Posted on 12/31/2006 8:41:18 AM PST by Gamecock
And we are warned to watch out for false teachers.
How do you propose we do that?
Every church has a "gimmick" to bring unbelievers ...
children's event, free food, whatever ... it's OK with me.
Warren's gimmick is a book that happens to appeal to those
who otherwise would reject God. It's just possible that
God has used Warren's book to bring people back to the
"Good Book". Perhaps a great percentage of those people
will develop roots. Some will not. But then that is the same
with all churches.
Maybe you need to find a church who's only gimmick is the preaching of God's word.
You are so right!
[... not judging his eternal destiny -- just his business practices...]
Sounds like Warren is a brilliant businessman.
Add me to the ping list...thanks!
I know what you are saying. I think that once you have them attending, you need to at least feed them with something other than the milk. They need meat eventually.
Actually, I think "gimmicks" to get people to attend church is a miscalculation for those who want instant growth or instant gratification as we refer to it these days. What is wrong with just teaching the Bible as it is written, and let God fill the pews? There are no shortcuts, it is not an easy path, nor should it be easy.
The only church's with "gimmicks" are ones that quit preaching the word
You said -- "Every church has a "gimmick" to bring unbelievers ..."
What's God's gimmick? The last I heard the cross was an "offense" to those who don't believe. Is that the gimmick that we should be using? Just wondering, since God uses it...
Regards,
Star Traveler
He not only uses translations, but worse, he often uses paraphrases which bear little or no resemblence to the original...but which suit his needs for wording that substantiates his "purpose".
Jesus gimmick was story telling and feeding people.
This is what he told us to do about false teachers.
Matthew 13:25-30
... The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which
sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his
enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his
way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth
fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of
the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not
thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath
it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The
servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and
gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather
up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let
both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of
harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together
first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them:
but gather the wheat into my barn...
Just including you in the discussion. Please don't
take it personally. Many, including yourself have
not been judgmental at all.
Amen.
[... What is God's gimmick??? ...]
Outstanding question.
God's gimmick is His unconditional love toward me.
This is almost more than I can fathom. That God
loved me and reached out to me through the cross
and the blood of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ...
all while I was yet a sinner.
(Happy to hear that you got back safely)
No one is presuming to be a teacher. Just watching out for the false ones. And there's nothing wrong with pointing that out.
[... There are no shortcuts, it is not an easy path, nor should it be easy...]
Great points Tommy.
See Post #401
A "gimmick"? Good grief. The gospel of Jesus Christ needs no "gimmick".
You are correct. Just including you in the discussion.
You said -- "This is what he told us to do about false teachers."
Well, the Apostle Paul did a lot more than ignore them. He would name them and say a lot more than that. And, unless you have others who can report these things, analyze them, put them down for other to read and be warned of it -- it leads to many others being misled.
What he was saying was not to go and cut off their heads (like the Muslims do). He wasn't saying to allow them to continuing teaching without being reproved. And *definitely* we are to warn others to not fall for the deception.
You see, when they gather up the tares at the end of the age, they are burned (that means "dead"). We're not burning them. We comply with that. But, we are reproving false teaching.
Regards,
Star Traveler
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