66 lines
3.5 KiB
Plaintext
66 lines
3.5 KiB
Plaintext
Christian Research Institute (CRI) not dependable
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The Christian Research Institute, founded by the late Walter Martin, is a
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ministry dedicated to exposing false teaching. It has a tremendous
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influence across North America through its "Bible Answer Man" radio
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programs and its broad range of literature.
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Recently, CRI director Hank Hanegraaf published a book which exposes some
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of the errors of certain charismatic leaders, particularly Kenneth Hagin,
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Kenneth Copeland, and Benny Hinn. Hanegraaf focuses on such things as the
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"little gods" idea which says that Christians are gods and have the same
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power that Christ had, the "spiritual death of Christ" teaching which
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holds that Christ died spiritually and descended into Hell to be tormented
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by the devil before he could atone for sin, and the "positive confession"
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idea which says God's power and provision are released through the
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Christian's words.
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While we are happy that CRI exposes these gross errors, we must warn that
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CRI is not to be trusted when dealing with the charismatics or with many
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other important matters. In an interview with Charisma magazine, May 1993,
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Hanegraaf admitted that he himself is a charismatic and that more than
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half of the CRI staff are charismatic. He said, "Spiritual gifts are not
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an issue at CRI. We have never made a single anti-charismatic statement on
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our show."
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This is a serious problem, because the danger of the charismatic movement
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is found in its very foundational doctrines, not just the extremism of the
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movement. The charismatic understanding of Spirit baptism, second
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blessing, healing, miracles, extra-biblical revelation, sign gifts,
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apostolic succession, kingdom power, and "holding out faithful" is the
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foundation upon which movement is built. To warn of charismatic extremes
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without warning of these issues is like warning of Purgatory in Romanism
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without mentioning the Mass.
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The problem with CRI is not only its failure to see charismatic error
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clearly, but its failure to see cultic error clearly. We are happy that
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CRI does take a stand against many hurtful cults, but they refuse to stand
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against two of the chief cults - Roman Catholicism and Seventh-day
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Adventism.
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In Walter Martin's book Kingdom of the Cults, Seventh-day Adventism is
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treated as evangelical rather than as apostasy. Martin claimed that the
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SDA gospel is sound, whereas, in reality, it is a demonic mixture of law
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and grace.
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As for Romanism, CRI "firmly maintains that Roman Catholicism is a
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religious system which includes both orthodox biblical Christianity and
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elements of unbiblical or `cultic' doctrine and practice. ... We
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acknowledge the presence in Roman Catholicism of many genuine brothers and
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sisters in the Lord ... in spite of the vast differences between Catholics
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and evangelicals, I believe our points of agreement provide us with common
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ground through which we can share and discuss the gospel in love and with
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understanding" (CRI Perspective sheets).
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This is a serious error. The Apostles did not treat false teachers in such
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a manner. Paul did not treat the Galatian heretics in this way. He did not
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focus on the common ground he held with these heretics and seek to "share
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and discuss" their differences. No, he said they were cursed of God
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because they had perverted the gospel, and he warned God's people to stay
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away from them! There is no common ground with those who preach a false
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gospel!
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Friends, be careful about Christian Research Institute. There is
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tremendous error mixed in with the good.
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