|
|
|
In a move that has Christian apologists and countercult experts puzzled and upset, Hank Hanegraaff - the already controversial president of the Christian Research Institute - has come out in support of the Local Church. The Local Church - known to insiders as “The Lord’s Recovery” - is widely considered to be, theologically, a cult of Christianity. Sociologically the movement has problems as well. The Local Church has a history of legal attacks against Christians who critique the movement. Its most recent attack was a $136 million libel lawsuit against authors and apologists John Ankerberg and John Weldon, as well as their publisher, Harvest House. Ankerberg and Weldon included a brief entry on the Local Church in their Encyclopedia of Cults and New Religions (Harvest House, 1999). After the Local Church filed its lawsuit, Harvest House explained why the Local Church was included in the Encyclopedia. In their suit, The Local Church claimed that the Encyclopedia accused their group of criminal and immoral conduct. However, Harvest House and the authors have contended all along that the book does not and never intended to attribute such activity to The Local Church. Rather, the authors included the 11/4–page chapter on the Local Church’s teachings in the Encyclopedia based on the book’s definition of a religious cult: “a separate religious group generally claiming compatibility with Christianity but whose doctrines contradict those of historic Christianity….” Though The Local Church insisted this case was not about being
labeled a “cult,” they contended that by their mere
inclusion in the Encyclopedia, and because the Introduction mentioned
misdeeds committed by some unspecified cults, their group stood
accused of any conduct that happened to be mentioned in the Introduction.
Thus, they alleged, the book was libelous. In January, 2006. the suit was dismissed by the Court of Appeals for the First District of Texas. [T]he Court pointed out that the Encyclopedia centers on doctrinal and apologetic issues, and “that being labeled a ‘cult’ is not actionable because the truth or falsity of the statement depends upon one’s religious beliefs, an ecclesiastical matter, which cannot and should not be tried in a court of law.” As for the criminal conduct mentioned in the Introduction,
the Appellate Court decisively ruled, “No reasonable reader
could conclude that the book accuses the [Local] church…of
rape, murder, child molestation, drug smuggling, etc….The
allegedly libelous statements in the Introduction are not ‘of
and concerning’ the [Local] church and are not actionable.” In response, the Local Church has filed a petition with the Texas Supreme Court to hear the case and reverse the Appellate Court’s decision. Hank Hanegraaff Supports the Local Church Hanegraaff argues in the brief that in his opinion the Local Church is not a cult, either sociologically or theologically. In a recent newsletter, Don Veinot, president of Midwest Christian Outreach - an apologetics and countercult ministry - wrote: [Hanegraaff] also is clear that he and by extension, CRI, view The Local Church as theologically in agreement with the essential doctrines of the Christian Faith. This raises two questions: 1) Is it now CRI’s position that the courts should be the ones to determine correct theology? If so is CRI going to close their doors in deference to the courts determining sound biblical teaching? 2) If Hank and CRI believe that The Local Church is a theologically
sound Christian group in the essentials of the Christian faith,
as he indicates, why would he appeal to a court of unbelievers
asking them to clear the way for believers to sue other believers
before a court of unbelievers in clear violation of 1 Corinthians
Chapter 6? Spiritual Counterfeits Project Brooks Alexander, at the time SCP’s president, addressed the outcome of that case in an article titled, “When Talk Isn’t Cheap and Speech Isn’t Free: The Abuse of Libel Law.” Some Initial Responses The most shocking thing about this report is that the founder
of CRI, the organization that Hanegraaff heads up, is Walter
Martin, author of The Kingdom of the Cults. Ankerberg happened
to be one of Martin’s closest associates in the defense
of the faith. Martin joined co-defendant John Weldon on the platform
of The Ankerberg Show frequently to debate cultists and other
aberrational teachers. The three men were quite a team. In fact,
Ankerberg emceed Martin’s memorial service after he passed
away. This was the same service in which Hanegraaff reportedly
made his move to take over CRI (Christian Research Institute)
by manipulating Martin’s widow to announce to the mourners
that he was Martin’s appointed successor when indeed he
wasn’t. (See the report on that on Martin’s daughter
and son-in-law’s website at: http://www.waltermartin.org/cri.html
and scroll down to read: Hanegraaff Wasn’t ‘Handpicked’) In an email to Bill Alnor, of the Spiritual Counterfeits Project, Norman Geisler - Dean and Professor of Theology and Apologetics at Southern Evangelical Seminary - wrote: “I was shocked when I saw his brief…. I have sided with Ankerberg from the beginning. I personally pled with Hank not to side with the Local Church. I believe this was a very unwise and unfounded decision.” Dwayna Litz of Lighting the Way Ministries encourages Christians to voice their concerns over Hanegraaff’s actions by calling his radio show. In addition she writes: Also, I must warn anyone, if someone gives financially to
CRI (with Hank as president), the person will receive phone calls
for years after his or her last donation, asking to please give
more. The poor trusting soul will also continue to receive mail
solicitations years after placing an order. That is is not the first time CRI’s fundraising tactics have come under scrutiny. In the October 12 newsletter of Midwest Christian Outreach, Don Veinot writes: As I mentioned last week I have not been able to make direct
contact with Hank and have not had my message returned from CRI
V.P., Paul Young. It is unclear if the version of the Scriptures CRI is currently
using contains 1 Corinthians chapter 6 or perhaps it was overlooked.
This issue becomes important because, unlike the top down authoritarian
leadership of the world, the higher one ascends in leadership
in the Church which is the Body of Christ, the more accountable
they are to a larger number of people. It is the case that Christian
leaders live in glass houses and everyone around them has Windex.
Having a clear and understandable message is very important in
the process of teaching and accountability. 4 Responses to “CRI’s Hank Hanegraaff Supports a
Cult of Christianity” Laurence Hamlin Says: Jim Anderson Says: I think something else is going on. A brother is not supposed to take a brother to court. The Local Church is sueing Christians so the Local Church is not Christian or they are carnal Christians who do not follow the Bible. Hank Hanegraaff is helping them sue Christians. Like the previous poster said people should stop supporting CRI. Midwest Christian Outreach: The Crux » What was CRI
Thinking? Says: |
|
|
|