Orthodoxy & Heresy In The Early Church

In his course on the “Ancient and Medieval Church” at Covenant Theological Seminary, David Calhoun recommended the following texts For Further Study on the topic of Orthodoxy & Heresy in the early church (the annotations are his):

Jones, Peter. The Gnostic Empire Strikes Back: An Old Heresy for the New Age. 1992.

Shows how the gnostic heresy of self-deification has returned with a vengeance in the New Age
Movement.

McGrath, Alister E. The Genesis of Doctrine. 1990.
A useful study of how Christian doctrine came into existence, by the prolific British historian theologian.

Orr, James. The Progress of Dogma.
Famous work in which the 19th century Scottish theologian argues that “the history of
dogma…is simply the system of theology spread out through the centuries.” pp. 21

__________   Quotes of Interest   __________

“The age of the martyrs has a powerful attraction even to the casual reader; the age of the heresies leaves him bewildered and distressed. Yet the agents in both were discharging an equally necessary function. Both were upholding the truth of the gospel; the one against the power of the world, the other against the wisdom of the world. The martyrs had this advantage, that the force of their testimony was concentrated in one supreme moment, was expressed in one heroic act, which commands universal sympathy. The controversialists had to live through a protracted struggle and are judged by their utterances, and all their human weaknesses which the conflict remorselessly revealed.”
~ Mandell Creighton, quoted by B. B. Warfield, Selected Shorter Writings, 2: 214

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“The rejection of heretics brings into relief what your church holds and what sound doctrine maintains. ‘It was necessary for heresies to occur so that the approved may be made manifest’ (I Corinthians 11:19) among the weak.”
~ Augustine, Confessions, 7. 19

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“Christianity is not something utterly formless and vague, but has an ascertainable, statable content, which it is the business of the church to find out, to declare, to defend.”
~ James Orr, The Progress of Dogma, pp. 8, 9

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“The errors of heretics…force us to deal with unlawful matters, to scale perilous heights, to speak unutterable words, to trespass on forbidden ground, compelling us to err in daring to embody in human terms truths which ought to be hidden in the silent veneration of the heart.”
~ Hilary of Poitiers, Hilary of Poitiers on the Trinity , 2, 2

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Book Cover

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Reclaiming The Center: Confronting Evangelical Accommodation In Postmodern Times

Book Cover “When evangelicals confuse an improper passion for novelty with a proper pursuit of academic and pastoral relevance, the results can be distressing. I cannot express how grateful I am for the well-formed wisdom with which this book points to the abiding and decisive relevance for future route-finding of the old theological paths.”
J. I. Packer, Professor, Regent College

“For those evangelicals who—like myself—are increasingly troubled by extravagant claims made by various evangelical scholars about the nature of the ‘postmodern’ challenge, as well as by earnest calls to develop new epistemological and theological perspectives in response to this challenge, the writers of these essays shed much light. This book is must-reading for everyone who wants to promote a clear-thinking evangelicalism for our contemporary context.”
Richard J. Mouw, President and Professor of Christian Philosophy, Fuller Seminary

“Here is a collection of intelligent, provocative, gutsy essays that dare to fly into the eye of the scholarly storm over evangelical identity. Though different perspectives are present even here, the underlying thesis is clear and worth heeding: the eager, and sometimes uncritical, embrace of postmodernist paradigms may be as premature as it has proven to be unproductive for the well-being of the evangelical church. One of the most important books of the new century!”
Timothy George, Dean, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University

“Provocative, timely, and controversial!”
Donald G. Bloesch, Professor of Theology Emeritus, Dubuque Theological Seminary

“Compromise and confusion stand at the center of evangelicalism’s theological crisis, and a clear-headed and convictional analysis of the problem has been desperately needed. Thankfully, Reclaiming the Center has arrived just in time. . . . My fervent hope is that it will open evangelical eyes, humble evangelical hearts, and awaken this generation to the peril of accommodationism.”
R. Albert Mohler, Jr., President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

“The authors of this well-designed volume provide a bold and well-argued response to what is sometimes called ‘postconservative evangelicalism.’ This important conversation regarding the essence, center, and boundaries of evangelicalism is here explored, interpreted, and assessed from a well-informed theological, philosophical, and historical perspective. . . . I heartily commend this volume and trust it will find a large readership.”
David S. Dockery, President, Union University

Goddess Worship

Watchman Fellowship recommends the following books on Goddess Worship;

Witchcraft: Exploring the World of Wicca, by Craig S. Hawkins

Goddess Worship, Witchcraft, and Neo-Paganism, by Craig S. Hawkins

The Christian Identity Movement

Watchman Fellowship recommends the following resources on the Christian Identity movement;

Cults, New Religious Movements, and Your Family, by Richard Abanes

Damaged Disciples, by Ron and Vicki Burks

American Militias, by Richard Abanes

Centering / Contemplative Prayer

Watchman Fellowship recommends the following resources on Centering / Contemplative Prayer;

Encyclopedia of New Age Beliefs, by John Ankerberg and John Weldon

The Brethren / The Jim Roberts Group

Watchman Fellowship recommends the following resources on The Brethren / The Jim Roberts Group;

From Dean’s List To Dumpsters, by Jim Guerra

The Forgotten Trinity, by James R. White

Oneness Pentecostals and the Trinity, by Gregory A. Boyd

Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse, by Johnson and Van Vonderen

Out of the Cults and into the Church, by Janice Hutchinson

Boston Church of Christ / International Church of Christ

Watchman Fellowship recommends the following resources on the Boston Church of Christ / International Church of Christ;

What Does The Boston Movement Teach?, by Jerry Jones (Watchman Fellowship adds this warning: this book provides outstanding information on the Boston Church Movement’s history and doctrine but also teaches baptismal regeneration)

Churches That Abuse, by Ronald Enroth

Cult Proofing Your Kids, by Paul Martin

Astrology

Watchman Fellowship recommends the following resources on the Astrology;

Astrology: Do The Heavens Rule Our Destiny?, by John Ankerberg and John Weldon

New Age Encyclopedia, by J. Gordon Melton

Assemblies of Yahweh

Watchman Fellowship recommends the following resources on the Assemblies of Yahweh;

Sabbath in Crisis, by Dale Ratzlaff

Sunday Facts and Sabbath Fiction, by Russell Tardo

The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable?, by F.F. Bruce

The Trinity, by Edward Bickersteth

Herbert W. Armstrong and Armstrongism

Watchman Fellowship recommends the following resources on Herbert W. Armstrong and Armstrongism;

Sabbath in Crisis, by Dale Ratzlaff

Herbert Armstrong’s Tangled Web, by David Robinson

Transformed by Truth, by Joseph Tkach