Crossless Advocates: "They Have Gone too Far!"

[Lou Martuneac]

Dr. J. B. Hixson is the Executive Director of the Free Grace Alliance.

There has been a running debate over the Grace Evangelical Society’s interpretation of the Gospel commonly known as the Crossless gospel. This is the new interpretation of the Gospel from Zane Hodges, which is being perpetuated by Bob Wilkin and the Grace Evangelical Society (GES). It is reductionist to the point that the content of saving faith is stripped of the finished work of Christ, His deity and the sinfulness of man. It is heretical and its advocates in the GES are the prime (and possibly only) advocates of this heresy.

There is a misconception being floated that the Free Grace community at large is, or could be, unified around the heresy of the GES gospel.

This week I have been able to reprint by permission a portion of Dr. Hixson’s new book, Getting the Gospel Wrong.

In the selected portion Dr. Hixson makes it very clear that the Crossless gospel is antithetical to the Scriptures. This affirms that any suggestion there is or ever could be unity around the heretical GES view of the Gospel is biblically impossible. There can never be unity at the expense of truth. Appeals for unity around the GES is tantamount to treason against the Lord and His Word.

I encourage Baptist believers to read each brief installment by J. B. Hixson. The titles are,

They Have Gone too Far!

“Crossless” Advocates Have Gone too Far!




LM

 

[Free Gracer]

Will Lou Ever Learn?

Dear Readers,

How long will you have to bear with Lou Martuneac's incessant witch hunts? He has been shown time and again his errors, misrepresentations, mischaracterizations, misquotes, and flat-out lies. He will go to any length to demonize those who he disagrees with.

I do not say so flippantly, but he has lied. He has been going around all the blogs and emailing people saying things such as this:

The Free Grace Alliance (FGA) came into being partly because of the downward doctrinal spiral of the GES.

The Free Grace Alliance (FGA) was formed in part to become and is the new home of many men who have departed GES over the egregious errors coming from Hodges and Wilkin.

I recently spoke to Dr. Earl Radmacher, who was the Founding President of the Free Grace Alliance, and told him what Lou Martuneac was going around saying. Dr. Radmacher's reply was, "Anyone who would say such a thing is a liar." I have asked Lou Martuneac to provide documentation for his assertion, but he has failed utterly. Furthermore, Dr. Radmacher desired both Zane Hodges and Bob Wilkin, Executive Director for the Grace Evangelical Society, to be involved with the FGA. Bob and Zane's interests are academic while the FGA is for connecting people and doing practical ministries, so Bob and Zane didn't want any participation with the FGA to side-track them from their ministries.

The truth of the matter is that only a very small and vocal minority in the Free Grace world, primarily consisting of strict fundamentalists who are obssessed with disputes and who have the sad disposition to separate rashly before dialogue and understanding can take place, are making a stink and a public spectacle of themselves.

Dr. Earl Radmacher (Founding President of the Free Grace Alliance), Dr. Fred Chay (Member of the FGA executive board), Dr. Stephen R. Lewis (Member of the FGA executive board), Dr. Fred Lybrand (Member of the FGA executive board) and Dr. Charles C. Ryrie (popular advocate of Free Grace theology) do not believe that the position of Zane Hodges and the Grace Evangelical Society teaches a "crossless" gospel, nor do they believe that they preach heresy.

You must be discerning of what you read from Lou Martuneac. He is a documented liar, who will stop at nothing to destroy his opponents.

For a fair review of Lou Martuneac's methods from a retired military officer and retired theology professor from an accredited seminary, who is neither Free Grace nor Lordship Salvation, please read here, A Response to Lou Martuneac from a Gentleman:

http://unashamedofgrace.blogspot.com/2008/05/response-to-lou-martuneac-by-gentleman.html

Lou, you have no shame.

with regards to the readership at Baptist Boards,

Antonio da Rosa
http://free-grace.blogspot.com

 

[Lou Martuneac]

ReDefined Theology

Dear BB Readers:

It is very important to understand that the GES Gospel is a new interpretation of the Gospel that was originated by Zane Hodges. I am very pleased to know that the heresy of Zane Hodges' “Crossless” gospel has not made any discernable inroads into (my camp) IFB circles that I am aware.

I don’t think the “Crossless” gospel can even be considered an extreme view of Free Grace theology. The reductionism of Zane Hodges, Bob Wilkin and Grace Evangelical Society (GES) is so extreme, and out of touch with the Scriptures, it is an entirely new heretical view of the content of saving faith.

