Adventist Today and Time magazines are reporting that N. T. “Tom” Wright, the fourth most senior cleric in the Church of England and a bishop is challenging the biblical view that Christians go to heaven when they die. Doesn’t it strike you as being somewhat strange that yet another Anglican clergyman embraces soul sleep? It is evident that these liberal Anglican theologians are leading the pack in promoting the heresy of Arnobius in the fourth century.
Truly, the Archbishop of Canterbury has lost his influence over Anglicans (Episcopalians) worldwide. Their liberal theologians are increasingly dividing their communion over several theological matters (including homosexuality). Sadly, in utter despair and disappointment, some Anglicans in the pew are now thinking that perhaps they should “just go back home to Rome where at least some morality still exists.”
It should not surprise us that a church that was started by King Henry VIII, over a divorce dispute with the Pope, would continue be very liberal at best. Their latest disputes still center around sexual matters ( i.e., homosexuality). Even the former Prime Minister of England, Tony Blair, has now forsaken Anglicanism in favor of Catholicism. Admittedly, there are still a few conservative theologians with ties to the Church of England as well (e.g., J. I. Packer). However, I understand that Packer is not highly regarded in their ranks. Personally, I regard J. I. Packer as an outstanding theologian.
I heartily recommend J. I. Packer’s book entitled, “Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs.” Unfortunately, scholars like Packer are more appreciated and respected outside of the Anglican communion than from within. The world-renowned Anglican scholar, John R. W. Stott, has written good books as well. However, in recent years, he has admitted that some of his theology is based primarily on sentimentalism (i.e., notably his liberal view of no hell). I have tried to contact Dr. Stott personally without any success. His American office staff emailed me saying that they don’t have enough help to respond to theological inquiries.
Interestingly, their lengthy email message to me should have included a quick answer to my question about Stott’s annihilationism. It took the staffer longer to tell me why they couldn’t answer my question than it would have taken him to briefly tell me about Stott’s current views. All in all, I see Anglicanism (Episcopalianism) collapsing from within. When people don’t have something to really believe in, and no solid biblical anchor, they are left with crippling doubts and fanciful speculations. Sadly, they are left with a religion that is increasingly man-centered.
Dennis, interesting stuff you’re sharing about Stott. Did you find something he wrote that led you to believe he arrived at his position on annihilationism due to sentimentalism?
Since you mentioned Packer, I’d like to put a plug in for Knowing God, his outstanding exposition on living the Christian life and probably his best-known book. Packer’s Concise Theology is also excellent.
Dr. Alan Gomes, of Biola University, has two excellent chapters available online in regard to annihilationism: http://bible-researcher.com/hell4.html and http://bible-researcher.com/hell5.html . I have forgotten where I read, a long while ago, that Dr. John Stott cited human emotional response as a primary factor in his adoption of annihilationism. Also, the arrival of the new kinder, gentler theology of the so-called “sensitive Christians” (as Clark Pinnock calls them) has obviously predisposed some to less than objective conclusions.
Some think that Stott’s current stance reflects the fact that his parents were not Christians. To his credit, however, Dr. Stott makes it repeatedly clear that his position on annihilationism is not very dogmatic. In fact, he rails against either side getting too dogmatic. In stark contrast to the extinction/re-creation view, the traditional Christian view coheres well with other biblical teachings.
Think about it! If the body is returned to “dust” and the soul ceases to exist at the time of physical death, then has not the person at THAT POINT been annihilated? Why should God create a new person to annihilate IN THE STEAD of the one who already CEASES TO EXIST?
Think about it! If the body is returned to “dust” and the soul ceases to exist at the time of physical death, then has not the person at THAT POINT been annihilated? Why should God create a new person to annihilate IN THE STEAD of the one who already CEASES TO EXIST?
Wow, I’m with Jeremy here, great point Dennis. This tract that Calvin wrote was such a pleasure to read, such a breath of fresh air after all of the proof-texting muddle of our former experiences. While he readily admits that the word for “soul” does sometimes mean “breath” as Adventists dogmatically hold that it means in all cases, his exegesis of the rest of scripture blows the “soul only means breath” theory right out of the water. For instance, how could David tell his “breath” to “hope in God” as he tells his soul to do in Psalm 42 and 43? How could his “breath” be “cast down” (earlier in the same two Psalms)?
Interestingly, the “Psychopannychia” was John Calvin’s first literary work (in his early 20s). Calvin rightly stated that “The office of teaching is committed to pastors for no other purpose than that God alone may be heard there.” Steven Lawson, in commenting on this statement in his book, “The Expository Genius of John Calvin,” concludes that “A life-transforming pulpit ministry, for Calvin, required the divine presence in power...Where are the expositors who will preach entire books of the Bible consecutively month after month and year after year? A long-awaited return to BIBLICAL preaching is direly needed. Such was the case in the sixteenth-century Geneva, and such is the case today. May God raise up a new generation of expositors who are equipped and empowered to proclaim the Word.”
Hi Dennis,
That is so true, and well stated. John Piper said some things about Calvin while being interviewed about the upcoming Desiring God conference (titled “With Calvin in the Theater of God") that were an eye-opening glimpse into the great work that God did in and through this man. As you pointed out, his expository genius is unequaled. Piper pointed out that God placed such a resolve in him to preach the whole Word to the believers in Geneva. When he had to leave Geneva he left off preaching in the middle of Acts, and when he returned he started preaching from the very next text three years (give or take) later. He preached 5 sermons per week, and no one knows of him preaching a single topical sermon. God certainly uses frail men to accomplish great purposes!
To see the brilliance of his exposition coming through so early in life (in the Psychopannychia) is simply astonishing. I join you in praying for God to raise up more men to clearly proclaim the truths of the Word to another generation!
Nate
Here is a link to some of the interview videos about the upcoming Desiring God conference:
SDA music lovers, denying the dualistic nature of man (material and immaterial), have unique problems with Christian hymnody. As I was singing the impressive, wondrous hymn ”How Great Thou Art” this morning in church before Communion, I couldn’t help being reminded that my Adventist friends would prefer to sing the lyrics as possibly “Then sings my breath,” “Then sings my feelings,” or “Then sings my body” (even though that would be sacrilegious at best).
Truly, it would not be “well with my soul” knowing that I had no assurance of salvation. The phrase ”It is well with my breath” just doesn’t seem very heart-warming nor uplifting. Please listen to the Gaithers, featuring Guy Penrod and David Phelps as soloists, at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem:
That is also a great point Dennis. These great hymns just do not make sense if the dualistic (material and immaterial) nature of man is denied.
Calvin’s tract Psychopannychia (or rather, all the Scriptures he quotes in it) was what finally convinced my hard heart of this Biblical truth, even though all the Scriptures that he quotes had been sitting in front of me for over 2 decades. I had just refused to believe them. Thanks for your thoughts on this subject Dennis.
For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.
O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you… My soul will be satisfied
as with fat and rich food,
and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips…
How can breath “wait in silence”? How can breath “thirst for God”? How can breath “be satisfied”? There are so many passages like this in the Psalter; it would probably take days to post them all. May we all truly be satisfied in God!
For those who would like to download John Calvin’s first literary work, Psychopannychia, simply log unto: http://www.lgmarshall.org/Calvin/calvin_psychopannychia.html . It is a 49-page download. Put it in a three-ring notebook for future reference. A paper weight of 22 or 24 would be better than the common 20 weight. Also, an acid-free paper will keep this historical treasure white and readable for ages. It should be required reading for every Seventh-day Adventist. Happy reading!
