SUNSET SCHOOL of PREACHING and TERRY RUSH Tommy J
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Vol. 9, No. 5 May 1998 >.. J .M„.....UU,,11.«J*...Jl.JJ-LII^W^^,. UMJJi.:MkMM«m^lM^L^,», MnMHIIIiMMWigiUm SUNSET SCHOOL OF PREACHING AND TERRY RUSH Tommy J. Hicks When Cline Paden, Richard Rogers, and Ted Stewart endorsed Terry Rush's book, The Holy Spirit Makes No Earthly Sense, they endorsed Rush's false doctrines ofi "Christ was only a man" (Adoptionism), "Direction Operation ofthe Holy Spirit,9' "Divine Illumination ofthe Scriptures," and "Law verses Spirit" Doctrinally sound men do not endorse false doctrines! Not only do I urge you to read Terry Rush, in his book The Holy especially Ted Stewart of the Sunset the book Divorce & Remar Spirit Makes No Earthly Sense, School of Preaching gave sugges riage by Truman Scott and taught (teaches) very serious doctri tions to improve the phrasing of the Wayne Jackson, there is another nal error?'' manuscript." According to this, the book that reveals a great deal about If brother Rush did teach false afore mentioned Sunset brethren not how Sunset personnel stand regard doctrines in that book (and he most only endorsed Rush's book, they ing false doctrine. Before I give the certainly did), then why did Cline helped him write it. There are no title of the book, I want to pose some Paden write the "Introduction" for warnings, no disclaimers, no state questions. the book? Why would Richard ments of disagreement, no expressed Question One: "Do doctrinally Rogers endorse the book, saying reservations to be found in Paden's sound elders, preachers, and teach that it is, "An unusual, practical, "Introduction" to, or in brethren ers in schools of preaching endorse challenging book. I found it highly Rogers and Stewart's endorsements and help in the spread of false doc provocative and useful" (back cover of Rush's book. None of these trines!" NO! (1 Tim. 4:1-6,16; Titus ofthe first edition ofthe book). brethren can rightfully claim that 1:9-13; Rom. 16:17; Eph. 5:11). It is Another endorsement on the they "endorsed the man, not the wrong, sinful for anyone, even if he back of the book reads, "Terry book." In their remarks, they disagrees with a false teacher and Rush's book on the Holy Spirit is endorsed the book; therefore, they the false teacher's doctrines to give thought provoking, exciting, encour endorsed (without expressing a sin encouragement to the false teacher aging, edifying and challenging. gle word of disagreement) the false and, in any way, aid him in spread Every Christian can derive great doctrines contained within the book. ing his false doctrine. "For he that spiritual benefit by reflecting on the They became and are partakers of biddeth him God speed is partaker of ideas presented in this Bible study." the false doctrines in the book. Doc his evil deeds'' (2 John 11). — Ted Stewart, Chairman, School trinally sound men do not endorse Question Two (this question is of Missions/Graduate, Sunset School and help to spread false doctrines. / specifically for brethren Cline ofPreaching. respectfully challenge brethren Paden, Richard Rogers, Ted Stewart, On the "Acknowledgments" page Sunset's elders, and all of the faculty of his book, Rush thankfully noted, (Continued on page 4) members at SIBI): "Do you deny that "Cline Paden, Richard Baggett, and Sunset and Terry Rush... ..JT •— 2/34 Seek The Old Paths - May 1998 God's grace in saving sin ners as being "efficacious," "invincible," or "irresistible," for the grace which the Holy Spirit extends to the elect cannot be thwarted or refused, it never fails to bring them to true faith in Christ, (p.49) Garland M: Robinson The basic point ofthis false doc trine is that a person must wait for a special working of grace to come To speak of the "Doctrine of they are by nature, to grace upon him from God. Proponents of Irresistible Grace" does not and salvation by Jesus this doctrine say this .comes as the imply at all that it is a Bible Christ; enlightening their result of the direct operation of the doctrine; on the contrary, it is a doc minds spiritually and sav Holy Spirit upon the heart of an trine of man, not God. It is one of ingly, to understand the individual which illuminates his five doctrines that have come to be things of God; taking away soul to be able to understand the identified by the word T-U-L-I-P. their heart ofstone, and giv spiritual things of God which no The five are: ing them a heart of flesh; man can know without the Spirit's T— Total Hereditary Depravity renewing their wills, and