My analysis of J.D. Greer’s speech, as he lies about God (the President of the Southern Baptist Convention)

It’s one thing to err in our doctrine or teachings (as we all have, and sometimes sill unknowingly do). But it’s another thing to commit as much err seen in the below 85 second video.

J.D. Greer, the President of the Southern Baptist Convention says the following about the historical accounts of the Bible.

“I’m sick and tired of hearing about those places…’

Greer admits that he’s “sick and tired” of hearing about the Biblical events that God decreed, and the Holy Spirit inspired to be recorded in the Scriptures for us.

It is indisputable and nonnegotiable that at least twelve of the books in the Old Testament are known to us today, as the “historical books.” How dare Greer undermine their Theological significance.

Greer then said that God is ~

“not a God of the past.”

The LORD is timeless, and He had no beginning. God is before the past, He is the present, and He is the future. As some of the many Scriptures say ~

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1)
“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God” (Psalm 90:2).

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven” (Colossians 1:15-20).

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was, and who is to come. The Almighty” (Revelation 1:8).

“Even under his wings, Day and night they never stop saying: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come’” (Revelation 4:8d).

Though Greer appears to be an emotional progressive liberal, but God is not. God has an unchangeable impassibility ~

“The Lord our God is but one only living and true God; whose subsistence is in and of Himself, infinite in being and perfection; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but Himself; a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; who is immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty, every way infinite, most holy, most wise, most free, most absolute; working all things according to the counsel of His own immutable and most righteous will, for His own glory; most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him, and withal most just and terrible in His judgments, hating all sin, and who will by no means clear the guilty.”

London Baptist Confession of Faith – Paragraph 2:1

“Those who predicate any change whatsoever of God, whether with respect to his essence, knowledge, or will, diminish all his attributes: independence, simplicity, eternity, omniscience, and omnipotence. This robs God of his divine nature, and religion of its firm foundation and assured comfort.”

Herman Bavinck, Reformed Dogmatics, 2:158

Greer then states that God would tell us today to ~

“shut up about the reformation,” and “shut up about the early church.”

I agree that many professing Christians seem to know more about church history, than they do the Scriptures, and that’s not healthy (perhaps even idolatry). But besides Christ being the foundation and head of the church, the history of the church is an ecclesiastical pillar.

Furthermore the reformation is an important part of church history. Two years ago some of us celebrated our 500th year anniversary of the reformation. The reformation rediscovered the “history” of the true glorious Gospel. It rediscovered the righteousness of God that is outside of ourselves (Extra Nos). It rediscovered the already existing Five Solas. “Sola Scriptura” (Scripture Alone); “Sola Gratia” (Grace Alone); “Sola Fide” (Faith Alone); “Solus Christus” (Christ Alone); and “Soli Deo Gloria” (To God Alone Be Glory).

Greer also stated that God would say ~

“I’m not a God of the past, I’m a God of today, and I’m a God of the future. My name is not I was, it is I am.”

I already gave a summarization above of what some of the Scriptures say about this. Nonetheless there’s an eisegesis and then there’s Greer’s eisegesis, whereas he puts his own words into God’s mouth. This is dangerous, perhaps even blasphemy.

Greer then stated that ~

“some of the greatest movements of God are in front of us, not behind us, they have to be.”

What about the first chapter of the first book, where God spoke things into existence (Gen. 1). What about the Cross? What about everything else in between?

Oh yes one of the Lord’s “greatest movements” in the future is the Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 20:11-15). But does Greer consider that “great?” I suspect perhaps not, because so many professing churchmen will be dammed.

Though there’s no perfect church, and all denominations have flaws, but you should consider a church that is fully confessional. One confession of faith that I recommend is the London Baptist Confession of Faith.

More in comments below.