Posted on 10/22/2023 1:42:37 AM PDT by spirited irish
We are losing the identity wars because we are afraid to speak into them directly. Just as Daniel and his friends were bombarded and faced a programme designed to reshape and reform their worldview and sense of self and identity so do we. It’s in everything we read, hear, watch, as well as in the things we are taught. This isn’t new. It has always been the war that we are on the frontlines of. But perhaps we have never been so fearful of speaking in to this war because of the dangers of getting cancelled or no platformed. But we need to, so let me enter the fray with some thoughts.
We need to teach our congregations and our children a robust biblical understanding of identity and equip and train them in how to explain that lovingly to those around them. But we also need to explain how that contradicts and conflicts with what society teaches. We want to show them how God’s word; God’s wise loving compassionate view of our identity is so much better than what the world’s wisdom is offering.
(Excerpt) Read more at patriotandliberty.com ...
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From what I can tell, that isn't happening in America.
The wolf at America's door right now is Wokeness and the LGBTQ movement and pastors aren't arming their congregants against them with Biblical truth.
You can't blame them though. If pastors haven't been speaking truth to power before now, you can't expect them to start when doing so might empty out their pews.
As a local pastor told me recently, "I have to walk a fine line if I want to keep my church together."
I fear you are right. Very few pastors are courageous enough to speak truth to power so will continue feeding their flock lukewarm porridge interspersed with a very few bits of grit.
“We need to teach our congregations and our children a robust biblical understanding of identity... “
Pastors need to teach congregations a robust biblical understanding ... period. I can’t remember how many decades it’s been since I heard a sermon that is pithy and deeply based in theology.
I’m not saying that every sermon is bad, but they’re mostly shallow, feel-good monologues. My dad said that if the members left church feeling good, he hadn’t done his job. People need to walk out of church challenged and smarter.
One kid was asked recently in bible class to write an essay on their world view.
They punted it. Making an argument that in their current stage of life they are too busy, stressed and confused to think seriously about their world view. Strangely, the teacher gave it an A.
Strangely my local church is growing because it is pastored by a God fearing bible teacher.
Unfortunately, that growth is at the cost of the other local congregations where all the wishy washy christianity is going on.
The wolf at America’s door right now is Wokeness and the LGBTQ movement and pastors aren’t arming their congregants against them with Biblical truth.
You can’t blame them though. If pastors haven’t been speaking truth to power before now, you can’t expect them to start when doing so might empty out their pews.
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Weak pastors shouldn’t get a pass. At some point they’re going to have to step up. Either get on board with the Truth or step down. No one should become a pastor without that boldness in Christ. It seems that’s a huge key problem these days.
Strangely my local church is growing because it is pastored by a God fearing bible teacher.
FORTUNATELY, that growth is at the cost of the other local congregations where all the wishy washy christianity is going on.
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I changed a word ;)
Good stuff in this article. The only thing he writes that bothers me is yes, while we do get a “new” identity in Christ, it’s more like we grow into a completed identity in Christ. Different from the spiritual baby version, but still the same image of Christ, it just needs to be realized and mature.
Such pastors should step down...but they won't.
Pastors are usually not strong, tough men to begin with. But that's what's needed right now.
I recommend finding the few pastors that are speaking the truth on TV or youtube and avoiding the rest.
As an aside, I have even had some of the congregants argue with me. They would rather hear about loaves and fishes than about how to deal with the real problems we face today.
I told these fellow congregants that the pastor should be arming parents and students with what they need to face the onslaught of Woke/LGBTQ indoctrination at school. And pastors should be reaching out to parents who are worried that their kids may have already fallen prey to the Woke movement (about homosexual and/or gender issues).
These congregants and pastors just want to hide their heads and pretend nothing has changed.
Not good at all!
Well said. We’re at that time in the church where itching ears are being scratched.
Our church growth was initially making our pastor begin to feel his oats so to speak with hope of gaining newly seeking beginning believers for Gods kingdom.
Reality is that it was just long time God fearing Christians getting fed up and moving on.
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