Comments on: Forget about Mark Driscoll; Let’s discuss Ergun Caner

By: Dr. James Willingham

Dr. James Willingham — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:21:43 +0000

While I do not care alcoholic beverages, having been drunk only once in my life and it made me sick to my stomach with all that entails, I do have to ask: “Where did anyone ever get the right to change the elements in communion, namely, from wine and unleavened bread to unfermented grape juice and leavened bread?” From my knowledge of Baptist Church history, from the actual church records, Baptists used wine and unleavened bread until the 19th & 20th century, when they changed over to leavened elements…and their church discipline declined with the change. As recently as a few years ago a member of a Sunday School class spoke up and said he could remember even the individual appointed to secure the wine for communion. People who got drunk were disciplined and, if not repentant, excluded. Today with grape juice many a person is on the rolls who has never even been confronted for the sin of getting drunk. While I do not advocate social drinking due to weaker brothers, neither do I recommend that people carry the donkey as in the old story told to prove that their are limits to this matter of being concerned about every one’s opinion, especially when it drives the church to give up its maintance of the communion in its original elements. Also since our Lord took the cup from the Passover Feast to institute the Communion, I know from a friend who was raised an orthodox Jew and who was converted and who became a Baptist minister (we attended seminary together), that the cups had wine in them. And, yes, I have read where some Jews try to say grape juices was used, but even Jews who speak for a teetotal position have admitted that wine was used in the Passover Feasts and those asserting otherwise do so in the face of practice to the contrary.

By: jerry

jerry — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:03:02 +0000

Have you ever wondered that maybe we just look like a group of people who claim to know all the answers and the way but the reality is that people who claim not to know our God just think we are just mean spirited? Its not IRONY that kills our attraction or wittness to a lost world but over spirtualization to make ‘Christian’ points about culture instead of the marginilized. I live in a world full of people who don’t know Jesus and they could care less about pot, drinking, gay marriage, abortion or any of the core issues folks blog about. What they care about is whether their next pay check will cover the bills. Whether their kid will stay in school. Whether their mother will survive cancer. So while all of us Baptist think its about this and that maybe we need to examine the full context of the Book we claim to believe in.

By: Disappointed Missionary

Disappointed Missionary — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 03:38:37 +0000

Admittedly, about 1/2 way through the comments I started reading every other post because I was stunned. How many people died without Christ in the time that you spent ridiculing someone about a tweet on twitter? My brothers and sisters, I think there are better uses of our time.

By: Matt Svoboda

Matt Svoboda — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 18:36:51 +0000

You make some great points as to where that logic can lead. Good word.

By: pcmiller

pcmiller — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 12:57:23 +0000

I’m someone who was raised Amish and grew up hearing the same argument/philsophy used by Caner in so many other areas of life. Televison has a lot of bad on it, so forbid owning a TV. Owning a car narrows the gap between the church and the world, so forbid owning a car. The references in 1Cor to a sister’s head being covered could have implications for today so require all the sisters in the church to wear an actual headcovering, and forbid her to cut her hair at all. I think you can see the implications of where Caners reasoning could lead, and what implications it has on the Pauline teaching on individaul freedom. Especially when you have those who advocate limiting the ability of those who disagree from serving on boards and as missionaries.
BTW, I am a LU grad who frequently refers college aged friends to LU. I could not , however, currently refer anyone to LBTS, in light of the Caner influence there; especially considering the much better options at other seminaries.

By: Tim G

Tim G — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:14:39 +0000

Wow – that is all I can say concerning this comment stream.

Ergun,
Your grace and approach to ministry and life are appreciated. If only more could learn that lesson! Just one thing though – please post less pics of your “out of church” dress – they are more than scary to my dog who sits by me while I blog!

!
.-= Tim G´s last blog ..Seeking the face of God for Americans =-.

By: Todd Benkert

Todd Benkert — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:24:39 +0000

No, that was to Bill. He has about 20 comments and that last couple bumped me. But I’m back now baby! Hahahaha.

By: SelahV

SelahV — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:19:34 +0000

Todd: ha ha ha. It took a minute for me to get what you meant by getting the count up. Were you talking to me? If so, I think I’ve already passed ya. funny.

Hey, do you know that the highest commented on post at SBCImpact was one I wrote on tithing ( over 200 comments). I’ll write a post on that and you’ll really have fun. selahV
.-= SelahV´s last blog ..IS IT POSSIBLE? =-.

By: Mark Lamprecht

Mark Lamprecht — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:51:58 +0000

You know…if we changed our name from the SBC to something else atleast the arguments wouldn’t seem so tired. We could start all over again!

.-= Mark Lamprecht´s last blog ..Fourth of July Note and Blog Agenda =-.

By: Todd Benkert

Todd Benkert — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:47:25 +0000

Ok, maybe not, but that’s what I’M doing