Posted on 02/27/2015 8:50:26 AM PST by Gamecock
Many American churches are in a mess. Theologically they are indifferent, confused, or dangerously wrong. Liturgically they are the captives of superficial fads. Morally they live lives indistinguishable from the world. They often have a lot of people, money, and activities. But are they really churches, or have they degenerated into peculiar clubs?
What has gone wrong? At the heart of the mess is a simple phenomenon: the churches seem to have lost a love for and confidence in the Word of God. They still carry Bibles and declare the authority of the Scriptures. They still have sermons based on Bible verses and still have Bible study classes. But not much of the Bible is actually read in their services. Their sermons and studies usually do not examine the Bible to see what it thinks is important for the people of God. Increasingly they treat the Bible as tidbits of poetic inspiration, of pop psychology, and of self-help advice. Congregations where the Bible is ignored or abused are in the gravest peril. Churches that depart from the Word will soon find that God has departed from them.
What solution does the Bible teach for this sad situation? The short but profound answer is given by Paul in Colossians 3:16: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” We need the Word to dwell in us richly so that we will know the truths that God thinks are most important and so that we will know His purposes and priorities. We need to be concerned less about “felt-needs” and more about the real needs of lost sinners as taught in the Bible.
Paul not only calls us here to have the Word dwell in us richly, but shows us what that rich experience of the Word looks like. He shows us that in three points. (Paul was a preacher, after all.)
First, he calls us to be educated by the Word, which will lead us on to ever-richer wisdom by “teaching and admonishing one another.” Paul is reminding us that the Word must be taught and applied to us as a part of it dwelling richly in us. The church must encourage and facilitate such teaching whether in preaching, Bible studies, reading, or conversations. We must be growing in the Word.
It is not just information, however, that we are to be gathering from the Word. We must be growing in a knowledge of the will of God for us: “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding” (Col. 1:9). Knowing the will of God will make us wise and in that wisdom we will be renewed in the image of our Creator, an image so damaged by sin: “Put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (3:10).
This wisdom will also reorder our priorities and purposes, from that which is worldly to that which is heavenly: “The hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of truth, the gospel” (1:5). When that Word dwells in us richly we can be confident that we know the full will of God: “I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known” (1:25). From the Bible we know all that we need for salvation and godliness.
Second, Paul calls us to expressing the Word from ever-renewed hearts in our “singing.” Interestingly, Paul connects the Word dwelling in us richly with singing. He reminds us that singing is an invaluable means of placing the truth of God deep in our minds and hearts. I have known of elderly Christians far gone with Alzheimer’s disease who can still sing songs of praise to God. Singing also helps connect truth to our emotions. It helps us experience the encouragement and assurance of our faith: “That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (2:2–3).
The importance of singing, of course, makes the content of our songs vital. If we sing shallow, repetitive songs, we will not be hiding much of the Word in our hearts. But if we sing the Word itself in its fullness and richness, we will be making ourselves rich indeed. We need to remember that God has given us a book of songs, the Psalter, to help us in our singing.
Third, Paul calls us to remember the effect of the Word to make us a people with ever-ready “thanksgiving.” Three times in Colossians 3:15–17 Paul calls us to thankfulness. When the “word of Christ” dwells in us richly, we will be led on to lives of gratitude. As we learn and contemplate all that God has done for us in creation, providence, and redemption, we will be filled with thanksgiving. As we recall His promises of forgiveness, renewal, preservation, and glory, we will live as a truly thankful people.
We need the word of Christ to dwell in us richly today more than ever. Then churches may escape being a mess and become the radiant body of Christ as God intended.
“These are trying times. Ten years ago, this wasn’t a problem, ( gay marriage ) because people just accepted that it was ridiculous, but now it’s as if people have lost their minds.”
You nailed it.
In reality, they’re Christianless churches.
“I cringe when I hear the term “social justice”. Code words for socialism IMHO”
no, its code for racism against whites.
Our church had a couples study where we got together once a week. It was my turn to head up the study topic. I loaded the DVD we were to watch soon to get an idea on the subject matter. Also did some pre-internet searching on the author. Amazon reviews were almost all positive on the author as a very intelligent, wise Christian Pastor.
Anyway as I was watching the DVD, the message wasn’t sitting right with me and then the magic phrase spilled from this man’s “wise” lips - social justice and its importance in a church.
Now this was years ago before that term was more commonplace (yet still I bet 75% of adults are unfamiliar with it - stupid and tragic).
