The visible Church in America rarely corresponds to The True Church of The Lord Jesus Christ! For those who are thinking this is an outrageous assertion, I challenge you to think about it, biblically.
How many churches require that members have a credible testimony of salvation?
How many have based their Doctrinal Stance on The Bible?
How many preach The Gospel of The Lord Jesus Christ, the way the Apostles did?
How many operate on the Free-Will offerings of God's people?
How many have leadership qualified by the standards recorded in Scripture?
How many preach/teach the doctrine described in the New Testament Epistles?
Using this measure, biblical churches are few and far between. Which brings me to the second of the Ten Things The Visible Church Has To Answer For: Opening the door to biblically offensive patterns and policies.
It is offensive to God:
That a group of non-believers could call themselves a Christian Church and have everyone else accept their claim.
To have women in spiritual leadership roles. Women have a vital spiritual role in The Church, but may not hold spiritual leadership offices: elder, bishop, pastor-teacher, deacon.
For those who represent Him to be be supportive of infancticide and/or sodomy.
For churches to draw on the Levitical Law in structuring their organization. Whether it is a priesthood, tithing, or simply imposing rules and regulations that define spirituality.
To sell things or offer gambling opportunities, including Lottery Tickets, in order to support the ministries of His Church. It is an indictment against God that implies He cannot or will not take care of His own.
To develop Seeker-Sensitive Programs and Polices. Such an approach assumes The Gospel is impotent.
To bring worldly musical forms and worldly, selfish worship forms into The Church. It's the same as inviting Allah to a Pig-Pickin' and expecting him to be pleased.
That pastors see themselves as anything other than servants of God and those the congregations they represent. Those who don't understand need to read I Peter 5:1-4 and consider that it is the congregation that "called" you. The one which "hires you" can also "fire you." And there's where the authority lies.
There are many more, but the point is made. If you take exception, let me know. Use the "comment" feature and make your point. But....bring your Bible not your opinion.
Showing posts with label Heresy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Heresy. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Defining Heresy Down
In the minds of men, Christianity is divided between Liberal, Conservative, Progressive, Evangelical, Charismatic, Contemporary, Fundamental, Emerging or Emergent and Seekers. In the mind of God, as it is revealed in Scripture, there are only Believers & Nonbelievers. Believers believe what God has revealed. Unbelievers don't!
By the time we are in 4th grade we should understand how True/False questions work: if any part of the statement is False, the whole statement is FALSE! In chemistry, if you can't make it work, you're missing a step, using the wrong materials or processes, reversing the order or doing something that won't work no matter how you do it.
And, in language, the same is true. There are rules of grammar and interpretation. You are not going to make a sentence say what you want unless you break one or more of those rules.
But, in religious matters, it seems everything is subjective! What I believe is what's true (for me) and no one can convince me otherwise. Nor should they try.
Once upon a time trained, experienced men proclaimed the message of salvation in clear, definitive terms. They said people were naturally sinners, alienated from the Life of God. They said nothing a sinner did or could do would be sufficient to change that condition. They said the only hope anyone had was in what Jesus did. That this God-man took our sin upon Himself, willingly offering Himself as a blood sacrifice for sin, was slain, buried and on the 3rd day was raised from the dead by The Father, in Heaven, to a New Life.
They declared, by the authority of The Father, that unless the sinner repented of his sin, committed his heart and life to God, in Christ, and gave evidence of that commitment, he would die in his sin.
Today, it's all different. Now the message is, "Make Jesus your friend and invite Him to join you in whatever life you choose to live." Worship Him anyway that suits you. And call yourself a Christian because....well, because you think you are.
By any biblical measure, this is Heresy! Former generations understood that. Even unsaved people understood that. So, why is it this generation doesn't?
The simple answer is: Most of those who present themselves as Christians, aren't! They are still in their sin. They are still cut off from God. They still don't understand spiritual things. Just look at how they live. Their lifestyle is one of insubordination. They don't understand The Gospel. They have no desire to please God, on His terms. They don't want to hear "negative" sermons. And they don't want anyone telling them they're wrong.
This is not just different, it's heresy! Blasphemy! An attack upon what Christians hold dear. An attack upon God and all He represents.
But, then, that's the old definition of heresy.
By the time we are in 4th grade we should understand how True/False questions work: if any part of the statement is False, the whole statement is FALSE! In chemistry, if you can't make it work, you're missing a step, using the wrong materials or processes, reversing the order or doing something that won't work no matter how you do it.
And, in language, the same is true. There are rules of grammar and interpretation. You are not going to make a sentence say what you want unless you break one or more of those rules.
But, in religious matters, it seems everything is subjective! What I believe is what's true (for me) and no one can convince me otherwise. Nor should they try.
Once upon a time trained, experienced men proclaimed the message of salvation in clear, definitive terms. They said people were naturally sinners, alienated from the Life of God. They said nothing a sinner did or could do would be sufficient to change that condition. They said the only hope anyone had was in what Jesus did. That this God-man took our sin upon Himself, willingly offering Himself as a blood sacrifice for sin, was slain, buried and on the 3rd day was raised from the dead by The Father, in Heaven, to a New Life.
They declared, by the authority of The Father, that unless the sinner repented of his sin, committed his heart and life to God, in Christ, and gave evidence of that commitment, he would die in his sin.
Today, it's all different. Now the message is, "Make Jesus your friend and invite Him to join you in whatever life you choose to live." Worship Him anyway that suits you. And call yourself a Christian because....well, because you think you are.
By any biblical measure, this is Heresy! Former generations understood that. Even unsaved people understood that. So, why is it this generation doesn't?
The simple answer is: Most of those who present themselves as Christians, aren't! They are still in their sin. They are still cut off from God. They still don't understand spiritual things. Just look at how they live. Their lifestyle is one of insubordination. They don't understand The Gospel. They have no desire to please God, on His terms. They don't want to hear "negative" sermons. And they don't want anyone telling them they're wrong.
This is not just different, it's heresy! Blasphemy! An attack upon what Christians hold dear. An attack upon God and all He represents.
But, then, that's the old definition of heresy.
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