Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The real reason liberal churches are losing members
Charisma News ^ | 25 June 2014 | Michael Brown

Posted on 06/27/2014 12:15:05 PM PDT by Gamecock

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-31 last
To: Gamecock

It start when churches start preaching only 1 half of the gospel. When all you hear is God loves you no matter what, and not the other part of the Gospel. RUN!


21 posted on 06/27/2014 1:38:00 PM PDT by vpintheak (I will not comply!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gamecock
Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD spoke of when he said: “ ‘Among those who approach me I will be proved holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.’ ” Leviticus 10:3

Lots of talk about the love of God these days. Little talk about the holiness of God. While this verse in Leviticus may seem self center of God, it actually reflect our failure to honor that which is good and true. Those churches who do not honor and seek the holiness of God simply won't last long.

22 posted on 06/27/2014 2:00:14 PM PDT by HarleyD ("... letters are weighty, but his .. presence is weak, and his speech of no account.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tax-chick
Christianity doesn't have dietary laws or dress codes, either. Those are easy, legalistic fillers that may let a person evade the complete reformation of your heart, mind, body, and soul that is true Christianity.

So when God Himself gave dietary laws and dress codes in His Torah, He was giving His people something weak and wicked?

God gave us rituals and cultural commandments not as a replacement for inner transformation, but as stepping stones for the young and spiritually immature and as a way to bring body, soul, and spirit together. This is why even Christians recognize the New Covenant sacraments of Baptism and Communion to be graces rather than "legalistic fillers," and why most Christians around the world have developed their own traditions and rituals--catechisms, confirmations, hymns, creeds, confessions, and ceremonies.

Now, I agree that any of these can become a substitute for a true, living, and transforming faith/faithfulness. On the other hand, so can "feel-good faith." The solution is not to avoid them like the plague, but rather to see them as what they are: tools, a means to an end, the end being the true and living Messiah (Rom. 10:4).

Shalom

23 posted on 06/27/2014 2:25:22 PM PDT by Buggman (returnofbenjamin.com - Baruch haBa b'Shem ADONAI!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: njslim

Just curious. Did that include shellfish?

I’m guessing that poultry was considered “meat”?


24 posted on 06/27/2014 3:17:33 PM PDT by chesley
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Buggman

I don’t want to get in an argument regarding a different religion. The dietary laws and dress codes (or customs) of observant Jews are not part of Christianity as generally understood..


25 posted on 06/27/2014 3:39:11 PM PDT by Tax-chick (Let the storm rage on ... the cold never bothered me anyway.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: chesley

Poultry is meat

Shellfish (clams, scallops, mussels, etc) are fish

Brother would always bug mother to get him some scallops for
Friday dinner.......


26 posted on 06/27/2014 4:06:55 PM PDT by njslim (T)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: njslim

Thanks for the info :)


27 posted on 06/27/2014 4:46:37 PM PDT by chesley
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: njslim

I saw that too.


28 posted on 06/27/2014 5:11:30 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: HarleyD

The common image of God is that He is a doting grandfather who is somehow amused by our mistakes and is willing to overlook them because we tried our best and are basically good.

That ain’t going to cut it.


29 posted on 06/27/2014 5:15:00 PM PDT by Gamecock (#BringTheAdultsBackToDC)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Buggman

The Torah isn’t Christianity. Christianity replaced the Law. God gave us no rituals or cultural commandments other than baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

But, back to the subject, liberalism is a mental disorder. It is doing the same thing over and over after seeing negative results; yet continuing to do the same thing expecting a positive outcome.

I don’t go to church to see a rock concert, watch dramatic theater, or handle snakes. I go to church to hear from the Lord through the preaching of his Word, the way He intended. All this other fluff: rock music, rap, drama, art, etc. is an attempt by churches to become more like the world in order to reach the world. Doesn’t work. Why would someone wanting to escape the clutches of the world go somewhere that is no different than what they’re trying to get away from?

People want truth. As harsh as that truth may be, ultimately (in most cases) when people are confronted by their sin-state, they appreciate the bold honesty. Too many people today (ie, Joel Olsteen) tickle the ears of people, only focus on the positive and include only enough truth to keep people’s attention—but not providing a real substantive change in people’s lives. Not to mention any preacher who gets rich using the Word of God is in his/her own eyes better than Jesus—the one they are supposed to be representing.


30 posted on 06/28/2014 1:25:28 AM PDT by Hambone02
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: cdcdawg

Yep. Especially since people who hold to that belief can simply not attend church instead. And of more concern to the folks that run liberal churches, if these folks don’t come, odds are their money will never make it into the liberal church’s collection plates.


31 posted on 07/05/2014 4:00:27 PM PDT by ReformationFan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-31 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson