Posted on 03/12/2015 12:27:58 PM PDT by Jan_Sobieski
Peek behind the curtain of some "progressive" or "hip" evangelical churches, past the savvy technology and secular music, and you will find more than just a contemporary worship service. You'll find faith leaders encouraging young evangelicals to trade in their Christian convictions for a gospel filled with compromise. They're slowly attempting to give evangelicalism an "update"—and the change is not for the good.
It's painful for me to admit, but we can no longer rest carefree in our evangelical identity—because it is changing. No doubt you have seen the headlines declaring that evangelicalism is doomed because evangelical kids are leaving the faith. It is no secret that there is an expanding gulf between traditional Christian teachings and contemporary moral values. But the sad truth is that the ideological gulf between America's evangelical grown-ups and their kids, aka the "Millennials," seems to be widening too.
Somehow the blame for this chasm is being heaped on traditional churches. They are accused of having too many rules as well as being homophobic and bigoted. Yes, we've heard those false claims from popular culture in its desperate attempt to keep Christianity imprisoned within the sanctuary walls. But now popular culture is being aided by Christ-professing bedfellows whose message to "coexist," "tolerate" and "keep out of it" is more marketable to the rising generation of evangelicals...
(Excerpt) Read more at christianpost.com ...
What’s new?
The do the same to the Constitution.
Christian left? No such thing.Of course there are leftists who *claim* to be Christian....
This is a case of the chickens coming home to roost. The happy-clappy evangelical churches have been too busy building behemoth plants, installing laser lights for their productions, and amplifiers for their praise bands instead of establishing elementary and high schools where the Christian faith could be nourished and strengthened by daily Bible study.
American public schools are nurseries for secular humanism and Leftist philosophy. Without being grounded in the Word, children are sitting ducks for Satan seven hours every school day.
2 John 1:10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them.
Romans 16:17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.
Romans 10:2-3 For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3 Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
Matthew 15:8-9 ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And[a] honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.
The mark of a genuine church isn’t whether they are hip or unhip. Its do they teach the eternal principles. Do they preach Christ. Are they faithful to scripture.
A lot have fallen away, hip and unhip alike.
The biggest problem we face is that our kids (and ourselves) are in church a couple hours a week; the world has them the rest of the time. If they begin to want acceptance from the world they live in, and most people do, then everything you’ve tried to teach them is undermined. They have to learn anew, as did we, how to remain principled in a fallen world.
The most important thing we can do of course is preach Christ and do it with our lives.
The second most important thing we must do is to build the culture we want to live in. Build schools that even non-christians want to study in. Write music even non-christians want to listen to. Film movies even non-christians want to watch because they are that good. All while remaining faithful to our calling.
If you let the world take the lead in educating, informing, and entertaining your family, a little weekly Christianity isn’t going to be enough.
They are accused of having too many rules as well as being homophobic and bigoted
If i am following the Word of God and you call me homophobic because of it i can live with that. I will be judged by God not by you....
Unbelievers will go before the White Throne of Judgement. Believers go before the Bema Seat of Christ to receive their crowns to rule as priests and kings with the Lord.
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCHES BEGIN EMBRACING ROMAN CATHOLIC CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY
http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/blog/?p=31616
Sure, I agree (and know this). What about people who have fooled themselves into thinking they are believers but are not (Matt 7:21-23)? The White Throne Judgment...
meh...’tickle your ear’ Christians, predicted many years ago.
Much to think about and much to criticize in this posting.
I can only conclude that the author knows entirely nothing about the RC Church and her teachings and the spiritual exercises of meditation and contemplation.
Contemplation ought not to be used unless one has a spiritual advisor. It is a slow process of growing closer and closer to the Divine Being/God, and particularly with the crucified Christ.
When ever I hear of someone ‘emptying themselves to as to hear the Word of God, I become uneasy. That is why such practices require a spiritual mentor. More realistic is to find a place that is quiet and a bit on the dim side, so the outside world will not be distracting. Then meditate on our Lord, Jesus, the crucified Messiah and Redeemer. Think about his suffering for all for us; choose a particular scene from his passion, [such as the scourging and how much pain he must have felt], and then try to imagine if you were the one being scourged and whether you/I would be able to sacrifice ourselves for another’s salvation. Of course, the answer is ‘NO’. Which is why we can acknowledge the suffering & divinity of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Much to think about and much to criticize in this posting.
I can only conclude that the author knows entirely nothing about the RC Church and her teachings and the spiritual exercises of meditation and contemplation.
Contemplation ought not to be used unless one has a spiritual advisor. It is a slow process of growing closer and closer to the Divine Being/God, and particularly with the crucified Christ.
When ever I hear of someone ‘emptying themselves to as to hear the Word of God, I become uneasy. That is why such practices require a spiritual mentor. More realistic is to find a place that is quiet and a bit on the dim side, so the outside world will not be distracting. Then meditate on our Lord, Jesus, the crucified Messiah and Redeemer. Think about his suffering for all for us; choose a particular scene from his passion, [such as the scourging and how much pain he must have felt], and then try to imagine if you were the one being scourged and whether you/I would be able to sacrifice ourselves for another’s salvation. Of course, the answer is ‘NO’. Which is why we can acknowledge the suffering & divinity of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
There are Christians who are what they call radish Christians. They go through the motions but they don’t really believe in God or practice their faith.
Someone who claims to be religious but isn’t religious - is already alienated from God.
You can follow Him or you can turn your back on Him but you can’t have it both ways. And at the Last Judgment your sincerity or the lack of it during your time on earth - will be known in front of Heaven.
Probably a good place here for a reminder of America’s ‘Great Awakenings’. The first greatly influenced the founding of the United States, the second brought the Civil War, and the third brought the Progressive Movement. American Christianity has had flip sides from time to time.
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