"Woe Is Me!"

"In the beginning man was innocent of sin and was endowed by his Creator with freedom of choice. By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original innocence whereby his posterity inherit a nature and an environment inclined toward sin. Therefore, as soon as they are capable of moral action, they become transgressors and are under condemnation. Only the grace of God can bring man into His holy fellowship and enable man to fulfill the creative purpose of God." BF&M Man III

The SBC teaches the age of accountability as the age when one can accept Christ as Savior. It is the time when a person is aware of his own sinfulness and will transgress the law of God. Contrary to this is the orthodox belief of original sin. Adam's sin is transmitted to his descendants by inheritance. Romans 5:12, 18-19. We are born into a state of sin and are under condemnation at birth and not at a latter age of accountability. This is a contracted state as a result of Adam's committed act. An infant is under condemnation not because of his act but Adam's. Through Christ the regenerated have peace with God and are not under condemnation but they do live every day till death with the presence of potential sin. Through Christ's provision for Justification the believer has access to grace to stand against this daily possibility of sinning. He can be victorious against this possibility and if he fails he has an advocate before the Holy God. He has forgiveness. This is the teaching on original sin contrary to what Adrian Rogers preached.

The Church's teaching on original sin carried from the apostles was challenged in the fifth century by Pelagius. He taught that man could by the natural power of free will and without the necessary help of God's grace, lead a morally good life. This teaching was declared a heresy by the Church. The Church has not followed this ruling and today in American Evangelicalism Pelagianism has reared it's ugly head. Joyce Rogers demonstrated this by her behavior.

Isaiah cried, "Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of host." Isaiah 6:5

While under duress Joyce Rogers cried, "My husband and I are clean but we dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips." "My husband should be held blameless on the word of Paul Williams who said he did not know." She cried: "I think it has to do with his integrity, and his manner of dealing with things like this. He would have dealt with it immediately." "My husband has clean lips but Steve Gaines does not! My husband has integrity but Steve Gaines does not."

Dr Rogers paid $500,000 to keep a former staff member silent so now we know what his immediate reaction would have been. Oh, he would act quickly but not with integrity.

If you gaze upon the Lord of Host you will understand original sin. When you gaze upon a sin such as Paul Williams you cry, "woe is me, for I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of men with unclean lips." This is a Calvinistic reaction toward sin.

If you are liberal in your theology you cry: "Paul Williams is a homosexual and he has a right to alternative behavior." "I'm OK you are OK" This is a reflection of pure Pelagianism.

Joyce Rogers says: "We are OK but you are not OK" Calvinism says: "We are not OK"