Open Letter and Challenge to David Hughes of CBGlades

Dear David,

We haven't met. But, despite the fact that I'm writing to you on a blog, I don't live in my mother's basement. I don't own a bean bag and I don't survive on a steady diet of Cheetos and Mt. Dew.

I am however, married. I have three children of my own and a grandson. I also have a degree in Religious Studies and Biblical Languages and I also have a Masters degree in Business Administration and the emphasis of my graduate work was Leadership.

I felt it necessary to explain that about myself because you have a really bad habit of publicly brushing aside all criticism leveled at you by claiming that bloggers are "basement living opinion givers". By the way, that defense is known as an ad hominem attack and is generally only used by people who are not capable of substantively answering their critics. If you'd like more information about ad hominem attacks here is a link to a video that I believe will be instructive for you.

The reason I'm writing you is to challenge you to provide the Biblical passages that underpin some of the doctrines that you teach. The reason for this is because after reviewing several of your sermons on my radio program I'm convinced that you're teaching false doctrine and that you're guilty of twisting God's word. Furthermore, based on the emphasis and details of your peculiar doctrines I'm convinced that the Holy Spirit warned the church about men like you when he inspired the Apostle Paul to write:

“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” (2 Timothy 4:1–4)

I believe that an prime example of tickling itching ears and teaching myths can be found in your recent sermon entitled How to Hug A Vampire: Dealing With Drainers. In this sermon you twisted Philemon 4-7 by psychologizing the passage and falsely using the text to teach your church which types of people God wants them to grant access to their lives. A full length review of your sermon can be found at this website.

Of particular note was this short segment of your sermon:

David, would you please provide the Biblical passages that say, in context, using sound hermeneutics and exegesis that:

1. God has some big thing that He wants each of us to do.

2. That God has a supernatural script / divine dream for our lives.

3. That this divine dream is so big that we can't pull it off by ourselves.

4. That we will need to surround ourselves with an entourage who will champion and resource this divine dream for our lives.

5. That God has a holy habit of making dreams come true.

6. That this God-sized dream is catalytic and will power you past your problems in life.

Also, will you please provide the passages from the writings and sermons of the early Christian church fathers that teach these same doctrines so that we can know that they're part of historic orthodoxy?

Furthermore, in light of the second video snippet, will you please provide the Biblical passages that teach us that we need to restrict personal access to people who would diminish the dream that God has placed in us?

As a careful student of God's word I am not familiar with any Biblical passages that say any of these things. Nor am I aware of any of the ancient Church Fathers who said anything even remotely approaching such teachings. Therefore, since you're the person putting these ideas forward, the burden of proof rests on you to demonstrate and prove that these doctrines are what God has revealed in His word.

May I also suggest that you read Martin Luther's Treatise on Good Works. This short work clearly lays out the Biblical teaching regarding the good works that God wants Christians to do. You will find a link to download a free version of this wonderful little book at this link.

I look forward to your response.

@PirateChristian

Comments

[Ryan Nichols]

Prepare to be ignored Chris! He'll probably delete this in seconds!

[gloria dyet]

Good letter

[Leahjohnson180]

Excellent letter, Chris.

I'm also looking foward to Mr. Hughes' response.

[Technoevanguy]

Nice letter Chris. This letter could possibly be mass produced with inserting other video clips and a quick list of pointed questions to a host of purpose, seeker, entertainment center furhers.

[Denise Smith]

Absolute perfection. This letter could be the best thing to happen to/for him.

[Marc5Solas]

Solid!

[Brandon]

Dear Chris,
You're just a hater! I don't have time to learn your blogger words like "ad hominem".
Sincerely,
David

[Josh]

Awesome letter. This church is close by to me and it's sad to see so many people caught up in whatever this is. Hope he actually reads this