Question: Christianity Today of May 16, 1994 seemed to defend Karen Mains whom you criticized.... ...

Question: Christianity Today of May 16, 1994 seemed to defend Karen Mains whom you criticized for her book Lonely No More. They quoted T. A. McMahon and seemed to include you [Dave] among those they labeled “self-appointed heresy hunters.” Do you have any response to their article?

Response: The very label, “self-appointed heresy hunters,” is an ad hominem, illogical, unbiblical accusation. It denies the responsibility of each Christian to be a Berean and seems to imply either that opposing heresy isn’t important or that to do so one must be appointed by some central committee. Who appointed Christianity Today to point out heresy as they have done, for example, in the very same news section when they critiqued the Dake Bible?

The CT article credited “theologians, apologists, and scholars” with taking a stand against teachings found in Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible.” Why are those who agree with Christianity Today called “theologians, apologists, and scholars,” while those who disagree are labeled “self-appointed heresy hunters”? The article is demeaning and judgmental in its accusation that “self-appointed heresy hunters” as a breed are “narrow-minded, self appointed arbiters of legalism sitting in judgment” and employ “widespread vilification…personal attacks…guilt by association, deliberate fabrication of untruths, and misrepresentation…jeremiad fashion…modern-day witch-hunt…pharisaical leadership, etc.” These are irresponsible accusations without any substantiation.

Furthermore, the article didn’t deal with the issues. It complained that David and Karen Mains have been misunderstood and harshly judged, but with no quotes to prove it. The issues—her false and dangerous teachings—were not dealt with. We quoted from Karen Mains’ book. She need not blame us for the cancellations of speaking engagements. What she said in that book was obviously perceived by many others to be unbiblical and dangerous to the extent that she was no longer welcome as a speaker. She needs to recant rather than to complain about being misunderstood, but so far there is no sign of any change in her convictions.