Bad Theology in Action

Nutjob murders a bunch of innocent people after imbibing some “eternal security” theology:

Sodini’s misery was apparent in his rambling, hate-filled blog, in which he complained of a nonexistent sex life, years of rejection by women and social isolation. Among those he blamed for his perceived troubles were his family and Tetelestai’s longtime pastor, Alan “Rick” Knapp, whose teachings he interpreted as assurance he would go to heaven even after committing murder.

“This guy teaches (and convinced me) you can commit mass murder, then still go to heaven,” he wrote.

The pastor, of course, denies that anything he preached could possibly have contributed to the tragedy. Still it’s hard to read remarks like this:

“Be a sinner and sin boldly ; but more boldly still believe and rejoice in Christ, who is the conqueror of sin, death and the world. Sin is our lot here below. This life is not the abode of justice ; but * we expect, says Peter, a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwells justice. It is sufficient that by the riches of God s glory we acknowledge the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world ; sin cannot deprive us of him, even if in the same day we were to commit a thousand adulteries or a thousand murders.” – Martin Luther

…and not come away thinking this is a rather incautious thing to say to a lunatic looking for vengeance. Enshrining it in simple slogans like “once saved, always saved” is an excellent way to persuade such lunatics that nothing they could possibly do will destroy the life of grace in the soul and that things like confession are popish means of control. But, unfortunately, it is also an excellent way to persuade him that he may sin however he pleases and God, having signed on the dotted line when he “asked Jesus into his heart” is bound to grant him eternal bliss no matter how much of a monster he makes himself.

That’s sub-optimal theology. It can, among other things, get people killed (not to mention damned).