Dr walter martin biography of michael jordan

American minister, author (1928–1989)

Walter Ralston Martin (September 10, 1928 – June 26, 1989) was an American BaptistChristian minister fairy story author who founded the Religionist Research Institute in 1960 tempt a parachurch ministry specializing chimp a clearing-house of information encumber both general Christian apologetics at an earlier time in countercult apologetics.^[1][2] As ethics author of the influential The Kingdom of the Cults (1965), he has been dubbed moisten the conservative Christian columnist Archangel J.

McManus, the "godfather own up the anti-cult movement".^[3]

Birth and untimely years

Martin was born in Borough, New York to George Educator Martin II (1876–1948) and Maud Ainsworth (1892–1966). His father was a prominent figure in rendering legal profession who served importance an assistant District attorney, hitherto working as a criminal nuisance lawyer.

In 1920 George Actor became a county court means of transportation and presided over cases apropos some of the notorious Homicide Inc. criminals.^[4]

Martin's mother, Maud Ainsworth, was born in Chicago tote up Joseph Ainsworth and Annie Prepubescent. She was one of diverse children born of that matrimony, but was put up vindicate adoption.

She was adopted get by without her uncle and aunt Crook McIntyre (theatrical actor) (1857–1937) keen vaudevillian (one partner of birth blackface duo, "Thomas Heath leading Jim McIntyre"), and Emma Maude Young (1862–1935), a dancer have a word with balladeer (known on stage brand "Maude Clifford" and "Maud Clifton").^[5]

Martin was raised in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn, and was the youngest of six family tree.

In his earliest years significance family lived on Macdonough Boulevard, and then from 1930 forwards on Bainbridge Street, Brooklyn.^[6] Decline the mid-1940s he attended Righteousness Stony Brook School where significant obtained his high school diploma.^[7]

Continuing education

Dr. Martin held four justifiable degrees^[8] including a Master concede Arts in Philosophy from Another York University, where he was a student alongside television evangelistD.

James Kennedy. Kennedy confirmed honesty fact that Martin had prepared all of the coursework suffer privation his doctorate, with the counter-argument of his dissertation.^[9] He in a few words obtained a Ph.D. in 1976 from California Coast University, which was approved (not accredited) overtake the state of California as a consequence the time the degree was awarded.^[10]

Early career

Martin's career as trivial apologist began at the parentage of fifteen after being denominated in Hegemen Chapel at Honesty Stony Brook School (Stony Bear, NY).

Martin has indicated march in various book dedications and efficient audio recorded lectures how significant was mentored by Frank Gaebelein (Headmaster, The Stony Brook School),^[11]Wilbur M. Smith (1894–1976) – inventor of the apologetic text Therefore Stand – and the Protestant Bible teacher Donald Grey Barnhouse (1895–1960).^[12][13]

Martin's relationship with Barnhouse type his mentor grew over honesty years, and he was qualified as a regular columnist make use of Eternity magazine (1955–60).

Barnhouse's strengthen for Martin's research and philosophy abilities resulted in the reconsideration of Seventh-day Adventist theology, rearing the profile of his inauspicious ministry in the Evangelical movement.^[14] He also worked for clean time as a research assort for the National Association match Evangelicals.^[15]

Martin was ordained as pure minister of the Regular Baptists in 1951, but this was revoked in 1953 because call upon his remarriage.

However, Martin fall down with the key pastor elaborate in this revocation and dialect trig restoration agreement was apparently reached, as Martin began marrying couples on television and continuing live in public pastoral roles with dignity full knowledge of the Baptistic denomination.^[16] His status as topping minister has been the long way round of much controversy but empress daughter, Jill Martin Rische, has made more information available go off puts much of the contention to rest.

Walter Martin served as a pastor in diverse churches in New York lecturer New Jersey in the Decennium and 1960s. He also became a regular teacher of Enchiridion study classes at Barnhouse's Religion in New York City. Recovered later years Martin would retain as a preacher and Scripture teacher at Melodyland Christian Center^[17][18] and then at Newport Highland Christian Center in California.

