**UPDATE**
More on RockHarbor being emergent here.
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Excerpts from Lighthouse Trails special report on Mike Erre, author of "Death by Church" and emergent pastor:
In light of an event (Movement 2009) scheduled to take place on May 29th at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, the Calvary Chapel mother church, with RockHarbor pastor, Mike Erre (and a similar event (Pure Worship) that took place earlier this month), Lighthouse Trails is posting this special report....
Death by Church has a point to make--that God is saving "all of creation" (eg. p. 100) and that the "church" is not the substance of the kingdom of God (i.e., the whole of creation and all of humanity is). In fact, Erre says, the church is not the kingdom of God at all - it only points to the kingdom of God, which incorporates all of creation and, if the church does all the right things it can have the privilege of being part of that kingdom too. Erre seeks to prove his point but not just by turning to Scripture - he turns to prominent figures in the emerging/emergent church (those such as Brian McLaren and Dan Kimball), the contemplative mystical prayer movement (those such as Dallas Willard and panentheist Richard Rohr-a favorite of Erre's), and New Age sympathizers (those such as Marcus Borg, who believes Jesus did not see himself as the Son of God (see FMSN, p. 124), and Gregory Boyd, author of the not-yet published work, The Cosmic Dance). Couple Erre's frequent use of emerging/contemplative/New Age sympathizing authors with his kingdom-now theology wrapped in universalist/panentheistic overtones, and Death by Church actually takes on a pseudo-name, Death by Deception.
End quote.
If that is not enough, the report is filled with direct quotes from Erre's book, including six direct quotes in that book referring to Erre's universalism.
Lighthouse continues:
Death by Church lays out a perfect example of what Lighthouse Trails calls "the new missiology." In essence, Erre tells believers that "we don't take Christ to a region or people group, but we instead show up and pay attention to the work that Jesus is already doing. We have to move away from the current mind-set about church, ministry, and mission." (p. 136). In other words, we don't have to tell people about Jesus because Jesus is already there among them (before they hear the Gospel and believe; i.e, they can keep their same religion and still be connected to God).
As if the kingdom-now theology, replacement theology, universalistic message, and new missiology were not enough, Erre presents to the reader a case for panentheism (God in all things).
In Death by Church, in Erre's presentation of panentheism, Erre quotes Madeleine L'Engle: "There is nothing so secular that it cannot be sacred, and that is one of the deepest messages of the Incarnation" (p. 159). What she is saying here is that God (the sacred) can be found in everything (the secular). In that line of thinking, Erre himself says that his new kingdom "dismantles the sacred/secular distinction" and "all things are given over to God--including those things formerly thought to be secular or unspiritual" He adds: "Confessional worship ... seeks to see everything as having been made to reflect the glory of God. ... we reawaken to the possibilities of redemption in all areas of life" (pp. 158). This is the same theology as Sue Monk Kidd (see ATOD, p. 134). This concept reflects classic panentheism--God is in all things. Keep in mind, that there is a continuity of the theme that God is in everything with many of the figures that Erre turns to in his book. Richard Rohr, Marcus Borg, Brian McLaren, and John Dominic Crossan are four who hold to this view and are referenced in Death by Church.
End quote.
These things obviously are a direct attack on Scripture. God Himself denotes what is of the Spirit and what is of the flesh--He will not call evil "good" nor things of the flesh as "of the Spirit":
Gal 5:17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
Gal 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
Gal 5:21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gal 5:23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Also, universalism denies the very words of Jesus Christ (and the Gal. 5 passage above):
Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Mat 7:13 "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
2Pe 3:5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
Erre follows his father of old--he attacks God's Word by practicing "Has God said?" Erre will be teaching at a conference hosted by Calvary Chapel. While Erre clearly is emergent, CC claims to be against the ECM. The fact that Chuck Smith's son, Chuck Jr. is also Emergent, has led to the compromise that Calvary Chapel is experiencing, even if its a slow decline. Its a decline all the same.
6 comments:
Obviously those of you who are critical of Mike Erre and his views are uninformed, as a fellow Christian I suggest you listen to and/or read the open forum they had discussing these topics and accusations so that you know what he truly believes before you publish an attack against him.
http://www.rockharbor.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=79&Itemid=109
Well Whit,
It seems you are ignorant of the Emergent Church Movement's teachings and leaders. Erre clearly is in agreement with some of the most heretical people out here like Brian McLaren as well as Marcus Borg.
