Wow, thanks, I was donating to that ministry. This is bad news, I had no idea. This pastor, Tullian, is obviously in communion with all the other GS/Sonship people. You can tell, it’s the same words, phrases, and arguments over and over. It’s all about human standards – here’s the way it seems to us. He’s apparently not much in communion with the Bible. Christ’s humility had to do with His obedience to the Father. The GS/Sonship people must think self condemnation is the key to humility.
Yep, the more we see ourselves as “sinners saved by grace,” the more we supposedly depend on Christ. We are NOT “sinners.” We are born again new creatures who sometimes sin.
This is excellent, thank you! It’s very helpful in dealing with Sonship. The Sonship course seems such a course in hopelessness … The fact that as I go through it for the first (and only!) time, I see those who have been through the course several times believe their hearts are completely “black” with sin. Also, any righteousness I may display in my walk in Christ is considered (and I have been accused of, for they have “spoken into my life” — that is a “tool” of the Sonship course, to “speak into someone’s life”) me acting out of “self-righteousness”. So, according to the Sonship course, not only are we still slaves to sin despite being saved, but any Christ-likeness displayed in progressive sanctification is considered sinfulness. I have yet to discover how they will try to teach that this perspective can encourage one to hope. It’s upsetting to see this teaching become so popularly used and accepted. It only serves to hold others as slaves to sin and possibly to cause our weaker brothers and sisters who have been told they’re no longer slaves to sin, to doubt that they are saved!
Keep blogging Paul.
God bless you and your family,
Jess
Jess, Very eye-opening comments from someone taking the course firsthand. I know you run a household, but consider submitting a manuscript after you complete the course. Paul Tripp plainly endorses the *Total Depravity of the Saints* in HPC, but I think people look at that and think that he really isn’t saying it. Your comments also hit home regarding how this doctrine will shipwreck lives and faith.
“Also, any righteousness I may display in my walk in Christ is considered me acting out of “self-righteousness”
Right, Paul Tripp calls it “Christless activism.” Horton calls it “Christless Christianity.”
“….to ‘speak into someone’s life'”
Right, as opposed to “instruction” as Paul states it in 2Tim 3:16. Sonship/GS endeavors to replace the active with the passive. Some “biblical counselors” now draw diagrams of counselees lives and show them where they are in God’s “gospel narrative” as a way to avoid active instruction from the word. This is why, to the consternation of many, that I have totally taken off the gloves in regard to people who propagate this doctrine.
“I have yet to discover how they will try to teach that this perspective can encourage one to hope.”
They would just smirk and say: “Excuse me, but our hope is in Christ–not ourselves.”
It’s all about continual failure, self righteousness, moralism, on-going obsessions, and we’re no better than pagans according to Tullian. Well, we might be guilty of that at times. However, I like God’s opinion of Abel, a man “living by faith.” Heb 11:4 says: By faith Abel offered God a better sacrafice than Cain did. By faith he was COMMENDED AS A RIGHTEOUS MAN, WHEN GOD SPOKE WELL OF HIS OFFERINGS. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
Praise God! I’m sure glad God is judge over mankind and not Tullian.
Thank you Paul, (and Bill, I love the reminder of Abel’s faith). I’m only at week 5 of the 15-week course and I take a long time to ponder things. So it will be a while before I could write anything, but I hope I may be able to offer some insight on the course that may be of some value to others. In the meantime, I continue to look forward to your posts.
paulspassingthoughts said, on June 28, 2011 at 7:46 PM
Patricia,
The apostle Paul said we make our goal to please him. The only possible standard for that is Scripture. Paul told Timothy that ALL Scripture is God breathed and profitable for instruction etc., that the person of God would be equipped for EVERY GOOD WORK. Righteousness cannot be earned for many reasons, it’s impossible, but one reason it is a really stupid idea to think otherwise is because all of the righteousness we could ever have has already been deposited in our account. The goal is to please in sanctification (setting apart)–we are already justified.
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
Wow, thanks, I was donating to that ministry. This is bad news, I had no idea. This pastor, Tullian, is obviously in communion with all the other GS/Sonship people. You can tell, it’s the same words, phrases, and arguments over and over. It’s all about human standards – here’s the way it seems to us. He’s apparently not much in communion with the Bible. Christ’s humility had to do with His obedience to the Father. The GS/Sonship people must think self condemnation is the key to humility.
