Bible Answer Man or Eastern Orthodox Man?

[ResidentAlien]

Many may know, many may not, that Hank Hanegraaff, formerly a Protestant evangelical for many years and host of the Bible Answer Man radio program converted to Eastern Orthodox in 2017. Needless to say I was shocked when I heard of this.

By way of a little history, in 1989 Hanegraaff took over the office of president of the Christian Research Institute (CRI), Walter Martin's conservative countercult ministry which he founded in 1960. Hanegraaff is also a prolific author.

I don't understand how Hanegraaff can continue to call himself the "Bible Answer Man" when all he does is defend Eastern Orthodoxy. Someone will call in expecting an explanation from the Bible and all they get is a rant on Orthodox dogma. When anyone challenges him he dodges behind what he calls "mere Christianity"; that is, the "essentials" of the faith that, according to Hanegraaff, unite us all. The problem is these "essentials" are so vague as to be meaningless.

All his books are still for sale. He tries to make the argument that what he teaches now is the same thing he's always taught. But this is laughable. Either he's Orthodox or he's invented a new meaning of what it means to be Orthodox. If you listen carefully to him on his broadcast it's clear he's abandoned core Biblical doctrines such as grace alone and faith alone. He defends Catholicism, calling it a true church with grave errors. Huh?

I wonder how Walter Martin would feel about the way Hanegraaff has disgraced the ministry he created and led so gallantly for almost thirty years?

Hanegraaff needs to get honest and change the name of his broadcast to Eastern Orthodox Man.

 

[oyster67]

What sort of false doctrines do you think the Eastern Orthodox hold to?

 

[Nehemiah6]

I wonder how Walter Martin would feel about the way Hanegraaff has disgraced the ministry he created and led so gallantly for almost thirty years?

I had simply assumed that after his conversion he would have been kicked out of CRI and someone else would be the supposed "Answer Man". He was already playing theological games long before that. A very insincere person.

 

[ResidentAlien]

What sort of false doctrines do you think the Eastern Orthodox hold to?

It's not so much about individual false teachings, although there are plenty of those; but the big picture.

Orthodoxy considers itself the "true" historical church, even truer than Catholicism. It split from Catholicism over the papacy and purgatory, among other things. It believes it's in direct succession from apostolic times. But let me ask: Does this look like something the apostles, or the churches we read about in the New Testament, would do? The video is long but you don't have to watch much of it to understand this is false Christianity.

 

[Eli1]

I don’t know who this man is ( Hank Hanergraf) and what he says, so I can’t give you my opinion.
But yes the historical fact is that the orthodox are direct followers of apostles.

Besides that fact, this doesn’t make the Orthodox Church more “special” than any other group because internally there is confusion sometimes and one example is the patriarch or Russia.

That man essentially “blessed” Putin’s war.
Many churches in the east sent him letters to not support any man made wars, but he did anyway.

That man is basically a politician and not serving God.
So many churches don’t pray for him anymore.

 

[persistent]

Very Interesting!! Does Coptic religion fit in here anywhere? In 2015 when 20 Copts were beheaded in Libya that sure seemed like an act of true faith and especially the 21st martyr who wasn"t Copt, Matthew Ayariga of Ghana, and he voluntarily said "there God is my God".

 

[Eli1]

Very Interesting!! Does Coptic religion fit in here anywhere? In 2015 when 20 Copts were beheaded in Libya that sure seemed like an act of true faith and especially the 21st martyr who wasn"t Copt, Matthew Ayariga of Ghana, and he voluntarily said "there God is my God".

I’m not sure i understand this question.
Does dying for God is compatible with Christianity?
Yes it‘s 100% compatible !


If someone told me ‘deny Christ or I’ll shoot you” my response would be “go ahead and shoot”.
Why would i want to deny my Creator and the meaning of life?

 

[persistent]

yDoes dying for God is compatible with Christianit
Yes it‘s 100% compatible !


If someone told me ‘deny Christ or I’ll shoot you” my response would be “go ahead and shoot”.
Why would i want to deny my Creator and the meaning of life?[/QUOTE]
Not really a question but seems to show as per Jn.3:8".....so is every one that is born of the Spirit." . The true believers show up where ever God puts them and not necessarily on some radio program or who knows where and professing who knows what, Eastern Orthodoxy or using any title they choose to go by, like Pope or Patriarch or King or whatever.

 

[oyster67]

It's not so much about individual false teachings, although there are plenty of those; but the big picture.

Orthodoxy considers itself the "true" historical church, even truer than Catholicism. It split from Catholicism over the papacy and purgatory, among other things. It believes it's in direct succession from apostolic times. But let me ask: Does this look like something the apostles, or the churches we read about in the New Testament, would do? The video is long but you don't have to watch much of it to understand this is false Christianity.

