6 Signs That’s Something Amiss at Your Church

On Crosswalk.com in June of 2023, an article appeared entitled “5 Signs Your Church Might Be Heading toward Progressive Christianity.”

The heart of the gospel message shifts from sin and redemption to social justice.

I would say that if all these things are true of your church, it has arrived at the point of “progressive Christianity.” It’s either already a “woke” church or well on its way to it.

The article in Crosswalk inspired me to put together a list of signs that indicate something might be amiss at your church.

1. THERE’S A LACK OF RESPECT FOR THE WORDS OF SCRIPTURE The “lowered view of the Bible” mentioned in Crosswalk’s list most often begins with the spiritualizing of its words in regard to biblical prophecy. By this I mean that many pastors and teachers today retrofit God’s promises to Israel so that they apply to the church, albeit spiritually. This disregard for the intent of the author often has severe negative repercussions for other portions of Scripture.

For example, if one can assign different meanings to John’s written record concerning what he saw and heard concerning the future (the book of Revelation), it opens up other passages in God’s Word, such as those that forbid homosexuality, to continued retrofitting in order to make its words align with secular human wisdom.

2. ATTENDANCE NUMBERS TRUMP TEACHING THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD If your pastor avoids mentioning the truths of Jesus’ appearing for His church, the Rapture, lest it upset a few people and they leave, something is amiss at your church. If you hear the Gospel presented without one word regarding “eternal life” or eternity, you can be certain that something’s amiss.

Churches primarily dedicated to putting people in the chairs often use the word “tertiary” to describe their beliefs regarding future things. This conveys that message one’s view of future things is of lesser importance than the essential doctrines of the faith and should not be a dividing factor in the congregation.

However, in my experience, the use of the word “tertiary” means that the church accepts all views except that of Jesus’ appearing before the Tribulation starts and His’ thousand-year rule over the nations. Those holding these views are often silenced in “tertiary”-minded places of worship and told that their beliefs are not acceptable. For us, we sense that a “Not Welcome Here” sign hangs over the door.

Despite their claim of avoiding disunity, the leaders of such churches divide the body of Christ over the matter of future things by denying many saints a place where they feel at home because of their hope in Jesus’ imminent appearing.

3. THE PREACHING LACKS RELEVANCE TO WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE WORLD Because of its amillennial beliefs (the denial of Israel’s restoration and Jesus’ thousand-year reign), the preaching at many churches lacks relevance to what its members read in their newsfeeds or see in the world around them.

This is especially true in regard to the war in the Middle East. Since many pastors today regard Israel’s miraculous rebirth as a fluke, they see Israel’s war as just another conflict and worse yet, fail to defend Israel’s right to the Land from the pulpit. They fail to recognize Satan’s ongoing opposition to Israel and how that contributes to not only the war, but also to the demonstrations on the streets of major cities around the world in support of Hamas.

Today, more than at any time since Pentecost, believers urgently need to hear how biblical prophecy speaks to the wickedness, lawlessness, and violence of our world. Preaching that suggests Jesus is already reigning over the nations not only contradicts God’s Word, but gives those in the pews a false sense of security regarding current events and diverts their attention away from the comfort found in the “blessed hope” of the Gospel.

4. THE ELDERS RULE RATHER THAN SHEPHERD THE FLOCK I agree that elder leadership in the church has biblical roots. Today, however, the elders sometimes rule rather than shepherd the flock. They ignore the Lord’s admonition to not “lord it over” those He intends for them to serve (see Mark 10:42-46).

Many churches emphasize the biblical qualifications for its overseers but ignore the words of 1 Peter 5:1-8, which emphasize humility for those who lead. If key decisions at your church are made without any input from the members whatsoever, it’s a sure sign something’s greatly amiss and that the elders rule rather than inspire the type of body life described in Romans 12:3-8.

I wrote a post about this last summer entitled, Silencing the Remnant Church, where I go into more detail concerning this matter.

5. THE PASTOR PREACHES GRACE TO THE LOST, BUT THE LAW TO THE SAINTS What makes life all the more challenging for those of us seeking to find a church where we feel welcome with our beliefs regarding the future is this: several churches that faithfully adhere to what we believe miss the mark when comes to the Gospel. Its pastors preach grace to the lost, but place the demands of the Law upon believers by saying that such obedience precedes blessings in the Christian walk.

Of course, preaching through a book of the Bible may lead to addressing sins. However, teaching conformity to a standard apart from who we are in Christ and the Spirit’s work inside us sorely misses the mark and is also a sign that something’s amiss at your church.

Ephesians 1:3-14 makes it clear that we begin our walk with the Lord from the place of Him showering abundant blessings upon us. His blessings and unfailing love inspire us to greater obedience. Obeying to receive blessings negates such motivation.

