Not Knowing Tullian Tchividjian Saved My Life
A reader sent me the latest post by Tullian Tchividjian. Go figure, he wasn’t able to pass on criticizing a concept that involves the possible use of verbs: New Year Resolutions. Susan and I had just finished working on a resolution of our own to begin the new year. We were not excited to partake in the endeavor. We knew it would reveal the necessity to make hard choices together. It was difficult not to focus on that rather than the glory that could be brought to God through the process. Afterward, while somewhat moody about the task, I checked my email, clicked on the link, and read it. So, hide the children.
Tullian Tchividjian is an icon among the Young, Reckless, and Rebellious that are presently tormenting the church. His followers are those who the apostle Paul said would come in the last days with itching ears—wanting to hear that the Christian life is a “mere natural flow.” According to Tchividjian, the acid test for determining if you are preaching the true gospel is to be accused of antinomianism. And while many of this bunch applauded the Queen of Anomia, Elyse Fitzpatrick, for stating that there is no such thing as antinomianism, others like New Calvinist/Super Yuppie Dane Ortlund claim that the apostle Paul was accused of being one; so hence, it is their goal as well. Even more detestable is the way that library theologians like John MacArthur lend credibility to these enemies of righteousness. In his ignorant ramblings about how the Young, Restless, and Reformed need to “grow up and keep reforming,” he is stupidly incredulous that antinomians are acting like antinomians.
And their arrogance is without boundary, having reverence for nothing but their own visions of grandeur. For example: yes, I realize that Dietrich Bonhoeffer had some issues in regard to orthodoxy, but I won’t even go there. Why? Because he left a cushy ministry in the States to take a stand against Nazism in Germany. He observed that like the pastors of this day, they wouldn’t take a stand in Germany, but rather emphasized the positive of what Hitler had to offer. Bonhoeffer was eventually hanged while naked with piano wire. But as ones who talk like those who have taken off their armor before putting it on and standing before the razor thin noose, they constantly rag on him for saying things like, “ One act of obedience is better than one hundred sermons.” Another example that is almost equally disgusting is the book written by the pretentious and puerile Heath Lambert, passing judgment on the likes of Jay Adams. If the book is ever produced in audio, it would be an excellent complement to ventriloquist David Powlison.
And of course, Tchividjian wasted no time speaking for Susan and me regarding our New Year Resolution for the Lord. His message? Like all things that we try to do for the lord, it will fail. And gee whiz, isn’t it great that our acceptance before the Lord doesn’t depend on our performance?
I have some theological news for this vile antinomian and his fiend friend that sent him the quote that he thought was so special. That would be the friend who delights (like all New Calvinists) in bringing elderly saints up on bogus church discipline (I told you to hide the children. I am fed-up with this bunch and the cowards that cover for them). Here is the news flash: Susan and I don’t claim to be the brightest bulbs in the house, but we know at least this much; we cannot do anything to gain favor with God for purposes of justification. That’s impossible because He chose us to be completely justified before the Earth was created. Therefore, He also chose us, and the guaranteed result is glorification at a time of His choosing and good pleasure. Susan and I believe this with all of our hearts and it is the basis of this belief that gives us assurance of our salvation. But unlike these brute beasts, Susan and I have a King that we want to please for many reasons—reasons that He states, not mere men. We long to stand before Him and hear, “Well done, faithful servant.” And guess what? We actually believe He is talking about what we actually do. Excuuuuuse us for taking that literally and not embracing Tchividjian’s Gnostic-like approach to the Scriptures (also known as Redemptive Historical hermeneutics).
But what really torques me off about these men is their HOPELESS message. When I went to a biblical counselor some twenty-four years ago in the midst of a serious trial, I was a New Calvinist before New Calvinism was cool. I read Scripture and prayed for hours “seeking the Lord’s face.” In 1994, MacArthur explained what that means; in essence he said, “We don’t really mean like, you know, looking for a face in the Scriptures like something mystical. We mean like, you know, looking for Jesus in the Scriptures.” Ya, got it, except for the part about what Jesus SAYS, not what he looks like. MacArthur seems to have bought into the New Calvinist hermeneutic that is primarily concerned with who Jesus is as a “person.” It’s almost as if none of them can wait to meet Jesus face to face so they can ask him what His sign is and His favorite color. “Is fish really your favorite food? Or was it because that was the staple food of the day?” Oh to know who Jesus really is! The perfect complement is Francis Chan’s Jesus is my boyfriend theology. Meanwhile, Steve Camp and others have no clue where all of the Jesus is my boyfriend music comes from that they constantly lament. Antinomians acting like antinomians and those seeking to fall in love with Jesus singing Jesus is my boyfriend music, and no one is apparently able to connect the dots. What in the world is going on?
