SBC PASTOR JAMES MERRITT JOINS RADICAL CHARISMATICS ON TBN

SBC PASTOR JAMES MERRITT JOINS RADICAL CHARISMATICS ON TBN

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August 6, 1999 (Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - The following is from Foundation magazine, March-April 1999 [Fundamental Evangelistic Association, P.O. Box 6278, Los Osos, CA 93412. 805-528-3534 (voice), 805-528-4941 (fax), fea1928@aol.com (e-mail), http://www.tcsn.net/fbchurch (web site)]--

Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) aas recently added Southern Baptist Pastor James Merritt to its programming list. Merritt, pastor of the First Baptist Church in Snellville, Georgia, is a conservative voice in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) who spoke out against extra-biblical revelations in his June 1998 sermon at the SBC annual meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah. Merritt decried extra-biblical revelation and then added, "if any group extends inspiration beyond the Bible, elevates experience over the Bible or edifies doctrine contrary to the Bible, let that group be anathema."

However, TBN's February 1999 Praise the Lord newsletter contained a picture of Merritt sitting on stage with Paul and Jan Crouch and Benny Hinn -- three Charismatics who readily accept and even proclaim extra-biblical revelations to millions of people. The TBN newsletter stated, "What a JOY to meet one of our newest programmers on TBN, Dr. James Merritt. ... God IS bringing His Church TOGETHER! The old denominational barriers are coming DOWN!"

The newsletter added, "On the same night we had Baptist minister, Dr. James Merritt, Benny Hinn preached a message about the FRUIT of the Holy Spirit ... The Holy Spirit provided a beautiful DEMONSTRATION of the fruit of the Spirit through the LOVE and HARMONY of these two precious brothers in Christ. One day, every doctrinal question will be settled; but, in the meantime, remember what Matthew (and Benny) said: '...By their FRUITS you will know them' (Matt. 7:20)."

The Charismatic Movement is certainly attempting to do everything it can to bring ecumenical unity to fruition, and those like Merritt who claim to be evangelical and conservative in doctrine are helping pave the way to ecumenical unity by refusing to separate from those who preach another gospel. Merritt's duplicity is characteristic of many professing evangelicals who proclaim sound doctrine in the pulpit but who unite with those who teach otherwise. (Foundation, March-April 1999).