachings and tradi ons in light of God’s Word.
Acts 17:11 – The Bereans were “more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.”
The Word of God 4. The early church understood that the teaching of the apostles was found in the New
Testament Scriptures.
They saw wri en revela on as the final authority over customs and tradi ons.
The Word of God
Irenaeus (c. 130–202) – We have learned from none others the plan of our salva on, than from those through whom the Gospel has come down to us, which they did at one me proclaim in public, and, at a later period, by the will of God, handed down to us in the Scriptures, to be the ground and pillar of our faith. The Word of God Basil (c. 330–379) – I do not consider it fair that the custom [tradi on] which obtains among them [the Arians] should be regarded as a law and rule of orthodoxy. If custom is to be taken in proof of what is right, then it is certainly competent for me to put forward on my side the custom which obtains here. If they reject this, we are clearly not bound to follow them. Therefore let God- inspired Scripture decide between us; and on whichever side be found doctrines in harmony with the word of God, in favor of that side will be cast the vote of truth. The Work of God (in Salvation) The Work of God The true church rests solely in the gracious work of God for salva on.
Sinners are jus fied before God on account of His grace alone. Salva on is the gi of God received through faith alone because of the finished work of Christ alone. The Work of God Luke 18:14 – I tell you, this man went to his house jus fied rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted. The Work of God Gal. 1:6–8 – I am amazed that you are so quickly deser ng Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! The Work of God Acts 13:38–39 –Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is jus fied from all things from which you could not be jus fied by the law of Moses. The Work of God Acts 16:31 – Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved.
Rom. 3:28 – A man is jus fied by faith apart from the works of the law.
Rom. 5:1 – Having been jus fied by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. The Work of God Rom. 11:6 – If it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.
Eph. 2:8–9 – For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gi of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. The Work of God Phil. 3:8–9 – [Believers do not rest on] a righteousness of [their] own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith. The Work of God Titus 3:5–7 – [God] saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regenera on and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us. The Worship of God (in Spirit and Truth) The Worship of God The true church approaches the worship of God in spirit (purity of devo on) and in truth (purity of doctrine).
John 4:23 – An hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.
The Worship of God Purity of Devo on: Undefiled worship is reserved for God alone.
True worship removes any distrac ons and rejects all compe tors.
See Exodus 20:4 and Isaiah 42:8.
The Worship of God 2 Kings 18:4 – He removed the high places and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for un l those days the sons of Israel burned incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan.
The Worship of God 1 Cor. 10:14 – Flee from idolatry.
1 Thess. 1:9 – [They] turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God.
1 John 5:21 – Li le children, keep yourselves from idols. The Worship of God Purity of Doctrine: Undefiled worship requires an accurate view of who God is.
To reject the truth about who God is, as He has revealed Himself in His Word, is to worship the wrong God.
The Worship of God 1 John 2:22 – Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the an christ, the one who denies the Father and the Son. The Worship of God 1 John 4:2–3 – By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the an christ, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. The Worship of God 1 John 5:20 – And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ.
This is the true God and eternal life. The Worship of God John 1:1 – In the beginning was the Word, . . . and the Word was God.
John 1:14 – The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.
John 1:17 – Grace and truth were realized through Jesus the Messiah. Biblical Criteria 1. The Word of God (in Scripture): The true church views Scripture alone as its final authority.
2. The work of God (in salva on): The true church understands that sinners are jus fied solely by God’s grace through faith alone on account of Jesus Christ.
3. The worship of God (in spirit and truth): The true church worships the Triune God in purity of devo on and purity of doctrine. Comparison to Eastern Orthodoxy The Word of God (The Scriptures) The Word of God Eastern Orthodoxy explicitly rejects the Reforma on principle of sola Scriptura (Scripture alone).
It views Scripture as part of a larger “Holy Tradi on” that includes the liturgy of the church, the creeds of church councils, and the teachings of the church fathers.
The Word of God
The Revised and Updated Catechism of the Orthodox Faith, P016:
The Protestant slogan of “Sola Scriptura” . . . is
decep ve and a cause of schism and heresy. The Word of God
Bryn Geffert and Theofanis G. Stavrou, Eastern Orthodox Chris anity:
Mar n Luther's mantra, sola scriptura (“by scripture alone”), proved anathema to the Roman Catholic Church in the West and the Orthodox Church in the
East. Scripture alone is not sufficient, they replied. The Word of God
Robert Letham, Through Western Eyes: [We might] focus on the ques on of what is the ul mate authority that determines what we are to believe and do. Protestants say this is the Bible, the Word of God, which must sit in judgment on all opinions of man. The Orthodox also believe in the authority of the Bible but place it in a context where it is one among a range of factors. The Word of God
Michael Horton, Three Views on Eastern Orthodoxy and Evangelicalism: It is certainly the case, however, that Eastern Orthodoxy and orthodox Protestan sm approach Scripture and tradi on, as well as their coordina on, rather differently. Like Rome, the East has generally accepted at least certain post-apostolic tradi ons as equal in authority to Scripture. The Work of God (in Salvation) The Work of God
Hank Hanegraaff, Chris anity in Crisis: The Bible, from first to last, demonstrates that the saved throughout history come to faith in exactly the same way—by grace alone through faith alone on account of Christ alone.
