Chuck Swindoll Misrepresents John Wesley
View PDF | Print View
by: DanielLaLondJr.
Total views: 10
Word Count: 628
When the eighteenth-and early nineteenth-century revival spread across Great Britain and into America, preached fervently by John Wesley...and a handful of other risk-taking spokesmen for God, it was again grace that led the way... Interestingly, that sweeping movement came to be known as "The Great Awakening." What I am sensing these days is yet another awakening in the genre of those history-making movements. Perhaps it is best defined as "The Grace Awakening," a message whose time has come (The Grace Awakening, p. xiv, xv).
Aligning The Grace Awakening with John Wesley and The Great Awakening surely bolsters the message of Swindoll's book. Though historians might consider Swindoll's comparison self-serving such doctrinal consistency is notable if it is a fact, but is it a fact?
Though John Wesley's views on grace and freedom in Christ are readily available to anyone who is interested Chuck Swindoll offers not even one quote to substantiate his alleged agreement with Mr. Wesley. Why? Because John Wesley never taught these foundational, biblical themes as Chuck Swindoll defines them.
The Grace Awakening, says Dr. Swindoll, is his attempt at spotlighting the "full extent of grace" (The Grace Awakening p. xv). Certainly there is nothing wrong with such an emphasis depending the meaning assigned to the word "grace." Throughout his book Chuck Swindoll insists that "grace" means that human "works" (of any kind or degree) never impact final salvation. The following are but a sample from Chuck Swindoll on grace and it's relation to saving faith:
In other words, salvation is not by faith alone... [ellipsis in original] it requires works. Human achievement must accompany sincere faith before you can be certain of your salvation. We continue to hear that "different gospel" to this day and it is a lie. It is heresy (The Grace Awakening).
There is no external proof of salvation or spirituality the reality of our faith is internal. It can be seen - and judged - only by God (The Grace Awakening Bible Study Guide).
To say that John Wesley never taught anything close to what Swindoll believes to be a sound understanding of grace and saving faith would be an understatement. Yet, Chuck Swindoll bolsters his teaching in The Grace Awakening by dropping John Wesley's name. Now, either Dr. Swindoll has never read Wesley or he is purposely misusing his good name-you decide. Here is but a sample from John Wesley whom Dr. Swindoll dubs a "risk-taking spokesman for God:"
If good works do not follow our faith, even all inward and outward holiness, it is plain our faith is worth nothing; we are yet in our sins (Sermon: The Law Established Through Faith).
That works are a necessary condition of our justification...I say the same thing: None are finally saved, but those whose faith "worketh by love" (Letter to Dr. Horne, 1762).
Chuck Swindoll teaches that it is heresy and a lie to teach that works or fruit must accompany sincere faith. Yet, John Wesley, a man Swindoll presents as agreeing with him on these foundational doctrines, boldly preaches this heresy and lie. Still, Chuck Swindoll aligns himself with Wesley leaving the uninformed reader with the mistaken idea that The Grace Awakening and The Great Awakening are synonymous. If Swindoll wants to teach that "grace" means that a Christian's behavior has no bearing on his eternal home he should not do it in the good name of John Wesley or The Great Awakening.
About the Author
Daniel LaLond Jr's book, The Lying Promise, examines in detail the popular teaching of Chuck Swindoll. The Lying Promise also completely debunks avante gaurd, faulty teachings on grace, eternal security, imputed righteousness and saving faith.
HTML Code For Copy & Paste
The following code can be copied and pasted into your web page to ensure all links are properly maintained.
Rating: Not yet rated