In addition you are ignorant of the heresy of Universalism, nor Open Theism either. I'm afraid you have no clue as to what and whom yo are defending, and this does not honor Christ Jesus.
God demands purity in doctrine and practice, and we are to be loyal to HIM, not some man who offers heresy and heretical teachers as if its truth.
Is. 8 20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.
Gal 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.
Erre and those he promotes in his book, do not speak according to the law and testimony...in fact they speak against it!
I have pointed out how wrong Erre is in his universal reconciliation according to Scripture. I can only pray you would be teachable to the God of Truth, Who will not abide with a false gospe nor false teachers.
Neither myself, nor the aforementioned (and slammed) Whit are ignorant to the Emergent Church Movement's teachings. On the contrary, I personally am well-versed and had you ever attended an actual Rockharbor service, your out-of-context attacks, that do NOT resemble what is taught at Rockharbor, would ring false to you, as well. There is no watering down of scripture at RH. Perhaps YOU should complete a little more study on the Emerging Church yourself - http://www.carm.org/emerging-church - so you could clearly see that ROckharbor does not claim to be part of that movement and actually has a position paper posted to address questions. The scriptures teach us to study - perhaps you should spend more time on research and actual study and less on venom and dividing the Body.
Well Jen, clearly you are ignorant or just don't want to see what's right in front of you.
I do know what the ECM is as I was co-adminstrator of Emergent NO for years and have done extentsive research on the movement. I am very familiar with it indeed.
I also study Scripture and the more I grow it it, the more I see the error in such churches and movements. I try to hold God's Word higher than anything else, because God does (Ps. 138:2).
Instead of slamming me for "slamming" your favorite pastor or church (the hypocrisy is apparent), perhaps you should consider that perhaps you are wrong and that perhaps your church COULD be wrong.
Scripture is clear about division: we ARE to separate ourselves from those who divide FROM truth.
Joh 7:24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment."
Is. 8 20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.
Heb 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice TO DISTINGUISH good from evil.
2Th 3:14 If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.
I guess you forgot about that in your vast study of Scripture.
Hello Denise,
I n your bio you state that God delivered you from the Charismatic movement. I too was raised in a Charismatic church. It was a very bible based church, our pastor taught systematically from the word every week. I was delivered from sin through the blood of Jesus Christ, and that church, (Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa), was the conduit that the Holy Spirit used to deliver me.
I don’t know you, and I don’t know Mike Erre, but I have sat in the congregation of Rock Harbor for over 5 years, and all though I don’t agree with everything that Mike teaches, I find him to be a well grounded pastor with a Heart for the Lord. I am curious if you have ever spoken with Mike about the issues that have stated in your article; you obviously have not sat in the congregation and listened.
I find it arrogant for you to call Jen ignorant because she disagrees with your position. Perhaps just perhaps you may be wrong. Maybe you should pray for the Lord to deliver you out of your lethargy. Get off your duff and call Pastor Erre and confront him before you attack.
Phil,
Perhaps you can explain biblically Erre's views, which go against Scripture (panentheism & universalism specifically)? Not only his doctrine is anti-biblical, but those he defends are some of the most infamous false teachers in evangelicalism today.
Phil, you've got to stop being so man-centered and defensive of those in your camp who are in GRAVE error, and start dealing with the Truth of Scripture. You speak out of ignorance also. You need to find out what Erre teaches and who his promoting and why they are false teachers. The information has been given to you. Are you going to be open to search it out specifically or are you going to blindly defend those in error?
A public teacher needs to be dealt with publically. Erre is not only a public teacher, he has written a book promoting his error.
Systematic teaching isn't exegeting Scripture verse by verse at all. Its topically based set into a man-made pattern which defends a church's or a pastor's theological view. Charismatics don't exegete Scripture because they can't. Careful exposition and exegeting of Scripture would demand full context of every verse which would eliminate the charismatic doctrines which are unbiblical and man-centered. I know because I've not only been on that side for years, but I've also witnessed actual exegeting of Scripture in its full context.
I suggest you read this article on judging carefully: http://cicministry.org/commentary/issue94.htm
Besides the Scriptures I posted in my article and also to Jen, I'll give you some as well.
Gal 1:7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. 10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
2Jn 1:9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
Both Truth and error cannot be united (2Cor. 6). No lie is of the truth (1John 2:21). Heb 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernmenttrained by constant practice TO DISTINGUISH good from evil.
Tips on studying Scripture:
http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/90-158.HTM
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