First, they aren’t a “church” they’re a “Christian center”. Second, their pastors are the husband and wife team of Walter and Cindy Hallam. Isn’t it great that God gave them both the gifts and calling to the pastoral ministry? Even though women are not allowed in that role? Third, if you attend you get entered in a raffle to win a house!
The rational for the house giveaway is “Biblical”:
“This year, we are going to be able to bless someone with a brand new three-bedroom home,†says Pastor Walter Hallam. The Bible says in John 14:2 that there are mansions in heaven for us, and that Jesus has prepared one for each of us. So, Pastor Hallam came up with “Home on earth, Mansions in Heaven,†as a theme for the church’s annual watchnight service.
Ugh. That’s based on a bad translation and then taken to mean the wrong thing. How cheesy can you get? “Home on earth” is right! Consider Hebrews 11:13 “These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.”
If you click on their “Live Broadcast” link there is an ad for a CD set titled “How to be Irresistable to God”. Kind of puts the doctrine of “irresistable grace” on its head doesn’t it?
Gosh, there is just so much wrong with this it makes my head spin!
13 Comments
I wish we could start some high-profile organization that “tickets” such people for bad doctrine. Every time the organization issues a ticket, it would be announced with great fanfare. Maybe one could shame such people into better behavior.
YIKES. First Hyperarminianism I’ve heard of ….
I like David’s idea. This one would get a “Theologizing without a license” ticket.
Ha! I love it. More like “Doing Theology without a Bible or a clue”!
How about a littering ticket: For Throwing Away the Deposit of Faith
or theologizing the wrong way down a one-way road
Or Failure to Observe Scriptural Limits
“Reckless Rationalizing”
Being an eisegetical nuisance
Disturbing the peace with the word of man
Reckless endangerment of eternal souls.
DUI: Doctrinally Useless Instincts
JESUS IS LORD!! Jesus says love. This is a great way to show love, by giving them a home.!!
Indeed “b”, Jesus is Lord! I simply don’t believe that a raffle at church communicates that as much as building one through Habitat for Humanity and then telling they about Jesus while you’re building it might be a bit less schmultzy.