Yet Eastern Orthodoxy explicitly rejects the Reforma on principle of faith alone.
The Work of God
Confession of Patriarch Dositheos and the Synod of Jerusalem (1672):
We believe that a man is not simply jus fied through faith alone, but through faith that works through love, that is to say, through faith and works. (Decree XIII). The Work of God
Father Callinicos, The Greek Orthodox Catechism, 31: Faith in Christ without good works is not enough to save us. Good works by themselves are also not sufficient. Our salva on will be the outcome of a virtuous life permeated and sealed by the ines mable blood of the Only-bego en Son of
God. The Work of God
Michael Horton, Three Views: Orthodoxy reflects a Semi-Pelagian consensus. . . . To what extent can humans be said to contribute to their own salva on? Pelagians answer, “En rely”; Semi-Pelagians say, “in part.” Neither of these answers . . . does jus ce to the biblical account of sin; nor does either give the comfort that is held out to us in “the good news.” The Work of God
• Eastern Orthodoxy teaches that the sacramental system is necessary for salva on. • It defines salva on in terms of theosis (becoming like God) rather than jus fica on (being declared righteous by God). • At a popular level, salva on is generally understood as something secured through par cipa on in the church and its rituals.
The Work of God George Hancock-Stefan: In the Orthodox Church one can jus fiably paraphrase the jailer’s ques on (Acts 1:30) from “What must I do to be saved?” to “What must the church do in order for me to be saved?” Many of the Orthodox clergy and laity who became Bap sts . . . confess that they had no idea what it meant to be a child of God. The church repeatedly assured them that they are, but they had no rela onship with God because they had never commi ed their lives to God. The Worship of God (in Spirit and Truth) The Worship of God
When evaluated against the standard of Scripture, Eastern Orthodox worship exhibits serious errors. The Worship of God
Purity of Doctrine: Eastern Orthodoxy makes truth about God inten onally ambiguous by eleva ng mystery and mys cism.
Apopha cism (“nega ve theology”) teaches that the transcendent God can only be known through nega ve statements— explaining what He is not, rather than what He is.
The Worship of God
Vladimir Lossky, Mys cal Theology:
All true Orthodox theology is at its root apopha c; apopha cism is the fundamental characteris c of the whole theological tradi on of the Eastern Church.
The Worship of God
Lawrence W. Carrino:
The most serious flaw in apopha cism is the “ism”—the unwarranted reliance on nega on and hence mys cism for the whole of Eastern theological vision.
The Worship of God
Robert Letham, Through Western Eyes:
This threatens our knowledge of God with a profound agnos cism, since we have no way of knowing whether God is as he has revealed himself in Jesus Christ. It also defies ra onal discourse, since we cannot say anything about who God is.
The Worship of God
Purity of Devo on: Eastern Orthodoxy creates compe tors to the pure and undefiled worship of God by encouraging its members to venerate and pray to departed saints.
The Worship of God
In the 8th century, a theologian named John of Damascus, taught that there was a difference between worship and venera on. He said it was acceptable to “venerate” icons (images of saints) as long as one did not “worship” them.
Worship – Greek word – latreia
Venera on – Greek word – proskynesis
The Worship of God
Revela on 22:8–9 – And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship [proskunēsai] at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. But he said to me, “Do not do that. I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed the words of this book. Worship [proskunēson] God.”
The Worship of God
Eastern Orthodox Service Book, 223: Let us sing the praises of Mary, Virgin, Door of heaven. Glory of all the world, sprung forth from man, who also bare the Lord; the Song of the bodiless Powers, and the Enriching of the faithful. For she revealed herself as Heaven and the Temple of the Godhead. The Worship of God
Eastern Orthodox Service Book, 68: O Birth-giver of God, in that thou art a well-spring of lovingkindness, vouchsafe unto us thy compassion. Look upon the people who have sinned. Manifest thy power as ever; for trus ng in thee we cry aloud unto thee; Hail! As afore me did Gabriel, Chief Captain of the Bodiless Powers. The Worship of God
Michael Horton, Three Views:
Orthodoxy enforces nothing short of poli cal repression of evangelical churches wherever it is dominant.
In na ons like Russia, the Orthodox church has been a primary persecutor of evangelicalism.
Conclusion
Conclusion Eastern Orthodoxy’s eleva on of tradi on causes it to undermine the sole authority of the Word of God.
Its insistence on jus fica on by faith and works causes it to frustrate grace (Rom. 11:6; Gal. 2:21) and demean the saving work of God.
Its emphasis on mystery and mys cism, along with venera ng and praying to dead saints, causes it to distort and distract from the pure worship of God.
Conclusion Jeff Maples: The Greek and Eastern Orthodox church is clearly a lifeless church. There was absolutely no gospel in this service. A lost person could not walk into this church and walk out a changed man. It was literally a Pagan prac ce. Like a seance. . . . In this religion, salva on doesn’t come through Christ’s imputed righteousness and subs tu onary atonement on the cross, it comes through these dead rituals that they believe ontologically changes them into divine beings. It was truly one of the most wicked experiences I’ve ever seen.