I’ve just read an incredibly serious, yet absurd post attacking Tom Ascol, of Founder’s Ministries, and Christian apologist Dr. James White, of Alpha and Omega Ministries. The post is obviously in defense of Ergun Caner, president and dean of Liberty Baptist Seminary, and suspected of being a complete phony. No apologies.
Allow me to go on record that both Tom Ascol and James White have done nothing but show Ergun Caner continuous Christian love by pointing out the man’s errors. If Caner refuses such admonitions, that is his choice, and he will deal with the consequences both sooner, and later.
However, I would like to remind all that to rebuke, reprove and correct is not only a biblical mandate and for the good of the church itself, but it is also an act of love. Is it not loving to desire those in error to come to the truth and be reconciled?
From Peter Lumpkins:
“Particularly, two influential blogging Calvinists appear to have made it a life-mission to smear Ergun Caner’s life and ministry in the mud-hole of deception: Tom Ascol, Southern Baptist pastor and Executive Director of Founders Ministries, and James White, Primitive Baptist preacher and Reformed Baptist apologist from Phoenix, Az.
….
Tom Ascol owes Dr. Caner, without qualification, a public apology for his despicable insinuation, as well as a full public retraction of his damaging words. There is simply no excuse for carelessly sewing unguarded personal indictments against a brother in Christ—especially when those indictments come from a less than reputable source.
…
James White simply needs to get over himself and his apparent disdain for all things Ergun Caner. In fact, the Caners, I think, have been wise to shun association with White and his ministry. Why? Simple. If James White’s blog is any indication of his apologetics, no Christian could remain spiritually healthy in such a horribly divisive environment.
Read the entire article here.
I have some foggy recollection about Mr. Caner – there are so many people on the broad path, who can keep them all straight? I’m not too familiar with Tom Ascol but respect everything I can think of that I’ve come across. For James White, he is clearly a man who loves the Lord (as revealed in Scripture, not humanity) and displays that by proclaiming Truth to all who will listen.
Methinks Mr. Lumpkins knows little or nothing about Christian (that is, biblical) love – or Truth.
Ergun Caner is a dishonest to say the least. For a man to stoop to the level of lying about your own personal background in order to be listened to is simply unacceptable.
Boo hoo Mr. Lumpkins,
We are to seek the truth and the truth is in the Bible, not in our hopes and dreams for an ecumenical world religion. This is a time to stand strong not to waiver in weakness. The several times I have heard Caner speak it sounded more like apoligizing than apologetics…
Lumpkins reponds…
http://peterlumpkins.typepad.com/james_white_on/2010/04/the-cost-of-following-christindeed-by-james-white-an-extended-response-by-peter-lumpkins.html
Is there any remaining doubt about the integrity of Dr. Caner after his having called anyone who disagreed with him about Glenn Beck speaking at the LU commencement ceremonies a “hater”?
I simply cannot grasp the size of his ego. Forgive me fellow Christians, but it’s becoming harder every day to extend to Dr. Caner any remaining benefit of the doubt.
Funny how every Calvinist in the world is using this as an opportunity to “reach out and love” Ergun Caner…and by reach out and love, I mean settle scores…you guys are a joke, regardless of the truth surrounding Caner.
Jim,
Man, you seem angry. Please listen to a simple explanation because it is a simple issue.
Caner is president of a theological seminary not a church janitor (nothing wrong with being a church janitor). What he says, does, thinks, and believes matters. He influences many people. The people who work for him teach thousands. They are under pressure to conform to his guidance and please him or they will be looking for new jobs…that’s how it goes.
Now, Caner has been dishonest and has painted a picture of himself that is not accurate. Is this fitting behavior for a seminary president? No, it is not. Should he be scolded for it? Yes. Should he admit it and show how he has corrected this problem. Yes.
Are ‘Calvinists’ settling scores or calling a person of power into accountability for questionable behavior? I believe it is the latter. We may be a joke to you but we are abiding by the teachings of the Bible.
You seem to admit Caner’s accusers are being truthful yet you call us a joke? Como? Que es? You are the joke if you dismiss serious error in order to simply settle a score against Calvinists. Please think and pray about your position.
Tough love from Truthy.
Wow Jim,
It isn’t the Calvinists who exposed Ergun Caner. It was Mohammed Khan. Truthfully, can you blame him? Ergun Caner is the person who has told the falsehoods, pandered to people and made a mockery of his personal faith.
Do you honestly think, if he was concerned about the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the body of Christ, he would have continued with this sham? No, he’s going to wait until Christianity Today comes out with their article. 20/20 will soon be asking questions and they won’t be near as kind as any of us. We’d extend him forgiveness if he repented and asked for it.
It’s shameful for him to continue on with these lies. There is no blame to be had by anyone but him.
I live in Lynchburg, VA, and am myself a reformed Christian (after the tradition of the reformation). Though, I have known about and been affected by Jerry and Liberty University for a very long time, I am not intimately familiar with Ergen Caner and all the controversy surrounding him. It certainly seems as though he has been prone to exaggeration and as one in the pulpit he should do his best to remain clean and beyond reproach. So, undoubtedly, if his stories are patently false, for the sake of the body of Christ, he should repent of it. Does that make him less of a Christian, or a great guy, certainly not. (as I said I don’t know him). It is something he should get straight should he wish to continue on in ministry and show a true repentant heart in the future. I do know that he has done no more wrong than I, and no more wrong than the ones calling him out. It is the realization of the depth of depravity that brings me to this conclusion. I know how depraved humanity is, because I am part of humanity and I know how depraved my own flesh is. Thankfully God saw fit in his divine wisdom and mercy to include me among his elect, and for that I am grateful. All I have to say in the end is this, I think it is a shame if Ergun did this, however, I believe that some of those calling him out, (from what I have seen of James White and some others), certainly could use more tact and love in calling him out, and admittedly much of what I have seen seems to stem from a combination of Christian love and inner pride. I do not think this is such a bad thing as I find myself continually falling in sin in these ways, but I do think that we need to be just as careful being pastors/shepherds (beyond reproach), and lovingly reproaching someone who is not acting as they should. The first thing I try to remember when I confront someone is “I have done just as bad or worse, it is not an excuse, but relevant to my positional perspective in this confrontation.”