Here we go again. Football quarterback Aaron Rodgers recanted his faith this week. He is another of an increasing number of formerly popular Christian celebrities from recent decades who have recanted the faith. When one listens to the interview and here's Rodgers story of faith one cannot escape the conclusion that cheap grace, weak theology and a reliance of private revelation above the sufficiency of scripture does not build enduring disciples. Last week I listened to a video by a popular and prominent Bible teacher who is known for her allegorical Teaching and claim to receive private revelations. She was sharing an inspirational anecdote and about half-way through she made a statement (I doubt most of her listeners paid attention to it.) that defined the fundamental flaw in much of her teaching and many of her contemporaries.She said, "It doesn't relate to the text, but I like the story, so I will make it fit." The idea was that she was going to frame the scriptural text in such away that it supported what she was arguing thougt should be gleaned from the experience. She was not teaching the scripture and illustrating it with a relevant live event to help people understands how to live biblically. She used a story to illustrate a moral lesson (that's called a parable) and then drew an inference from scripture in support of the lesson. She drew her point from experience, thus elevating her own experienc above the scripture. This kind of careless use of scripture is deceptive and dangerous and to be avoided:
[1] I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: [2] preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. [3] For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, [4] and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. [5] As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:1–5 ESV)One of the great failing of American culture that has influence Christian culture negatively is that for many American celebrity gives credibility.
Celebrity events, such as award shows, usually feature people who though accomplished in their field come to a microphone and make comments about issues or things they know nothing about. Notice that after some kind of dramatic news worthy national events the media will always turn to actors and entertainers for comments. What does Robert Dinero, Alec Baldwin, or Taylor Swift know about US foreign policy? Yet their opinion will be promoted as an expert opinion. Unfortunately this celebrity mentality is rampant among Christians too
After the Obergfell decision of the US Supreme Court legitimizing homosexual marriage nearly every popular Christian media source quoted the completely unbiblical opinion of Christian and country music star Cary Underwood. Recently when Christian entertainer Lauren Daigle made a statement about her attitude toward LGBTQ movement she responded with an impassioned appeal for understanding love and tolerance but made no reference to what the Bible says about these behaviors. What does that have to do with Aaron Rodgers?
In a recent interview of Rodgers and his girlfriend, former NASCAR driver, Danica Patrick, he recanted his Christian upbringing. The interview was typical of many such statements and interviews I've heard recently. He described his attraction to a popular youth ministry that is know for anti-nomian teaching and for emphasizing "fun activity" over Christian teaching. He reveals a false Jehovah's Witness understanding of eschatology when he asserts that only 144,000 souls will be going to heaven. Throughout the interview he talks about several parachurch ministries that tolerated and even promoted questionable fun and games to attract an audience for their teaching. He criticizes the church for emphasizing "righteousness, being binary,"(which means distinguishing between "right and wrong"). If I understand Rodgers he believes that God is pleased with whatever makes him happy, and is so loving that he is unwilling to restrict anyone's unhappiness through moral restraint and can we expect such a God to judge sinners.
Rodgers views are similar to many popular Christian, artist, entertainers and teachers who seem to believe that salvation is to be an "affirming" experience that "welcomes and tolerates" every one. Former Pastor Rob Bell recanted orthodoxy and a belief in God who would condemn in his heretical book "Love Wins." Joshua Harris, the former author of I KISSED DATING GOODBYE and leader in the popular purity movement of a few years ago, recanted his faith and "affirmed" the LGBTQ lifestyle recently after his own divorce. Christian teacher Beth Moore has no doctrinal statement on her website, but recently revised her statement on sexuality to a generalized statement that aligns more closely with a cultural appeal then with biblical teaching.
Former Pastor Bill Hybels of Willow Creek Church retired after some insinuation of possible sexual misconduct. The church had previously reported that they felt their ministry model of "seeker sensitivity" needed to be reconsidered as it failed to "build disciples." Pastor Rick Warren, whom some have labeled America's Pastor, advocated a "purpose driven" church philosophy of ministry where a church focus on agreed upon central values rather than clear biblical ones. All this in the context of a growing movement where people values are shaped more by "private revelations or contemplative prayer" than by the Word of God. The result of people who live out "spiritual rather than religious values" is contrary to Christian faith, yet many Christian teachers are promoting it as exactly that.