Thank goodness my counselor wasn’t Tchividjian . And thank goodness my counselor had not yet become the president of an evil empire. He told me that I could actually do something about my problem; specifically, what the Lord instructs. “Oh, you mean nothing’s happening because Jesus also wants me to do things? “ Profound.
This ministry is a witness to how New Calvinists counsel: “We are helpless creatures who have this treasure of Jesus in clay vessels. Embrace the pounding of the trial as it breaks apart these vessels of clay and allows the glory of Jesus to shine out!” Meanwhile, New Calvinists play on the results of an existing epidemic of our day: Christians functioning on biblical generalities and trying to do the right thing the wrong way. THAT IS WHY THEIR CHRISTIAN RESOLUTIONS FAIL, not for lack of a Tchividjian false gospel. Thank goodness I didn’t know him. It would have been one New Calvinist leading another into a ditch.
paul
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
90% of people voted for him to come into Coral ridge…they had a choice and the majority of people wanted him there even with the changes that were made. Anyways, even if it was a brutal takeover people acted in malicious ways that were totally against the Bible. like i don’t care how wrong you think he was, some things people did were horrendous. again you are fully allowed to disagree with him and move on from coral ridge, but some of the things were clearly wrong in every sense of the word. He said in an interview that people keyed his car- which is vandalism and against the law. it’s wrong Biblically, lawfully, and in every sense of the word. http://www.outofur.com/archives/2011/11/inside_the_batt.html
as far as deprevation, let me give some context from his blog that speaks of this: Theologians speak of total depravity, not only in terms of “total inability” to come to God on our own because we’re spiritually dead, but also in terms of sin’s effect: sin corrupts us in the “totality” of our being. Our minds are affected by sin. Our hearts are affected by sin. Our wills are affected by sin. Our bodies are affected by sin. This is at the heart of Paul’s internal struggle that he articulates in Romans 7:
For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.
The painful struggle that Paul gives voice to arises from his condition as simul justus et peccator (simultaneously justified and sinful). He has been raised from the dead and is now alive to Christ, but remaining sin continues to plague him at every level and in every way.Paul’s testimony demonstrates that even after God saves us, there is no part of us that becomes sin free–we remain sinful and imperfect in all of our capacities, in the “totality” of our being.
maybe you don’t like his word choice, but I think the heart of what he’s trying to say does follow the Bible.He’s not saying that we are deprived because of Jesus being in our life or compared to non-christians. he says that we are deprived from being perfect still-although he covers in many other sermons that Jesus does cover us in grace. that through Jesus, we are righteous before God. i actually agree that i wouldn’t word it like that…but, at least on earth, we will never attain perfection, no matter how much work Jesus does in our life to make us more like him.
you are fully allowed to disagree with him, but again i think we are biblically called to correct our brothers and sisters in a certain way and i don’t think this is it.
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Christina: http://wp.me/pmd7S-1qe
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PAUL YOU’RE AN IDIOT!! ALL THERE IS TO IT!!! IDIOT! IDIOT! IDIOT!
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Thanks Dexter. Expressions of hatred from mystical despots are the compliments that satisfy some of my deepest desires. Thanks again sweetie. And say “hi” to TT for me.
> —–Original Message—– >
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Again you’re a miserable excommunicated divorcee with nothing better to do with his time right along with you’re cynical followers. By the way TT says “bite me sweetheart.” 🙂
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Dexter, Again, where do you get your information regarding my personal life?
> —–Original Message—– >
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It’s called an open letter to CCC or something regarding your EXCOMMUNICATION. BAHAHAHAHA!
