A Few Pastors/Preachers Mark and Avoid

Richard Roar

Richard Rohr is progressive who undermines the concept of biblical inspiration and authority. 

He stated, "The Jewish Scriptures, which are full of anecdotes of destiny, failure, sin, and grace, offer almost no self-evident philosophical or theological conclusions that are always true. We even have four, often conflicting versions of the life of Jesus in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. There isn't one clear theology of God, Jesus, or history presented, despite our attempt to pretend that there is" (Childers).

He also stated, "Just interpret the Scripture the way Jesus did! He ignores, denies, or openly opposes his own Scriptures wherever they are imperialistic, punitive, exclusionary, or tribal" (Childers). 

He also denies the idea of penal substitutionary atonement, which is the heart of the gospel message. This states that Jesus died in our place as a substitute and that Jesus paid the penalty for our sin which we couldn't pay. It also states that Jesus' sacrifice satisfied the wrath of God so we could be reconciled to Him.  

Richard Rohr and other progressives see this idea as "cosmic child abuse." He explains, "I believe that Jesus' death on the cross is a revelation of infinite and participatory love of God, not some bloody payment required by God's offended justice to rectify the problem of sin" (Childers). He also said, "Jesus came to change the mind of humanity about God...there was no transaction necessary, there was not a blood sacrifice necessary" (Childers).

Meanwhile, Isaiah wrote, "Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:4-5 ESV).  Peter wrote, "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed" (1 Peter 2:24).

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will" (Mark 14:36).

What was the cup Jesus was referring to? It's the cup of God's wrath. 

Isaiah wrote, "Wake yourself, wake yourself, stand up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the Lord the cup of his wrath, who have drunk to the dregs the bowl, the cup of staggering" (Isaiah 51:17). He then stated, "Thus says your Lord, the Lord, your God who pleads the cause of his people: 'Behold, I have taken from your hand the cup of staggering; the bowl of my wrath you shall drink no more'" (Isaiah 51:22).

Jeremiah also discussed the cup of God's wrath, stating, "Thus the Lord, the God of Israel, said to me: 'Take from my hand this cup of the wine of wrath, and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it'" (Jeremiah 25:15). 

John's gospel talks about the wrath of God, stating, "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him" (John 3:36). 

Also, Paul wrote, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins" (Romans 3:23-25). Propitiation has to do with atonement. Jesus' death was an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Atonement deals with expiation for sin where Jesus reconciled us back to God and paid the price for our sin. 

The author of Hebrews wrote, "Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins" (Hebrews 9:22).

Joel Osteen, Benny Hinn, Creflo Dollar

Joel Osteen and these others are prosperity "gospel" preachers. 

The prosperity "gospel" claims that God rewards increases in faith with increases in health and/or wealth and states that the atonement of Christ includes not just removing of sin, but also removal of low finances (Carter, 2017). 

Meanwhile, Job was a righteous man. Scripture states, "There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil" (Job 1:1). However, Scripture also says that Job's health, wealth, and children were taken away. "While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, 'The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.' While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, 'The Chaldeans formed three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.' While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, 'Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and behold, a great wind came across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.'” (Job 1:16-19). Later, Scripture states, "So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and struck Job with loathsome sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head" (Job 2:7). Job confessed to God and said, “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted...I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:2, 5-6).  God said to his friends who ridiculed him that “'you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has' and they did what the Lord asked with the sacrifices (Job 42:7-9).  God restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends (Job 42:10).  

Peter wrote, "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name" (1 Peter 4:12-16).

It is a reminder of one of Satan's temptations to Christ. "Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, 'All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.' Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, "‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve’” (Matthew 4:8-10 where Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 6:13).

James Martin, S.J.

James Martin is a Jesuit priest. According to the Christian Post, "A Catholic priest has responded to criticisms from Christians who rebuked him for retweeting a post referring to God as 'Her' and suggesting that using female imagery as a representation of God is 'theologically correct'" (Catholic Priest). He answered the critics by saying that he didn't have a problem calling God "her" (Catholic Priest).

God's word states, "Jesus said to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am'" (John 8:58 quoting Exodus 3:14). It also states, "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation" (Colossians 1:15) when referring to Christ. The author of Hebrews wrote, "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets. But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Hebrews 1:1-3). In John, Jesus prays to God. In the beginning, He states, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him" (John 17:1-2).

James Martin also affirms the LGBTQ+ community. 

Paul wrote, "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). 

Jesus said, when talking about divorce, "But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ So, they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate" (Mark 10:6-9 quoting Genesis 1:27, 2:24).

Paul also wrote, "For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error" (Romans 1:26-27).

Bibliography

Carter, J. (2017, May 3). What you should know about the prosperity gospel.

        https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/what-you-should-know-about-the-prosperity-gospel/.

Catholic Priest James Martin Stands by Retweet of Post calling God “Her.” The Christian Post. (2021, 

        March 12). https://www.christianpost.com/news/catholic-priest-james-martin-stands-by-retweet-of-

        post-calling-god-her.html

Childers, A. (2020). Another Gospel?: A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive 

    Christianity. Tyndale Momentum.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016).