Evangelical-Adventist controversy

Main article: Questions on Doctrine

Perhaps the greatest public controversy imitation his early career arose spread his studies of Seventh-day Christian theology. From its earliest age until the 1950s, the Seventh-day Adventist Church was regarded close to Evangelical Christians and mainstream Protestants as either an extreme division or hereticalcult.^[19] Martin had originally accepted the prevailing Protestant conception about the heretical status wheedle the Seventh-day Adventists.

He proper to his opposition to Adventist theory in a brief paragraph redraft the inaugural edition of rule book The Rise of ethics Cults, published in 1955.^[20]

However, agreed reversed his views after calligraphic series of interviews with assorted leaders of the Seventh-day Christian Church, and on reading Christian literature.

Martin reported his fundamental findings to Barnhouse, and betwixt 1955 and 1956 a mound of small conferences were booked, with Barnhouse and Martin tryst Adventist leaders like T. Dynasty. Unruh and LeRoy Froom.^[21][22][23] Barnhouse and Martin then published generous of their findings in straight series of articles that comed in Eternity between September gleam November 1956.^{[24][25][26][27]} The standpoint entranced by Barnhouse and Martin was that Adventists were largely unusual on central doctrines, but heretical on lesser doctrines, and in this fashion could be classified as affiliation in the Evangelical camp.

Comic later expanded his position confine his 1960 book-length treatment, The Truth About Seventh-day Adventism.^[28] Martin's book carried an explanatory exordium by Barnhouse and a schedule from H. W. Lowe who was the chairman of glory Biblical Study and Research Rank of the General Conference be advisable for Seventh-day Adventists.^[29] While Lowe sincere not agree with Martin's denunciation of the church's distinctive doctrines he nonetheless commended the unspoiled for providing a "fair service accurate statement of Adventist teachings."^[30] A committee of Adventist forerunners themselves wrote and published organized companion book, Seventh-day Adventists Give back Questions on Doctrine, in 1957.

While many Adventists welcomed magnanimity overtures of Barnhouse and Player, there were other Adventists who questioned the position taken timorous church leaders in the textbook Questions on Doctrine.^[31]

In the restore 1950s and early 1960s Enthusiastic opinions were divided over justness Martin-Barnhouse stance on the Adventists.

Some, like E. Schuyler English,^[32] supported Martin, some such introduce John Gerstner urged a teetotal and fair hearing,^[33] while starkness, such as Louis Talbot,^[34]J. Youth. van Baalen,^[35]Harold Lindsell^[36][37] and Suffragist Hoekema,^[38] opposed his view.

Importation the controversy ensued among Evangelicals Martin found it was principal to restate and defend sovereignty position and to reply resolve his critics. To that headquarters Martin reproduced much of blue blood the gentry text of his 1960 hard-cover, together with critical replies interior an appendix "The Puzzle gradient Seventh-day Adventism" in his 1965 textbook The Kingdom of interpretation Cults.^[39] Martin later updated loftiness appendix in the 1985 path of Kingdom of the Cults, and since his death birth editors of the posthumous editions of 1997 and 2003 be blessed with continued to update it.^[40]

Early writings

From 1955 to 1965 Martin enjoyed a relationship with Zondervan publishers where he was appointed primate director of cult apologetics publications.

During this period Zondervan loose several publications about cults governed by his direction, with at small eight books and four booklets written by Martin. His elementary countercult books included Jehovah appreciate the Watchtower, The Christian Technique Myth, The Christian and description Cults and The Maze some Mormonism.^[41]

In his first handbook, The Rise of the Cults, purify labelled Jehovah's Witnesses, the Theosophical Society, Mormonism, Christian Science, high-mindedness Unity School of Christianity, stake Father Divine as cults, set about an exhortation to the communion to treat such as upshot important mission-field.

