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

Dear Reader,

90% voted for him going in because like all New Calvinists, he did not divulge full disclosure concerning the fact he believes in a gospel that the (according to him), “vast majority” of other Christians don’t believe. Tchividjian is a man of vast personal ability, and resources; therefore, he didn’t need a Coral Ridge and the fight he knew he was going to get—he took over at Coral Ridge because as a true-blue New Calvinist, he is obligated to take dominion of evangelical strongholds in the war against synergistic sanctification.

Secondly, Tullian’s close friend, “Pastor” Jean Larroux, accepted a position at the once thriving Southwood Presbyterian Church in the same way. Those poor people had no idea what they were getting, but you can bet Larroux did. Larroux is in for the fight of his life to hold on to his position there. Unfortunately for Larroux, parishioners did their own research and found out what was going on and what they unwittingly allowed into their camp. According to friends/sources of this ministry, all of his elders have resigned and Larroux  was asked to take a vacation to reevaluate his position there (ie., it would be best if you resign). But at last word, Larroux is defiant—holding his ground in the fight against the dark age of colaboring with God in the sanctification process. According to sources, Tullian T. extended an offer to Larroux to come and aid in the fight at Southwood against those who are fed up with hearing week after week about how much they hate God. And by the way, the kind of behavior you are describing that supposedly took place at Coral Ridge is not happening at Southwood—not even close. I have yet to investigate a book that was referred to me by a parishioner there that is a play book for taking over churches. Hopefully I will get to it soon.

as far as deprivation, 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.

Dear Reader,

I think pastor Joel Taylor sums it up best regarding Tullian’s misrepresentation of what Paul stated in Roman’s 7:

“However, ‘wretched’ is not ‘wicked’. The word for wretched in Romans 7:24 is talaipōros, which is one who is enduring trials, afflicted. It comes from two base words meaning enduring or under weight, bearing a test. Apostle Paul in that passage, is not a ‘wicked’ man, he is a mature believer in Christ persevering! The inescapable point is that the wicked, if they perish in their sins, will not dwell in heaven.”

Furthermore, as a guest blogger here on PPT aptly points out, the proportion of biblical texts suggest that the heart of the believer is redeemed while sin dwells in the flesh. Hence, the warfare; before we were saved no such warfare existed (http://wp.me/pmd7S-FH ).

This is why Southwood is trying to get Larroux out of there; truth still matters to many Christians.

paul