The Agony of Deceit: What Some TV Preachers are Really Teaching [Hardcover]

Michael Horton (Editor), C. Everett Koop (Collaborator), Joel H. Nederhood (Collaborator), R. C. Sproul (Collaborator)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1990

This extra-ordinary book goes to great lengths to teach what the Gospel is NOT and what the gospel IS. The editor, Michael Horton, apart from making significant contributions of his own, has gathered together contributors of considerable standing in the literary and Christian worlds. Their combined purpose is the exposing of the teachings of certain television evangelists with worldwide audiences numbering many millions.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 284 pages
• Publisher: Moody Press (1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802487769
• ISBN-13: 978-0802487766
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #875,252 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michael S. Horton

White Horse Inn, President
White Horse Inn Radio Show, Co-Host
Editor-in-Chief, Modern Reformation Magazine
J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics at Westminster Seminary California

B.A., Biola University; M.A., Westminster Seminary California; Ph.D., University of Coventry and Wycliffe Hall, Oxford.

Michael Horton is the president of White Horse Inn, a multi-media catalyst for Reformation. He is editor-in-chief of Modern Reformation magazine (www.modernreformation.org) and co-host of the nationally syndicated White Horse Inn radio broadcast (www.whitehorseinn.org). Michael Horton is also the J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics at Westminster Seminary California. Before coming to WSC, Michael Horton completed a Research Fellowship at Yale University Divinity School. A member of various societies, including the American Academy of Religion and the Evangelical Theological Society, Michael Horton is the author/editor of twenty books, including a series of studies in Reformed dogmatics published by Westminster John Knox, whose final volume (_People and Place: A Covenant Ecclesiology_) was published in 2008 which won the 2008 Christianity Today Book of the Year award in Theology.

His most recent books are _The Gospel-Driven Life_, _Christless Christianity_ and _People and Place: A Covenant Ecclesiology_. He has written articles for _Modern Reformation_, _Pro Ecclesia_, _Christianity Today_, _The International Journal of Systematic Theology_, _Touchstone_, and _Books and Culture_.

Michael Horton is associate pastor of Christ United Reformed Church in Santee, California, and lives in Escondido, with his wife, Lisa, and four children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Agony Of Deceit -- What Some TV Preachers are Really, September 9, 2002

By 

Roger Seeman (Pretoria, Gauteng South Africa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Agony of Deceit: What Some TV Preachers are Really Teaching (Hardcover)

THE AGONY OF DECEIT
WHAT SOME TV PREACHERS ARE REALLY TEACHING
EDITED BY MICHAEL HORTON

This extra-ordinary book goes to great lengths to teach what the Gospel is NOT and what the gospel IS. The editor, Michael Horton, apart from making significant contributions of his own, has gathered together contributors of considerable standing in the literary and Christian worlds. Their combined purpose is the exposing of the teachings of certain television evangelists with worldwide audiences numbering many millions.

It is plain from the text that, before commiting their opinions to writing, the contributors first attempted, by one-on-one counselling, to persuede the TV evangelists to reconsider their theological views in respect of the Gospel. When this failed they carefully analyzed the writings and broadcast sermons of the televangelists in the light of the Gospel as presented in the Bible. The contributors express alarm at what they consider false prophecy being propagated over the air waves, leading millions of believers to a gross misunderstanding of the Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ with all its attendent consequences.

"The Agony of Deceit" equates the influence of televangelism with the harmful influence of the medieval church which preceded the Reformation led by Martin Luther, and which left countless millions of souls floundering for centuries in a kind of spiritual wilderness.

"The Agony of Deceit" questions whether or not television and evangelism can be equally yoked together. It warns about the nature of the television ministry leading to an atmosphere of alienation among Christians. It throws out a powerful challenge to the authodox church to get involved in television ministry to counter the message of the televangelists. And it calls for the setting up of a second Reformation which will lead believers back to a true understanding of the Gospel.

I was glad I read this book. It took me back to my Chtistian roots, refreshed my memory of the true Gospel, and alerted me to the dangers of false prophecy.

Submitted by Roger

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still True After All These Years, September 1, 2002

By 

K.H. - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Agony of Deceit: What Some TV Preachers are Really Teaching (Hardcover)

This book, edited by Reformed tehologian Michael Horton (also writes three essays in the book), was published in 1990 before the rest of the Evangelical community started to speak out against teh dangers of "The Word Faith Movement." The principles in theology have not changed toward applying to what is heretical word-faith nonsense and orthodox theology.

The strength of this book is the many different experts who rage in the battle for Christological and theological orthodoxy. Each person handels topics he is most apt to address. Horton's introduction brilliantly sets the stage, "This book argues that the struggle for orthodoxy is the struggle for the authentic 'message of Jesus Christ'."

Other chapters of note is the late Walter Martin's chapter on the "little gods" doctrine often snuck in by faith teachers. This was Martin's last published essay (he died after writing the essay, but the book was not published until after his death).
Horton's "The TV Gospel" and Godfrey's "The TV Chruch are written very well and are clear and concise. C. Everett Koop's chapter on faith healing and God's sovereignty is also extremely well done.

For another well written work on the subject read "Christianity in Crisis" by Hank Hanagraff.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beware, Church, August 5, 2002

By 

Gregory Nyman (Winchendon, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Agony of Deceit: What Some TV Preachers are Really Teaching (Hardcover)

Michael Horton and others carefully documents some of the modern heresies in the church, and it is highly recommended for those who are unaware of the stuff which spews itself off as theology. (Hagin, Robertson, Tilton, and others) Highly recommended.