RESURRECTION BATTLE WITH EFCA ENDS

The Evangelical Free Church of America recently reaffirmed its stand on the belief in the physical, bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ and believers. The denomination’s declaration, publicized in late January, has ended the serious concerns and criticisms of a number of evangelical scholars and a coalition of 155 apologetic and counter-cult ministries. Personal Freedom Outreach was part of the initial alliance of ministries that formed in October 1990.

The conflict arose from the writings of Professor Murray Harris of the EFCA’s seminary, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (now Trinity International University) in Deerfield, Ill. Harris contended in two works, Raised Immortal and From Grave to Glory, that the nature of Christ’s resurrection was one of “immateriality” and that He now possesses a “nonfleshly” body in heaven. Harris further asserted that the “believer’s resurrection body will come from heaven, not the grave.” (See further, The Quarterly Journal, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 5-8 and Vol. 12, No. 3, pp. 2, 14-15.)

At the forefront of bringing resolution to the disagreement was Duane Magnani of Witness, Inc. Magnani, a former Jehovah’s Witness, had charged that Harris’ statements paralleled the heretical beliefs of the Watchtower Society. “If there was not a physical resurrection, there wasn’t a resurrection. The only kind of resurrection in the Bible is physical,” Magnani said.

In its statement of reaffirmation, the Evangelical Free Church said, “[its] leadership reaffirms unitedly and unequivocally the belief that the same body in which Jesus was crucified and was raised again, an immortal body, but nevertheless a physical body with flesh and bones; and that the dead bodies of believers will be raised immortal from the grave when Christ returns.”

A resolution letter dated Jan. 29, 1996, and jointly signed by Magnani, Dr. Paul A. Cedar, president of the EFCA, and renown Christian apologist Dr. Norman L. Geisler stated that the “disagreement has passed” and announced that “through much prayer and good discussion, we have seen that God is faithful to bring us together in brotherly reconciliation.”

—MKG

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