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.
“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.
Keep in mind, in most churches the bottom line is paramount - not religion.
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
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/
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.
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
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?
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
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.
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.
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.
My former church(UMC) is doing a series on Politics...er, current topics. I found it odd because they have gutted the congregation by going as far left as they can.
I still get their newsletter and I saw the UMC logo(cross and flame) had been replaced and I thought they had disaffiliated. They went to just a brown cross because black people were offended by the cross and flame. I find that ironic because a) black UMC congregations still use it and b) there are no black people in that church. So I guess a white woman was offended for them.
Thanks for the illustration. Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men. (Hosea 10:13)
Lie #1: You need to see results or you’re not doing God’s will.
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. (Hebrews 10:36)Lie #2: Age is proportionate to relevance.
And Moses was fourscore years [80] old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh. (Exodus 7:7)
Lie #3: People of different ages and stages must be kept segregated.
The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. (Titus 2:3-5)
Lie #4: Cater to the individual’s comfort.
But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets. (Luke 6:24-26)
Lie #5: Tell people what they want to hear.
That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant. (Isaiah 30:9-13)
Lie #6: If you ignore tough topics, they will go away.
And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord God. (Ezekiel 22:30-31)
Lie #7: If culture and Scripture disagree, side with culture.
Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;) That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you. For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people. (Leviticus 18:26-29)
No room for compromise
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. (Jude 20-25)
That is preaching to me also toward more holiness in scope and depth, by the grace of God..
People are desperate for hope, for practical solutions to real-world problems. Since faithful Christians are silent about such things, the voices of the left’s sock puppets seem louder.
The mainstream Evangelical press (a.k.a. “the Wheaton mafia”) was glad to channel HALF of R J Rushdoony’s scholarship, the religious nature of secular humanism, a term he coined. However, this “channeling” was through accomplished plagiarist Francis Schaeffer, who covered his tracks and stonewalled regarding the source of his most powerful insights. Schaeffer kowtowed to the demands of the Wheaton mafia, perhaps in order to get his books into print, and apparently denied knowing his classmate and friend.
The other half of Rushdoony’s message, the Biblical SOLUTIONS to the issues of the day, got suppressed, blacked out, embargoed. I think the ArmEnian Calvinist nailed the motive for this denial of so much of God’s Word:
[
The fear of victory is not unusual. Doctors are plagued with healthy people with imaginary ailments; ... They fear health, because it brings them face-to-face with their responsibilities as men and women. In one way or another, countless people cripple themselves either physically or spiritually to avoid meeting life victoriously. The responsibilities of success and victory are avoided by many.
] (Chariots of Prophetic Fire. p. 160. Ross House Books. 2003)
It’s a bit mendacious to whine about real-world problems while resolutely renouncing and rejecting God’s real-world solutions.
Amen!
Churches are an invention of man and are always open for scrutiny or purpose. Man is not perfect and can do things not consistent with the word of God. And often.
Remember Mathew 18:
“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Many times more than three on any topic can cause confusion and misinterpretation...even of the Bible. Remember, you need two to disagree but a third to hear it and assumed something.
Luke 23:
“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” KJ
wy69
[[Lie #1: You need to see results or you’re not doing God’s will.]]
Nope- God often works behind the scenes- sometimes many many years later, and we never knew we were used by God to affect someone’s thought process later on- sometimes all it takes is being kind to someone on a consistent basis despite their being an unlovable person or whatever- and later in life- they remember back to “That Christian” who was kind while others ignored him or her=- Sometimes just something that is written will spark an interest in someone’s life, and the writer will never know-
[[Lie #6: If you ignore tough topics, they will go away.]]
It’s ok to say to a skeptic “I don’t know the answer to that” and leave that person’s salvation in the hands of a very capable God Who will know how to get through the skepticism if that person has been chosen before the foundations of the earth were placed- ie God knew who will and won’t accept- and He knows how to woo those who will- -
By the way- Paul said that the ‘whole earth had been evangelized’ already- said it a few times actually- I never realized that before- sadly though less and less people are listening, and it’s estimated that in modern day, only about 5% will have been evangelized to despite there being a lot more Christians aroudn today- Not saying everyone has been called to evangelize, but just thought it interesting that the whole world had already been so back when- with less Christians- it was quite a feat-
Calvinism is not Christianity.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4S19ubs2BxcWctWoQklOxWbIyvMg8SOU&si=muddVjr4_l8CQu3u
The Laodicean (”modern”) Church is not the only church around these days. We also have the Philadelphia Church.
Here are words of comfort and encouragement that Jesus has to say to them (hopefully, “us”)...
1) “You have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.” Rev. 3:8. [Resting in the grace of Christ, the center],
2) “See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it”. Rev. 3:8. [Spreading the Gospel of the Grace of Christ worldwide in these last days],
3) “I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.” Rev. 3:9. [Reigning victorious lives], and
4) “Because you have kept the word of my patience, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” Rev. 3:10. [The “raptured” church escaping the soon-coming tribulation of the wrath of the Lamb (1 Thessalonians 4:17)].
And a word of exhortation from the Lord...
“Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” Rev. 3:11. [Keep looking to the Lord for everything.]