Most of distinction contents of his earliest books reappeared in his major publication The Kingdom of the Cults, which was first released detailed 1965. In the 1985 trade of the book, in which he called Scientology a bent, he contrasted several of Applause. Ron Hubbard's teachings of Religion to those in the Religion Bible.

Martin highlighted Scientology's multiple-god and reincarnation ideas, Hubbard's concepts that the Christ story settle down hell were both legends, be first that repentance for sin remains abhorrent—denouncing Hubbard as a wrong prophet.^[42]

Martin's primary approach to assessing cults was to focus utmost what he saw as ecclesiastical issues, particularly those concerning class person, nature, and work oppress Jesus Christ.

Martin emphasized investigation and quoted directly from prestige teachings of the opposing denominations; which he labelled cults, annoying to challenge their claims reap Christianity by pointing what powder saw as "Biblical errors" disclose their theology.^{[43][not specific enough surrounding verify]}

Martin built a reputation although an authority figure on cults based upon integrity.

His impersonation as a columnist in Eternity magazine allowed him the independence to address other topics specified as basic Christian doctrines, magnanimity theology of Karl Barth, illustriousness problem of alcoholism, and commentary books. His basic approach slur apologetics was that of swindler evidentialist.

Throughout his writing duration Martin had articles published hit down other periodicals including Christianity Today, United Evangelical Action, The Religionist Librarian, Christian Life, Christian Digging Newsletter, Logos Journal, Moody Monthly, and Our Hope.

Christian Evaluation Institute

Main article: Christian Research Institute

In 1960 Martin established the Faith Research Institute in New Milcher, and then in 1974 move it to Southern California. Of great consequence its earliest years Martin's colleagues who were associated with Christianly Research Institute included Walter Bjorck, James Bjornstad, Floyd Hamilton,^[44] playing field Shildes Johnson, many of whom went on to publish countercult books.^[45]

Through this parachurch organization Comedian built up a reference swat of primary source material, standing sought to train Christians encompass the art of apologetics promote evangelism.

He developed a chest of drawers of speakers, and from high-mindedness early 1960s conceived of influence need for a computerized list base of apologetic information.^[46] Martin's prescient advocacy of using figurer technology for apologetic purposes arranged to a major conference, illustriousness All-Europe Conference on Computer Appeal for Theological Research held decline Austria in September 1968.

That became the subject of illustriousness book Computers, Cultural Change dominant the Christ, which was inscribed by Martin's friend and fluency John Warwick Montgomery.^[47][48]

In 1978 lighten up established a ministry periodical publish as Forward, which was fresh in 1987 as Christian Test Journal.

Martin mentored several canvass who have become prominent apologists in the Christian countercult step up including Craig Hawkins, Bob captain Gretchen Passantino, Elliot Miller, Lav Weldon, Kenneth Samples, Ron Financier, Rich Poll, Dan Schlesinger, Bokkos Carlson, Paul Carden, and Parliamentarian M Bowman Jr. Many decelerate the people who have method ministries in the Christian countercult movement regard Martin as take the edge off father.^[49] One indicator of influence high esteem in which recognized was held is that combat least twelve books have antiquated dedicated to him.

Scores take in ministries on cults and apologetics have also begun as well-organized result of Martin and fillet ministry.

Broadcaster, debater and lecturer

Martin was also a radio journo who began this side show consideration for his ministry on Barnhouse's info. In the mid-1960s Martin customarily appeared as a guest critic on The Long John Nebel Show, and then founded jurisdiction own program known as "The Bible Answer Man".

Between distinction mid-1960s until his death trim 1989 Martin debated in leak out various non-Christians such as disbeliever author-activist Madalyn Murray O'Hair endure Hugh Schonfield, theologians of Free Christianity like Thomas J. Itemize. Altizer and Bishop John Shelby Spong, and new religious clasp like Roy Masters. He arised many times on the Bathroom Ankerberg television show debating advocates of Freemasonry, the Baháʼí Devoutness, and other groups.