I knew what that phrase really meant. I mentioned it to our group that night. These were all nice, conservative rural hard working folks but their eyes glossed over and I’m sure they thought I was a loon. I’ve been telling people here on FR that there are still far too many men who are like the aforementioned group, who are still naïve of the evil going around this Country. And simply have no idea and whose families are ripe to be raped and pillaged. And no, that is not hyperbole.
Anyway, I stopped being part of the weekly studies. Sad to say as a Christian, the only people I’m willing to study the Bible with, and to seek the truth and not twist it to fit my beliefs, are those that realize that war is coming real soon and that Prayer AND Fighting with arms is our only hope.
If we are to be ONLY loving our neighbor all the time, and ONLY submitting to Govt Authority, and that is what the Bible states unless I’m missing something, then I sadly say I cannot follow God’s commands. There is a time NOT to love your neighbor and not to follow your Govt Leaders but to crush them.
There is a book out there call “Christless Christianity.” Hits the nail on the head.
Pastors are called to preach the full counsel of God. Not to water down certain doctrines that may be out of step with the culture.
My pastors do take a stand for the unborn and for traditional marriage, the Christians in Iraq and Syria but they really try to remain neutral when it comes to politics. I’m really of two minds about this. Am I being overly critical of my pastors because they don’t? Or am I losing focus on Christ and the will of the Father, not putting my faith in Him?- Thinking man is in control.. etc.
One thing I didn’t like was when I needed counsel about how my child was being taught Islam in (public)school and encourage to recite the Shahadha in class. The youth pastor really didn’t give any advice or help on the matter. I think in matters like that, the church could have been more bold.
But saying all that, I’m not a pastor and I don’t know what they are thinking and praying. Am I putting to much on them? Am I not leaning on God? I have a ton of questions and it’s hard not having someone to really talk to about this.
***I don’t know what they are thinking and praying.***
I think you should have a pretty good idea based on what they say, and don’t say in the pulpit.
A lot of seeker sensitive churches shy away from Gods word because they know that that sermons will quickly become drive “seekers” away.
Keep reminding yourself, church is not the place for evangelism, but rather the goal.
That's a good point.
May I refer you to the following?
IMHO...
When your pastor (teaching elder) can not guide you on doctrinal questions - or neglects or refuses to - it’s time to find a new pastor.
On politics, these days it just so happens that BOTH parties have enormous anti-Christ stances on issues and corruption.
So, IMHO, a pastor should be condemning all serious anti-Christ activity he sees in society, warning and educating his flock.
Biblically we are to be “in the world but not of the world”; we are to refuse worldliness and separate ourselves from sin - and be a salt and light to the world.
Government schools are unbiblical to begin with; allowing one’s child to be indoctrinated with anything anti-Christ is a serious failing of the responsibility of a Christian head of household (the father, who has responsibility for his household).
Here’s the first in a series of sermons on Daniel, the first two speak about Daniel refusing the King’s meat.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFFWEGpX0MQ
Great post, thanks. I have always felt that if a preacher is indeed preaching the actual Word of God and the elders are managing the Church according to Scripture then have faith and let God take care of the rest. Prayer is key and when you think you have prayed enough pray some more.
The Christian schools in our area are just as bad if not worse then the public schools. I sent my oldest daughter to there for a year then took her out because he teacher was a just mean spirited. She would use the students to go after my daughter and single her out in class.
The next Christian school in the area is about $8,000 -$9,000 a year per student. We just can't afford that with three children. My husband just lost his job this year but luckily found another. He has to put in 80 plus hours plus has to fly out of state to do business. He works hard to keep a roof over our heads. We lost our home several years ago and have to rent. It's been a struggle to get to where we are. We rely on my husband's income until my little ones are old enough not to go into day care, which will be in about a year, then I'll able to go back to work, at least part time.
More like $4,500 - $5,500 on this side of the state.
Stick with being a trad Catholic as I am and none of this is applicable.
Homeschooling is best.
Holding to a form of godliness, but denying the power there of.
Harlot church, filled with body mortgage “lovers of money.”
Would haved stood to the death vs. mortgage body care, and the body mortgage traffickers of Extortion-Care. The Harlot is in on It.
Revelation:3:14: And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
Re:3:15: I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
Re:3:16: So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Re:3:17: Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
Re:3:18: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Re:3:19: As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Re:3:20: Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Re:3:21: To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Re:3:22: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Interesting how little rancor there is in the thread, compared to some others.
Got to live where the jobs are.
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