Advocate for the Spiritually Abused? Then Wade Burleson Should Denounce Election in Sanctification
“This is because Western culture has never adequately exposed Reformed theology for what it really is. As long as Protestantism clings to the Reformation myth, it will never completely break free from its bondage to anemic sanctification.”
“If Burleson wants to be an advocate for the spiritually abused he should denounce his Reformed gospel of spiritual tyranny. While he may help some people heal from abuse, he will go back to his pulpit and produce twice as many abusers.”
Last night at our evening Bible study we discussed election. Not election for justification (salvation), but election in sanctification (our Christian life). This is the Reformed idea that God sovereignly elects all of our good works in our Christian life in the same way that he elects some to be saved and passes over others. This leaves them to the choice that is inevitable if God doesn’t intervene; man will never choose God on his own. In the same way concerning sanctification, man is still totally depraved, and unless God intervenes will only do works that are filthy rags before God. In salvation, God only changes man’s position, not his nature. Therefore, in sanctification, God imputes His own good works to our life via intervention and leaves us to our own total depravity in the rest. Choice in justification; works in sanctification; God completely sovereign in both.
Though the application of this is somewhat complex, it boils down to the Reformation’s definition of double imputation: Christ’s righteousness was imputed to us positionally by His death, and the perfect obedience He demonstrated in His life is imputed to our sanctification as a way to keep our justification intact until glorification. Hence, to not believe in sanctified sovereignly elected works in our Christian life is paramount to works salvation. “The same gospel that saved us also sanctifies us.” Sanctification must be a continual revisiting of salvation by faith alone in order to maintain our justification. This is the very heart of Calvinism. Yes, we do something in sanctification: we continually revisit our need for the gospel, and as we do that, the works of Christ are imputed to us by faith alone in sanctification. This is the theses of the Reformation’s magnum opus, Luther’s Heidelberg Disputation to the Augustinian Order, and articulated by John Calvin in the Institutes of the Christian Religion. This opposes Biblicism which sees double imputation as our sins imputed to Christ and God’s righteousness imputed to us and sanctification being an entirely different consideration.
We discussed how this authentic doctrine of the Reformation has wreaked havoc on the church. When God is seen as completely sovereign in sanctification, ideological conclusions are then drawn from what actually happens in real life. Rape is God’s will, and the perpetrator is seen as one who is acting out expected behavior where God has not intervened. “But for the grace of God, there go I.” We have all said it. No? All of grace in salvation—all of grace in sanctification. The only difference between you and a rapist is grace; therefore, who are you to judge? Even if you are the victim. Luther and Calvin thought righteous indignation a joke, and Calvin called justice, “mere iniquity.” Luther’s theology of the cross deemed suffering as the most valuable asset of the Reformation’s inner-nihilist theology:
He, however, who has emptied himself (cf. Phil. 2:7) through suffering no longer does works but knows that God works and does all things in him. For this reason, whether God does works or not, it is all the same to him. He neither boasts if he does good works, nor is he disturbed if God does not do good works through him. He knows that it is sufficient if he suffers and is brought low by the cross in order to be annihilated all the more. It is this that Christ says in John 3:7, »You must be born anew.« To be born anew, one must consequently first die and then be raised up with the Son of Man. To die, I say, means to feel death at hand (Heidelberg Disputation: Theses 24).
Note that this constant seeking after suffering and self-deprivation leads to being “raised up” in the Christian life. This constant seeking after death leads to joyful rebirths when Christ’s obedience is imputed to us. This is the basis of John Piper’s Christian Hedonism which also implements Theses 28 of the Disputation. As you can see, it’s what they call the new birth. The new birth is something that continually reoccurs in salvation when Christ’s obedience is imputed to us.
The indifference towards suffering that this theology breeds cannot be overstated. It is such that Calvin’s beseechment of the Geneva counsel to have a detractor beheaded rather than burned with green wood is a supposed act of compassion that is Reformed folklore. And be absolutely positive of this: the roots of authentic Calvinism are %99.99 responsible for the spiritual tyranny in the contemporary church—especially among New Calvinists.
This is why I have a problem with Pastor Wade Burleson being postured as a spiritual abuse advocate. I realize that he is a well-known pastor and therefore a valuable advocate for a cause, but promoting him as a defender of the spiritually abused separates logic from consequences. It encourages a hypothetical idea that because all Nazis didn’t execute Jews, Nazism doesn’t necessarily lead to the persecution of Jews. Right, not in all cases, but for every person Burleson helps his doctrine will produce twice the indifference and abuse in other people. Many members of the present-day Nazi party are seemingly quality people who could be utilized in good causes, but the possibility is remote because Western culture has been properly educated in regard to Nazi ideology. Such is not the case with Reformed theology. While a Nazi might make a good carpenter you would likely not hire one as an advocate for the Anti-Defamation League. There are Nazis who would do a fine job in that role but the ideology would do more harm than good in the long run.
