Reviewing a Radio Preacher
Recently, I heard a denominational, preacher on the radio speak for 40 minutes or so that was filled with assumptions, biblical errors, and contradictions. Let us notice some of them taken from a tape recording.
First, he said that David was guilty of murder and adultery, but he did not lose his salvation. Quoting verbatim, he stated, “A saved man committed murder . . . David committed murder. David absolutely committed murder in cold blood . . . he had a man killed because he had committed adultery with his wife . . . this man did not lose his salvation.”
So, we conclude, according to him, if David had not repented and confessed his sins to God, he would have gone on to heaven anyway. Yet, Paul wrote that murderers and adulterers, among other things, shall not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:19-21). John plainly stated that murderers and fornicators shall have their place in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone (Rev. 21:8). This preacher believes that if David had died in the act of adultery with Bathsheba, he would have gone on to heaven, in spite of these passages which state the contrary. This is a strange doctrine. Really, he is just dead wrong!
Second, he said if we don’t allow the Spirit to interpret the Scriptures for us, we come up with false interpretations. He noted, “I believe the Scriptures are made to be interpreted, and if we don’t allow the Spirit of God to interpret them for us, then we come up with misinterpretations. . . . As I said, I am not always right, I know that.” Friends, if the Holy Spirit is interpreting the Scriptures for this preacher, why is he not always right? Is the Holy Spirit misinterpreting? His statement suggests such. Since the Holy Spirit gave us the Bible through inspired men, why would he have to directly help us to interpret what he revealed? This view reflects upon the Spirit’s work of revelation initially.
Third, he claimed that baptism is just a token or symbol that shows the world we are already children of God. He quoted Webster’s 1828 dictionary. “An application of water to a person as a sacrament or religious ceremony by which he was initiated into the visible church of Christ.” So, his proof text was Noah Webster. The Bible would have been far more preferable. But, he had no Bible, so he resorted to Webster. The Bible nowhere teaches that baptism is a token or symbol that we are already saved. This is figment of this preacher’s imagination.
Fourth, he declared that baptism never saved a man. He said, “Baptism has never saved a man; it never will.” Well, let us call the apostle Peter and see what he says on this matter. “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us” (1 Pet. 3:21). This preacher said that baptism does not now save us, while Peter said it does now save us. I believe Peter is right and this preacher is wrong. Another version reads, “And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you” (NASB). Our Lord said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). This preacher says, “No, Jesus, you are mistaken.”
Fifth, this preacher said that we are saved at the moment we believe. He declares emphatically, “When we believe in God, we are saved, right then and there.” Surely, he would include Jesus the Christ also. But if an alien sinner is saved at the moment of faith, why does this preacher have the lost also praying for salvation, as he claimed he did at an altar? So, one is not saved at the point of faith, is he? He must believe and pray. This preacher also believes that a man must repent and confess, but, no, never must he be baptized to be saved. This radio preacher thinks that baptism is a work of merit, but all of the other things (believe, pray, repent, confess) are not. A fellow can pray half the night to “be saved,” and this is not a work, he would reason, but baptism, that requires just a few minutes is a meritorious work, he would conclude. You suppose a little bias and prejudice got in the way?
Truth
Magazine Vol. XLV: 10 p20
May 17,
2001