Joseph Prince Counters Doctrinal Accusations

This article was taken recently from http://sg.christianpost.com/dbase.php?cat=ministries&id=1341. The reason i put this article is not merely to prove that Prince is right. But i was so touched by the explanation he gave to counter his accusers. Grace is always like that. Soft and sweet, even to people who against it.


Joseph Prince Counters Doctrinal Accusations

Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010 Posted: 4:40:50PM HKT

A screen shot from a video introduction by Joseph Prince of his latest book, 'Unmerited Favor'.
A Charismatic preacher who has been accused of encouraging people to sin has defended himself in his new book."The gospel of grace is not the license to sin," Pastor Prince said of his doctrine that there is no longer any condemnation or judgment because Jesus Christ has paid the price for the sin of the world by His death on a cross.His critics object that such a message undermines commitment to God. In reply Prince says that only God’s grace can help people overcome sin in their lives. Explaining his teaching, he related the story of one of his church leaders who for a time stopped attending church services because of marital and drinking problems, hoping to resume church attendance after he resolved his difficulties.

But, just as people take a bath to clean themselves rather than clean themselves up before taking a bath, so people with problems go to Jesus Christ to resolve them rather than attempting to solve their problems first, the pastor told his member.Today, he said, that member is a happily married, has a beautiful family and is one of his trusted, key leaders.Prince said: “There are many people today who are like this brother. They want to get their lives together by themselves before they come to Jesus.

They are under the impression that they need to make themselves holy before they can step into God’s holy presence. They feel like they are being hypocrites if they don’t sort out their lives first before coming to church.”However it is impossible for that to happen, he said, because nobody will ever be able to qualify for God’s blessings nor will they actually be able to solve the problem of sin on their own.The pastor said: “You are made holy, righteous and clean by the blood of Jesus Christ, and it is His righteous standing that qualifies you – nothing more and nothing less. So stop trying to clean yourself before you go to the Lord. Come to Jesus with all your mess, all your addictions, all your weaknesses and all your failures. God loves you just as you are. However, He also loves you too much to let you stay the same.

My friend, when you come to Jesus, He becomes your ‘bath.’ He will wash you clean, whiter than snow! Jump into the bath today and allow Jesus to make you perfect, righteous and holy in God’s eyes!”At the same time some people, he noted, would continue to sin whether or not they received a message of grace. Prince says his church, which has over 19,000 members, enforces discipline over those who practice a lifestyle of sinning. He wrote: “My leaders have no qualms about confronting people who attend our church but insist on living in sin. They do not back down from the gospel of grace even if these people argue that they have the right to continue living as they please because they are ‘under grace.’ In fact, my leaders would tell them outright that they are not under grace, because according to Romans 6:14, if they are under grace, then sin shall not have dominion over them!”

In another chapter of his book, which is due to be released worldwide next month, the pastor urged teenagers to avoid sexual temptations and their parents to teach them not to trust their restraining ability. “His (God’s) destiny for you is to enjoy a blessed marriage with someone you can give yourself totally to, and with whom you can have a blessed family with beautiful children in due season,” he said.In 2007 Prince published his first hardcover book, 'Destined to Reign', which he described as a summary of his teaching over the years.


Edmond Chuaedmond@christianpost.com