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Okay, so I’m a PK and I know quite a few pastors because of that. And you know, just about every pastor has a small minority of people who are very vocal (not just to the pastor but spreading gossip) who critisize the pastor endlessly. There is irony to that. for example, my dad got critisized by the same people if he stayed in his office too much, but he got trouble if he went out to meet with people and could not take everyone’s calls. AKA he was expected to be in 2 places at once. he was also critisized if he focused on the family (hence he put a limit on how many meetings he could have a week, he didn’t want 2 board meetings per week every week because he often had to go out to visit people in the evening too), but the same people would critisize him if he didn’t and attended 2 meetings (hence, in their eyes, ignoring the family and being a bad dad). Including my dad and every other pastor i’ve known. And I almost left the church because of it (FOREVER). I thought “if Christians are so rude, what’s the point? I want nothing to do with it”. I came back to the church DESPITE the politics and awful critisism. but part of that was through listening to TT. but even my friends (who did not get the background view, but saw the politics from afar) got very disillusioned from the church.
that being said, if i was TT’s kid (it was on a larger scale with newspapers critisizing him and his kids for smallest things, the vandilsism etc), I would have left years ago and I would not have come back. So please realize that what your public gossip (it’s okay to nicely state that you disagree or go to him and respectfully tell him if you have a concern but, this is over the top) can lead people to walk away from the church and Jesus.
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Christina,
I can tell you’re a good ole Reformed girl. Writing the truth and doing what Scripture commands regarding “exposing” darkness (gossip?) supposedly confuses the poor, totally depraved, stupid sheep. They could get the authority of the church mixed up with something evil, which would leave them without anybody to think for them.
Notice that “the church and Jesus” is synonymous with Tullian T. Frankly Christina, you frighten me.
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Reblogged this on Paul's Passing Thoughts.
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Amen and Amen!!!! What an enlightening and encouraging post!! Thanks for continuing the spur the church to good works! We, too, want to hear “well DONE” from our Father 🙂
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The irony is that TT is starting to alarm many traditional Calvinists. The only thing TT has done is teach a false doctrine so you can practice sin all you want and be saved as Jesus Obeyed for you already. The seekers do it, too. For them, it is just cheap grace.
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I’m actually not reformed. I am a fellowship baptist and i take every word of the gospel seriously. I, am not all about sitting around and purposely messing up. I run a christian fellowship group, i volunteer at church, i tithe, i am extremely driven, I get high grades, I volunteer countless hours with christian organizations who are out to teach people about God and love mercifully. I don’t drink, and i wear a purity ring and I even chose to save my first kiss for marriage, not because it’s unbiblical to kiss, but just because i don’t want to tempt myself and because I don’t want to give that kiss to someone who won’t matter to me. I also believe that although I want to hear “well done”, I know I cannot earn my salvation.
Better put: You probably didn’t want to break your parents rules growing up, so you obeyed them out of love to them and to please them. but you probably knew you couldn’t earn your parents love (hopefully).
likewise, Saying anything else about God (that we can earn it) diminishes the love of God and is about human pride.
I don’t agree with everything TT does say (but i think the general idea of what he’s saying is solid, even if a few phrases aren’t worded the way i would say it). When i said, i came back to the church through his books, it was the concept that people’s approval and the way people can act (and nothing you say can convince me that vandalizing a car is not crossing a line) can be an idol. And that Jesus plus nothing really is everything. See, i’m the type of person who freaks out if i make one mistake….sometimes i worry that people won’t love me or accept me anymore. therefore, hearing TT sort of keeps me in a more neutral position. I think TT is speaking to people, like me, who tend to air on the side of being way too perfectionistic. As i mentioned earilier TT quit drugs (this is really hard, so it should not be undermined) when he came to God. he, at some point, made it a goal to get sober. He’s not about sinning.
I don’t know if you’ve been a pastor’s kid, but if not (and if you have never been a spouse) you do not really get it (and even if you were, if your parent withheld a lot this may not have affected you as deeply). My dad never got theological slams, nor did many pastors i know. but none the less, pastors are easy scape goats of the church.
if you do disagree with TT please do so in a respectful manner. For instance, i will openly say that i have no problem with new year’s resolutions (although i will also admit they often do not work without solid planning). I’m all for goal setting. most people who have been in therapy, have had goals made to get them on the right track. without those goals, they may not heal. but I also understand that our primary goal should be getting closer to Jesus and focusing on him more AND we should know that no goals can earn God’s love. I do think that TT would actually agree with that because he quit drugs and stuff, but if he does not then i disagree with him. but regardless, i think we owe a certain ammount of respect to each individual.
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