The Bible’s teaching on separating from gross heretics, false prophets, and theological swindlers couldn’t be more clear. It shouldn’t surprise us that charismatics like Francis Chan, who already deny the Bible’s sufficiency, might readily be willing to deny the Bible’s authority as well.
Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us (2 Thessalonians 3:6).
After years of speaking at cults and alongside gross heretics, Chan seems to have finally caught the attention of evangelicals who seem to perpetually be a few days late and dollars short in discernment. The Cripplegate blog posted an article entitled Farewell Francis, which basically threatened anathematization for speaking at the recent The Send Conference. Although Chan has spoken alongside these men and at venues like Kansas City IHOP for years, it seems to have been photos with Benny Hinn and Todd White (two notoriously false prophets) that have drawn the worst ire.
Perhaps a picture is worth a thousand words.
It shouldn’t surprise anyone that a charismatic of any stripe would speak alongside Benny Hinn or Todd White. Matt Chandler is speaking alongside Michael Brown and Christine Caine, after all.
However, as Christian News Network reports, Chan has answered back to his critics.
Chan said in a blogpost on Saturday:
“This current experience has caused me to consider exercising more caution and to develop a team to help me research.”
Pulpit & Pen would love to help him.
Essentially, what Chan was asserting is that he didn’t fully know how bad the heretics were that he was speaking with and needs a team to research those with whom he speaks.
Chan went on to say:
“We live in a time when it is hard to discover the truth about any one person because there
are a slew of voices quick to state their opinions as fact. So, I now have a team of people researching to try and differentiate between rumors and truth,” he wrote. “As I gather that information, I will seek out the teachers and address the issues in a biblical manner (Matthew 18).
Well, I know that Chan hasn’t contacted Pulpit & Pen to ask to be filled in on the New Apostolic Reformation. I wonder if the boys over at Pirate Christian are his go-to team. Or maybe it’s ChurchWatchCentral. Somehow, I doubt it. Michael Brown claims not to be an expert on charismatic charlatans, so I wonder who this team is that will begin to advise Chan. I also wonder where the heck they’ve been the last five years as he’s done this repeatedly.
While Chan provides a case-in-point for why all major Christian speakers should have polemicists on speed-dial, I’m a bit weirded out that Chan thinks it requires a “team” to research Benny Hinn and Todd White. I mean, Google them, man.
After receiving criticism for partnering with Benny Hinn in a television show, Michael Brown, the chief charismatic apologist, also claimed he didn’t know who Benny Hinn was and wasn’t familiar with his heresies. I’m sorry; I don’t buy it from either of them. How do you not know Benny Hinn?
Chan was present when Todd White told those in the audience that the atonement of Christ guaranteed physical healing and that he would remove all the physical ailments or
Chan said:
It has not been my practice to ask who will share the platform with me and to research the other speakers. While some may be dear friends, there are many that I know little about.
Well, that’s a failure of biblical proportions. If who you share the pulpit with is no more discriminating than who a prostitute spends the evening with, you need to reconsider your spiritual calling.
Romans 16:17 says, “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.”
Chan stopped short of apologizing for providing an endorsement of the most nefarious spiritual carnival barkers on the planet, and ultimately defended his actions by his good intentions.
Often times, I decline because other speakers will be at the event who believe almost exactly what I believe. My reasoning is that it may be a waste of Kingdom resources for all of us to be there, speaking largely to people who already agree with us. It seems more effective to speak where there is less Bible teaching.
So…he’s choosing not to mark those who teach a contrary gospel and not to separate from them because…evangelism.
Friends, God doesn’t need your teaching bad enough for you to disobey what is taught in the Bible.
You can read Chan’s blog article here.
[Editor’s Note: HT Christian News Network]