We also discussed how authentic Calvinism dies a social death from time to time because of the tyranny that it produces and then experiences resurgence paved by the weak sanctification left in its wake. This is because Western culture has never adequately exposed Reformed theology for what it really is. As long as Protestantism clings to the Reformation myth, it will never completely break free from its bondage to anemic sanctification.
Burleson strongly endorses one of the core four individuals who helped found the present-day New Calvinist movement, Jon Zens:
One of my favorite theologians is Jon Zens. Jon edits the quarterly periodical called Searching Together, formerly known as the Baptist Reformation Review. Jon is thoroughly biblical, imminently concerned with the Scriptures …. The best $10.00 you will ever spend is the yearly subscription to Searching Together (http://www.wadeburleson.org/2010/09/searching-together-edited-by-jon-zens.html).
Zens, who has also been known as an advocate for the spiritually abused, was a key contributor to the Reformed think tank that launched present-day New Calvinism (The Australian Forum) of which some Burleson promoters refer to as the “Calvinistas.” It’s not meant as a compliment. But yet, Burleson’s theology is one and the same with them:
Those who have read Grace and Truth to You for any amount of time know that this author is persuaded the Bible teaches that the eternal rewards of Christians are those rewards–and only those rewards–which are earned by Christ. It is Christ’s obedience to the will and law of the Father that obtains for God’s adopted children our inheritance. It is Christ’s perfect obedience which brings to sinners the Father’s enduring favor and guarantees for us our position as co-heirs with Christ (http://www.wadeburleson.org/2011/11/therefore-knowing-terror-of-lord-we.html).
Those who have faith in Christ will never appear at any future judgment of God, or be rewarded for their good behavior. Our sins were judged at the cross, and the behavior for which we are rewarded is Christ’s behavior (Ibid).
Obviously, other than the previous points made, Burleson’s statement proclaiming Zens as “thoroughly biblical” and his outright rejection of 1COR 3:10-15 and 2COR 5:9-10 are troubling to say the least. Burleson also holds strongly to the exact same method of interpretation that makes elected works in sanctification possible among the “Calvinistas.” That would be the Bible as gospel meta narrative approach. It uses the Bible as a tool for gospel contemplationism which results in the works of Christ being imputed to our sanctification when we “make our story His story.” Luther got the concept from Pope Gregory the Great who believed that meditating on Christ’s works in the Scriptures endears us to Him romantically and thus inspires joyful obedience. It’s all the same rotten mysticism propagated today by John Piper and Francis Chan. It’s a mystical (actually Gnostic) approach to the Bible that makes elected works in sanctification possible.
As a cute way of propagating this nonsense, Burleson has named his para-church ministry “Istoria Ministries Blog.” His blog subheading noted that istoria is a Greek word that combines the idea of history and story:
Istoria is a Greek word that can be translated as both story and history. Istoria Ministries, led by Wade and Rachelle Burleson, helps people experience the life transforming power of Jesus Christ so that their story may become part of His story.
This ministry called him out on the fact that the word istoria does not appear anywhere in the Scriptures which led him to change the subheading a couple of days later. He then changed the subheading to a citation (GAL 1:18) that is the only place in the Bible where the word appears. Only thing is, even then, it’s not “istoria,” it’s “historeo”:
g2477. ιστορεω historeo; from a derivative of 1492; to be knowing (learned), i. e. (by implication) to visit for information (interview):— see.
This citation has nothing to do with his original point of naming his ministry as such. It’s simply the only reference he could find that proves that the word is in the Bible. Kinda, as I said, even then the word is not “istoria.” Istoria is a more contemporary Greek word that in fact can be used as “history” or “story.” But the earliest use of the word seems to be circa 1300, and is most prevalent in referring to the “story paintings” of medieval times. It’s just a lame, almost adolescent attempt to argue for this approach to the Bible.
