Comments on: Perspicuity and Sovereign Grace Ministries

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 02:25:03 +0000

Thanks Mike! I wonder if this is in Purswell’s revision?

I’m looking forward to a fresh comparison.

By: canary

canary — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:00:27 +0000

Thanks, Mike.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:19:26 +0000

Grudem on Apostles: “It seems no apostles were appointed after Paul, and certainly, since no one today can meet the qualification of having seen the risen Christ with his own eyes, there are no apostles today.”
and again: “Though some may use the word apostle in English today to refer to very effective church planters or evangelists, it seems inappropriate and unhelpful to do so, for it simply confuses people who read

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:05:03 +0000

Grudem’s functional polity is the polar opposite of SGM’s.

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:02:40 +0000

I’m not sure Adam. Every copy of sys theo and bible doctrine left my home when my kids left.

I’ve just reordered them both.

By: Adam Omelianchuk

Adam Omelianchuk — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:55:42 +0000

One of the things I've noticed in SGM's polity is the belief in the continuance of "apostle" as an office. While I can see the theological case to be made for this idea, I think it is highly suspect and subject to abuse. In fact, the denomination I am a part of affirmed the title "apostle" in its beginning and naturally reserved it for its founders... who were repeatedly accused of being authoritarian and spiritually abusive. You can read all about it on Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Commission_Association It is interesting to see how SGM parallels GCM in certain respects of its founding and polity. Has Grudem ever commented on the continuance of this office?

By: Ellie

Ellie — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:43:24 +0000

By: canary

canary — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:01:39 +0000

Jim,
You’re a humble man, and that was my second chuckle for the day (the first, laughing at my own blunder).

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:52:18 +0000

I started that ball rolling by spelling it wrong in the first place.

By: canary

canary — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:49:35 +0000

On my post #3, I spelled “perspicuity” wrong.

By: canary

canary — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:45:08 +0000

I like to keep things simple.

By: Carole

Carole — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:46:52 +0000

Hi Adam!

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:10:27 +0000

“

By: Gracie

Gracie — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:18:10 +0000

Interesting teaching.

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:06:06 +0000

Thanks for your post Adam,

All of my references to peacemaking obviously are in relation to one man.

SGM is a denomination, and therefore open to public scrutiny.

My main problem with SGM is their polity, of which Grudem is not a fan.

This blog is open to public scrutiny as well, and I appreciate your thoughts.

By: Adam Omelianchuk

Adam Omelianchuk — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:51:47 +0000

I’ve followed this blog a little bit with some interest since I know someone who is becoming a SGM pastor, visited the church here in Minneapolis, and have read with Mahaney’s books with both encouragment and skepticism in mind.

I’m not at all sold on SGM as a good denomination, but I have to say this post is pretty poor. Grudem is a huge supporter of SGM because he supports their beliefs in charismatic gifting, complementarian gender roles, and the so-called “doctrines of grace.” Grudem fully endorses Purswell’s edits as do many Christian colleges who use “Bible Doctrine” as a textbook for undergrad sys theo classes.

Also, it is not at all unnatural for someone to get a PhD from a university that does not share the grad student’s personal views. Grudem got his from Cambridge which is no bastion of

By: canary

canary — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:54:45 +0000

Great teaching. Okay, perpecuity means clarity, is that right, Jim?

Now, as to CJ saying that only pastors can teach the doctrines of grace, I have two questions: first, where does he see this in scripture? Second, WHY AREN’T THEY TEACHING IT?

By: Jim

Jim — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 20:40:12 +0000

I’m thinking he sorta says what he thinks about it…..

By: Ellie

Ellie — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 20:31:04 +0000

VERY interesting, Jim.

I wonder what Dr. Grudem would think of all of this…the whole “very stead of God” thing, “only pastors can teach the doctrines of grace”, etc.