It's Unbiblical to Correct False Teaching

Several weeks later and I'm still getting a fairly steady flow of emails denouncing me for daring to take issue with John Hagee, his dispensational theology, and his desired foreign policy for the Middle East. Well-intentioned readers are writing me warning against speaking out against "the Lord's anointed" and pleading in the name of Christian unity to not publicly speak out against Hagee. There's all sorts of problems with this. First of all, if a well known Christian teacher was spreading inaccurate doctrine about the Trinity, the deity of Christ, the Resurrection, etc, nobody would have a problem with other Christians publicly taking issue with it and trying to set the record straight. Such would be expected for the sake of other believes who would be misled. But if you apply the same standards to correcting bad eschatological teaching, suddenly now you are arrogant, mean-spirited, and are causing division in the body of Christ. Sorry, but that just doesn't work. If the theology of Hagee, Lindsey, LaHaye, etc, is indeed inaccurate, then other Christians have an obligation to speak out. We don't just stay silent in the name of "unity" while others in the church try to monopolize theological discourse on debatable secondary issues that don't even have a firm grounding in the Scriptures.

One person asked, "If you are so concerned about false teaching, why not pick on the Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses instead of a man of God like Hagee who has done so much good?" First of all, as deceptive as Mormon and JW theology is, they at the very least are not pushing for bloodshed in the Middle East, nor are they trying to influence American foreign policy. So while there is a bigger threat to historical orthodox Christian doctrine from these groups, the dispensationalism of Hagee is a bigger threat to those inside the church. And let's not forget that many Evangelicals aren't even aware that there is another option other than dispensationalism. The teachings from the pulpit are influencing escapist, pseudo-gnostic, and militaristic thought amongst the masses in the pews.

So, while I'd love to have a private discussion with Hagee on these issues, his ideas are flooding mainstream Evangelicalism and even secular society in a very public way. It is a sham to then insist that individuals like myself just cede the debate and keep to ourselves. Also, I don't hate John Hagee, Hal Lindsey or anyone else. In fact, I've written some positive things towards Hagee in the past. I also was inspired by Hagee's preaching as a teenager and early young adult and it helped me recognize my need for a Savior in Jesus. But this does not mean he or any of the rest of us are infallible. Yes, John Hagee has done some great things for the cause of Christ, but I believe his ministry is being blessed in spite of, not because of his very public and loud dispensationalism and warmongering. And on this very important issue where there is so much at stake and so many implications based on ones view, the Church as a whole needs to dig into the Scriptures and see what they really are telling us in regards to the Lord's return. Thankfully, I believe the tide is beginning to turn and individual dispensational minded Christians are slowly beginning to rethink their prior assumptions.