Dr. Ergun Caner is, and should not be, the president of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. He is a charismatic speaker who seems to have a knack for drawing people into his delusions. However, it appears this so-called leader of future preachers is living in a house of cards. His star began to rise in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. His claims of being a former child jihadist and his engaging speaking style have made him the darling of the evangelical set.

 

What never ceases to amaze us is the gullibility of Christians. We claim to understand that we are sinners and capable of wrongdoing. Yet, we accept the most extraordinary claims on the part of preachers and speakers. Then, we profess profound “shock” when said “leaders” turn out to be frauds or fallen men and women. So, our question to our readers is this. What do you really believe about the fallen nature of man and why do Christians seem to easily fall prey to the Christian hero complex?

 

When the hero falls, it seems that the one to blame is not the perpetrator of the fraud but those who have exposed the truth. Doug Pittman has used the term, “Baptist Mafia,” when referring to those who would seek to “shut up” those who would speak of the truth. Do you think that is harsh? Well, take a look at the following anonymous email received by Wade Burleson who has been doing a yeoman’s job of exposing not only the lies of Ergun Caner but those of his brother, Emir Caner, President of Truett McConnell College.

 

“This decision requires immediate attention. Your continued attacks on people in the SBC have reached a point where a certain group have decided to say to you enough is enough. We leaders in the SBC will not allow you to continue. We desire your recovery from your issues. But cease you must from continued attacks.

Here is the decision you have, if you can call it one:

1. Close your blog and stop all attacks including your father and church member. You are done! or

2. This group will release to the press and your church information we have obtained involving your careless sin and attempts to cover up such activity while attacking others.

Need proof?

Casinos! Other addictions! Why your daughter is not at Baylor! Your sons Marine issue! Enough? It is your call. At least we have the Grace and Truth to give you a "chance" for restoration.”

 

http://kerussocharis.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-04-14T01%3A00%3A00-03%3A00&max-results=4

 

Doug Pittman’s colorful description seems to be “on the money.” All we need now is a horse head in Burleson’s bed!  Dee grew up in a non-Christian family and was acquainted with “tough guys.” When she became a Christian at 17, she was sure she had left that life behind. Wrong!

 

TWW joins with Wade Burleson, Tom Rich and others in seeking to expose the truth in the Caner matter. TWW calls for Ergun Caner to resign his presidency due to  his lies and failure to adequately respond to the allegations  and repent. How in the world can he expect to lead Christian students in the truth if he cannot adhere to simple honesty? I wonder if he would throw students out of his institutions if they were found to have been lying or cheating?Does the seminary have an honesty or no cheating policy? Bet they do. How do those who defend or cover for him feel about the lies of Bill Clinton? Did they support him in the same way?

 

The following is a list of lies, half-truths or undocumented claims by Ergun Caner.

1. He claims he was raised in Turkey and learned about America through television. He particularly liked the Andy Griffith show proving that his taste in television is at least orthodox! From Wade Burleson’s well known blog, Grace and Truth to You we learn, “Dr. Caner has publicly stated that he came to the United States at age fifteen having been trained to be a jihadist”

 Reality: Caner was born in Sweden to a Swedish mother and Muslim father. He came to the United States when he was 4 and was raised here.

 

2. He says he has debated famous Muslims along with leaders of every religious group imaginable.

Reality: One such man, Shabir Ally, has publicly stated that he has never spoken with Caner. There are absolutely no records to prove any debates that have taken place.

James White, head of Alpha and Omega, an evangelical Reformed apologetics site, has been investigating Caner and released this public statement, which can  be found at the 5 Point Salt blog.

            http://5ptsalt.com/2010/02/26/calling-ergun-caner-to-repentance/

 

“The fact remains that Ergun Caner does not do these things called formal debates. And what he has called debates the rest of the world calls conversations, interviews, discussions. There’s a difference, and he well knows it. He knows it so well his biography page, which, until last night anyway, contained his claim to have done debates with religious leaders in thirteen countries and thirty plus states, is now missing from his website, and his Twitter page has been amended as well. Why remove these claims if what he says here remains true? Do not get me wrong: I hope he removes all such claims, as they are demonstrably false, but he seems to be attempting to save face in the process as well….

