Posted on 10/26/2013 8:39:24 AM PDT by ReformationFan
Believers in Unbelieving Churches What Should Be Done by Christian People Who are in a Modernist Church?
What is the duty of Christian congregations or Christian individuals who find themselves in a church that is dominated by unbelief? Shall they remain in such a church, or shall they withdraw from it and become members of a consistently Christian Church?
That is certainly the question of the hour for the orthodox part of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. Various attempts are being made to answer the question. Various considerations are being urged on one side or the other.
If we separate from the existing church organization, it is being said, shall we be able to retain any of our congregational property, or will that all have to be abandoned to the uses of the existing organization?
On the other hand, if we remain in a church that is dominated by unbelief, does that not mean that we are simply heaping up greater resources for the Modernists in future years to use? Will not every gift that we make, every church building that we put up, be turned over ultimately to the uses of unbelief?
(Excerpt) Read more at theaquilareport.com ...
Galatians Chapter 1
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)
2 And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:
3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
5 To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
14 And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.
20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.
21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;
22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:
23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
24 And they glorified God in me.
Work to bring it back to belief, if you can. If you can not, be sure that they know your reason for leaving; others may have not seen the unbelief and may follow you.
If you're a Christian, you'll know an unbelieving church and never attend.
If you're IN an unbelieving church already, you're more than likely an unbeliever yourself and you'll never know the difference.
If you've come to REALIZE your church is unbelieving and you've been in it a long time ... would a Christian really want to stay for gran'maw's sake?
“Work to bring it back to belief, if you can. If you can not, be sure that they know your reason for leaving; others may have not seen the unbelief and may follow you.”
I would have said just leave and find a real church but you pack three powerful points in just two short sentences. I like your approach.
like the way you think,,,
Thank you!
I can only lend my voice to point to the infallible Scriptures of Jesus Christ our Lord and hope that many will read them and understand the way, the truth, and the life is in Christ Jesus only and His work at the cross of Calvary and resurrection from the dead. He only is at the right hand of God the Father and will return to the earth at the end of the 7 tribulation, as the Scriptures of the one true God of Israel plainly teach those saved sinners who believe on Him only.
Most unbelievers choose to not believe as Romans I teaches and will suffer the wrath of the lamb of God for their love of lies.
Romans 3:
4God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
DONOT BE BOUND TOGETHER WITH UNBELIEVERS; FOR WHAT PARTNERSHIP HAVE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND LAWLESSNESS, OR WHAT FELLOWSHIP HAS LIGHT WITH DARKNESS?
Or WHAT HARMONY has Christ with BELIAL, or WHAT HAS A BELIEVER IN COMMON WITH AN UNBELIEVER?
Or WHAT AGREEMENT HAS THE TEMPLE OF GOD WITH IDOLS? For WE ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD; just as God said, “I WILL DWELL IN THEM and walk among them; And I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
THEREFORE, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” SAYS THE LORD”. “And DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; AND I WILL WELCOME YOU.
“And I WILL BE A FATHER TO YOU, AND YOU SHALL BE SONS AND DAUGHTERS TO ME,” Says the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:14 – 18 NASB Emphasis added)
Why does God instruct His people to separate themselves from these unbelieving churches? He answers this question in another passage:
You were running well; WHO HINDERED YOU FROM OBEYING THE TRUTH? This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you. A LITTLE LEAVEN LEVENS THE WHOLE LUMP OF DOUGH. (Galatians 5:7 – 9 NASB Emphasis added)
“Work to bring it back to belief, if you can. If you can not, be sure that they know your reason for leaving; others may have not seen the unbelief and may follow you.”
Agreed. Machen wrote this back in the 1930s when the conservatives were battling liberalism in the Northern Presbyterian Church(USA). Eventually, the conservatives were actually booted out and formed the Orthodox Presbyterian Church(OPC). The Southern Presbyterian Church(USA) had a similar battle in the 1960s and 1970s resulting in the founding of the Presbyterian Church in America(PCA) which I’m a member of.
Oh, Machen eventually did separate after trying to turn back the liberal tide by founding the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.
Every Christian in history has had to decide whether or not his church is preaching and teaching the truth, and if he has found it is not, he has had to decide whether to stay and use his Spiritual gift(s) and influence to see whether he can be a godly, Spirit-filled, and Spirit-used force in the church. If he cannot, then he has had to decide whether or not to leave.
I did just exactly that in a “Faith” assembly years ago,first the pastor then the group.
The “blab it and grab it” crowd are a stubborn bunch.
Didn’t the Southern Baptists go through some big internal struggle during the 1970s where the conservatives regained control from the elements that were moving away from Christ?
Are there any SB here old enough to know how that was done or what happened?
I think I saw a PBS show during the 1980s that mentioned it, is where I heard about it.
We all sin. Some sins are more easily seen and recognized than others. We are an imperfect people. The Holy Spirit teaches us. Which is a way of saying all churches have within them some level of unbelief. Which of us can walk on water? Or aspire to that level of belief? Jesus says we can move mountains, and heal through the power of faith/belief.
One either has a relationship with God or they don’t have a relationship with God.
To bring a denomination back to belief requires converting the seminaries that provide the leaders. It also requires you to be a missionary in an unbelieving church. Not many are called to be missionaries.
In our town, a local church brought in a new pastor who eventually taught that there were many paths to salvation. After a lot of turmoil, one third (true believers) left and two thirds stayed. In another local church, a liberal pastor was replaced with a believing pastor. After the turmoil of being confronted with biblical truth, one third left and two thirds stayed.
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