Posted on 03/23/2017 4:26:14 AM PDT by metmom
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 charismamag.com ...
Where Did We Churches Go Wrong?
One area where churches went wrong is in creating rules not supported by scripture.
Many born again Christians see and exercise Christianity as a way of life without the necessity of conforming to rules created by an organized religion.
Apostasy is nothing new, and it has been more common than not in every age.
Has anyone run into supposed conservative evangelicals who have adopted the language of the snowflake social justice warriors? Everyone is racist, misogynistic, homophobic, anti-Semitic or their ideas a product of patriarchy and privilege.
Two years I had a Bible study derailed by a 20-something snowflake who has fallen into the trap of viewing historic Christian leaders with a modern lens. We must ignore the writings of Jonathan Edwards because he was a racist slaveholder. John Newton worked on a slave ship as a young man, so we shouldn’t sing Amazing Grace or read his wonderful writings. And the U.S. Founding Fathers were so obviously flawed, this young man has no respect for the Declaraton, Constitution, Federalist Papers, etc. Liberals have really polluted the minds of that generation
One of the reasons I quit going, Peace, Love, Give to the youth. Oh, you seniors can’t go to the RR while I’m preaching. No consideration for seniors. Every event is after dark, when seniors have the least vision for driving. No real Hymns just UN-singable praise choruses with no meaning or message. I can turn on Joel Olsteen for that junk.
PC rampant even in Assembly of God, which is just 1 step below Pentecostal. To afraid to preach the whole Word, no Revelations preaching allowed. No come to Jesus alter calls either.
Unwitting servants of Satan? Or fully aware?
Rob Bell, Homosexuality, and the New Cultural Acceptance
Rob Bell's "Love Wins" and the Biblical Doctrine of Hell
John 17:14
I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.
(Jesus praying about disciples, and those who would become believers through them)
Good article telling a sad truth.
My wife was just reading something to me from our pastor where he used this as an example. And that in lots of things (everything?) we have to treat us and others with “grace and truth”. Sometimes people need to hear the grace first, then the truth (like the woman at the well). Other times they need to hear the truth first (or hear the truth more/harder) as in “your behavior is a sin, but God can help you change, and He loves you.
I agree completely.
I am SOOOOO grateful that no one can read my mind.
If someone is looking at Christianity as rules created by organized religion, then they don’t know Christ.
Much of organized religion is opposed to the Holy Spirit as far as I can see.
People use it and thinking they are OK instead of living a Spirit fillled life. They can conform to rules and regulations without depending on the leading, guidance, and power of the Holy Spirit in the least.
I think we all have met ones like that.
I get your point but I think that what needs to come first is the truth part, that apart from Christ, you will perish.
Just before I was saved, I was under tremendous conviction of sin.
I KNEW that I would go right to hell if I died.
So when I heard the gospel presented to me, I clung to it like a drowning man to a life preserver.
After that, when you are born again, you hardly need to have to be told not to sin any more. You don’t want to for a variety of reasons.
Yes, it has happened over and over within Christianity.
Some new move will happened which will replace what has been known as Evangelical Christianity that had its day and the enemy has compromised.
Thank God that you were convicted of your sins, and that God rescued you!
My sister (RIP) was an achoholic and had done many bad things, huge mistakes, and hurt many people. She would call me and cry and wail about how can God forgive her? The she was going to hell, etc. I would try to tell her to just give it up to God, that he still loved her, etc. She just couldn’t. Week after week, year after year.
Until one day. She was in prison for a year for a DUI and some gals visited her for a Bible Study. She finally “got it” that God was powerful enough to forgive her. She died knowing that God was watching over her, and that He was in control. (What a change from those nightmarish phone calls!)
She knew the truth (her sins) but never understood how great God’s grace and love is until later.
Of course I know many more people that have come out and said to me “Yeah - well my life is pretty good, I’m a pretty good guy, and I don’t need God.” So maybe you are right - the truth needs to come first. (”And the Truth shall set you free.”)
I have friends who are Christians and I see getting sucked into the feel good nonsese and have said they don’t like to focus on God’s judgment, but His mercy and grace.
Kind of Joel Osteenish where you don’t talk about anything bad but really, without knowing about God’s judgment, how can His mercy and grace even mean anything?
You have to have something from which to be pardoned to even know that you need mercy and grace.
I’m so happy about your sister.
My brother is an alcoholic and wants nothing to do with God. Doesn’t even want to hear about it.
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