It is an unfortunate misnomer that Hodges/GES soteriology is thought to be held by the FG community at large. This misnomer has and continues to be effectively dispelled. Thankfully, the GES is a shrinking cell of extremists and is being recognized as such.

One of my objectives is to alert a broad cross-section of evangelical Christianity that the Hodges, Wilkin; GES “Crossless” gospel is not representative of biblically balanced Free Grace theology. It is NOT a biblical theology!

The GES Gospel is a “REDEFINED” FG theology and is inconsistent with the Bible. Many have found the following article very helpful in defining the doctrinal divide in the Free Grace community.

Is “REDEFINED” Free Grace Theology- Free Grace Theology?

Once again I want to remind everyone to read. It is powerful and compelling.

“Crossless” Advocates Have Gone too Far!

Here is a sample:

Their (Hodges, Wilkin, GES) theological method manifests several errors such as [1] an unbalanced appeal to the priority of the Johannine Gospel…[2] A failure to acknowledge and correctly handle the progress of revelation in Scripture…[3] A failure to acknowledge the changing content of saving faith within each dispensation… [4] An improper theological synthesis when comparing Scripture with Scripture; and [5] The tendency to read a presupposed theological conclusion into a given passage, thus obscuring the plain, normal sense of the passage.

LM

 

[Lou Martuneac]

Redirects and Constant Subject-Changing

BB Readers:

The following was posted at my blog by a contributor I work in cooperation with. Her name is Rachel. Both she and her husband Stephen are passionate about the defense of the Gospel against the egregious errors coming from the GES. Their church had Bob Wilkin in last summer. Wilkin left a wake of doctrinal controversy which took months to clear up and out. I think this note from Rachel will be a very helpful read.

I found it interesting that the foreword is by Dr. Radmacher, who, according to some, has no problem with the "crossless" gospel and does not consider such teaching a "false gospel". Perhaps Dr. Radmacher will issue a statement on the issue at some point. In the meantime, though, on p. 5 of Dr. Radmacher's book Salvation, he identifies justification (i.e. saving faith) as requiring belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus.

At the beginning of the book, Radmacher discusses the different types of "salvation" in the Bible, such as physical and spiritual. Under the heading "The Spiritual Meaning", Radmacher says, "At the moment a person places his or her faith in the finished work of Christ, that individual is saved from the death-dealing penalty for sin and is declared righteous."

My guess is that Dr. Radmacher is simply unaware of what is actually being taught by the "crossless" advocates. He has probably been given the GES mantra and the same old lines about how they all preach the cross and personally believe it.

I noticed this same thing with Dr. Darrell Bock last year. I exchanged a few emails with him about his debate with Wilkin several years ago. At first Dr. Bock indicated that while he did not agree with Wilkin, that he did not think Wilkin taught a false gospel. But when I clarified for him exactly what Wilkin teaches, he said that that was different and he could not say either way (whether what Wilkin taught was a false gospel) w/o looking into it further for himself.

I’ve noticed this is extremely common among "crossless" advocates and their supporters. Their redirects and constant subject-changing make it difficult to explain to others what exactly they believe. I have a feeling that this is similar to what has happened with Dr. Radmacher.

 

[Lou Martuneac]

Rachel made an important contribution to what is transpiring right now. The quotes from Dr. Radmacher’s book shows that there is no way he could be in agreement with the Crossless/Deityless heresy of Zane Hodges, Bob Wilkin and GES.

Radmacher says,

“At the moment a person places his or her faith in the finished work of Christ, that individual is saved from the death-dealing penalty for sin and is declared righteous.”

Doubtless the GES mantra was fed to Dr. Radmacher. It is very likely he does not know that GES insists the lost can be born again apart from knowing, understanding or believing in “the finished work of Christ.”

The thing that is especially troubling to me is that GES advocates seem to be playing Dr. Radmacher for political advantage. That is a shameful way to use a man who has served the Lord longer than most of us have been alive. But this is what has been happening since the GES Gospel has been doctrinally devastated. As one friend told me, “It is an age-old tactic, when you can’t refute the message, destroy the messengers by any means.”

He also said,

“Let’s not let Satan fulfill his desired end by dividing us and distracting and deterring us from our true purpose of striving TOGETHER for the furtherance of the gospel (Phil. 1:27).”

I would add, “…apart from the heretical views of the GES.”

Thanks again for this important contribution.


Lou

 

[Free Gracer]

Again, I ask, How long!?