If Burleson wants to be an advocate for the spiritually abused he should denounce his Reformed gospel of spiritual tyranny. While he may help some people heal from abuse, he will go back to his pulpit and produce twice as many abusers.
paul
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
Paul,
Great post! I agree…I have heard and read Wade’s perspectives. Unfortunately, contradictory theology still rules the day. They still don’t know the difference between faith and “suspension of disbelief”. This is why Christianity is more pagan mysticism than it is a sound theology resting on rational metaphysics. All of TULIP leads inexorably to this: pain is the plumb line for truth. There is NO suffering that leads to joy; there is only suffering. YOU can’t feel joy because YOU do not exist. If you feel joy it can only be at the expense of your suffering. Any joy that mitigates the pain must therefore be considered unrighteousness. You must give yourself to the torment fully. You must desire hell. There can be no peace for he who is 100% evil. There can be no separation from man’s consciousness and body. To feel joy then is an indication that you do not fully appreciate your sin.
It is a vile philosophy. I plan on doing a post that shows the true and deep blasphemy of the doctrine. I feel that I even have rational grounds to “go there”.
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Argy,
Well, I survived the first comment. Bracing myself for 40 different kinds of hell on this one. But it is what it is.
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I can see that folks who have been abused (and not JUST them) have a difficult time with the proclamations made by pastors who adhere to Reformed theology. Pastors, like Wade, say what they truly believe. But when faced with the hard evidence of the end result, these pastors are hard pressed to explain their position and not make God out to be a tyrant “for our good” no less.
Many passages in the Bible do appear to support their narrative though, ones like “But the LORD hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up” Jonah 1:4 and the book of Job, as well as others. I try to continue to explore to find the Truth. But many people just give up on God because they can’t balance the “loving Father” against the one who would send/allow/proclaim evil to those (for their good?) who have put their trust in the Savior. Then you get “it is a mystery only God can fully understand.” They really do make it difficult for people to trust God, yet the pastors often don’t understand why. They can even be heartless about it, though not all of them are. Often the pastor, and the recipient of the words he brings, are equally confused at the result. It is a sad state that many believers and churches are in these days. I pray for some real revelation for all of us as I push back against what I hear in my own little world.
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Argo, I think the doctrine is definitely blasphemous but it has become politically incorrect to dare mention such a thing. Let us know when you write it.
Look one cannot say that God sends things into our lives to discipline us, including child abuse because good can come from it…… and then say God does not send the evil and also claim that God controls all things. It simply makes no sense at all. It is fatalistic. It is a religion of death. Not life. But it only works if you can get folks to believe there is no free will.
I think some good people are sucked into it because it makes them feel pious to say God controls all things. I think others see it as an avenue to control others by having them stuck at the cross getting saved every day.
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Bridget, I believe God is revealed in Jesus of Nazareth. And I also think the OT was written against a backdrop of some bizarre paganism we cannot even fathom. But even Jesus was pretty direct with the Pharisees. I am assuming “white washed tomb” and brood of vipers was pretty darn insulting back then even if true. That is like saying not only are you a slithering posionous snake but a big fat fake full of nothing!
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Lydia and Bridget,
You guys are right on. At the end of the day, contradiction forms the cornerstone of reformed theology. They are hard pressed to explain away the contradictions because there aren’t any rational explanations. That is why so many non believers correctly see Christianity not as faith, but a perpetual belief in superstition. Well…it is. People simply cannot proclaim that God controls as all things and people are too depraved to choose Him freely, but…. Because it is after the “but” where Christianity becomes just rank nonsense. Reformed theology, for all their “orthodoxy” doesn’t understand the first thing about God’s sovereignty. Their irrational metaphysics actually produces a God who is anything but. He is a clown, who is self contradictory and hypocritical. All they teach undercuts the true nature of God’s perfection. Reformed theologians are for the most part lazy thinkers. They rely more on propaganda than understanding. Their hermeneutics do not allow them to truly understand the scriptures; their fear prevents them from asking the right questions of the Bible. They excuse their cowardice by appealing to false ideas like “biblical inerrancy”…again, finding refuge in the dark, love-less caves of metaphysical nonsense.
What should terrify them, but doesn’t, is this: their theology makes NO rational distinction between the work of God and the work of Satan and man. That is something that they should NEVER concede as paradox. It is precisely this kind of thinking that will destroy the world.
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“He, however, who has emptied himself (cf. Phil. 2:7) through suffering no longer does works but knows that God works and does all things in him. For this reason, whether God does works or not, it is all the same to him. He neither boasts if he does good works, nor is he disturbed if God does not do good works through him. He knows that it is sufficient if he suffers and is brought low by the cross in order to be annihilated all the more. It is this that Christ says in John 3:7, »You must be born anew.« To be born anew, one must consequently first die and then be raised up with the Son of Man. To die, I say, means to feel death at hand (Heidelberg Disputation: Theses 24).”