by special presence. U— Unconditional Predestina His almighty power deter The doctrine ofIrresistible Grace tion (election) mining them to Jesus is demanded by the very nature of L— Limited Atonement Christ, yet so as they come the doctrine of Total Hereditary I— Irresistible Grace most freely, being made will Depravity. Since this system teaches P— Perseverance ofthe Saints ing by His grace. "This effec that all men are totally depraved John Calvin (1509-1564), a tual call is ofGod's free and (sinners from birth), they cannot do reformer in Switzerland in the six special grace alone, not from anything to be saved nor can they teenth century, is the man who is any thing at all foreseen in even decide, on their own, to be credited as the father of the TULIP man, who is altogether pas saved. This idea, then, must be cir doctrine. His works are abundant sive therein, until, being cumvented or by-passed. Such is and wide-spread. His influence has quickened and renewed by accomplished, as Calvinism believes, swept the world of Christendom the Holy Spirit, he is thereby by God'sIrresistible Grace. Once God (denominationalism) today in that enabled to answer this call, works on an individual's heart, they most churches teach at least one or and to embrace the grace believe, he no longer has any choice more of his doctrines. Hardly is offered and conveyed by it. in the matter but to be saved. There there a place where his influence (The Reformed Doctrine of fore, those who have been selected has not gone. Predestination, Loraine by God to be saved, cannot overcome Sad, but true, some ofthese doc Boettner, p.162) this influence and will yield to it trines have found fertile soil among regardless of their own desire. That some in the churches of Christ. A In the book, The Five Points of is why it is irresistible! growing idea now among an ever Calvinism, Defined, Defended, Docu increasing number fits in well with mented, published by the Presbyter CONSEQUENCES the doctrine of Irresistible Grace. ian and Reformed Publishing Com Proof of this claim will be estab pany, we read: Surely, even the casual reader lished in a future article. Our point will recognize the consequences of in this short review is to identify Although the general out such a far-fetched doctrine. This what the doctrine is and destroy it ward call of the gospel can makes man a mere robot! He is a with the power ofGod's Word. be, and often is, rejected, the machine that can only do what it special inward call of the has been programmed to do. If one DEFINITION Spirit never fails to result in has been predetermined (predesti the conversion of those to nated) to be lost, he can do absolute The Westminster Confession whom it is made. This spe ly nothing to be saved — even if he states the doctrine as: cial call is not made to all desires to. But, on the other hand, if sinners but is issued to the one has been predetermined to be All those whom God has pre elect only! The Spirit is in no saved, there is absolutely nothing he destinated unto life, and way dependent upon their can do to be lost — even ifhe desires those only, He is pleased, in help or cooperation for suc to. This latter point necessitates the His appointed and accepted cess in His work of bringing doctrine of "once saved always time, effectually to call, by them to Christ. It is for this saved" or as they call it, Persever His Word and Spirit, out of reason that Calvinists speak ance of the Saints. This doctrine is that state of death, in which of the Spirit's call and of absurd! May 1998 - Seek The Old Paths 3/35 REFUTED gospel is unproductive and worth did he testify and exhort, saying, less! But, that is not what God says Save yourselves from this unto Such a system removes from an concerning the Word. We read that ward generation" (Acts 2:38,40). individual the power of choice. "...it is the power of God unto salva Those to whom Peter preached could Joshua made it plain in the long ago, tion to every one that believeth; to the save "themselves" by obeying the "And ifit seem evil unto you to serve Jew first, and also to the Greek" gospel. Calvinism teaches that men the LORD, choose you this day (Rom. 1:16). Paul said, "For the cannot save themselves, that salva whom ye will serve; whether the preaching ofthe cross is to them that tion is totally dependent upon God gods which your fathers served that perish foolishness; but unto us which and that men are passive regarding were on the other side ofthe flood, or are saved it is tlte power of God. For their own salvation.