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Has Hank Hanagraaf left the faith?

evangelist6589

evangelist6589

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He recently joined the Greek Orthodox Church. But as far as I can tell he still holds the essentials of the faith and is a strong brother in the Lord. I do not know much about the Orthodox Church nor have I recalled mailing one of their churches in Denver a letter. I only write up false churches needing to hear the gospel. Or am I deceived? Is the Greek Orthodox Church sound? When I mean sound do they affirm the essentials of the faith? They are not Baptist and probably use alcoholic wine in communion and do lots of things that make Baptist angry no doubt.
 
evangelist6589

evangelist6589

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Rolfe said:
My congratulations for finding a novel way to start another thread about alcohol.
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Wrong wrong!!!! This is not about alcohol. This is about Hank and the Greek Orthodox Church. Do you have any input on it or snip?
 
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annsni

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I quickly did a google search and GotQuestions came up with a response on what is the Greek Orthodox Church and this section of their answer I found troubling.

3. Salvation – The Greek Orthodox Church claims that salvation is by faith in Christ. However, they differ from the evangelical concept of faith by adding, “Orthodox Christians throughout their lives receive salvation and renewal through faith, works, and the sacraments of the Church.” They teach that the purpose of Christ’s death and resurrection was so that we could become divine as He is divine.

Their website states that “the Holy Spirit is the agent of deification whose task it is to incorporate us into the life of the Holy Trinity.” They believe that it is baptism that “introduces the believer into the life of the Kingdom”; therefore, they baptize infants, stating that “holy anointing or Chrismation grants the gift of the Holy Spirit for growth in the image and likeness of God.”
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from What is the Greek Orthodox Church?

If this is what Hank believes, yes, I believe he has left the faith.
 
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Bro. James

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The Greeks(East) split from the Romans (West) circa 11th century, mostly about the primacy/papacy of Peter. The Greeks have a patriarch instead of a pope. They have most of the same pagan idolatry of Rome, including salvation by works.

The majority of Christendom believes in salvation by works. Now what? This will all sort out at the Bema Seat--or will it?

Many are called; few are chosen. Are we ready?

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Bro. James

P.S. I know some Baptists who use wine for the Lord's Supper. How does one make wine without alcohol? Welch's Grape juice is not wine.
 
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rlvaughn

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From their web site (of the Archdiocese of America):

The Orthodox Church has two great sources of authority, Holy Scripture (which includes the Apocrypha, I believe) and Holy Tradition (which, they say, "includes the writings, teachings, and acts of the apostles, saints, martyrs, and fathers of the Church, and her liturgical and sacramental traditions throughout the ages, the oral tradition of the early Church, and the decisions of the Ecumenical Councils").

The Sacraments are "the visible means by which the invisible Grace of the Holy Spirit is imparted to us. Four Sacraments are obligatory: Baptism, Chrismation (anointment with holy oil), Confession, and Holy Communion."

"...the Orthodox Church considers herself the Mother Church of Christendom..." (heads up, Catholics!)

How Are We Saved?
 
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rlvaughn

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evangelist6589 said:
If true this is sad. Hank denies that he has left the faith.
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Hank denies that he has denied the faith -- HERE. He makes it sound all well and good -- even quotes Eph. 2:8 -- but he has united with a false church that teaches all sorts of works for salvation.

Dr. Bob said:
Using Scripture to help those who might not recognize the meaning of Ichabod. Never cared for Hank and his vitriol but truly saddened to see someone leave the Faith for error.
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I understood the Scripture reference, but am not a bit confused about his vitriol. I heard him randomly on the radio, and he didn't come across as vitriolic to me the few times I heard him (but I wasn't especially impressed either).

In his bio at the Christian Research Institute website it says "Hank is deeply committed to equipping Christians to be so familiar with truth that when counterfeits loom on the horizon, they recognize them instantaneously." Seems like he wasn't equipped enough himself to recognize the counterfeit in the Greek Orthodox Church.
 
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Bro. James

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Vitriol--an interesting word. Jesus' comments towards the scribes, Pharisees, lawyers, and doctors would be considered vitriol by some folks, especially the Most Right Reverend Doctors of Theology. Jesus called them vipers and hypocrites.

Apostle Paul said we are to follow Jesus--only. Everyone else could be and probably are headed for the ditch. We have a respect of persons malady in the ranks of Christendom--not a new dilemma. See: I Cor. 3. Example: read about what C.S. Lewis believed. Many folks who should know better quote C.S. regularly. There are many bible thumpers in the book selling business.

Beware the wolves dressed like sheep.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Bro. James
 
TCassidy

TCassidy

Late-Administator Emeritus
Administrator
If Hank says he has not denied the faith once delivered, what exactly does he think that faith is?

The doctrine of justification by faith is virtually absent from the history and theology of the Orthodox Church.

Instead, Greek Orthodoxy emphasizes theosis (literally, “divinization”), the gradual process by which their members become more and more like Christ.

What many in the Orthodox tradition fail to understand is that “divinization” is the progressive result of salvation, not a requirement for salvation itself.

Other Orthodox distinctives that are in conflict with the Bible include:

The equal authority of church tradition and Scripture

Discouragement of individuals interpreting the Bible apart from tradition

The perpetual virginity of Mary

Prayers for the dead

Baptism of infants without reference to individual responsibility and faith

The possibility of receiving salvation after death

The possibility of losing salvation

Salvation is achieved by performing 7 Sacraments during a persons's lifetime. These are 'Channels' in which they receive God's Grace.

To achieve salvation (justification), both faith and works are considered necessary.

Worship of icons.

Veneration of Mary.

Etc., etc., etc.
 
Jerome

Jerome

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annsni said:
If this is what Hank believes, yes, I believe he has left the faith.
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evangelist6589 said:
If true this is sad. Hank denies that he has left the faith.
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Dr. Bob said:
Ichabod. Never cared for Hank and his vitriol but truly saddened to see someone leave the Faith for error.
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rlvaughn said:
he has united with a false church that teaches all sorts of works for salvation.
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But Albert Mohler just had a lecturer in at SBTS who was teaching the seminarians Eastern Orthodox spirituality techniques:

www.baptistboard.com/threads/eastern-orthodox-lecturer-at-sbts.103516/#post-2292698
 
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Ken_G

New Member
evangelist6589 said:
He recently joined the Greek Orthodox Church. But as far as I can tell he still holds the essentials of the faith and is a strong brother in the Lord. I do not know much about the Orthodox Church nor have I recalled mailing one of their churches in Denver a letter. I only write up false churches needing to hear the gospel. Or am I deceived? Is the Greek Orthodox Church sound? When I mean sound do they affirm the essentials of the faith? They are not Baptist and probably use alcoholic wine in communion and do lots of things that make Baptist angry no doubt.
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Alpha & Omega Ministries produced an outstanding video on this issue though it is lengthy. I found it to be a fair assessment of both the Orthodox Church and Hank's departure from evangelicalism.

 
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