This quote by Luther should give good indication of how twisted Calvinism really is. There is so much to pick apart in this one paragraph.
“He, however, who has emptied himself” is no different lingo then what New Agers use. In New Age religion this is one of the biggest beliefs- that one must empty oneself to receive. Christians should not be “emptied, but be filled” , yes with the Holy Spirit; exactly what Paul has been talking about this whole time on PPT. So now we see how they (Calvinists) operate- they do not believe in the filling of the HS. The HS is outside not inside. As Christians, we are to be constantly asking to be filled with MORE of Him. This is another reason now I realize WHY they do not talk about being filled with the fruits of the HS.
The other false belief of Luthers is that suffering is required to be holy; no different then any other pagan belief system, such as Hinduism. Hinduism believes that the more one suffers in this life, you “could” receive a better one in the next. Catholicism actually picked up these ideas from the Desert Fathers who traveled to India and incorporated these ideas into their belief system. Calvinism, of course coming from the same vein, incorporated this also into their belief system I believe- Am I right Paul? In Catholicism, one will go to purgatory and depending on what they did in the present life (how much suffering they endured) and what they do in purgatory, they might have a chance to get into heaven. In Calvinism, there is only one judgment- so, one will just have to see if God deemed the Christian good enough, actually the doctrine of perseverance is at play here. SEE…..all the same, just different methods.
When Scripture talks about boasting of good works, it is in the terms of boasting that “good works do not save us”. Luther goes a step further with this to mean that we cannot even feel good about the good works that are being done in our Christian life. Funny how these men miss all the verses in Psalms where David is continually crying out to God to do this or that in his life and he even “boasts” that he is living a righteous life compared to his enemies.
“Nor is he disturbed if God does not do good works through him”- Here is another false belief: that God does not always do good works through an individual. God ALWAYS does a good work in all Christians- it is up to us, however, to receive that good work done. We may not see at the time (through whatever situation we go through) but God does and He uses circumstances to mold and shape us. Scripture states this to be so.
“Suffering, Suffering, Suffering”!!!- this again is a common thread in all religions and cults, BUT not true Christianity. Here is the difference- Christ states that “you will suffer if you become a Christian” this is a given, BUT Christ does NOT say that one must put themselves into suffering to become holy and righteous. Hmmm…. Calvinists are you not hypocritical on this one? I thought that in your belief system that one must NOT DO ANYTHING?? So are you not putting requirements that in order to receive Gods FULL grace one must suffer? This is what your precious Luther is saying- he is saying that in order to be ANEW, one must CONTINUALLY die and brought low.
The “doctrine of suffering” is the devious tool for Calvinist despots to get away with murder, because they can
continually use it for control of their flocks. They will use it to “promise” a better life in the next one- no different then any other pagan religion out there. Wake up people!!
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“Christians should be filled, not empty.”
T4H,
Excellent statement. I wish I had thought of that. Very direct; perfectly put.
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T4H,
Your whole comment is quite excellent. Do you mind if I post it on my little blog?
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No, not at all and feel free to edit it if my grammar is not up to par- sometimes I have to write in a hurry since I have kids around.
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“What should terrify them, but doesn’t, is this: their theology makes NO rational distinction between the work of God and the work of Satan and man. .”
oh my word, Ago. You have articulated what I have thought for a while now. They actually try to make evil good. And I think this brings moral chaos to most of what they teach.
God is in control of everthing. Every molecule
All suffering/evil is God’s discipline/chastizement in your life. (try applying that one to all suffering)
Yet, God did not send the evil even though He is actively controling every molecule
So it looks like God is pleased with Satans and corrupt man’s evil against His beloved children? How do they distinguish between what is of Satan/evil man and what is from God?
How would this thinking apply to a child who is abused and thinking about these things as an adult? God was disciplining me as a 5 year old being molested? Beaten? Who needs a God like that? We have a Satan who delights in our suffering!
See, the thing is and I am reading this in other Calvinistic blogs on other things is they want to make declarative statements about God but when pressed, they start backtracking and saying the opposite of what they said trying to appeal to mystery or that we just don’t understand it. Or that was not what they were saying or something like that.
I really do think this doctrine has not had a good public airing where those who are preaching it are questioned closely.
I really do think we should take a close look at Calvin himself and how Calvin practiced “love” before we take his Institutes seriously. or how about Martin Luther who wanted to see Jews dead and wanted to wipe out the peasants?
Why are these cruel men so fashionable now with such a large swath of our youth and young men in minstry? That is the question that should scare us. What they are peddling looks nothing like LOVE but control of others and blaspheming God in the process.
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