Concern with Amber Rice Miller’s column

Dear Editor,While reading Amber Rice Miller’s April 9, 2016 article in the Holmes Bargain Hunter, I kept thinking that the doctrine that she was espousing sounded eerily familiar. Then it dawned on me. Several years ago, I heard a very similar message while listening to a popular preacher on Christian television.I listened to a number of his half hour programs over the next few days. There were some things he said that clearly lined up with the Word of God. There were other things that were new insights that were not only interesting, but sounded Biblically solid — at least initially; however, there were several other things that didn’t seem to agree with the Holy Scriptures. That got my attention.Being that it is difficult to completely understand where someone is coming from by listening to or watching only a few half-hour programs — especially when they are teaching some new concepts — and not wanting to take anything out of context, I ordered several of this preacher’s CDs and a book that he had authored — all of which were on the subject of grace and the new covenant, which is what he had been teaching on.After listening to the CDs and reading his book from cover to cover, one thing became obviously clear. While some of the things this popular TV preacher had to say agreed with the Word of God, there were a number of things that blatantly contradicted the Holy Scriptures. As I read his book, I was continuously writing scripture references in the margins that he was contradicting. In most instances he simply ignored the scripture verses and passages that he was contradicting. A few other times, he twisted and perverted the Holy Scriptures to suit his own doctrine.One example is his teaching on the confession of sin. This TV preacher is adamant that there is only one sin that anyone ever needs to confess. That is the sin of rejecting Jesus Christ and His free gift of salvation. When he is challenged with verse 9 of I John — which says that if we confess our sins, (plural), God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, (plural), and purify us from all unrighteousness — he argues adamantly that, that verse is not written to Christians. Any honest student of the Bible knows without a shadow of a doubt that the book of I John is written to Christians — not unbelievers. By simply reading the context of I John 1:9, it is overtly clear this is written to Christians.I have yet to hear or read what this TV preacher’s explanation is of James 5:16 (which is also written to Christians) and says that we are to confess our sins (plural) to each other and pray for each other so that we may be healed.This is actually only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. For instance, when someone challenges something this TV preacher says that is unbiblical by quoting the very words of Jesus, his reply is simply that Jesus was still under the old covenant during His earthly ministry, and therefore, much of what Jesus said and taught does not apply to us who are now living under the new covenant. How convenient. Of course, the things that Jesus said and taught that do apply to us who are now living under the new covenant are the things that aren’t in conflict with his doctrine. Again, how convenient.On a hunch, I contacted Miller and asked her if she had ever heard of this particular popular TV preacher that came to my mind while I was reading her April 9 article. I mentioned the title of the book authored by this preacher which I had bought and read in 2014. I asked her if she had happened to read that particular book — or any of his books — and if so, what her overall thoughts were on his teaching. She responded by email shortly afterward that she has heard of this preacher and has watched him on television. She added, “I think he has a good revelation of the Word of God and of the gift of grace that Jesus brought to us through the new covenant.”Enough said. That tells me all I need to know about the doctrine she is attempting to propagate though this newspaper. And it should be clear to you also.Randy KraybillDalton