No kidding; I left the DVR ready to record and was about to trudge off to bed when I saw this comment on a blog relating to "Emergent churches" and "contemporary churches":
I do agree that many in all churches, probably more than half do appear like Christians and teach and preach in Christ name, but the Lord will not them in the end….this is sad as they are hypocritical. However, the way of reaching these people needs to be done according to scripture not according to what man or men think they need to do to reach these lost…you cannot change the church into the world in order to attract the lost…it may seem to be working, but the end result will be a sham…there is way that seems right to man, but is not the way of God.
The scripture has never changed nor has God changed or His ways. Just be very careful how you go about “doing church” and fabricating Christians….the most horrible thing is that the large numbers of people reported to be believing in these churches may be false….Christ has told us that the invitation has gone out to many, but only a few are chosen….the road is very narrow that leads to heaven, so stop trying to widen the road, because it will not work.
If God wanted the road wide then He would have created the churches to be entertainment centers himself.
[A certain pastor] has a great opportunity to train many in how to live a life that will draw others to Christ..it requires him to preach the entire word of God and focus on the entire body of Christ not just the lost. The Holy Spirit will take care of the lost…it is our job to share the gospel and step aside.
It is our job to train further the saints into a deeper walk with Christ. We are preparing for heavenly living, not just to invite others to Christ. Our sole purpose on earth is the bring glory to God with our entire lives…we will not enter heaven and have God say to us “Oh, you are that great guy or gal that lead 250 people to my Son”….He will not say that.
He is looking at the heart and will hopefully say to you, “Well done my good and faithful servant, enter the kingdom of heaven”.
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This person's perspective is self-serving, not Gospel-serving. And though he mentions scripture, his argument isn't supported by scripture: God doesn't play games ... especially Spiritual Gotcha!
God isn't scared, and doesn't hide behind man-made rules and stained glass windows ... waiting for a church bell to signal "All Clear." He's sovereign.
The gate to life is narrow ... meaning, through Christ only. Not through works or by "doing church the right way" according to man-made rules and traditions; nor through piety, outrage, or self-righteous finger-pointing and indignation. Salvation is a gift through God's grace ... and never something we can earn for ourselves by making rules, or through casting suspicion or doubt upon others.
What about "changing the church"? Church isn't a building, it's not a tradition, it's not your religion, it's NOT a set of rules and it's not just a My-Sunday-Kind-of-Place. The church is Christ's body on earth ... never intended to be where we go on Sundays to dress up n' boast I'm saved and You're Not.
Let's go straight to scripture about why Christ came to earth.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. - John 3:17
What did Christ command (not suggest) us to do until He returns? Not to "train further the saints into a deeper walk with Me, because the Holy Spirit will take care of the lost." Jesus didn't say that at all.
He said, "Go and make disciples of all nations ..."
Nor did He say to "Go and get deeper" or to "Study thyself into a spiritual stupor" or to "Live so that you may fashion your heavenly lifestyle." Christ said He was going to prepare a place for us, and my trust is in Him.
Finally, I can't find anything in scripture that says we're to embellish, accessorize and choose our eternity, hoping that God will look at our heart-felt choices and say, "Well done, good and faithful décorateur."
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