Dear Readers of Baptist Board,

Lou Martuneac is at it again. I don't think he has ever met or talked to Dr. Earl Radmacher, and it is certain that his associate, Rachel, has never talked to him either. I have both met the man and recently talked to him on the phone for nearly 2 hours. Dr. Radmacher was the one who called Lou Martuneac a liar. Now why would you listen to Lou's ramblings here? Lou is divisive and dishonest.

The following is taken from Dr. Earl Radmacher's book, Salvation, Word Publishing, in the Acknowledgments section, pg ix:

Exegetically I am indebted to the exegetical expertise and hermeneutical care of Zane Hodges, whose humility before the Word of God and untiring diligence continues to be a model for me of "a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15). There have been times when I questioned his conclusions, but further investigation usually demonstrated his superior wisdom.​

These are high praises of Zane Hodges by Dr. Earl Radmacher! Dr. Radmacher expresses his indebtedness to Zane for his "exegetical expertise and hermeneutical care". Zane is characterized by Earl as one who "rightly divid[es] the word of truth" and one whose "humility before the Word of God" is a model for him.

In the text of his book, Dr. Radmacher reserves over half of a written page, 22 sentences, for a block of text written by Zane Hodges. The exact content of this excerpt is Zane's explanation of saving faith, particularly what it means to soteriologically believe that Jesus is the Christ. The interesting thing is that the premise of Zane's argument found in the text that Dr. Radmacher chose to use is the point of contention for those select few sectarians who have hoisted division upon the Free Grace world.

This Lou and Rachel have been throwing around the idea that Dr. Earl Radmacher is unaware of the teachings of the GES. Such comments are extremely misinformed and shows ignorance of matters to which they address.

I want to assure the readers here at BaptistBoard that Dr. Earl Radmacher is thoroughly versed in the current controversy, the claims of Duluth, and the theology of Zane Hodges, Bob Wilkin, and the GES.

Would you expect any different from a man who is very good friends with Zane Hodges and is a leader in the Free Grace world? I mean comon, to suggest such is to traffic in flights of fantasy.

Zane's landmark discussion on "How to Lead People to Christ" happened in 2000 at the GES national conference. 8 years have passed in this time. I personally met Dr. Radmacher at the GES Southern California regional conference in 2005.

Dr. Radmacher is up to date with all of Zane Hodges' writings. Furthermore, he has read the articles written by Tom Stegall, as this post has declared. Dr. Earl wrote to the Duluth people two times with specific objections to the articles.

In my nearly 2 hours talking to Earl, I found him to be very up-to-date with all of the current discussion in Free Grace theology. Why would anyone think differently?

For an insightful look into Lou Martuneac's hero, J.B. Hixson, who apparently added the material that Lou is boasting about after Earl wrote the foreword to the book, material to which Dr. Earl Radmacher would find greatly offensive and would never endorse such a book containing such things, please be referred to:

Disturbing news concerning the new book by Dr. J.B. Hixson, Director of the Free Grace Alliance:

http://free-grace.blogspot.com/2008/06/disturbing-news-concerning-new-book-by.html

This documents that it is men like Lou Martuneac who use people like Dr. Radmacher for political gain.

Again, Lou ought to be ashamed. I personally would not want to be in his shoes when he gives an account for his folly at the judgement seat of Christ.

Lou, it is high time for you to begin judging with righteous judgment.

regards to the readers at BaptistBoard,

Antonio da Rosa
http://free-grace.blogspot.com

 

[John of Japan]

Dear Readers,

How long will you have to bear with Lou Martuneac's incessant witch hunts? He has been shown time and again his errors, misrepresentations, mischaracterizations, misquotes, and flat-out lies. He will go to any length to demonize those who he disagrees with.

I do not say so flippantly, but he has lied. He has been going around all the blogs and emailing people saying things such as this:


...


Lou, you have no shame.

with regards to the readership at Baptist Boards,

Antonio da Rosa
http://free-grace.blogspot.com

Sir, the BB is for debates, not personal attacks. If Lou is wrong, show him, don't attack him with all these accusations. That is what a debate forum is all about--seeking truth. Your attitude here does a huge disservice to the position you are trying to defend and I, for one, am offended by it.

John R. Himes
Missionary to Japan

 

[Dr. Bob]

This has become "personal" and not in the spirit of the BB.

I'd suggest Lou take his countless attacks to his own blog and Free Gracer deal with him one-on-one on his blog or elsewhere.

Having personal agendas here seem to do no good service on the BB.