Posted on 09/07/2020 7:14:02 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
A few months back, some guy began flirting with my 19-year old daughter via her Instagram account. This is (unfortunately) pretty common, but much to my delight she does a great job with slamming the door in their face.
However, this particular guy was more persistent than usual and wouldn’t back off. His tenacity led my daughter to use her excellent technical sleuthing skills to find out exactly who he was.
Turns out the guy was a married youth pastor.
My daughter found him, his church, his wife, and other details. That presented us with the dilemma of whether we should contact his church and wife and inform them of the guy’s problematic pastime.
The experience also led my daughter to open up to my wife and me about the continuing disappointment she has with other supposed Christians. She and my older daughter have stopped going to church because they found those in the young adult groups to be far less kind, welcoming and authentic than those in their secular college crowds.
We got story after story from her of young Christian guys going on mission trips who end up attempting to molest the girls in their group. Witnessing first-hand episodes of drug use, outlandish lying and deception and similar behaviors from their peers (and their peer’s parents) have both my girls thinking that people in the church cannot be trusted in any way, shape or form.
Not exactly a pick-me-up kind of tale, huh?
But wait – aren't we told that Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven? That if you ever find the perfect church, you shouldn’t join because you’ll spoil it (said Billy Graham and Charles Spurgeon)?
We say these things in hopes of convincing non-Christians that they shouldn’t let mistakes they’ve made in their life keep them from pursuing Christianity nor expect perfection from Christians when evaluating the faith. After all, the Bible tells us we all have a sin nature that causes us to fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23) and that, even after being born again, the same sin nature remains active and causes us to do wrong (Rom. 7).
But what if our critics are more right than we like to admit? What if hypocrisy and a spirit that is anything but Christlike typifies the Church’s behavior these days?
Studies done by David Kinnaman and his Barna group, which you can find summarized in books like unChristian and You Lost Me, show that the best argument against Christianity isn’t the problem of evil or any other apologetics-styled objection. Instead, it’s the lives lived out by professing Christians.
It’s what caused the German philosopher Nietzsche to say, “I might believe in the Redeemer if his followers looked more redeemed” and Gandhi to declare: “I like Christ, but I don’t like the Christians. The Christians are so unlike their Christ.”
We read in Scripture statements like, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Cor. 5:17) and “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4).
If this is true, why is it that the “new things” and “newness of life” in professing Christian’s lives either seem completely absent or appear so seldom?
It’s at this point that many church leaders throw out the ‘church isn’t perfect’ line in hopes of blunting the accusation. Frankly, I’m tired of hearing it.
We’ve gotten to the point where this excuse uses Paul’s admissions of struggling with sin in Romans 7 like some kind of permission slip; it goes beyond admitting that we sin to almost justifying persistent sinful behavior. Plus, it does nothing to address the very real problem of incongruent behavior that exists between Christ and His Church.
I’d like to suggest a couple of possible root causes for what Kinnaman and others observe along with some cures for the issues.
I believe the biggest source of this problem to be the fact that today’s Church is 9-months pregnant with unbelievers. I say this not judgmentally, but rather because I used to be one.
There’s nothing wrong with unbelievers being in Church. But, there’s everything wrong with them staying unbelievers.
So many who sit in the pews think that because they believe in God, they’re saved and safe. So, you believe in God, do you? Big deal.
The Pharisees believed in God and Jesus rhetorically asked them how they would escape the sentence of Hell (Matt. 23:33). James told his readers if that’s all they possessed then they had nothing more than the demons (James 2:19).
When you combine a reluctance from the pulpit to offend audiences about the truth of their sin with nothing more than a general acknowledgement from that crowd that God exists, you have everything needed for a false faith, false assurance, and a life that in no way will live out the teachings of Christ because, simply put, it lacks the power to do so (e.g. Rom. 8:7).
Instead of services that resemble a comfy group Youtube session, the Church needs straightforward teaching that speaks the truth in love about sin in a way that makes an unbeliever’s conscience and soul uncomfortable to the point where they seek help. Only then will the unbeliever in the pew become a true Christian and start exhibiting the fruit and changed life that confirms a true conversion has taken place (James 2).
Lately I’ve noticed a very bad trend in my own life. When frustrated or angered, in the heat of the moment, I’ve started to let foul language fly.
