VODDIE BAUCHAM'S SCHEDULED APPEARANCE AT HARVEST BIBLE CHAPEL MEN'S CONFERENCE CANCELED DUE TO "DIFFERENCES REGARDING ER2"

By Ken Silva pastor-teacher on Jan 28, 2012 in AM Missives, Current Issues, Features

By Apprising Ministries special correspondent Erin Benziger of Do Not Be Surprised…
This is a repost of an original article on Do Not Be Surprised…

Voddie Baucham, pastor at Grace Family Baptist Church, is known for his clear exposition and teaching of Scripture and for his no-nonsense way of preaching the truth. Indeed, he is a trusted teacher of God’s Word, and someone who many would be eager to hear preach and teach live. In the midst of the T.D. Jakes “Is he a Trinitarian or not?” controversy, an interesting revelation was noted earlier this week on Baucham’s Facebook page.

(Online Source)

There’s two points of interest here. First, it is commendable and important to note that Baucham was actually invited to participate in this year’s Elephant Room 2, but rejected the invitation because of T.D. Jakes. Well done, sir, thank you for standing firmly upon the truth of the Word of God.

The second interesting point is found in Baucham’s response to a request for more thoughts regarding Jakes. He clearly notes that Jakes “dodged the question,” and was allowed by Driscoll and MacDonald to “use modalist language.” He then makes this interesting observation: “He [Jakes] was NEVER going to be confronted. He was an honored guest. He was not going to be penned down.” Baucham nails it here. By bringing in big-name Jakes, the men of the Elephant Room were able to widely expand their audience, and there was little chance that they would actually confront Jakes in his multiple heresies. I appreciate how Baucham highlights that, even if Jakes had clearly affirmed Trinitarianism and renounced Modalism, there still is one problem that was utterly ignored, and that is Jakes’ propagation of the prosperity gospel. In the words above of Voddie Baucham, “Jakes does not hold to the biblical gospel. He is a false teacher.” Well, if the men of ER2 saw that statement, I’m sure they breathed a sigh of relief that Baucham wasn’t on the panel last Wednesday. Imagine how embarrassing it would have been if he had confronted T.D. Jakes, MacDonald and Driscoll’s “honored guest,” with such harsh words!

This story gets more interesting, however. For quite some time, Voddie Baucham has been scheduled to speak with James MacDonald at the Men’s Conference taking place this weekend at Harvest Bible Chapel.

(Online Source. Following this screen capture, the above post was removed from the HBC website.)

We found out this morning, however, that Baucham, after traveling to Chicago to participate in this speaking engagement, has found himself on a plane back home.

(Online Source)

The reason for this was offered just a few moments earlier on Baucham’s Facebook page.

(Online Source)

From this, it seems that the cancellation of Baucham’s speaking engagement was indeed a mutual decision between him and MacDonald. Nevertheless, can we now conclude that James MacDonald would much prefer the embrace of a money-shilling prosperity preacher than that of a sound, trusted preacher of God’s Word? Indeed, it seems that James MacDonald has clearly demonstrated who is allowed to join the new “tribe” that he sought to create with the Elephant Room, and this writer fears that it is not a membership roster of which he ought to boast.

I hope I speak for many when I say to Voddie Baucham, thank you, sir, for placing your commitment to God and His Word above all else.