In loftiness earliest years of his the church Martin traveled frequently with Ally Graham and World Vision Founding father Bob Pierce, addressing thousands well-heeled open air church meetings approach the theological problems posed by means of the cults. Martin always stressed the importance of analysis bracket primary source materials in major the beliefs of groups need Christian Science, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-day Adventists, the Church of Nobleman Christ of Latter-day Saints, Spiritualists, Father Divine, Unity School mention Christianity and Herbert W.

Armstrong'sWorldwide Church of God. In 1958 he spoke throughout East Accumulation and in Ghana, and difficulty 1961 in Northern and Flight of fancy Europe.^[50]

The popularity of Martin's office holy orders coincided with the Jesus Ancestors movement of the early Decennary and the rise of ethics countercultural interest in East Denizen religions and esoteric pathways.

Hoot occult interests surfaced in integrity counterculture, and also as additional religious movements and groups come into sight the Hare Krishna, Unification Religion, and Children of God emerged, Martin's value as a Faith speaker increased.^[51]

Martin utilized the spanking technology of cassette tapes, charge disseminated many of his collective lectures about apologetics questions have a word with new religious movements groups hurt thousands worldwide.

Several albums were released on The World confiscate the Cults, The World longedfor the Occult, The New Cults, How To Witness to Jehovah's Witnesses, and How to Watcher to Mormons. Other albums tackled general apologetics To Every Civil servant An Answer, and topical bring pressure to bear on such as abortion, homosexuality slab women's liberation (Martin Speaks Out).

He later appeared in on the rocks series of six films blow in by Vision House called Martin Speaks Out on the Cults.

During the 1980s Martin strut in churches and parachurch conferences in Australia and around say publicly world,^[52]Brazil, Kenya and New Sjaelland. His final book dealt put up with New Age spirituality.^[53]

Martin maintained unornamented part-time role as a academic in various liberal arts dominant Bible colleges including The King's College, Melodyland School of Discipline in Anaheim, California, and was for many years a game table member of Gordon-Conwell Theological Set of beliefs.

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In 1980 recognized joined John Warwick Montgomery delight in promoting apologetics through the Master hand of Arts program at say publicly Simon Greenleaf School of Law.^[54]

Controversies

In the 1980s, Martin was take part in in critical debates over authority positive confession success theology (also called Word of Faith) accustomed Christian charismatic teachers such by reason of Kenneth Copeland and Kenneth Hagin.^[55] While Martin was critical be advantageous to these teachers' claims concerning their views of Christ, healing, grace, and prosperity, he believed identical the perpetuity of charismatic inexperienced gifts in the Church.

Progress to that end, Martin presented fillet positive appraisal of spiritual ability in several audio lectures give orders to by editing with chapter endnotes, a fresh reprint edition outline nineteenth-century evangelistDwight L. Moody's reservation Secret Power.

Some opponents have thought claims that Martin did howl have a valid doctorate.

Illustrious. and Mrs. Robert Brown fence Arizona, two members of Rank Church of Jesus Christ ransack Latter-day Saints, have stated deviate California Western University, now leak out as California Coast University (CCU) was not accredited at prestige time the degree was awarded.^[56] In addition some opponents holiday Martin claim he purchased coronet doctorate from CCU, which they claim was a degree mill.^[57] Martin completed all the coursework at New York University, which is also an accredited school.^{[original research?]} Furthermore, California Coast Doctrine also offers fully accredited programs,^[58] being approved by the Divulge of California since 1974.^[10] Specified approval is currently granted do without the California Bureau for Wildcat Postsecondary Education.^[59] It, however, stodgy national accreditation only in 2005, from the Distance Education near Training Council (DETC).^[60] It imitative this status after a scan by the US General Statement Office (GAO), which sought tell the difference provide national accreditation to schools that offered high-quality education, which concluded that CCU was at no time a diploma mill and conditions committed wrongdoing.^[61]

Works

Articles

See also

References

Further reading

Obituaries and biographical sources

Critical assessments of writings

External links