This hasn’t been something with which I’ve ever really wrestled, and it’s bothered me greatly because Jesus said: “the mouth speaks that which fills the heart” (Luke 6:45). After some contemplation, I think I know what’s going on.
My wife and I have been consistently streaming various drama series that, while containing good story lines and acting, are overloaded with bad language. I’m convinced my new problem with expletives is related to that which I’ve been constantly letting in my ear-gate.
The battle with our fallen nature is real. Paul confirms this when he says, “For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please” (Gal. 5:17). Ingesting a constant, bad diet through the eyes, ears, wrong relationships and actions will result in ungodly habits forming, just like the old Church proverb says:
Two natures beat within my breast
The one is foul, the one is blessed
The one I love, the one I hate.
The one I feed will dominate.
This is why we’re told: “sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it” (Gen. 4:7). Disregarding this truth and immersing oneself in the world is a recipe for disaster where Christlikeness is concerned.
Look how fast it happened to me.
The letters of Paul are full of admissions about the struggles with sin and our spiritual war. But let’s not forget that the same Paul who wrote those things also wrote:
Paul didn’t let the reality of Romans 7 keep him from pursuing the goal that is in front of you and me each morning: Christlikeness. In fact, Paul was so confident of his behavior that he exhorted others to mimic him.
Would you feel comfortable right now doing the same?
No, the Church isn’t perfect, but if we’re not careful, we’ll use that reality as a green-light to sluff off sin and before you know it, you’re a married youth pastor who makes sexual advances over the Internet to 19-year old girls.
And that’s one tragic place to be.
Robin Schumacher is an accomplished software executive and Christian apologist who has written many articles, authored and contributed to several Christian books, appeared on nationally syndicated radio programs, and presented at apologetic events. He holds a BS in Business, Master's in Christian apologetics and a Ph.D. in New Testament. His latest book is, A Confident Faith: Winning people to Christ with the apologetics of the Apostle Paul.
that’s right and there are catholics in both sides of your lists and priests publicly preaching on both sides of your list. Your sect is just as divided as protestants are.
Are you for real????
Jesus is not just giving people His opinion or His *beliefs* as if He were just a man.
He’s teaching the God’s Truth every word He utters. They are not His *beliefs*. They are facts.
Did you intend to say:
óra pro nóbis peccatóribus, nunc et in hóra mórtis nóstrae. Ámen.?
Yup, it’s living out Romans 12:1-2
At least you admit you protestants are divided.
Thanks
no. I meant to say and preach both sides from the pulpit with impunity. In fact even with approval of the hierarchy of your sect all the way to the top.
as divided as you catholics are. There are apostates on both sides of the Tiber. At least protestants don’t have a pope leading them all into apostasy. Some of us are still allowed to follow Scripture and not send our support to pachamama worshipping idolators among other apostasies
You mean like Catholics, the majority of which vote for pro-abortion, pro-homosexual marriage politicians, who clearly, based on family size practice birth control, who tolerate child molesting, homosexual clergy which has cocaine fueled homosexual orgies at the VATICAN?
The same Catholics who continue to support their corrupt and immoral clergy through both attendance at church and financial giving?
You must be projecting as you list is currently a laundry list of the problems endemic to Catholicism these days. And for the last millennium, to boot.
No. All it took was one horny German ex-priest to do so.
Or Fourth of July.
It’s something done on a regular basis that helps define a culture.
It is NOT a substitute for teaching Scripture and Truth about God.
though just the same, Tradition is how faith was practiced for these guys... for a long time.....
And you know this how?
Do you honestly believe that they had NO Scripture on which to rely? Or rather, do you honestly expect us to believe that they had no Scripture on which to rely?
I Didn't’t say not to challenge the sin. I Didn't’t say not to to address a married youth pastor. I also am saying do not tempt either and it might be a good parental exercise to monitor her social media if she is willing. Most Teenage girls are not focused on godly pursuits, some are, but most are self centered, self absorbed and very aware of their desirability. They crave the attention, feed off of it, derive self esteem from it.
Social media is a road to hell or at the least away from Christ for most their age. If I am so concerned about “many” interests in my daughters social media profile, I would check what’s going out and what’s coming in. Notice this so very godly man condemned the churches but never mentioned what she was putting out to the world.
It is very seldom a one way street. Yes sometimes it is - but with many....
