“I have never heard such a brazenly blasphemous statement from any of the word-faith preachers … this was jaw-dropping heresy.” Justin Peters
Dr. David Uth, pastor of First Baptist Church Orlando, was the point man responsible for perhaps the most epic act of apostasy seen in the Southern Baptist Convention. Showing complete contempt for Scriptural commands not to engage in spiritual endeavors with unbelievers, coupled with the very heresy that prompted a Reformation five hundred years ago – that of altering the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ – Uth has positioned himself as perhaps the chief apostate within the SBC.
Dr. David Uth, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church Orlando
And no one in the Southern Baptist Convention seems to care.
No one in the SBC leadership, no one in the Florida Baptist Convention, indeed not even, it seems, any authentic believers in First Baptist Orlando seem to be even slightly concerned at the intentional blasphemy proclaimed from the pulpit of this flagship SBC church.
Have Southern Baptists become so inoculated by the frequent “its about you” gospel proclaimed from pulpit after pulpit that such a brazen act of apostasy as orchestrated by Uth is not even noticeable? Is the unbridled zeal for SBC relevance in the godless culture so overwhelming that we, now, are willing – even eager – to “suppress the truth in unrighteousness?” (Romans 1:18)
On the evening of June 14, Uth paraded across the platform an array of speakers gathered for a noble-sounding, though Scripturally-illicit purpose, “for prayer and encouragement” following the terrorist attack on a homosexual nightclub. The attack garnered national attention, as well as Uth’s, who seemed poised to pastorally capitalize in its aftermath.
“Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.” Jude 14-16 (Emphasis Added)
While the tragedy at the homosexual nightclub brought to a violent forefront the reality of domestic terrorism, Uth’s response to it, though patently unbiblical, highlights his contempt for the LGBTQ people for whom he claimed to be reaching out “in love.” Uth’s act, however, was not loving, but a hate-filled withholding of Christ’s Gospel Truth from those “already condemned” souls (John 3:18) he’d invited to his sanctuary. Indeed, Uth seems to be among those false gospel proclaimers whom Jude said would show “favoritism to gain advantage.”
“The person who loves you most will tell you the most truth.” Paul Washer
Ponder for a moment what would have happened if the Islamic terrorist that murdered those in the Pulse nightclub had, instead, targeted heterosexual males at an Orlando strip club. If the terrorist had killed 49 straight men in a jihadi-inspired attack, one wonders whether Uth would have held a similar, special service of “prayer and encouragement” for the grieving heterosexual community in Orlando.
If Uth would have done so, would he have orchestrated the proclamation of the same noxious, soul-damning messages that he allowed broadcast to the gathered LGBTQ audience in First Baptist’s pews that June evening? Would unregenerate heterosexuals have been as equally hated by Uth as the unregenerate homosexuals for whose souls he showed utter contempt?
As it occurred, Uth “loved” the homosexuals enough to put on a high profile, televised show for them, but he hated them enough to hide the Truth.
Dr. Larry Mills, Pastor, Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church
One of those, invited by Uth, standing in the pulpit and proclaiming what Justin Peters referred to as “jaw-dropping heresy” was Dr. Larry G. Mills, pastor of Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church in Orlando. Mills’ proclamation of the false “Jesus loves everybody regardless” gospel opened with his reference to the KJV version of 1 Peter.
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 1 Peter 2:4-10, KJV
Emphasizing the KJV usage of the word “peculiar” in verse 9, Mills proclaimed “we’re not peculiar because of race, or gender, or creed.” Instead, he said, “In Orlando, we are peculiar because of e pluribus unum … out of many, one.” The apostle Peter, apparently, was the original American and he, too, would have held hands with unregenerate sinners in a worship service. Umm, no.
That statement alone from Mills should have been sufficient cause for any believer in the audience to stand in challenge to the mockery of the apostle’s words. That bit of hermeneutical heresy should have prompted Dr. Uth, at least, to rise in compassionate correction for the erroneous commentary. It did not.
While Peter was clearly targeting his epistle to a targeted audience, “those who are elect,” (1 Peter 1:1) Mills proclaimed a universal application of these inspired words of Scripture. Every person in the audience, in Orlando, indeed, every person in America became, under Mills’ Scripture-twisting interpretation, “the elect.” His universalism passed unchallenged.
