Ken’s latest “missive” is so full of shoddy research and shocking conclusions that you have to wonder if he’s just blatantly lying. He puts his usual “shock value” title to a “missive” that I pray is a mistake. Shock value only gets you so far, ask Howard Stern.
Ok, Ken’s take: Erwin McManus is against the Apostle Peter, Historic Christianity, homemade apple pie and all that is, ever was and ever will be holy. You may think I’m exaggerating but you can read Ken’s article here. You can read the Erwin interview here.

It’s wonderful how Ken quotes Erwin, isn’t it? Before I get into some quotes that Ken left out, I’d like to just touch the surface of Ken’s fervor over the word “Christian.” Ken’s angst over some deciding the word is no longer valid shows the depth of his stubborn refusal to examine things. The first time we ever find the word Christian is in Acts 11:26. We’re told there “The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” Now, notice the text does not tell us who called who what, but historically it is believed that those who were outside the church called us “Christian.” I don’t want to get into the nuance of the word in this post because I don’t want to get off track. But it almost seems that Ken believes the term is God-breathed and is how we must identify ourselves when certainly that cannot be proven from Scripture.

Now, just for fun let’s look at some quotes Ken left out:

““Most of us want a rated G passion of Christ,” he said, referring to last year’s release of Mel Gibson’s graphic portrayal of Jesus’ last 12 hours on earth. Modern Christianity, he said, has evolved into a lethargic exercise that glosses over trials and pain, a convenience-based faith that is self-centered, not Christ-centered.” (emphasis mine)

or how about this quote, Ken?

“Truthfully, we love other things more than God, Jesus has become more of a life counselor rather than a revolutionary leader who has called us to give up everything. (Mine again)

or this one,

“This book isn’t about a new way of doing things,” he said. “Its about the primal faith and early teachings of Jesus.”

Ken, can we look at this one?

“When we conform to standards, following the rules without question, we lose our souls. It gets to the point where a Christian looks no different than a good person who doesn’t know Jesus.” (Emphasis Mine)

I think I’ve adequately laid out my case showing how Ken refused to look at the whole article (although to his credit at least he linked to it—more on that in a minute).

Just one more quote:

“It’s more, he said, than not committing “big sins” and going to church.”

Ken closes his diatribe with this passionate plea:

Really Ken, the term “Christ follower” means rejecters of Biblical Christianity? Perhaps, the reason Ken had the temerity to link to the article is because he knows the majority of his readers will not bother reading the article. They simply nod their heads and shout “Amen!” at his missives. It honestly scares me that this man has access to multiple radio programs and can infect so many with his writings. This attack is so egregious, so preposterous, so poorly done that I am left to conclude that either he suffers from delusional lunacy (I’m not being funny, here) or his soul is so seared by the enemy that despite what I believe are good intentions his calloused heart is willing to lie by omission and intentional deceit to make his “point.” I don’t know what other conclusions a true student can come to. Ken doesn’t have to like Erwin, he doesn’t even have to support him but as someone who claims to be a Christian he is bound by something Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Ken, you are bound by Jesus to love Erwin. Misrepresenting him is not loving him. The entire time I read Ken’s article this verse came to mind. This is a direct quote from a man named Paul, who was an original “Christ Follower” he’s writing to a young man he mentored called Timothy,

“Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” (Emphasis Mine)

P.S. Ken, there are people who believe the term “Christ follower” might be an accurate translation of the term “Christian.”