Speaking in Russian is not a sin. Having a nice Church is not a sin. Celebrating a special holy day or practicing a sacrament of remembrance is not a sin. I am more interested in what they teach and believe. Litle can be gleaned from this video because I cannot understand Russian, but it makes perfect sense to people in Moscow. Do they embrace sound doctrine? If so, maybe we shall all learn Russian and move there.

 

[ResidentAlien]

Speaking in Russian is not a sin. Having a nice Church is not a sin. Celebrating a special holy day or practicing a sacrament of remembrance is not a sin. I am more interested in what they teach and believe. Litle can be gleaned from this video because I cannot understand Russian, but it makes perfect sense to people in Moscow. Do they embrace sound doctrine? If so, maybe we shall all learn Russian and move there.

oyster, your defense of this shows you're already very deluded; too deluded to even discuss it with you at this point.

 

[bluto]

Many may know, many may not, that Hank Hanegraaff, formerly a Protestant evangelical for many years and host of the Bible Answer Man radio program converted to Eastern Orthodox in 2017. Needless to say I was shocked when I heard of this.

By way of a little history, in 1989 Hanegraaff took over the office of president of the Christian Research Institute (CRI), Walter Martin's conservative countercult ministry which he founded in 1960. Hanegraaff is also a prolific author.

I don't understand how Hanegraaff can continue to call himself the "Bible Answer Man" when all he does is defend Eastern Orthodoxy. Someone will call in expecting an explanation from the Bible and all they get is a rant on Orthodox dogma. When anyone challenges him he dodges behind what he calls "mere Christianity"; that is, the "essentials" of the faith that, according to Hanegraaff, unite us all. The problem is these "essentials" are so vague as to be meaningless.

All his books are still for sale. He tries to make the argument that what he teaches now is the same thing he's always taught. But this is laughable. Either he's Orthodox or he's invented a new meaning of what it means to be Orthodox. If you listen carefully to him on his broadcast it's clear he's abandoned core Biblical doctrines such as grace alone and faith alone. He defends Catholicism, calling it a true church with grave errors. Huh?

I wonder how Walter Martin would feel about the way Hanegraaff has disgraced the ministry he created and led so gallantly for almost thirty years?

Hanegraaff needs to get honest and change the name of his broadcast to Eastern Orthodox Man.

This is a true story! Back in 1989 I was at CRI headquarters sitting there waiting to pick up some tapes and other materials. Who walks in, Dr. Martin and Hank Hanegraaff. Dr. Martin sees me and introduces me to Hanegraaf and he tells me this is his first day. Dr. Martin ask why I was there and I told him to pick up some materials and tapes. He says to me "God bless you." I said I have just about everything you have said on tapes. He says again, "God bless you." So were still talking and Dr. Martin said to me "God bless you" three more times.

I could not believe it, he told me "God bless you" five times. Hanegraaf make some small talk and ask me if I listened to the Bible answer man show." I said I never miss it. They then left and went to Dr. Martins office. I have to say that in my inner man I just did not trust him. Well, that's me. Dr. Martin was my mentor and have attended his home church as well at his speaking engagements. I have all his tapes and his recorded debates on VHS. I still have all his materials and tapes.

Back then the Word of faith movement was big and we use to go to the Anaheim Convention center and picket the likes of Kenneth Copeland and others of his ilk. Rob Bowman would attend along with Ron Rhodes and others that worked for CRI. I think Craig Hawkins was there as well a time or two. I also attended Dr. Martins funeral and to this day I still listen to his tapes and I really miss him.

IN GOD THE SON,
bluto

 

[ResidentAlien]

Wow, that's an incredible story.

 

[Dirtman]

It's not so much about individual false teachings, although there are plenty of those; but the big picture.

Orthodoxy considers itself the "true" historical church, even truer than Catholicism. It split from Catholicism over the papacy and purgatory, among other things. It believes it's in direct succession from apostolic times. But let me ask: Does this look like something the apostles, or the churches we read about in the New Testament, would do? The video is long but you don't have to watch much of it to understand this is false Christianity.

Ok what are they doing wrong?
I see a midnight passover vigil. I dont speak Russian but I hear a bunch of singing and proclaiming Christ is risen. It appears they are making a big celebratory deal out of Christ being risen.

 

[ResidentAlien]

In this video, Hanegraaff apologizes for not teaching the perpetual virginity of Mary.

 

[oyster67]

oyster, your defense of this shows you're already very deluded; too deluded to even discuss it with you at this point.

Not a very informative response.

Please explain your negative attitude toward the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Please explain your negative attitude toward me.

 

[Dirtman]

In this video, Hanegraaff apologizes for not teaching the perpetual virginity of Mary.

Perpetual virginity isnt a sticking point. Yeah I agree its a weird idea, (there is no biblical comment on the matter so it is unimportant) and it does tend to lend toward the idolization of Mary. But not necessarily. Eastern Orthodoxy tend to go too far with iconism.