HANK HANEGRAAFF CONVERTS TO EASTERN ORTHODOXY

[sparkman]

Some may be interested to know that Hank Hanegraaff converted to Eastern Orthodoxy recently.

I wonder how that will affect his position as the Bible Answerman on Christian Research Institute's program.

Eastern Orthodoxy does not reflect evangelical Christianity, so they would deny justification by faith alone. In addition, there are a lot of other issues with it. It is somewhat similar to Roman Catholicism in practice.

I am not one to claim that Eastern Orthodox believers are necessarily unsaved, but there's definite problems with the theology from the evangelical perspective.

Hank is answering questions on Bible Answerman from an Eastern Orthodox perspective, so I am not real sure how that will affect his future with the program.

If you want some information on the differences, you might check out some recent Dividing Line podcasts on this topic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5EPs9EqIsc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezaECk7cBQs&t=4285s

Please note that I hold no particular antagonism toward Eastern Orthodox believers, but I am questioning whether Hank Hanegraaff can be the spokesperson for an evangelical organization at this point in time. I imagine some sponsors will drop their donations, particularly as they learn that Eastern Orthodoxy does not believe in sola fide, and is similar to Roman Catholicism.

If there are any Eastern Orthodox believers here, perhaps they can comment more intelligently on the teachings of Eastern Orthodoxy.

 

[LanceA]

Some may be interested to know that Hank Hanegraaff converted to Eastern Orthodoxy recently.

I wonder how that will affect his position as the Bible Answerman on Christian Research Institute's program.

Eastern Orthodoxy does not reflect evangelical Christianity, so they would deny justification by faith alone. In addition, there are a lot of other issues with it. It is somewhat similar to Roman Catholicism in practice.

I am not one to claim that Eastern Orthodox believers are necessarily unsaved, but there's definite problems with the theology from the evangelical perspective.

Hank is answering questions on Bible Answerman from an Eastern Orthodox perspective, so I am not real sure how that will affect his future with the program.

If you want some information on the differences, you might check out some recent Dividing Line podcasts on this topic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5EPs9EqIsc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezaECk7cBQs&t=4285s

Please note that I hold no particular antagonism toward Eastern Orthodox believers, but I am questioning whether Hank Hanegraaff can be the spokesperson for an evangelical organization at this point in time. I imagine some sponsors will drop their donations, particularly as they learn that Eastern Orthodoxy does not believe in sola fide, and is similar to Roman Catholicism.

If there are any Eastern Orthodox believers here, perhaps they can comment more intelligently on the teachings of Eastern Orthodoxy.

Never heard of the guy.

 

[Yonah]

I've always seen his theology as off the mark to say the least.... but then again so are most of those who think they have all the answers.

 

[Marcelo]

Some may be interested to know that Hank Hanegraaff converted to Eastern Orthodoxy recently

People who study the Bible too much end up doing weird things. This is one more proof that intellectual knowledge of the Bible without revelation from the Holy Spirit is dangerous.

 

[tourist]

Never heard of the guy. Is it a good thing or a bad thing that he converted to Eastern Orthodoxy?

 

[sparkman]

Never heard of the guy. Is it a good thing or a bad thing that he converted to Eastern Orthodoxy?

They reject justification by faith alone which is the main reason why Protestants separated from Roman Catholicism.

 

[sparkman]

People who study the Bible too much end up doing weird things. This is one more proof that intellectual knowledge of the Bible without revelation from the Holy Spirit is dangerous.

That could be true in some cases especially if one has bad teachers. However given the weirdness in charismatic circles who claim extrabiblical revelation we have strong reason to be suspicious of those who have a low regard for Scripture.

Actually Hank said his departure was preceded by a visit to China where believers were very ignorant of doctrine yet strongly manifested the fruit of the Holy Spirit so his movement into Eastern Orthodoxy reflects his paradigm shift that practice is more important than knowledge. Apparently he thinks evangelical Christianity focuses too much on knowledge.

 

[Stephen63]

Never heard of the guy. Is it a good thing or a bad thing that he converted to Eastern Orthodoxy?

Depends..... what did he convert from?

It may just stay bad, lol.

 

[tourist]

Depends..... what did he convert from?

It may just stay bad, lol.

Well, if it was Satanism or some other evil thing converting to Eastern Orthodoxy would be a step forward regardless of how misguided his intentions.

 

[Willie-T]

Well, if it was Satanism or some other evil thing converting to Eastern Orthodoxy would be a step forward regardless of how misguided his intentions.

No, he's just a hyper Legalist and a "put-down" king. This might even be a good move for the rest of us... it might shut him up some.

 

[popeye]

A " fitting end",for a very nasty individual.

(since he refuses to repent or relent in his attacks against the body of Christ)

 

[Marcelo]

That could be true in some cases especially if one has bad teachers. However given the weirdness in charismatic circles who claim extrabiblical revelation we have strong reason to be suspicious of those who have a low regard for Scripture.

