Lititz Grace Asked To Meet Over Doctrine

The following email has been sent to Lititz Grace and their Senior Pastor and staff over the misuse of Holy Scripture.

I ask you that you pray for this upcoming meeting and for God to soften their hearts and open their minds to His Truth.



Dear Scott Distler,

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Charles Paul, Sr. Minister of Preaching and Teaching of Truth Matters, Inc., located in Morgantown, PA.

It has come to my attention, after some intensive investigation, that you have a very large ministry that communicates a message to about 2,000 or more people each week. It is precisely that message I wish to speak to you about. I am including two video clips that have come across my desk; the first is about a McWorship series you apparently will be preaching, and the second about a Christmas presentation you already presented last month.

1) McWorship: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pdFeoA_QUo&eurl=http://bloodtippedears.blogspot.com/2008/01/mcworship-at-lititz-grace-church.html

2) Christmas skit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnzKVLlNQHY&eurl=http://bloodtippedears.blogspot.com/2008/01/mcworship-at-lititz-grace-church.html

I have two immediate concerns: 1) You are reaching a large number of people this week, and 2) it is fairly apparent you are presenting a very “seeker-friendly” message each week; one that is interpreted by emotion rather than letting the text of Scripture interpret itself.

With all of this said, I would like to ask for a personal meeting between myself, my Executive Minister, you and your staff. At this meeting, I would love for you and your staff to present your doctrinal positions on Salvation, Sin, Preaching and Worship.

What I am asking for, Mr. Distler, in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, is for this meeting to be an open, honest, doctrinal, symposium where the four points listed above will be presented from two viewpoints- yours being more of a seeker friendly version, and mine being a more reformed version.

I would like us to look at the doctrines of Grace together:

1) Sola Scriptura, which we will see the sole source of divine revelation and authority alone to be Scripture.

2) Solus Christus, in which we will see that our salvation is accomplished by the mediatorial work of the historical Christ alone. We will also see that man in his dead state of sin cannot in any way choose or accept Jesus Christ as his Savior.

3) Sola Gratia, in which we will see unwarranted confidence in human ability is a product of fallen nature. We will also see that in salvation we are rescued from God’s wrath by His Grace alone. It is therefore the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit that brings us to Christ by releasing us from our bondage to sin. Therefore, from all of Holy Scripture we must deny that salvation is in any sense a human work: human methods, techniques or strategies by themselves cannot accomplish this transformation. Therefore, Mr. Distler, it is very vital –if you truly care for the people that attend your church- that you will take a good look at your methods, techniques and strategies through the eyes of Holy Scripture.

4) Sola Fide, in which we see justification is by Grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone. This is the article by which the church stands or falls. And just because a church may have thousands of people attending each week, it does not mean that it is standing and firmly planted upon the unmovable rock of Jesus Christ. That is why we will discuss that justification is by Grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone. In justification, Christ’s righteousness is imputed to us as the only possible satisfaction of God’s perfect justice.

5) Soli Deo Gloria, in which we see wherever in the church Biblical authority has been lost, Christ has been displaced, the Gospel has been distorted, or faith has been perverted. The loss of God’s centrality in the life of today’s church is, very sadly, much too common. God does not exist to satisfy human ambitions, cravings, the appetite for consumption, or our own, private spiritual interests. So when we meet together we will see that salvation is of God and has been accomplish by God. It is for God’s glory, and that we must glorify Him always. We must live our entire lives before the face of God, Corem Deo, under the authority of God and for His glory alone. So, you can see, Mr. Distler, that by Holy Scripture we must deny that we can properly glorify God if our worship is confused with entertainment. If we neglect either law or Gospel in our preaching, self-improvement, self-esteem, or self fulfillment are allowed to become alternatives to the Gospel.

In conclusion, I wholehearted believe that the evangelical church is fighting for her very life. The faithfulness of the evangelical church in the past contrasts sharply with its unfaithfulness in the present. The evangelical world is losing its Biblical fidelity, moral compass and missionary zeal.

I am earnestly calling you to accept our offer to meet, to Biblically discuss these urgent matters that have been presented to you today. I am including my phone and direct extension (215-243-8243, ext. 101), along with my Executive Minister’s direct extension (215-243-8243, ext. 102), and our website (http://www.truthmattersinc.org/ ) so that you can easily contact us. I look forward to hearing from you in this very urgent matter.

Sincerely,

Rev. Charles Paul