Posted on 12/09/2014 11:02:39 AM PST by Gamecock
Full Title: Megachurch Pastor David Platt: Watered Down Gospel to Blame for Why Giving God 'Blank Check' Is So Foreign
David Platt, The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Ala., speaks on the opening night of 2014 SBC Pastors’ Conference in Baltimore, Md., on Sunday, June 8, 2014.
Southern Baptist International Mission Board President and megachurch Pastor David Platt said the reason why many Christians balk at the idea of allowing God to send them anywhere in the world for His purpose is because churches have watered down what it means to accept Jesus Christ as their savior.
The megachurch pastor preached in a Dec. 1 podcast entitled, "Our Obligation to the Unreached", that Christians should give God a "blank check" when it comes to missions, expressing a willingness to let go of everything and spread the Gospel even in the most violent and deadly places in the world. However he said most people sitting in the church pews on Sunday mornings believe this call is foolish and terrifying.
Referring to Paul's Romans 12 command to Christ followers to become "living sacrifices," Platt admonished "You know why blank check language – surrender to do whatever, go whatever – seems so foreign to so many of us today? Isn't because we've so diluted the gospel invitation?"
He said the decision to accept Christ's plan of salvation has been watered down to some version of "just make this decision and just move on with your life however you want in the future and that's all it means to be a Christian."
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He continued, "That's not true; it's just not true. Yes, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved… but that's just it; you're calling on the name of the Lord—the Lord who rules over you, the Lord to whom you belong, the Lord before whom you bow – and you say whatever you want me to do, I'll do it"
The Alabama pastor's Dec. 1 message is similar to criticisms he leveled against the "sinner's prayer" in 2012. In a three minute video shared across the evangelical community, Platt said, "I'm convinced many people in our churches are just simply missing the life of Christ and a lot of it has to do with what we've sold them as the Gospel." Platt charged that the sinner's prayer, a prayer which famously bids Jesus to "come into your heart," as nothing more than superstition and "evangelism built on sinking sand."
He later explained his comments were meant to express a desire for Christians to undergo an "authentic conversion and regenerate church membership."
In his podcast, Platt said the true image of becoming a Christian is that of a blank check. Platt described, "When you think about it, giving God a blank check is really the essence of what it means to be a Christian in the first place, right? What happens at the moment you or I come to faith in Christ? At that moment we turn aside from sin and from ourselves and we say I don't want to go my way anymore; I want to follow your way. That's a blank check, isn't it?"
He continued, "It's not like we come to Christ and say I want to follow some of your ways and some of my ways in the days to come. No, we say I'll follow your way; whatever it is – this is the essence of what it means to be a Christian – to say I'm trusting you now to save me from my sins and to lead me as my Lord. You're Lord, not me. I trust you to call the shots in my life."
Any Christian who has truly trusted God enough with his/her salvation can also trust God enough to give up their life plans to evangelize the 2 billion people around the world who do not have access to the Gospel.
He summed, "If you can trust God to save you from your sins, then you can trust God to lead your life. And if you can trust God to save you for all of eternity, then surely you trust God to satisfy you on this earth. What we really need to be afraid of is any conditions that we might put upon our obedience to this God. We give God a blank check because He sent us for others' salvation, for His glorification, for our satisfaction so it just makes sense to say send me whenever, however, wherever you want."
Platt's Radical Together podcast can be found on iTunes or archived on his Radical.net webpage.
Well, there’s that too!
That's true. I still remember when I told my parents I was going to Bible college instead of a secular university. Their immediate response was, "What are you going to do, be a missionary in Africa?". It's hard for some people to understand that being surrendered to God - being willing to do whatever He asks, go wherever He leads - doesn't necessarily mean His will will be to send you to Africa's deepest, darkest jungles to evangelize "savages". He could want you to bloom where you are planted - he needs people in EVERY walk of life. BUT...if God's will is to send you to Africa, you will learn that His will is always what is best for you. He wants us to be willing to serve Him no matter what. That kind of surrender is what truly honors God and brings glory to Him.
When we truly believe God wants what is best for us, that He is able to work ALL things for our good, we will be living willing sacrifices to His glory and praise. That's the kind of faith He desires we all have.
Amen.
No, we say I’ll follow your way; whatever it is – this is the essence of what it means to be a Christian – to say I’m trusting you now to save me from my sins and to lead me as my Lord.
I believe I was chosen to understand that Jesus is my lord and savior but God did not see fit to place me into a Church
minstery with a bunch of females.
It is enough that God caused me to see how rotten I really am, it was not planed that way that is just the way it turned out many years ago and can not be undone.
If I am cleansed it will be the day my body turns back to dust and God how I look forward to that day.
I have never asked this in my life, but please pray for me and forgive me.
That is my issue with the story.
We are all called to bear different crosses. My cross is not overseas missions.
I would propose he doesn't understand the passage "some are pastors". His view seems more "socialistic" than according to scripture. Who does he think supports those missionaries?
We are all called to bear different crosses. My cross is not overseas missions.
The real challenge is to do the duties of one’s daily life and recognize that even washing dishes can be a prayer and a way of serving God.
That too!
We often think that others should be bearing the same cross we are carrying.
And that is one of my of my beefs with the article. He fails to make that distinction.
While I do agree with most of his statement and yes people do get too comfortable in their life to serve the Lord correctly, but that isn’t the case for everyone. Scripture tells us without a doubt that all of us will not be called to evangelize the 2 billion people of this world.
Romans 12:6-8 New International Version (NIV)
6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11 New International Version (NIV)
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
While I understand his point I think he could have chosen better words to get his point across unless he did actually mean what he said.
Probably not participating. I think the church should not only send missionaries to other countries but should also go into our cities. New York, SF, etc. I would hate to go to the city. uh, oh. LOL
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