The , Hank Hanegraaff & Eastern Introduction • On April 9, 2017, Hank Hanegraaff and his wife were chrismated in a Greek Orthodox . • Hanegraaff has been known since 1989 as the “Bible Answer Man,” and the president of the Chrisan Research Instute.

• Hanegraaff’s conversion caused a significant sr among Bible-believing evangelicals.

The ca. 1180 The East-West Schism of 1054 Roman Eastern Catholicism Orthodoxy Divided Roman Catholicism from Eastern Orthodoxy Orthodoxy vs. Catholicsm Differences: Similaries: - Rejects papal authority - Seven - Allows to marry - Real presence of - Rejects the filioque Christ in clause - Veneraon of saints - Emphasizes mystery in theology more than in - Fasts like Lent Roman Catholicism - Elevates tradion

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: Aer 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 anchrist. (2 John 7)

Jude: Certain persons have crept in unnoced, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnaon. (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 salvaon): The true church understands that sinners are jusfied 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 devoon 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 correcon, 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 tradion 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 wrien: 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.’ Neglecng the commandment of God, you hold to the tradion of men.” The Word of God

He was also saying to them, “You are experts at seng aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradion . . . thus invalidang the word of God by your tradion which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.” The Word of God What about the menon of apostolic “tradion” in the New Testament?

• 1 Corinthians 11:2 • 2 Thessalonians 2:15 • 2 Thessalonians 3:6 The Word of God 1. The word “tradion” simply means “things handed down.”

Apostolic tradion refers to apostolic instrucon given to the church either “by word of mouth or by leer” (2 Thess. 2:15).

It does not include elaborate liturgical customs or pracces that developed in later centuries.

The Word of God 2. Apostolic tradion (instrucon) is preserved for us in the wrings of the New Testament.

We don’t have to wonder about the content of apostolic tradion, because it is recorded for us on the pages of Scripture.

The Word of God 3. Believers are called to evaluate all teachings and tradions 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 capve through philosophy and empty decepon, according to the tradion of men.

The Word of God 3. Believers are called to evaluate teachings and tradions 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 wrien revelaon as the final authority over customs and tradions.

The Word of God

Irenaeus (c. 130–202) – We have learned from none others the plan of our salvaon, than from those through whom the 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 [tradion] 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 ) The Work of God The true church rests solely in the gracious work of God for salvaon.

Sinners are jusfied before God on account of His grace alone. Salvaon 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 jusfied 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 deserng 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 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 jusfied from all things from which you could not be jusfied 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 jusfied by faith apart from the works of the law.

Rom. 5:1 – Having been jusfied 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 regeneraon and renewing by the , 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 devoon) 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 Devoon: Undefiled worship is reserved for God alone.

True worship removes any distracons and rejects all competors.

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 unl those days the sons of Israel burned 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 – Lile 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 anchrist, 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 anchrist, 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 salvaon): The true church understands that sinners are jusfied 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 devoon and purity of doctrine. Comparison to Eastern Orthodoxy The Word of God (The Scriptures) The Word of God Eastern Orthodoxy explicitly rejects the Reformaon principle of (Scripture alone).

It views Scripture as part of a larger “Holy Tradion” that includes the liturgy of the church, the creeds of church councils, and the teachings of the .

The Word of God

The Revised and Updated Catechism of the Orthodox Faith, P016:

The Protestant slogan of “Sola Scriptura” . . . is

decepve and a cause of schism and . The Word of God

Bryn Geffert and Theofanis G. Stavrou, Eastern Orthodox Chrisanity:

Marn Luther's mantra, sola scriptura (“by scripture alone”), proved anathema to the Roman 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 queson of what is the ulmate 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 : It is certainly the case, however, that Eastern Orthodoxy and orthodox Protestansm approach Scripture and tradion, as well as their coordinaon, rather differently. Like Rome, the East has generally accepted at least certain post-apostolic tradions as equal in authority to Scripture. The Work of God (in Salvation) The Work of God

Hank Hanegraaff, Chrisanity 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 Reformaon principle of faith alone.

The Work of God

Confession of Patriarch Dositheos and the Synod of (1672):

We believe that a man is not simply jusfied 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 salvaon will be the outcome of a virtuous life permeated and sealed by the inesmable blood of the Only-begoen 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 salvaon? Pelagians answer, “Enrely”; Semi-Pelagians say, “in part.” Neither of these answers . . . does jusce 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 salvaon. • It defines salvaon in terms of theosis (becoming like God) rather than jusficaon (being declared righteous by God). • At a popular level, salvaon is generally understood as something secured through parcipaon in the church and its rituals.

The Work of God George Hancock-Stefan: In the Orthodox Church one can jusfiably paraphrase the jailer’s queson (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 and who became Bapsts . . . 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 relaonship with God because they had never commied 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 intenonally ambiguous by elevang mystery and myscism.

Apophacism (“negave theology”) teaches that the transcendent God can only be known through negave statements— explaining what He is not, rather than what He is.

The Worship of God

Vladimir Lossky, Myscal Theology:

All true Orthodox theology is at its root apophac; apophacism is the fundamental characterisc of the whole theological tradion of the Eastern Church.

The Worship of God

Lawrence W. Carrino:

The most serious flaw in apophacism is the “ism”—the unwarranted reliance on negaon and hence myscism 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 agnoscism, since we have no way of knowing whether God is as he has revealed himself in Jesus Christ. It also defies raonal discourse, since we cannot say anything about who God is.

The Worship of God

Purity of Devoon: Eastern Orthodoxy creates competors 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 , taught that there was a difference between worship and veneraon. He said it was acceptable to “venerate” (images of saints) as long as one did not “worship” them.

Worship – Greek word – latreia

Veneraon – Greek word – proskynesis

The Worship of God

Revelaon 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 trusng in thee we cry aloud unto thee; Hail! As aforeme did Gabriel, Chief Captain of the Bodiless Powers. The Worship of God

Michael Horton, Three Views:

Orthodoxy enforces nothing short of polical repression of evangelical churches wherever it is dominant.

In naons like Russia, the Orthodox church has been a primary persecutor of evangelicalism.

Conclusion

Conclusion Eastern Orthodoxy’s elevaon of tradion causes it to undermine the sole authority of the Word of God.

Its insistence on jusficaon 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 myscism, along with venerang and praying to dead saints, causes it to distort and distract from the pure worship of God.

Conclusion Jeff Maples: The Greek and 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 pracce. Like a seance. . . . In this religion, salvaon doesn’t come through Christ’s imputed righteousness and substuonary 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.