Arkansas Bill
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Yep, the more we see ourselves as “sinners saved by grace,” the more we supposedly depend on Christ. We are NOT “sinners.” We are born again new creatures who sometimes sin.
> —–Original Message—– >
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This is excellent, thank you! It’s very helpful in dealing with Sonship. The Sonship course seems such a course in hopelessness … The fact that as I go through it for the first (and only!) time, I see those who have been through the course several times believe their hearts are completely “black” with sin. Also, any righteousness I may display in my walk in Christ is considered (and I have been accused of, for they have “spoken into my life” — that is a “tool” of the Sonship course, to “speak into someone’s life”) me acting out of “self-righteousness”. So, according to the Sonship course, not only are we still slaves to sin despite being saved, but any Christ-likeness displayed in progressive sanctification is considered sinfulness. I have yet to discover how they will try to teach that this perspective can encourage one to hope. It’s upsetting to see this teaching become so popularly used and accepted. It only serves to hold others as slaves to sin and possibly to cause our weaker brothers and sisters who have been told they’re no longer slaves to sin, to doubt that they are saved!
Keep blogging Paul.
God bless you and your family,
Jess
LikeLike
Jess, Very eye-opening comments from someone taking the course firsthand. I know you run a household, but consider submitting a manuscript after you complete the course. Paul Tripp plainly endorses the *Total Depravity of the Saints* in HPC, but I think people look at that and think that he really isn’t saying it. Your comments also hit home regarding how this doctrine will shipwreck lives and faith.
> —–Original Message—– >
LikeLike
“Also, any righteousness I may display in my walk in Christ is considered me acting out of “self-righteousness”
Right, Paul Tripp calls it “Christless activism.” Horton calls it “Christless Christianity.”
“….to ‘speak into someone’s life'”
Right, as opposed to “instruction” as Paul states it in 2Tim 3:16. Sonship/GS endeavors to replace the active with the passive. Some “biblical counselors” now draw diagrams of counselees lives and show them where they are in God’s “gospel narrative” as a way to avoid active instruction from the word. This is why, to the consternation of many, that I have totally taken off the gloves in regard to people who propagate this doctrine.
“I have yet to discover how they will try to teach that this perspective can encourage one to hope.”
They would just smirk and say: “Excuse me, but our hope is in Christ–not ourselves.”
paul
> —–Original Message—– >
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Jess, What you are saying can also be clearly seen in this TT post.
> —–Original Message—– >
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It’s all about continual failure, self righteousness, moralism, on-going obsessions, and we’re no better than pagans according to Tullian. Well, we might be guilty of that at times. However, I like God’s opinion of Abel, a man “living by faith.” Heb 11:4 says: By faith Abel offered God a better sacrafice than Cain did. By faith he was COMMENDED AS A RIGHTEOUS MAN, WHEN GOD SPOKE WELL OF HIS OFFERINGS. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
Praise God! I’m sure glad God is judge over mankind and not Tullian.
Arkansas Bill
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Thank you Paul, (and Bill, I love the reminder of Abel’s faith). I’m only at week 5 of the 15-week course and I take a long time to ponder things. So it will be a while before I could write anything, but I hope I may be able to offer some insight on the course that may be of some value to others. In the meantime, I continue to look forward to your posts.
Jess
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Thanks Jess.
> —–Original Message—– >
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Paul-
Thank you for posting this list of “Tchividjian Contradictions”.
Matt
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Matt,
Your welcome.
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Your welcome.
Blessings paul
> —–Original Message—– >
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at what stage will self righteousness come into somebodys life
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how will i know if i am still doing the will of god
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Patricia,
The apostle Paul said we make our goal to please him. The only possible standard for that is Scripture. Paul told Timothy that ALL Scripture is God breathed and profitable for instruction etc., that the person of God would be equipped for EVERY GOOD WORK. Righteousness cannot be earned for many reasons, it’s impossible, but one reason it is a really stupid idea to think otherwise is because all of the righteousness we could ever have has already been deposited in our account. The goal is to please in sanctification (setting apart)–we are already justified.
LikeLike