Anne
Graham Lotz, the daughter of celebrated pastor and evangelist Billy Graham, has
often declared that God
is going to judge America. I
have vehemently criticized this diminution of God’s grace, especially how she
disregards the power of Jesus’ blood, which cleanses us of our sins forever (1
John 1:9). Lotz once claimed that God was hiding from us because of America’s
many sins, and that judgment was coming! Click
here for my full remarks on her warped, misplaced theology.
Graham Lotz, the daughter of celebrated pastor and evangelist Billy Graham, has
often declared that God
is going to judge America. I
have vehemently criticized this diminution of God’s grace, especially how she
disregards the power of Jesus’ blood, which cleanses us of our sins forever (1
John 1:9). Lotz once claimed that God was hiding from us because of America’s
many sins, and that judgment was coming! Click
here for my full remarks on her warped, misplaced theology.
Why
does Anne Lotz have lots of judgment coming out of her mouth and pen?
does Anne Lotz have lots of judgment coming out of her mouth and pen?
Evangelist Anne Graham Lotz said she is
learning to forgive herself after dealing with guilt and self-blame stemming
from the death of her husband, Danny, back in 2015.
learning to forgive herself after dealing with guilt and self-blame stemming
from the death of her husband, Danny, back in 2015.
This
is a startling admission from an evangelist. God so loved—not condemned—the world,
that He sent His Son (John 3:16-18).
is a startling admission from an evangelist. God so loved—not condemned—the world,
that He sent His Son (John 3:16-18).
Lotz
needs a reminder of what the Gospel is!
needs a reminder of what the Gospel is!
Be it
known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that
through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that
believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by
the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38-39)
known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that
through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that
believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by
the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38-39)
In
Christ, we are justified from all things. We are forgiven from all our sins.
There is a judgment to come, but it will be for those who did not believe on
Jesus. It will have nothing to do with individual sin, since all sins have been
paid for at the Cross.
Christ, we are justified from all things. We are forgiven from all our sins.
There is a judgment to come, but it will be for those who did not believe on
Jesus. It will have nothing to do with individual sin, since all sins have been
paid for at the Cross.
Neditate
on this profound yet still disputed truth about God’s grace—Jesus died for all sins
for all time:
on this profound yet still disputed truth about God’s grace—Jesus died for all sins
for all time:
13And you, being dead
in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together
with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14Blotting out the
handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and
took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; (Colossians 2: 13-14)
in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together
with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14Blotting out the
handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and
took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; (Colossians 2: 13-14)
Where were your and my trespasses when Jesus
died on the Cross? They were all in the future!
died on the Cross? They were all in the future!
Yes, the Blood of Jesus covers all sins, and
to this day Jesus our High Priest Forever serves as our Mercy Seat (1 John 2:
1-2).
to this day Jesus our High Priest Forever serves as our Mercy Seat (1 John 2:
1-2).
![]("http://cdn.myfaithradio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2013/02/AnneGrahamLotz2013.jpg")
Paul identifies something else nailed to the
Cross with Christ Jesus: “the handwriting of ordinances that was against us”,
i.e. God’s law. God’s Law, the Ten Commandments, was not bad, but we are in
that sin has fully corrupted us-and we need complete redemption (Hebrews 8:8;
Galatians 3:13)
Cross with Christ Jesus: “the handwriting of ordinances that was against us”,
i.e. God’s law. God’s Law, the Ten Commandments, was not bad, but we are in
that sin has fully corrupted us-and we need complete redemption (Hebrews 8:8;
Galatians 3:13)
God provided us a death from God’s law
through His Son Jesus:
through His Son Jesus:
4Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by
the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is
raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 5For when we were in
the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members
to bring forth fruit unto death. 6But now we are
delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should
serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness
of the letter. (Romans 7: 4-6)
the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is
raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 5For when we were in
the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members
to bring forth fruit unto death. 6But now we are
delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should
serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness
of the letter. (Romans 7: 4-6)
Following from Lotz’ misunderstanding of the Gospel,
no wonder there are many Christians in the United States who still labor, mired
in guilt. And for proof of this fatal misunderstanding, look no further than
Anne Graham Lotz’ latest blog post:
no wonder there are many Christians in the United States who still labor, mired
in guilt. And for proof of this fatal misunderstanding, look no further than
Anne Graham Lotz’ latest blog post:
…Forgive
as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13
as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13
Guilt is our friend. If you are like me, it’s a friend you
don’t want showing up on your doorstep. But, more than likely, without it
you and I would go on in wrongdoing until becoming dominated and defeated by
it.
don’t want showing up on your doorstep. But, more than likely, without it
you and I would go on in wrongdoing until becoming dominated and defeated by
it.
WHAT?! Guilt is NOT a friend!
Jesus did not die on the Cross for
us to hold onto guilt or shame!
us to hold onto guilt or shame!
How many passages from the Old and
New Testaments should I list to blast this evil lie?!
New Testaments should I list to blast this evil lie?!
“Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou
confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame
of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.” (Isaiah 54:4)
confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame
of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.” (Isaiah 54:4)
And
“For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion:
therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be
unto them.” (Isaiah 61:7)
therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be
unto them.” (Isaiah 61:7)
And
“There is now therefore no condemnation in Christ Jesus,” (Romans 8:1)
Lotz fails to quote Colossians properly:
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any
man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
As Christ—our anointed, glorified Savior—has forgiven
us, so do we forgive others. We do not forgive ourselves. Our forgiveness has
been paid for at the highest price: the blood of God’s own Son. We have great glory
in the full gift of righteousness granted to us, which God our loving Father
invites us to keep receiving (Romans 5:17).
us, so do we forgive others. We do not forgive ourselves. Our forgiveness has
been paid for at the highest price: the blood of God’s own Son. We have great glory
in the full gift of righteousness granted to us, which God our loving Father
invites us to keep receiving (Romans 5:17).
What about Lotz’ charge that guilt keeps us
from sinning? That is completely unbiblical:
from sinning? That is completely unbiblical:
For the
grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that,
denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and
godly, in this present world; (Titus
2:11-12)
grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that,
denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and
godly, in this present world; (Titus
2:11-12)
And
“Or
despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering;
not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Romans 2:4)
despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering;
not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Romans 2:4)
We should not be surprised that people preach
condemnation when they in turn feel condemned.
condemnation when they in turn feel condemned.
Lotz’ misunderstanding of the Gospel is a
travesty. Evangelists must declared the Gospel to its fullest, and not fear the
reproach of men (Romans 1:16; 6: 1-3). At least we know why Anne Graham Lotz
has preached condemnation and retribution, completely out of line with God’s
Word: she is like many Christians, still “foolish and slow of heart to believe”
(Luke 24:25) concerning God’s grace and truth.
travesty. Evangelists must declared the Gospel to its fullest, and not fear the
reproach of men (Romans 1:16; 6: 1-3). At least we know why Anne Graham Lotz
has preached condemnation and retribution, completely out of line with God’s
Word: she is like many Christians, still “foolish and slow of heart to believe”
(Luke 24:25) concerning God’s grace and truth.