Fellowship with darkness is no stranger to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. It was the president of this Southern Baptist seminary, Paige Patterson, that once enrolled a practicing Muslim into the seminary. It seems as though this seminary prides itself on its diversity–you know, the 2 Corinthians 6:14 (ESV) kind that Paul warns against:
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
On October 27, 2016, a famous TV star will be carted in to address the chapel at Southwestern. Reverend Alan Robertson, known for his appearances on Duck Dynasty as the clan’s pastor, will be available to proclaim his version of the Gospel to the students. Alan Robertson and the Duck Dynasty clan are members of White’s Ferry Road Church (WFR). White’s Ferry Road Church is a part of the Church of Christ denomination which arose out of the restoration movement over a century ago. The Church of Christ denomination has long held to the heresy of baptismal justification–that the act of baptism is essential to salvation. According to WFR’s statement of faith found on their website, they believe the following regarding salvation:
WE BELIEVE that salvation is by grace through faith in the gospel. God showed us His grace through Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. It is that message that calls people to believe the gospel and its power to save, turn from their sins, confess Jesus as Lord, and be immersed in water, reenacting the death, burial and resurrection. This is the message that was preached in the first century beginning with Acts 2 and how the people responded to this message.
The denomination’s statement of faith affirms the belief in the necessity of salvation by faith and baptism. Further, you can also see a video of Phil Robertson, another leading member of the Duck Dynasty clan, and an elder at WFR Church, explain the church’s belief regarding baptism confirming its necessity for salvation.
You might ask, “what’s the harm here?” We’re sure the majority of students at Southwestern Seminary would agree that baptism has no power to save and that the belief in the necessity of baptism for salvation is, in essence, a denial of Christ’s finished work on the cross–a damnable heresy. The bigger question, however, remains unanswered: what fellowship has light with darkness?
What could possibly be the benefit of bringing in Alan Robertson, a man who clearly denies the saving power of Christ’s finished work on the cross, to address the students at a Southern Baptist Seminary? Are they bringing him in to debate the merits of his false Gospel, and expose his heresies? Unlikely. The likely reason is this: it attracts people.
Let’s just be real for a moment, shall we? Paige Patterson knows full well that Alan Robertson believes in baptismal justification. He also knows that this false gospel has no power to save. But I suspect he also believes that these unfortunate facts do not outweigh the perceived benefits of attracting large amounts of professing Christians. By bringing in a conservative television hero, the seminary can say “hey, look at us. We’re relevant, we’re cool, join us, send us money.”
You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. – James 4:4 (ESV)
[Contributed by Pulpit & Pen]
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