The Case For Faith Seminar/Forum
The Case for Faith
Can faith in God be founded on logic, intellect?Join us for three intellectually-stimulating evenings
as we examine the validity of the Christian faith.
Time: 7.30pm – 10.00pm
Venue: 2-6 King St East Ivanhoe (Melway Ref: 31K8)
Parking available along Maltravers and King Streets
Contact: Carlson 0421 118 289 or Jeremy 0411 573 088
This is a free event and is open to all. Please visit www.bolcaseforfaith.eventbrite.com to indicate your interest to attend.
Hosted by Bread of Life Church Melbourne.
Fri 9 July Discovering God Through Science:
Can a Scientist Believe in God?
By Professor Graeme Clark
Fri 16 July The Origin of Life
By Dr. Allan Meyer
Fri 23 July “Was Jesus God?” And Other Big
Questions of the Christian Faith
By Rev. Dr. Rowland C. Croucher
Moderated by Rowan Forster, journalist and former ABC broadcaster
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS
Professor Graeme Clark
Graeme Clark is one of Australia’s leaders in the medical field, pioneering the development of the breakthrough hearing aid called the Cochlear Implant or Bionic Ear. He is the recipient of
many awards for his achievements and services including the Order of Australia in 1983 and the Senior Australian of the Year award in 2001.
Dr. Allan Meyer
Allan Meyer started Careforce Church, which he pastored for 26 years. He is the author of many manuals and teaching programs and now co-leads a ministry called Careforce Lifekeys with his wife. Careforce Lifekeys provides practical training and support for churches worldwide.
Rev. Dr. Rowland C. Croucher
Rowland Croucher is a Baptist pastor and a director of John Mark Ministries, which exists to support pastors, ex-pastors, church leaders and their spouses. The John Mark Ministries website is one of the three largest of its kind in Australia, with over 10,000 hits a day.
Rowan Forster
Rowan Forster is a Melbourne journalist and a former broadcaster for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Christian Aspirant 777 (now known as Light FM). Rowan has written articles on current issues regarding faith, morality and justice for the Age newspaper among others. He is also a public speaker and compere at a variety of functions hosted by churches, schools, and service organisations. Rowan has a strong interest in social justice and is currently involved in raising awareness of "Dangerous Ideas", a unique web-based curriculum project which will explore the genocide and recovery in Rwanda.
posted by Jeremy Wong @ 1:04 PM
2 Comments:
Pastor Wong,
I'm writing out of concern as I attended The Case for Faith talk. The speaker was Rev. Dr. Rowland Croucher.
Dr. Croucher spent the better part of the evening using bombastic words and trying to convince us that he is a scholar. What troubled me is that not once did he quote a proper verse from the Bible, but rather, he quoted very often from C.S Lewis.
My ears picked up when he mentioned that he was a Universalist (halfway through his presentation). My limited understanding is that he believes that all religions lead to God and Heaven.
Dr. Croucher did not explain what Universalism was... but rather spent the evening trying to answer questions like "Why does God allow suffering?" or "The difference between the God of the OT vs. the God of the NT". All valid questions, I'm sure, but by not explaining Universalism, he has essentially misled the people and potentially swayed young Christians to his thinking.
In the end, I asked him a simple question "John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me".... do you believe that Jesus is the only way to Heaven? Or do other religions have the answer as well?"
Dr. Croucher answered:"Yes and Yes"... he said that I should not be arrogant and narrow minded to think the Jesus is the only way to Heaven. He contradicted himself in answering "Yes and Yes". How can Jesus be the only way and other religions the answer as well?
Pastor Wong, I am writing to you as I am concerned that young Christians might be misled into believing that Universalism is correct and that God is Love and therefore accepts all religions. The Lord is also a Jealous God.
Exodus 20:4-5
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me
I apologise if I am out of line... or sound rude/demanding... I recognise that I am not even a member of your church. However, I simply wanted to bring to your attention the heresy that was said tonight and how your church members might be swayed.
I humbly request that you clarify with your congregation, or at least the people who attended tonight's talk, what the correct position is with regards to Universalism.
Brother in Christ
Mark
Dear Mark,
I was just as uncomforatble and have the exact concern that you have raised and I even try to raise a question about the consequences of such line of erronoues thinking.
I will address this issue in my church but would make sure that we will be more careful in vetting our speakers in future.
Once again, thank you for your care, concerns and willingness to speak up.
Grace and peace
Ps. Jeremy
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