7 Lies Modern Churches Need to Stop Believing

Crosswalk ^ | 1/25/2024 | Patricia Engler

[ducttape45]

What do you all think? Open for discussion, and please, be kind and respectful. Thank you.

[PeterPrinciple]

God’s word is our ultimate standard for truth. It’s the paramount litmus test for recognizing lies, the weapon for destroying lies, and the reality for replacing lies. By constantly filling ourselves up with God’s word, we can resist swallowing lies that would destroy us. We can grow strong on the truth which sustains us. And we can take wing in fulfilling our God-given purposes.

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Anyone here read their Bible today?

[MeganC]

“Open for discussion, and please, be kind and respectful.”

Isn’t that statement at odds with your post? Scripture does not need to conform to liberal and secular standards of being ‘kind and respectful’.

No, Christians are called to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable.

If someone thinks me unkind because I call out adultery, sexual deviancy, corruption, greed, envy, and any other sin then that’s JUST TOO DAMNED BAD.

I’m also unkind to bullies and to people who hate the Constitution and the United States of America.

Very unkind.

[The Sons of Liberty]

For those who remember the comedian Flip Wilson, his "Church of What's Happening Now" was an example of most of these tenets, and unfortunately, most churches these days are also.

Keep in mind, in most churches the bottom line is paramount - not religion.

[spacejunkie2001]

I agree. We are citizens of the kingdom of God not this world. Faith is the evidence of Things Not Seen and the substance of things hoped for. We are to stand on the word of God Alone nothing that conflicts with the word of God shall We Believe or even entertain. The only truth is the word of God

[cuban leaf]

I think the biggest damage to the message in a post modern world is the ECT* message. Educated people don’t take Christianity seriously often just because of that. And the “comical” part is that when I try to explain to them that the bible does not teach that, they argue back fervently that it is the core of Christianity as though they were backwoods baptists. Its imperative to them that Christianity teaches that or their single most strong case against Christianity goes away.

*ECT: Eternal Conscious Torment for the lost. This site covers it very well: https://www.jewishnotgreek.com/

[ConservativeMind]

Lies #5, 6, and 7 are particularly a problem.

Mega churches I’ve attended just can’t stop with those. Since they are inevitably “seeker-sensitive,” they just can’t broach tough topics.

Churches that elect elders who are divorced and whose spouses are not dead, are another problem.

[metmom]

Excellent.

I’ve been to too many churches which have swallowed and/or practiced those lies.

Past tense. We will not attend a church which compromises on God’s Truth.

Also been to a church where the 50 year old pastor was dressing in skinny jeans and acting all hip and young in order to be relevant. While his messages were solid, between the way he dressed and the smoke machine and lights for *worship* the whole *experience* as they called church, was a real turn off.

Thanks for posting

[metmom]

Yes.

And working on memorizing a psalm.

Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

[ducttape45]

I do, and also visit these websites for daily devotions:

A Daily Devotional by C. H. Spurgeon - Faith's Checkbook

My Utmost for His Highest

Another Well Devotional

If anyone has other devotional websites, please share them!

[ducttape45]

You’re splitting hairs. What I meant is for us to be kind and respectful to each other here in the forum.

[ducttape45]

Skinny jeans? Yuck! I hate to see those no matter who wears them!

And I agree, I won't attend a church that compromises. Problem is, most of them do, and with me having Long Covid it makes getting out very difficult.

[Tell It Right]

I agree.

And to your point, for the most part those are the churches that lose membership. As are the churches that are descriptive of this main post. I'm sure there are exceptions where there are CINO (Christian In Name Only) churches growing, but not from where I see it. Where I see it there are churches growing because the real Christians are looking for places that encourage faith in Christ not the world, and living it like we mean it not living like the world.

[Raycpa]

Responses by Raycpa, a newly ordained pastor

Lie #1: You need to see results or you’re not doing God’s will.

I know that numbers are based on what the Holy Spirit is doing and although I see results in the growth of those who attend, I still count heads and get disappointed by dwindling numbers.

Lie #2: Age is proportionate to relevance.Lie #3: People of different ages and stages must be kept segregated.

I am only sensitive to age when drawing on using or comparing culture to biblical principles. My experiences in the 1960's likely are not good comparisons for younger folks. Little ones cannot get much from a sermon and are distracting to their parents.

Lie #4: Cater to the individual’s comfort.

I cater to comfort regarding heat in winter and A/C in summer and attention spans. However, when did the message "repent" bring comfort?

Lie #5: Tell people what they want to hear.

I would love this but then I would be competing with politicians and culture leaders who speak and command audiences far above my abilities. I just have the Gospel.

Lie #6: If you ignore tough topics, they will go away.

I dread nothing more than when the Holy Spirit leads me to preach on tough topics. I really understand Jonah when that happens.

Lie #7: If culture and Scripture disagree, side with culture.

Which culture? Yesterday, tomorrow, last week?

[Jim W N]

Here’s another list of lies modern churches need to stop believing...

1) I am rich,
2) I am increasing in wealth, and
3) I have need of nothing
Revelation 3:17 - Jesus own words to today’s Laodicean Church

List of truths modern churches need to START believing...

1) I am wretched,
2) I am miserable
3) I am poor
4) I am blind, and
5) I am naked
Revelation 3:17 - Jesus own words to today’s Laodicean Church

List of things modern churches need to start DOING...

1) buy from Jesus gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich [learn of Jesus],
2) buy from Jesus white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed [forsake self-righteous for the righteousness of God in Christ as a gift],
3) anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see [be filled with the Holy Spirit], and
4) be zealous and repent.
Revelation 3:18 - Jesus own counsel to today’s Laodicean Church

[Safrguns]

Churches are dying because they have failed to open the door... to Jesus who declares to be standing at the door knocking.

We gather in His house and shut Him out.

We focus too much on works and not on His Grace.

We cherry-pick scriptures to adorn 30 minute feel-good speeches that say nothing.

As a result we are unprepared and ill-equipped to stand against what Jesus describes as the MOST DECEPTIVE time in human history.

Most pastors are not even willing to discuss from the pulpit the FACT that biblical prophecy (Matthew 24-25) is unfolding right before our eyes.

[Wuli]

Yes. If true to the Bible you are neither in eternal hell or “sent up to heaven” on death; death is a sleep, and after the final judgement you will be either united in God, or gone forever, period. God wants you with Him but he is not going to torture you in hell for an eternity if you shut Him out.

[sauropod]

bkmk

[Wuli]

What/which modern churches believe/preach these things?

I am not saying none of these things are believed, but the broad brush of “the modern Churches” identifies no church specifically and the reader is left to believe it pertains to ALL “modern churches”, which is surely not true.

[escapefromboston]

Too many churches go soft because they think it helps get more people in the pews. I think people want to hear “tough talk” even if they don’t necessarily live it out.