This came across as a hit against the churches, and yes many are bad, but using a teenage female Instagram to hit that nail - I’m not buying it.
BTW - I agree with you on the teachings of Paul.
Was reading The case for the Resurrection and many doubts about the historical evidence cannot explain Paul’s road to Damascus transformation.
Please don’t make assumptions that I’m blaming the young woman, I am just pointing out the father never addressed it. Do you use Instagram or have a teenage daughter that does? It’s a jungle out there and they need to be very careful.
If Luther was horny, he would have just gone to one of the Catholic Church-run brothels that they were providing for all their priests.
Instead he chose to face execution.
LIVING IN YOUR HEAD RENT-FREE.
Yes, ebb, I know that you have the devil whispering in your ear. You don’t have to post pictures of it.
No, blaming the woman is not different.
It’s wrong. And it IS in the same category of blaming the rape victim for the rape.
Why are you not holding the man accountable?
Why lay it all on her?
What’s your thinking? He couldn’t help himself because she’s so attractive? Or suggestive?
That’s blame shifting in all it’s glory and there’s no place for putting the blame for a man’s lack of self-control on the woman.
That flies in the face of an awful lot of Scripture and it’s not an excuse God will accept. He didn’t take it from Adam and He’s not going to take it from this guy. The *You/he/she made me do it* excuse is never justifiable.
*IF* she is wrong, she has to answer to God for it herself. But if she’s not, you’ve smeared an innocent woman’s reputation with your baseless speculation.
Or are you going to blame her for that, too?
Vatican cops bust drug-fueled gay orgy at home of cardinal’s aide
https://nypost.com/2017/07/05/vatican-cops-bust-drug-fueled-gay-orgy-at-cardinals-apartment/
Or maybe we can point to all the popes who have had mistresses and children by them. The ones we know about at least.
Don’t forget the church-run brothels!
There have been plenty of reports of *church* run orphanages as well.
There aren't...It's all in your mind...
God desires unity of His followers to believe in His revealed Truth and accept His love for us, but allows each person with their ‘free will’ to either choose God and follow His way or reject God and follow the ways of the world. Often it is easier to do ‘our will’ and not God’s will.
We know what God's will is...It is to believe on the name of Jesus Christ and be saved...As far as the church instruction manual is concerned, we have that too...It's called the Bible...
Churches are supposed to lead us to God, share God’s Truth and to help sinners repent, do penance and do God’s will. Do they? Or do they give us false promises (man’s truth), false information and not God’s Truth? Yes, they may quote verses and parables from the Bible and share some of God’s teachings, but do they make false promises about salvation? Do they make false promises that ‘faith alone’ is all that is needed?
Well no they/we don't make false promises...They simply teach the mysteries of the church (which are no longer mysteries) that were revealed to the apostle Paul for knowledge and instruction FOR THE CHURCES...
Are protestant churches based on man’s doctrines and not God’s Truth, based on heresy and rejecting the Church that Jesus founded?
What??? Of course not...It is not man's doctrine that church overseers CAN NOT be single, unwed men without families...That's God's doctrine...It's not man's doctrine that church overseers DO NOT prance around in long, colorful robes (which make them stand out from the crowd as someone 'religious'), that's God's doctrine...
And it's not man's doctrine that says Jesus paid the FULL PRICE for our sin because we could not keep the law, that's God's doctrine...
Gal_3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
That's not a Protestant man doctrine...That's a God doctrine...That's a DOCTRINE that the apostle Paul brought to the churches FROM Jesus Christ...
1Ti_4:13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
Huh??? What doctrine??? Where do we get that doctrine??? Did Paul mean the doctrine of the Catholic Church Catechism??? Did Paul mean the doctrine of the traditions that were never known and never recorded but somehow exposed by the Catholic religion over the next numerous Centuries??? That religion that thumbs its nose at BIBLE DOCTRINE??? Of course not...
2Ti_3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Uh, that is scripture, like as in the Bible...The Bible says to use the Bible for doctrine, and to correct any who get their doctrine from other than scripture...
As true followers of Christ, we need to accept God’s Truth and His love as a community of followers, The Body of Christ, members of Christ’s true church with our love for God and neighbor.
So what is Christ's true church??? Those who show up at a Catholic church and eat a wafer or is it those who have trusted and asked Jesus to be their Saviour???
Have you pointed out to them that 'in the scriptures' that activity is anathema to God???
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