“We are peculiar because we know how to let theological differences, and disputes, and factions not get in the way of love and Christ.” Dr. Larry Mills
Not done with his “peculiar” word play, Mills unknowingly acknowledged the very tolerance for apostasy that allowed him to stand in a Southern Baptist pulpit in the first place. Neither he, nor Dr. Swanson who proclaimed universalism from the pulpit just prior to him, nor Dr. Uth, allowed any “theological differences” to get in the way of proclaiming a repentance-void false gospel of “love.” All the while, of course, the astute believer realizes Uth and his false-gospel co-conspirators were exhibiting antipathy of the highest order to the LGBTQ people sitting in the pews.
But Mills wasn’t finished. He went much, much deeper into the waters of damnable blasphemy. Referring to the “cornerstone” of Peter’s remarks in verse 6, Mills spewed forth from this Southern Baptist pulpit nothing short of rank heresy. As he acknowledged the tragedy incurred by the homosexual community, Mills stripped Truth from two millennia of Christian orthodoxy, ripped the royal robe from our Lord and Savior, and replaced it with diabolical deceit.
“That LGBTQ area is the head cornerstone … and we are here to lift up and magnify and allow them to know that regardless of people’s opinions, regardless of where we are, love triumphs over evil. It’s all about love. The question is asked, what does love have to do with it? Everything.” Dr. Larry Mills
Every Southern Baptist believer – in fact, every authentically regenerated, Bible-believing Christian, should respond to this as did Justin Peters.
“It’s one of the most shockingly blasphemous statements that I have ever heard cross the lips of any professing Christian pastor – of any professing Christian, much less a Christian pastor – one of the most shockingly heretical statements I have ever heard. Dr. Mills identified the chief cornerstone not as Jesus Christ, not as the Second Person of the Triune Godhead … he identified the chief cornerstone as the LGBTQ community. Unreal.” Justin Peters
Jesus is not, according to Mills, the chief cornerstone. That honor goes to the LGBTQ community. Why? Because “it’s all about love.” Jesus’ love. Your love. My love. Community love. Gay love, heterosexual love, any kind of love. The heresy flowed from this SBC pulpit with the ease of gentle, lapping waves on the sandy shores of a Florida beach.
Rather than rightly exalting Christ, rather than lifting Him up, magnifying Him, and declaring His Gospel, Mills exalted unregenerate, “condemned already” homosexuals because they had been persecuted.
No one stood to defend Christ. No one stood to contend for the faith. No one loved those souls enough to share the Gospel.
“Rather than Uth – or any other believer – standing up to remove this man from the pulpit, the assembled crowd stood up all right … to give him a standing ovation.” Justin Peters
Let that reality sink in. A standing ovation was given to a proclamation that everyone will be saved, that Christ is NOT the chief cornerstone of our faith, and that love, un-tempered by the corresponding truth of God’s coming judgment on sinners, is all that matters.
Universalism. False doctrine. A denial of “our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” (Jude 4) Such things were stated, unchallenged, from the pulpit of a Southern Baptist Church. Can you say, A-P-O-S-T-A-S-Y?
“This was not some United Methodist Church. This was not an Episcopalian church where you might expect to hear something like this. This was not a Unitarian church. This was a First Baptist Church. This is a church full of people who were known as ‘people of the Book.” Justin Peters
These days, however, in the Southern Baptist Convention, that “Book” goes unread. Its doctrines are untaught. Its Gospel is stripped of truth, replaced with one intended to please men and fill pews.
Indeed, the great Baptist preacher, Charles Spurgeon could easily have been prophesying about the Southern Baptist Convention as we see it today when he said:
“There is enough dust on some of your Bibles to write ‘damnation’ with your fingers.” Charles Spurgeon
Damnation, indeed.
Can Southern Baptists really applaud such things?
(This is part three of a four-part look at the apostasy undertaken by FBC Orlando. For part one, please go HERE, for part two, go HERE. For further research, please see the following links.)
Justin Peters Program, First Baptist Orlando, Part One
Justin Peters Program, First Baptist Orlando, Part Two
Justin Peters Program, First Baptist Orlando, Part Three
Worldview Weekend Report, June 22, 2016
JD Hall, Polemics Report, June 24, 2016
Pulpit & Pen, Pastor Equates Homosexuals to Jesus
Click here for more information on Justin Peters Ministries.
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[Contributed by Bud Ahlheim]