I’ve been listening to Paul Washer for a few minutes. A friend of mine listens to him regularly. I haven’t really wanted to, mostly because I had heard his style while overhearing others listening to him.. I hadn’t really heard anything he’s said, but I did know he is famous for his hard-nosed preaching. I consider that a great plus, but I didn’t think his style was worth wading through.
My mistake.
Really good sermon, especially in light of the abundant ignorance and tradition in the church today. He could do with a little clarification from the early churches, but really no one ought to be able to complain a guy who can get to the point like Mr. Washer does in this video.
I am married, the father of six, and currently the grandfather of five. I teach, and I am always trying to learn to disciple others better than I have before. I believe God has gifted me to restore proper theological foundations to the Christian faith. In order to ensure that I do not become a heretic, I read the early church fathers from the second and third centuries. They were around when all the churches founded by the apostles were in unity.
My philosophy for Bible reading is to understand each verse for exactly what it says in its local context. Only after accepting the verse for what it says do I compare it with other verses to develop my theology. If other verses seem to contradict a verse I just read, I will wait to say anything about those verses until I have an explanation that allows me to accept all the verses for what they say. This takes time, sometimes years, but eventually I have always been able to find something that does not require explaining verses away. The early church fathers have helped a lot with this.
I argue and discuss these foundational doctrines with others to make sure my teaching really lines up with Scripture. I am encouraged by the fact that the several missionaries and pastors that I know well and admire as holy men love the things I teach. I hope you will be encouraged too.
I am indeed tearing up old foundations created by tradition in order to re-establish the foundations found in Scripture and lived on by the churches during their 300 years of unity.
My regard for him has greatly softened in recent years. I remember watching that sermon 7 years ago and being paralyzed with fear for some days afterward – A fear which for many who watched it, (I gather) lead to some kind of epiphany but for me (and many other I gather) contributed to further inner spiritual depression & doubt.
I couldn’t stand him or any of his sermons for some years after then until I decided to sit down with the intention of writing a thorough point-by-point critique of one of his sermons (not the same one). I found a transcript and began going through it, soon to discover that there was nothing majorly wrong with what he was saying nor did I find it disturbing despite finding it objectionable when I had listened to it. I therefore realised that it was mainly his delivery that I didn’t like, rather than the actual content (It’s probably my British reserve but I don’t find shouty American preachers compelling).
Since then I conceded that he has is place and that his overall message that faith is evidenced by actions (I’m inclined to say ‘duh!’) is correct. I also found the following video to be interesting where he discusses the ‘shocking message’ (and comes across as a really nice chap, actually):
All that said, I do take serious issues with a kind of preparationism that I have heard him imply in some sermons (i.e. that you must grovel before God for an indefinite time before he saves you and that he hasn’t saved you until you have some kind of big experience) as I find it in opposition to scripture as well as being generally abhorrent.
There are a lot of opinions and rumors about Constantine, the Council of Nicea, and the events of the fourth century that changed Christianity to Christendom. Not only will you get the incredible story, with all its twists, plots, and intrigues, but you will find out how history is done and never wonder what is true again.
There are a lot of opinions and rumors about Constantine, the Council of Nicea, and the events of the fourth century that changed Christianity to Christendom. Not only will you get the incredible story, with all its twists, plots, and intrigues, but you will find out how history is done and never wonder what is true again.
The Rest of the Old, Old Story 
Ah… Paul Washer.
My regard for him has greatly softened in recent years. I remember watching that sermon 7 years ago and being paralyzed with fear for some days afterward – A fear which for many who watched it, (I gather) lead to some kind of epiphany but for me (and many other I gather) contributed to further inner spiritual depression & doubt.
I couldn’t stand him or any of his sermons for some years after then until I decided to sit down with the intention of writing a thorough point-by-point critique of one of his sermons (not the same one). I found a transcript and began going through it, soon to discover that there was nothing majorly wrong with what he was saying nor did I find it disturbing despite finding it objectionable when I had listened to it. I therefore realised that it was mainly his delivery that I didn’t like, rather than the actual content (It’s probably my British reserve but I don’t find shouty American preachers compelling).
Since then I conceded that he has is place and that his overall message that faith is evidenced by actions (I’m inclined to say ‘duh!’) is correct. I also found the following video to be interesting where he discusses the ‘shocking message’ (and comes across as a really nice chap, actually):
All that said, I do take serious issues with a kind of preparationism that I have heard him imply in some sermons (i.e. that you must grovel before God for an indefinite time before he saves you and that he hasn’t saved you until you have some kind of big experience) as I find it in opposition to scripture as well as being generally abhorrent.
Thanks, Jon. I have nothing to add to your comment.