Thursday, November 16, 2006

Christian Worldview Network founded by Brannon Howse (christianworldviewnetwork.com) posted these articles this morning:

11/15/2006: An Open Letter from Walter Martin to Richard Mouw:
NEW! By Walter Martin

11/15/2006: The Late Walter Martin's Daughter Takes on Her Father's Critic
NEW! By Jill Martin Rische


As many of you know, Dr. Richard Mouw (President, Fuller Theological Seminary) was instrumental in bringing together a meeting of Mormons and Christians in the LDS Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, UT. It soon became clear to those present that they were expected to participate in a joint worship service between Mormons and Christians (as well as other appalling events). The entire debacle reminded me a great deal of Elijah and the priests of Baal. Somehow, I can't see him singing along with Michael Card, Richard Mouw, Craig Hazen, and the cream of Mormon leadership in their biggest temple on earth. Mind-boggling.

For those who might be curious (or confused) about Richard Mouw and his public statements, I thought I would let his own words tell the story:


Opening remarks, Mormon Tabernacle, Salt Lake City Sunday evening, Nov. 14, 2004

Richard J. Mouw

"It is difficult for me to find adequate words to express how thrilled I am to be here this evening. Here we are, evangelical Protestants and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, gathered together in this Salt Lake Tabernacle, for an event that is described as "An Evening of Friendship."


. . . I am now convinced that we evangelicals have often seriously misrepresented the beliefs and practices of the Mormon community. Indeed, let me state it bluntly to the LDS folks here this evening: we have sinned against you. The God of the Scriptures makes it clear that it is a terrible thing to bear false witness against our neighbors, and we have been guilty of that sort of transgression in things we have said about you. We have told you what you believe without making a sincere effort first of all to ask you what you believe.


I have formed some wonderful friendships with Mormons in the past few years. These friends have helped me to see the ways in which I have often misinterpreted Mormon thought. To be sure, as a result of those conversations I also remained convinced that there are very real issues of disagreement between us-and that some of these issues are matters of eternal significance. But we can now discuss these topics as friends And tonight many more of our friends have come together in this place for a very public and large-scale "Evening of Friendship." God be praised!


In just a month and a half we will greet the year 2005, which marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Joseph Smith. During this year there will be many occasions to pay special attention to Joseph's life and teachings, and I hope many in the evangelical community will take part in those events.


I personally take great encouragement from words that Joseph Smith uttered on the occasion of the founding of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in April of 1830: "We know," Joseph said, "that all men must repent and believe on the name of Jesus Christ, and worship the Father in his name, and endure in faith on his name to the end, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God."

Another Jesus . . . another gospel. And Richard Mouw takes great encouragement from it.


2 Corinthians 6:17-18

"Come out from among them
And be separate , says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.
I will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My sons and daughters,
Says the LORD Almighty."


Tell people what you think!

Richard Mouw - rjmouw@fuller.edu

Fuller Theological Seminary Board of Trustees:

Merlin W. Call, Chair, Board of Trustees, Fuller Theological Seminary, and Attorney, The Law Offices of Merlin W. Call, Pasadena, California - (626) 432-5456

List of Fuller Board of Trustees: http://www.fuller.edu/registrar/catalogs/2005-06/09_Personnel/1_Board_of_Trustees.asp

Michael Card - hollyb@streetlevelagency.com or http://www.michaelcard.com/forum_1/policy.asp


5 Comments:

Russ Jr. said...

This post has been removed by a blog administrator.

5:13 PM  
Jill Martin Rische said...

Russ,

I don't mind constructive comments, but lectures are unnecessary and frankly, I think you made your point with your original post.

Jill

10:07 AM  
Russ Jr. said...

You blogged twice in two weeks on Richard Mouw. Based on your initiative, lots of lecturing makes sense! I think it's shortsighted of you to remove any alternative voice on the subject. I thought that was what blogs were all about?

I noticed one of your friends uses the term "Sacred Hostility" for your approach toward non-Evangelical Christians. And he uses that terms sincerely and considers it a very good thing. He encourages all Evangelical Christians to engage like that. Mouw just sees it differently. He says, hold fast to doctrine but be fair and charitable in dialogue. Yes, indeed there seems to be a difference between you and Mouw. With his recounting of the Barnhouse story, Mouw has worked hard to portray Walter Martin as someone with charitable thoughts. On the other hand, you publically wish for "debilitating" things to happen to his successr at the Christian Research Institute, Hendrick Hanegreeff. I'm sad for the state of Evangelicalism if that is what your ministry stands for. And that is no lecture, just an honest assessment of the state of affairs in Evangelicalism.

Russ

10:21 AM  
Richard Lee Ministries said...

Jill,
Although we never met, I met your father a couple of times, and keep the picture of the two of us together when we met at the University of Washington in Seattle when I was an undergraduate there. Pastor David Vivas and I are also friends, and I understand he is also an acquaintance of yours, too.
Anyway, good thoughts on Mouw. I'm also a Fuller graduate, having earned my M.Div. in 2001. I consider Dr. Mouw a friend, but his comments and overtures to the LDS are deplorable. Fuller Seminary does NOTHING to prepare ministers to deal with the cults and heretical theological structures. For example, I took apologetics from Professor Bill Dyrness, who did nothing to show us how to defend the faith, and even resorted to using faulty arguments like shifting the burden of proof. A 17 year old who memorized Walter Martin's lectures (like I did when I was 17) would have done a better job of teaching the class.
Keep up the good work.

1:45 AM  
Metaphysicsman said...

now I'm curioius as to what blog entry/comment by russ was deleted by Jill. I'm especially more curious now in why Jill feels she has to censor my eyes from reading and deciding something for myself...kinda like the institutional church of years ago when they got nervous at the pounding on their Wittenburg door.

4:02 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home