I believe he has, in fact, intentionally “made up” stories. He needs to admit this and repent of it. I believe he needs to explain to his students that he is not on the cutting edge of Islamic apologetics. He has not stood in public to defend the Christian faith against the best the opposition has to offer, in fair, balanced, moderated debate. He may well say many true things about Islam, but he has created a false persona in an effort to bring more students to his school, and this is unworthy of the Christian profession. Only an open acknowledgment of this, and repentance thereof, will properly befit his continued ministry”.

 

 3. He alleges that he is an expert in Islam. Burleson says the following, “Dr. Caner has also publicly stated that his first language was Arabic and he was trained in a madrassa in Turkey. Several International Mission Board missionaries who speak fluent Arabic have emailed me, horrified at what they have heard Dr. Caner try to pass off as his native Arabic during his audio and video sermons at SBC churches. They confirm what others have been saying–he is speaking complete gibberish.”

  Reality: Muslim groups have been claiming for some time that not only doesn’t he speak the language correctly but he seems to misunderstand the very basics of Islam. Please view the following you tube in which he claims to  speak the Shahadah.

 

            http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16Erx-LKA3E&feature=related

 

 Now read a couple of comments from that video which we provide here.  Imagine how this looks for those who witness to our faith in the Muslim world!

 

“With due apologies, this guy doesn't even know what he is talking about!   He    says Shahadah is "Bismillah hir rahman raheem, alhmadullilah hirraheem" which translates as "In name of Allah most Merciful and  Compassionate, in name of Allah the most Merciful". is not even close to  what he translates it into! And this is not the "SHAHDAH"

 

" oh my goodness, honestly. this is ridiculous. you have to be completely brainwashed and ready to be spoon-fed anything put in your face to buy what this man's saying. He doesn't even know the basics of islam, he's been debunked from every direction. We fast 40 days? "Swam"? my Lord, Guide him. He's making christians look uneducated about just religion in general. Does he think hes doing a favor to his people by lying? "This man is a former Muslim!"

 

4. He claims to be a witness for the Lord.

 Reality: Yet, his speaking style is peppered with derogatory statements that should make any Bible believing, missions oriented Christian cringe. The following are from Tom Rich’s excellent blog, FBC Jax Watchdog. Tom had the dubious honor of hearing this guy speak after 9/11.

       http://fbcjaxwatchdog.blogspot.com/2010/04/ergun-caner-growing-up-i-learned-about.html 

  “Takes a swipe at Mexicans: says that "his people" come here to America faster than any group except for Mexicans, and we (Turks) "don't come in the back of Chevy's".

  "Do I believe in women behind the pulpit? You bet I do, how else do you expect             them to vacuum back here if they can't get behind it?”

 

How has Liberty responded? Simply by putting a “cleaned up” version of his biography on their web site. So, it seems as if Liberty is complicit in allowing such a poor witness and poor role model to remain at his post. This raises questions about the administration at Liberty. If Caner remains in his position, we would advise all individuals applying to Liberty to “think again.” Find a seminary and college that actually uphold truth instead of paying it lip service.

 

We have another question that we feel needs to be addressed. There are a number of pastors and seminarians that proudly extol their various degrees. Some of these degrees are questionable and are granted by diploma mills. Some are merely honorary degrees and unearned. Others such as doctorates (THD) from the University of South Africa (which Caner holds) are granted by long distance evaluation via recommendations and papers, etc. TWW believes that all professors and pastors should have their degrees scrutinized to be sure that they are from legitimate organizations and earned due to hard work, not working who you know. Frankly, there are some folks who have no business calling themselves “Doctor.”

 

Finally, critics of those exposing Caner have said that it is a “reformed” vendetta. Apparently they believe that the Calvinists are out for blood since Caner is heavily anti-Calvinism. Well, TWW has long criticized excesses in the Calvinist movement so, as the saying goes, we have no dogs in this hunt. We believe in the truth and believe that Caner has shown blatant disregard for the truth. Try as they might, these apologists for Caner (instead of Christ) will not be able to overcome the groundswell of objections from Calvinists, Arminianists, Don’t Really Careists, and a host of folks outside of the faith who are calling, “foul.”

 

As for the goons that threatened Wade Burleson, we have something to say to you. Someday you will stand before God and will give an account for these threats. The Bible has no chapters on how to utilize Mafioso tactics in disagreements. TWW is shocked that you call yourselves Christians.Wait, you didn't. You called yourselves Baptist leaders. Maybe Christians and Baptist leaders aren't the same. May God convict you and have mercy on your souls.