There on NazNet website was a discussion regarding my recent posts:
The NazNet discussion was particularly mean regarding me and my writing content and style.
I was born into the Church of the Nazarene which is basically unofficially the dialogue base of this website. I pastored in that denomination from 1964-1998.
Now my posts regarding the antiChristian drama presentation at my alma mater becomes, not by my submission by the way, a discussion piece on NazNet.
With that, people who know me and don't know me plow in. Their remarks are so cheap and slap-stick pocking that it is unbearable to imagine that a Church of the Nazarene-related website would tolerate such tawdry fare, especially when it is so derision-based against a pastor-myself.
Then friend Robert Hartman enters the discussion with a gentlemanly polite defense of Grant Swank, his writings over half a century and his biblical convictions.
That raises the ire of responders all the more. They become even more vicious, nasty and, yes, unChristian in the guise of appearing spiritually excellent.
Now the moderator of that particular discussion point closes down the site. But it is not in the midst of responders' discourteous slams against me. It is when Robert Hartman logically, courteously defends my character and writings. Read: Naznet.com
Moderator Barbara Moulton closes down the discussion by disciplining Robert Hartman. It is his comment input that is put down as the necessity for stopping all further remarks.
What?
Nasty, mean-spirited cheap comments can flow like a river without Moulton's interference. However, when Robert Hartman enters to rightfully defend me and my positions, he is the villain who has brought an end to that discussion thread.
NazNet, if you reflect the Church of the Nazarene in present tense, the denomination is in sad shape. Sad sad shape indeed.
By the way, I checked out other NazNet discussion slides and find that often the same few responders are floating from dissuasion slide to discussion slide. There are not countless individuals involved in the NazNet site.
In addition, I came upon the NazNet discussions regarding the Eucharist. May I ask what "Eucharist" has to do with the Church of the Nazarene? Everyone in religious studies knows that the Church of the Nazarene has never long-term history spoken of communion by the term "Eucharist." It has always been called "communion" or "the Lord's supper."
Does this Eucharist nomenclature simply expose the small grouping of elitist Nazarenes who are pushing for a complete change within the denomination? I have heard that there are those desiring to erase the past heritage of the Nazarene worship style for a mimicking of high church whatever.
By reading the comments on the NazNet discussion slide regarding the Eucharist, I would conclude that these wise-guys are part of the elitist crew who have no idea what they are talking about. They simply go on and on to impress one another as some sort of intellectuals into ritual this-and-that.
All in all, NazNet lacks quality, intellectual excellence and spiritual loyalty to the Scripture, particularly the Bible's accent on holiness. That is a travesty.
It does not look healthy for the Church of the Nazarene if NazNet reflects that denomination.
Read I Believe in Miracles: God Provisions
J. Grant Swank Jr.
Naznet says Bible not 100% (no error) reliable
Naznet Moderator supports Infant Baptism
Naznet Moderator Hans Deventer Nixes Eternal Hell. He's Nazarene?
(Naznet says Bible not 100% (no error) reliable)
In his own words: "I believe that hell is annihilation." Check it out!
Clear words. Simple words. Definitions understood without commentary.
Hans Deventer is moderator of a supposed Church of the Nazarene supportive site per the site's own "advertisement."
The Church of the Nazarene has never preached that hell is annihilation. I was born into that denomination and have graduated from that church's seminary, having graduated from that church's liberal arts college.
I have never heard any professor, preacher or evangelist claim that "hell is annihilation."
Jesus never stated that hell is annihilation. Instead, he stated just the opposite. Hell is everlasting torment for the damned.
That is why the traditional Church of the Nazarene proclaimed that hell is eternal torment for that denomination sought to underline exactly what the Bible states. That denomination was not known for diverting from the Word, that is, until Hans came along with his theologically liberal colleagues on NazNet.
NazNet, to use Hans as an example, seeks to stir up confusion though the site claims just the opposite as its reason for being. It needs readers. It needs responders. Therefore, it moves into that which is contentious in order to get readers.
It's the same with Hans' opinion that infant baptism is his okay-baptism. He states in another venue that he once believed in believers' adult baptism; however, he's now an advocate for infant baptism.
Spin the theologically liberal bottle once again, Hans.
Yet you still state that you are supportive of the Church of the Nazarene? Not so. You are supportive of your place on the NazNet site that you hope will supplant the historic Church of the Nazarene teaching by claiming it worn out. The past is "old hat."
Whether it is annihilation or infant baptism, these two examples are just two of others that seek to plant, particularly in the young readers, questions regarding the denomination's heretofore biblical proclamations.
NazNet is not then a friend to the traditional history of the Church of the Nazarene. It is a rebel.
Hans and NazNet overseers are out to be popular, not to be theologically biblical or friends of the Church of the Nazarene. Therefore, the Church of the Nazarene leadership should come out in defense of biblical doctrine, exposing NazNet as not a genuine companion.
So, Hans, you join liberals in prostituting Scripture to your own opinions, such as your definition of hell as annihilation. You knew from the start that you were handling a basic biblical teaching that you were subverting. But for your own personal popularity and your site's increased readership, you took the gamble of toying with the Word.
Of course, you will answer for this from God for He will not tolerate those who twist and turn His revelation in order to suit their own egocentric aims. Opportunistic you, as well as your other site overseers, may think you are the new gurus for the Church of the Nazarene. But you are not.
Using the Bible as evidence, you are not friends to the Church of the Nazarene.
As a troubling postscript, Hans also states this set of confusing words: "The Bible isn't clear about the intermediate state."
The biblical Protestant does not believe in an "intermediate state." Biblical believers know that the Word teaches that at death the soul goes to heaven or hell. There is no middle state-the "intermediate state."
Roman Catholicism and some other liturgical conclaves teach an intermediate state. Catholic teaching has traditionally taught a limbo space for unbaptized infants who die. Catholic teaching also has taught a purgatory, an "intermediate state."
However, the Church of the Nazarene specifically has never believed in limbo or purgatory or any other "place" called "intermediate state."
I personally believe that Hans does not know what he is talking about on various points in his post.
He truly is not theologically knowledgeable so as to monitor an evangelical holiness site.
Yet he continues on NazNet's claimed-to-be supportive site for the Church of the Nazarene.
Not sound. Not true.
FOOTNOTE: GOD WARNS OF ETERNAL HELL
The Bible teaches that there is a fiery everlasting hell, a place that Jesus warned people about. Note this sampling of Scripture:
"And if your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the eternal fire," (Matt. 18:8)
". . .these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life" (Matt. 25:46)
Jesus says: "Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire. . ." (Matthew 25:41)
"22 . . . the rich man also died, and was buried;
23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that you in your lifetime received good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and you art tormented.
26 And beside all this, between us there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
27 Then he said, I pray you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. (Luke 16:22-28)"
J. Grant Swank Jr.
--
Read: http://jgrantswankjr.blogspot.com/
