Otherwise known as The Church Of What's Happenin' Now
Posted on 08/26/2003 10:28:03 AM PDT by mhking
But he uses the word "paradigm" too darned much.
He explains the difficulty inherent in sharing faith in America today. You cannot argue someone into a relationship with God, they have to be drawn by the actions of His followers...
Otherwise known as The Church Of What's Happenin' Now
The Burning Man is a no-holds-barred New Age "Woodstock" style festival, where neo-pagans, wiccans, transvestitie entertainers, and back-slidden Christians go to trance, perform rituals, burn sacrifices to pagan gods and goddesses, dance in the nude, engage in sex, and otherwise "express" themselves and become one with Gaia. Attendees set up theme camps such as "Lost Vegas," "Motel 666," and "Crucifixion With a Celebrity" (where one can purchase a picture of a crucified obese Elvis). Hamburgers are sold by devil-worshippers at the McSatan cafe, and T-shirts are available that proudly proclaim, "Praise The Whore." related thread.
Groovy (but not particularly Christ-like).
There's a porn industry joke in there somewhere...
Randy Bohlender is the Director of Small Things at “VINYARD COMMUNITY CHUYRCH”
Ah yes; no wonder “pastor” Bohlender offered water bottles, instead of the water of life, water that will only cause those that receive it to thirst again rather than offering them the Lord Jesus Christ, who alone can give us “living water. For He has promised whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
As tragic as this is it comes as no surprise; given the state the evangelical church is in. We have replaced the counsel of God’s Word with the philosophies and strategies of business and of man; the “Purpose Driven Church” “seeker sensitive” movement/“paradigm” which dictates a perverted form of “christianity” that is non-threatening, familiar and “comfortable” to the "seeker" (the unsaved visitor).
A so-called “church” with so-called “pastors” offering services with messages that must be “only positive” often mixing psychology and an uplifting Scripture text in order that the saved and unsaved alike can “feel better about themselves.” A “church” where it’s ministries are geared to meeting the needs and special interests of the multitudes who attend by providing water bottles and “support groups” for everything from depression, eating disorders, infertility, family and friends of homosexuals, post abortion, to “fill in the blank.” All without a single ministry that involves the taking the Gospel message out to the lost in the community and the world.
Burning Man = godless, pagan men and women reveling in their self-centered pride and immorality. Worshiping themselves and heading for eternal destruction.
“Pastor” Bohlender; these dear souls do not need bottles of water; they need Christ! Only He can deliver them from their sin and the destruction to which they are rapidly heading.
As for the “Vineyard movement see:
http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/exposes/wimber/john.htm
http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/Psychology/vine/vineyard.htm
And the people Christ ministered to were not particularly Christ-like either.
And how do you propose the pastor reach the lost out at Burning Man? Or do you think he should continue to preach to those like you who are those like you?
The person who reached me is a pastor. He's also the drummer in a band. He got my attention with his music which led to a conversation which led to my conversion months later.
Of course the lost need Christ, but my childhood experiences with religious hypocrisy had soured me on church-going. I'm just very grateful that someone was able to speak to me about God and Christ in an idiom I could understand.
I take this man at his word, and if he gives away 100,000 bottles of water to win one to Christ then I say he's accomplished a great thing.
The answer to that is obvious. It is not so obvious in the case of the pastor of small things at Burning Man. I hope he's ministering. I hope he's preaching the gospel.
It seems to me that the pastor is acting in accordance with scripture.
"Preach the Gospel, and if necessary, use words." St Francis of Assissi
"It's not gonna be an orgy..."
Sammy Davis Jr. reportedly joined Anton LaVey's Church Of Satan just for the orgies.
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