So how have we gotten hear? How is that many of those who were heralded by the Christian media as role models to my children have now recanted their belief? Do leaders who advocate for "social affirming, woke," principles and pleasing atmosphere's preach the true gospel? Are those who are receiving "private revelations" and conforming the clear meaning of scripture to affirm those revelations teaching the truth? How do we know who the credible teaches of the gospel are? Just because someone labels themselves Christian anything does not make them Christian anything.
For many Christian ministries today there is a greater concern for presentation in a relevant appeal way than for accurate faithful proclamation. Many suggest that a healthy vibrant appealing presentation advances the gospel more than correct understanding of the Bible. Paul was concerned for understanding his audience (Acts 17), and sought to use terms and concepts they could understand, but Paul he never made the method the mission. Many evangelical youth groups attract kids through the use of ridiculous games followed by boring Bible studies, but offer the youth little to help them engage with challenges they face. I suspect this was the kind of church environment in which Aaron Rodgers was raised. Shallow ministries that produce a weak belief system. It is a false gospel because it offers no lasting hope.
The warning Paul's gave Timothy in the passage above addresses the necessity of sound teaching. IT comes immediately following his teaching that all scripture if verbally inspired, "[16] All Scripture is breathed out by God..." for a reason "and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV) Notice Paul's application of that text to Timothy is to explain the culture or context in which the scripture is to be taught. He defines the core values of an authentic Bible teacher:
For many Christian ministries today there is a greater concern for presentation in a relevant appeal way than for accurate faithful proclamation. Many suggest that a healthy vibrant appealing presentation advances the gospel more than correct understanding of the Bible. Paul was concerned for understanding his audience (Acts 17), and sought to use terms and concepts they could understand, but Paul he never made the method the mission. Many evangelical youth groups attract kids through the use of ridiculous games followed by boring Bible studies, but offer the youth little to help them engage with challenges they face. I suspect this was the kind of church environment in which Aaron Rodgers was raised. Shallow ministries that produce a weak belief system. It is a false gospel because it offers no lasting hope.
The warning Paul's gave Timothy in the passage above addresses the necessity of sound teaching. IT comes immediately following his teaching that all scripture if verbally inspired, "[16] All Scripture is breathed out by God..." for a reason "and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV) Notice Paul's application of that text to Timothy is to explain the culture or context in which the scripture is to be taught. He defines the core values of an authentic Bible teacher:
- The highest priority of a credible Bible teacher is to hold people accountable for lives to please God. Rather than telling Timothy to welcome people with a message of unconditional love or to be sensitive to the seekers, he said, "I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: [2] preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching." A credible Bible teacher does not rewrite their statement on sexuality to make sure that everyone is comfortable regardless of sexual lifestyle. Someone who does needs to be questioned about what they actually believe. While they will certainly try to frame their teaching in a way that someone from their particular sphere of life can understand, and will seek to find out their personal needs. The message is not compromised to prevent offences
- The second priority of an authentic Biblical teacher is to put greater importance on doctrine than on passion. Several years ago a teaching was sweeping the country that advanced the notion that we found God's will by "looking for what he is doing and then joining him." The scripture however, teaches us that God has told us what he is doing and how to live (2Peter 1:3 &4)." Jeremiah warned the people of his day of placing reliance on "dreams and visions" above prophetic authority (Jeremiah 23: 23-32). As the reformer John Owen said, "If private revelations agree with the Word of God, they are unnecessary, and if they disagree with it they are false." [3] For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, [4] and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
- The third priority of an authentic teacher is to avoid accommodating culture. This was a reference to the popular religions and cultural attitudes of the day. Rather than attempting to restate our teaching in ways that will assuage feelings a true teacher is unafraid to confront culture. Social causes like social justice and LGBTQ rights while touching on issues of pain and suffering are important issues for the church but they are hardly the main thing, and can divert from the mission of the church. "[5] As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. "
How did we get to this point where many of the Christian celebrities of our now grown millennial children are recanting the gospel. I believe many of those who were leading teachers at the time put an over emphasis on cultural relevance, political sensitivity, ant the interpretation of private revelation. Truth and doctrine are measured are validated by affirming feelings of experience. Aaron Rodgers doctrinal foundation was not secure enough to enable him to "be sober-minded," and to walk in truth. As we continue our tendency of building churches through contemporary marketing strategies rather than embracing the gospel mission we are going to see more of this. Many of those who have embraced a faith that is informed more by experience than precepts will find themselves ill equipped "to obey all that [He] has commanded you." Aaron Rodgers is a product of the cheap gospel of American evangelicalism.
