In the 1970's a superhero named Stretch Armstrong lined toy store shelves. This toy muscle-man was made of some pliable, rubber-like stuff and was about twelve inches tall. Small as he was Stretch Armstrong could still be stretched far beyond his designed shape.
Stretching and pulling a toy? Fine. Stretching foundational Christian doctrines? Bad idea. Martin Luther called "grace" teaching which goes too far by the name "antinomianism." Antinomianism is the "Stretch Armstrong" of theology. You see, when seriously mistaken, but quite often well meaning pastors and teachers stretch and contort the pure bible doctrines of grace beyond the bounds of scripture the Stretch Armstrong of antinomianism rears its grossly deformed head. In this regard A. W. Tozer wrote:
The advocates of antinomianism in our times deserve our respect for at least one thing: their motive is good. Their error springs from their very eagerness to magnify grace and exalt the freedom of the gospel. They start right, but allow themselves to be carried beyond what is written by a slavish adherence to undisciplined logic. It is always dangerous to isolate a truth and then press it to its limit without regard to other truths (Paths To Power).
Antinomian teachers today abound. They are in every alleged Christian bookstore, on every radio station and occupy churches and pulpits in every city. As in Martin Luther's time, they twist and misinterpret scriptural grace so that obeying Christ is lowered to only a suggestion. Even a "Christian" who is incestuous or murderous will be ushered into eternal paradise. We should obey reasons the antinomian, but obedience isn't essential to enter heaven. Consider the celebrated Tony Evans' antinomian notions:
"I'm a Christian. I've accepted Christ as my Savior and been born again, but I use illegal drugs. I've tried to quit many times, but I always fall back into the habit. I guess I'm just a drug addict." ...this person is identifying himself as a drug addict because he's doing the things addicts do. He has confused his performance with his identity. He has convinced himself, "I do what drug addicts do, so I must be a drug addict." No, he's a Christian with a serious drug problem (Free At Last, p. 28).
The author is writing to Christians. He's also talking about people with hard hearts-the kind of person who, while stealing a car, would kill the woman sitting in it...First of all, the carnal Christian is a genuine Christian. He has received Christ as Savior, but refuses to submit to Him and serve Him as Lord. Christ is not allowed to occupy the throne of a carnal life. It is possible to be on your way to heaven but be of no earthly good because you compromise your faith (Booklet: The Carnal Christian).
Antinomian preachers use scriptural language, but they push the scriptures past their purposed meaning. Worldly Immoral? "Don't fret," they promise, "your salvation is never at risk." The popular belief that insists that Christians are accepted by grace while being disobedient in spite of grace screams, "Antinomianism!"
Antinomian assumptions seem plausible theologians distort the scriptures and the gospel to fit their stretchy systems. "You're eternally secure!" they promise. "Carnality? Sexually illicit behaviour? No worries," they promise, "eternal salvation is never at risk." The popular notion that Christians are accepted in Christ by grace while engaging in disobedience to Christ in spite of grace screams, "Antinomianism !"
By faith we are saved from sin, and made holy. The imagination, that faith supersedes [removes the need for] holiness, is the marrow of Antinomianism. (Wesley Sermon: On The Wedding Garment).
In our day many evangelical teachers a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. Evangelical leaders cry, "Legalism!" at the first teacher that dares agree with the Apostle John by insisting, "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar" (1 John 2:4). "Works salvation," they say, whenever some lowly servant of God believes that all men must pursue "holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Heb 12:14). This, the doctors of the modern church do to the exposing of their antinomian colors. - 15437
Stretching and pulling a toy? Fine. Stretching foundational Christian doctrines? Bad idea. Martin Luther called "grace" teaching which goes too far by the name "antinomianism." Antinomianism is the "Stretch Armstrong" of theology. You see, when seriously mistaken, but quite often well meaning pastors and teachers stretch and contort the pure bible doctrines of grace beyond the bounds of scripture the Stretch Armstrong of antinomianism rears its grossly deformed head. In this regard A. W. Tozer wrote:
The advocates of antinomianism in our times deserve our respect for at least one thing: their motive is good. Their error springs from their very eagerness to magnify grace and exalt the freedom of the gospel. They start right, but allow themselves to be carried beyond what is written by a slavish adherence to undisciplined logic. It is always dangerous to isolate a truth and then press it to its limit without regard to other truths (Paths To Power).
Antinomian teachers today abound. They are in every alleged Christian bookstore, on every radio station and occupy churches and pulpits in every city. As in Martin Luther's time, they twist and misinterpret scriptural grace so that obeying Christ is lowered to only a suggestion. Even a "Christian" who is incestuous or murderous will be ushered into eternal paradise. We should obey reasons the antinomian, but obedience isn't essential to enter heaven. Consider the celebrated Tony Evans' antinomian notions:
"I'm a Christian. I've accepted Christ as my Savior and been born again, but I use illegal drugs. I've tried to quit many times, but I always fall back into the habit. I guess I'm just a drug addict." ...this person is identifying himself as a drug addict because he's doing the things addicts do. He has confused his performance with his identity. He has convinced himself, "I do what drug addicts do, so I must be a drug addict." No, he's a Christian with a serious drug problem (Free At Last, p. 28).
The author is writing to Christians. He's also talking about people with hard hearts-the kind of person who, while stealing a car, would kill the woman sitting in it...First of all, the carnal Christian is a genuine Christian. He has received Christ as Savior, but refuses to submit to Him and serve Him as Lord. Christ is not allowed to occupy the throne of a carnal life. It is possible to be on your way to heaven but be of no earthly good because you compromise your faith (Booklet: The Carnal Christian).
Antinomian preachers use scriptural language, but they push the scriptures past their purposed meaning. Worldly Immoral? "Don't fret," they promise, "your salvation is never at risk." The popular belief that insists that Christians are accepted by grace while being disobedient in spite of grace screams, "Antinomianism!"
Antinomian assumptions seem plausible theologians distort the scriptures and the gospel to fit their stretchy systems. "You're eternally secure!" they promise. "Carnality? Sexually illicit behaviour? No worries," they promise, "eternal salvation is never at risk." The popular notion that Christians are accepted in Christ by grace while engaging in disobedience to Christ in spite of grace screams, "Antinomianism !"
By faith we are saved from sin, and made holy. The imagination, that faith supersedes [removes the need for] holiness, is the marrow of Antinomianism. (Wesley Sermon: On The Wedding Garment).
In our day many evangelical teachers a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. Evangelical leaders cry, "Legalism!" at the first teacher that dares agree with the Apostle John by insisting, "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar" (1 John 2:4). "Works salvation," they say, whenever some lowly servant of God believes that all men must pursue "holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Heb 12:14). This, the doctors of the modern church do to the exposing of their antinomian colors. - 15437
About the Author:
Check out LaLond's book, The Lying Promise, for more aboutauthentic gospel grace or Tony Evans. The Lying Promise takes on other popular, evangelical Christian topics likeonce saved always saved, counterfeit grace, repentance and scriptural salvation.
