Paul Washer

Infobox Celebrity


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name = Paul Washer
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nationality = American |
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occupation = Evangelist, Preacher
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website = [http://www.heartcrymissionary.com/ HeartCry Missionary Society]
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Paul Washer is founder of the HeartCry Missionary Society. He was invited to speak at the 2002 Youth Evangelism Conference in Montgomery, Alabama, USA, in which he addressed what he considered to be some errors in American Evangelicalism, his message received both positive and negative response.

Background

"Brother Paul," as he is commonly referred to both by friends and himself, professed faith in Jesus while enrolled at the University of Texas in Austin, Texas. Following graduation, Paul attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary where he received a Master of Divinity degree. [HeartCry Missionary Society Homepage on [http://www.heartcrymissionary.com/content/view/132/174 the preaching Ministry of Paul Washer] ]

Washer began his post-seminary ministry in Peru, where he served as a missionary for 10 years. It was in his time there that he founded the HeartCry Missionary Society to assist in Church planting in Peru. [HeartCry Missionary Society Homepage on [http://www.heartcrymissionary.com/content/view/132/174 the preaching Ministry of Paul Washer] ]

Beliefs

Washer is known for an expressive and confrontational, or revivalist, style of preaching. While professing many controversial positions, his view on "saying the prayer" to receive salvation have provoked the strongest reactions, both positive and negative, from the evangelical subculture and Christians in general. He was once quoted as saying:

"The greatest heresy in the American evangelical and Protestant church is that if you pray and ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart, He will definitely come in." [Washer, Paul: "Shocking Youth Message Stuns Hearers - So Shocking and Biblical the Preacher was Never Invited Back", page 3., 2002]

This position is based on his belief that there should be an evidence of salvation, for which he cites Jesus's saying "By their fruits ye shall know them," in Matthew 7:20 in the New Testament as support. [Washer, Paul: "Shocking Youth Message Stuns Hearers - So Shocking and Biblical the Preacher was Never Invited Back", page 2., 2002] Washer does not see this as inconsistent with the traditional evangelical belief that a genuine calling upon the name of the Lord is sufficient for salvation. Nonetheless, his particular emphasis that if this calling is not clearly evident to others by a turning away (repentance) from and emotional brokenness over sin then simply calling upon the name of Jesus is does place him outside what many consider to be the evangelical mainstream. [Washer, Paul: "Shocking Youth Message Stuns Hearers - So Shocking and Biblical the Preacher was Never Invited Back", page 5-6., 2002] Washer said a true believer's life is characterized not by a blameless life or a life without sin, but by a life of pursuing after God, as well as the work of the Lord in a believer's life of conforming them into the image of Christ. [Washer, Paul: "Shocking Youth Message Stuns Hearers - So Shocking and Biblical the Preacher was Never Invited Back", page 3., 2002]

In one of Washer's messages, the approximately one-hour sermon he delivered at the 2002 Youth Evangelism Conference in Montgomery, Alabama, USA, Washer received applause addressing what he considers to be errors in American Evangelicalism. He responded:

"I don't know why you're clapping. I'm talking about you. I didn't come to get amens. I didn't come here to get applauded. I'm talking about you." [Washer, Paul: "Shocking Youth Message Stuns Hearers - So Shocking and Biblical the Preacher was Never Invited Back", page 3., 2002]

Washer preaches occasionally at his home church, "Grace Life Church of the Shoals", formerly First Baptist Church at Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He also continues his work with HeartCry Missionary Society as the director. [HeartCry Missionary Society Homepage on [http://www.heartcrymissionary.com/content/view/132/174 the preaching Ministry of Paul Washer] ]

External links

* [http://www.heartcrymissionary.com Heart Cry Missionary Society]
* [http://www.rhemasound.org/materials/audioMessages/paulWasher/index.html Sermon Downloads on RhemaSound]
* [http://www.scribd.com/doc/789/The-Truth-About-Christianity Washer, Paul: "Shocking Youth Message Stuns Hearers - So Shocking and Biblical the Preacher was Never Invited Back"]

References