Actually Hank said his departure was preceded by a visit to China where believers were very ignorant of doctrine yet strongly manifested the fruit of the Holy Spirit so his movement into Eastern Orthodoxy reflects his paradigm shift that practice is more important than knowledge. Apparently he thinks evangelical Christianity focuses too much on knowledge.

I agree with your remarks, but want to make it clear that I don't have a low regard for Scripture. By "too much" (Bible study) I mean "beyond reasonable limits" (an unbalance between knowledge and practice) .

It's nice to learn that Hank Hanegraaff realized that evangelical churches focus too much on knowledge.

 

[maxwel]

People who study the Bible too much end up doing weird things. This is one more proof that intellectual knowledge of the Bible without revelation from the Holy Spirit is dangerous.

The problem is, this remark about studying the Bible... isn't backed up by the Bible.

The bible actually commands us to study.



If Hank Hanegraaff has decided to believe crazy things, it has nothing to do with a propensity to STUDY...
it has to do with a propensity to BELIEVE CRAZY THINGS.

 

[Marcelo]

The problem is, this remark about studying the Bible... isn't backed up by the Bible.

The bible actually commands us to study. If Hank Hanegraaff has decided to believe crazy things, it has nothing to do with a propensity to STUDY... it has to do with a propensity to BELIEVE CRAZY THINGS.

I have nothing to say against Bible study, but I think there must be a balance between knowledge and practice. And I have nothing against Hank Hanegraaff; I just think he did a weird thing.

 

[maxwel]

I have nothing to say against Bible study, but I think there must be a balance between knowledge and practice. And I have nothing against Hank Hanegraaff; I just think he did a weird thing.

That sounds reasonable to me.

 

[jaybird88]

who is Hank Hanegraaff?

 

[Johnny_B]

who is Hank Hanegraaff?

A wolf in sheep clothing, if you never heard of Walter Martin, "the Bible answer man" it would be hard to explain. Hank did a hostile take over when Walter died, Walter had left the ministry to Craig Hawkins, but Hank did some shady things to get the ministry in his name. He fired Ken Samples, Ron Rhodes, Craig Hawkins, Elliot Miller and all the other good guys that kept him in check. If you do a search, there was a law suite against Hank because of all he did. He was reported to a ministry that was put in place for accountability that he exited CRI from. The charges were his mistreatment of women employees, his foul mouth and manipulation of funds, like having his wife on pay roll when she didn't even work there.

When those other guys were there he was the low man because he didn't know much about Apologetics or Theology. He didn't know anything about Eschatology then came to the conclusion that all was fulfilled in 70 A.D. if you listen to him long enough you can see that he isn't very good at being an Apologist. It doesn't surprise me that he converted to anything that is liturgical. I thought he had already destroyed that ministry. I quit listening to him over 20 years ago, the last time I listened to the CRI program was in '94 or '95. Got to know Criag a little through my pastor at the time and Ron Rhodes though correspondence at a mutual friend, since he lives or used to live about 70 miles for where I live.

Anyway Hank's a wolf in sheep clothing, not a judgement, it's a warning.

 

[Johnny_B]

People who study the Bible too much end up doing weird things. This is one more proof that intellectual knowledge of the Bible without revelation from the Holy Spirit is dangerous.

People that study the Bible and don't have the Holy Spirit in regeneration get weird. We are born into faith by the word James 1:18 "Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures."

I Peter 1:23 "since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;"

The word sanctifies. John 17:17 "Sanctify them[b] in the truth; your word is truth."

Ephesians 5:26 "that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,"

There is no such a thing as studying the Bible to much for a regenerate believer. In '94 I was kicked out of a Pentecostal Church for studying the Bible to much, because I believed the word over the pastor and experiences, which were weird. Remember the Spirit is a gentlemen, He is not the author of confusion, He never contradicts the Bible, whether it be prophecy or teaching, because He moved holy men to write it, He testifies of Jesus and He leads in to all truth and the things to come, but always always and always He lines up with the Bible. This is why we need to study the word, so we can not be thrown bout by every wind and wave of teaching.

 

[preacher4truth]

Dr. James White would be a good replacement IMHO.

 

[Johnny_B]

Dr. James White would be a good replacement IMHO.

I thought Ron Rhodes, Ken Samples, Craig Hawkins, Elliot Miller, John Weldon and Robert Bowmen were all good. But since Hank took it over and basically owns it, he will not be replaced. Just out of curiosity how many kids does he have now? I know the last two that I knew about, caused his wife some physical problem, but he would not get fixed, maybe he did now, who knows with that guy.

I don't think it should be a one man show, no one knows everything. That was another thing that was on the charges brought up against him, was he was have people call in ask their question and either record it the next day or something crazy to where it seemed like he was answering the question off the cuff, when he was having someone look up all the answers for him.