Apprising Ministries shares the following from Christian apologist Chris Rosebrough, a Christian Research Network contributor and host of the Fighting for the Faith program, which can be heard on the Pirate Christian Radio network at 6PM Eastern time:

Below I am posting the comments I left on Mark Batterson’s Blog today that he does not want you to see and therefore deleted.

If you’d like to see the his responses to my deleted comments then you’ll need to open his original blog post in another browser window. Here’s the link to Batterson’s original post.

Please note how Batterson NEVER addresses the content of my critiques. In fact, minutes after deleting my comments Batterson posted a blog post response where he calls me a Pharisee. Here’s the Link to that post

This is the typical behavior of seeker-driven / purpose-driven “pastors”. Anyone who would dare to critique them Biblically or call them out regarding their false teaching and scripture twisting are NEVER honestly answered. Instead, they are brushed aside and are branded “pharisees”.

The fact that these “pastors” cannot and will not answer their critics but instead resort to Ad Hominem attacks should tip you off to the fact that the reason they will not defend their scripture twisting and false teaching is because they can’t Biblically defend their actions and teaching. Therefore, their ONLY defense is to personally attack those who are exposing their false teaching. For further reading I HIGHLY recommend that you read Todd Wilken’s article on this topic, Playing the Pharisee Card.

Now here are my comments that Mark Batterson deleted from his blog. Each is separated by —.

Mark,

Its obviously time for you to take a refresher course on sound Biblical Hermeneutics.

1. You rip this verse from its context.

If you put the verse back into context it is NOT a verse that can be universally applied.

These words were specifically said to the children of Israel immediately following the death of Moses and Joshua’s rise to leadership.

The words “purify yourselves” should really be translated “consecrate yourselves” and it is specifically referencing the ceremonial law and the purification rites given at Mt. Sinai.

2. After ripping it from context you then draw conclusions from this verse that are contradicted by clear passages of scripture.

We do not ‘purify ourselves’ before God by our own efforts but we are purified ONLY by Christ’s Shed Blood. God does the cleansing not us. Ultimately, you are confusing law and gospel in a similar way that the Judiazers did in Galatia.

3. You are also guilty of Eisegesis. The text you rip from context NO WHERE teaches that our “potential is determined by our purity”. You totally put that into this verse.

This post is a Hermeneutical Epic Fail.

May I recommend a book for you?

Biblical Hermeneutics by Milton Terry

—

jntskip,

Could you please show me from a good translation or from the original Hebrew text where Joshua 3:5 teaches “our potential is determined by your purity”?

As for Courtesy and Grace…I am governed by the words that the Holy Spirit had the Apostle Paul pen…

“He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to REBUKE those who contradict it.

This testimony is true. Therefore REBUKE them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith..

Declare these things; exhort and REBUKE with all authority. Let no one disregard you.” (Titus 1:9, 13; 2:15)

The most loving thing I could do for Mark is rebuke him for twisting God’s word, confusing Law and Gospel and not teaching sound doctrine so that he repents of the sinful way that he treats and teaches God’s word.

The good news for Mark is that Christ even died for the sins Mark committed in this post. He needs to repent.

—-

Matt,

My name is Chris Rosebrough. I am the host of the Fighting for the Faith Radio program that airs on Pirate Christian Radio.

1. I correctly pointed out that Mark ripped Joshua 3:5 completely out of context and is guilty of exegesis which is a gross twisting of God’s Word and is a sin.

2. If God’s using any of us is based upon our ‘purifying ourselves’ then God could use NONE OF US.

The reason for this is quite simple… All of us, you, me and Mark sin daily and sin much. Even If you were successful at purify YOURSELF this afternoon at 3:00 PM you would be unpure and need to purify yourself again at 3:01 because you would be guilty of the sin of not loving God WITH YOUR WHOLE HEART.

We are NOT MADE PURE by our efforts or law keeping before or after God grants us faith in Christ.

Paul’s rebuke of the Galatians is VERY appropriate here. Note Paul is writing to churches, that means he is not addressing initial salvation with them but is addressing their false doctrine as it pertains to Christian sanctification that is undermining salvation by grace through faith.

“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?” (Galatians 3:1–6)

—

Mark,

With all due respect, finding fault is NOT all that I do.

I am here to warn you that you are grossly mishandling and twisting God’s word.

You’re a nice guy. But, many of the things you claim God’s word teaches are just wrong and false. This post does a good job of demonstrating your cavalier handling of God’s Word.

You may not like being critiqued and may not like having your teaching tested according to God’s Word. But, you are NOT above reproach and even the Apostle Paul’s teaching was tested against God’s word by the Bereans.

Mark, this is no small sin on your part. Twisting God’s word is exactly what satan, false prophets, and false teachers do. You seriously need to repent of this sin and receive the forgiveness of Christ won for you on the cross for this rebellion against the Him and His word.

—

Mark,

You demonstrate your lack of character by refusing to have your teaching held accountable to the clear and correct teaching of the Word of God.

It is clear that the reason you’ve deleted my comments is that the points I’ve made using sound Biblical hermeneutical methods are valid and you cannot defend your treatment of God’s word because your eisegesis is indefensible.

But, you are NOT above reproach and accountability.

I pray that God grants your repentance. In the meantime, I will continue to warn people about your cavalier mishandling of God’s word.

James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

—
Mark,

I’m not looking for a fight.

I’m calling you to repentance regarding your caviler twisting of God’s word.

I’m not doing this because I want to fight WITH you. I’m doing this because I am fighting FOR you.

Repent!