(Tim, thanks to Jeff) Recently we published a short piece by Lucas Weeks critiquing the syncretistic statement signed by a number of prominent evangelicals titled, "A Common Plea." Others have also been critical of the statement and those who signed it, bringing a few (including Wheaton College's president, the Rev. Dr. Duane Litfin) to withdraw their names. When John Piper voiced his own criticism of the statement, he asked his friends to respond.
Unfortunately, Rick Love of Frontiers (an evangelical mission to Muslims) did so, and promptly dug his hole even deeper...
I believe that Muslims worship the true God. But I also believe that
their view of God falls short of His perfections and beauty as
described in the Bible. Thus, I try to model my approach to Muslims
after the apostle Paul who said to the Athenians: “What you worship in
ignorance, this I proclaim to you" (Acts 17:23).
John Calvin, the Westminster Divines, and Jonathan Edwards are part
of a great cloud of witnesses since the Reformation who call the Roman
Catholic papacy the "anti-Christ," but evangelical religionists and
non-mission leaders of today say Muslims worship the true God. No wonder this man has the audacity to
compare himself and the "Common Plea" to the Gospel proclamation of the
Apostle Paul in the Areopagus.
Really, the fact that President Litfin has been pressured to
withdraw his signature is almost meaningless when one stops to consider
he signed it in the first place. If he's properly addressed as the Rev.
Dr. Duane LItfin, is it proper for us to ask him to prove the value of
his titles?
(If the above doesn't leave you sick, read
another justification--this one by Leith Anderson, megachurch CEO and
successor to the NAE throne vacated recently by Ted Haggard.)