6. THEY APPLY INCONSISTENT OUTCOMES FOR ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH FURTHER BLURRING THE BIBLICAL DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE TWO When I was in seminary, the title of my master’s thesis was: Roman Catholic Justification in the Light of Scripture. Writing this led to a deeper realization of the wonders of God’s great mercy and love toward us, which has increased my understanding of the Gospel in the many years since then. What might surprise you is that my study on this topic contributed to my firm convictions regarding God’s promise to restore a glorious kingdom for Israel.

In Romans 8:28-38, the apostle tells us that nothing at all can change our status as justified saints or alter God’s plans to bring us to glory. Absolutely nothing. We are forever free from condemnation (8:1) regardless of our behavior or what happens to us after God’s pronouncement of righteousness upon us. God will most certainly glorify all those that He justifies; He will not fail in this regard.

At some point during the dark ages, Roman Catholic theologians moved God’s justification of believers from the moment of saving faith to the end of their lives. I don’t have any definitive insights into their motives, but two things stand out in my mind regarding their decision:

They correctly recognized that God’s justification of the sinner was final and could never be overturned regardless of behavior.

Moving justification to the end of life adds great uncertainty to the outcome of one’s faith by making the receipt of eternal life determined by good behavior. Did this not also give the church greater control over the life of the parishioners?

Paul’s message in Romans chapters 9-11 concerning the future repentance and restoration of Israel illustrates our secure standing before God as justified saints (as the apostle reveals for us in chapters 5-8). Books could be written on the truths that come from chapters 9-11, but what I am emphasizing here is how the certainty of Israel’s future restoration as a nation demonstrates the truths pertaining to our unalterable position before God as righteous and holy saints.

In Romans 9-11, Paul defends his assertion of our total security in Jesus by pointing to God’s preservation of the Jewish nation. Israel’s repeated disobedience, which resulted in numerous judgments upon the nation, did not deter His determination to bless His people in the end. The Lord will surely accomplish His eternal purposes for the nation just as He will for us.

From other passages, we learn that God will bring a remnant of His people to repentance at the end of the Tribulation and bless them with a glorious kingdom (Zechariah 12:10-13:1, 14:8-21; Matthew 23:37-39).

God’s ultimate plans for His people Israel, and for us, cannot change. The Lord will fulfil His stated purposes for both. It’s inconsistent to say God will preserve His saints without saying the same about the future of Israel as a nation.

This does not mean, as some today errantly claim, that every Israelite will obtain eternal life regardless of what they believe. What it does signify, however, is that as Romans 11:29 puts it, “For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” For Israel, these words signify that God will surely keep His promises to them regarding their glorious future reception of a kingdom.

For us, it means that absolutely nothing can change our status as New Testament saints. We are eternally secure as justified saints and thus heirs to a kingdom (Ephesians 1:11-14; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54).

As a former pastor, I grieve because of what’s happening in many churches. The silence of shepherds keeps many saints in the dark regarding what lies behind current world events and diverts their attention to temporal things away from their glorious “blessed hope” in Jesus’ appearing. Such leaders deny the saints the comfort that the Lord provides them in Scripture concerning what lies ahead for them.

Well stated!

So many denominations love to add to the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

Either we allow Him to save us or we must do it ourselves.

Sounds ridiculous for God’s efforts to not be “enough”.

Then again, most Christians cannot differentiate salvation, sanctification, and regeneration processes. This is why we have arguments and heated discussions.

Oh well! They’ll eventually get it…

If the act of baptism is that important why was not St Paul sent to Baptize? Instead that was left to the Apostles to the Circumcision to do. The original Apostles also continued to offer sacrifices in the Temple, talking Paul into taking a vow with other Jews who had vows on their head which required sacrifices.

I will stay with Paul’s statement
Romans 10:
“8But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

A reference to Noah. Yet who was it that got wet then? Noah was in the ark, a sinful world outside the ark and got wet.

And remember, Paul often mentioned baptism as being baptized INTO CHRIST! Crucified with Christ on the Cross. yet he was not sent to baptize in water by his own statement in Corinthians. If baptism in water is what saves you why was St Paul not sent to baptize? Peter was an apostle to the Jews. Paul was an apostle to the Gentiles. Each had a different commission from God.

The unbelieving Jews still have their Mikvehs yet does it save them?
Mikveh

Mikveh or mikvah is a bath used for the purpose of ritual immersion in Judaism to achieve ritual purity. In Orthodox Judaism, these regulations are steadfastly adhered to; consequently, the mikveh is central to an Orthodox Jewish community. Wikipedia

Is baptism necessary?
1 Peter 3:21 “Baptism now saves us.” The same thing he said on Pentecost, “Be baptized for the remission of sins.”

Philip preaches Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch. A verse or two later, “Why can’t I be baptized.” Hmmm! Preaching Jesus and soon wham! bam! baptism. Could it possibly be that preaching Jesus includes teaching about baptism and it’s effect (salvation)? Or did the eunuch, himself, concoct the idea of baptism out of thin air? And why was he so urgent about it?

**Baptism reflects that one is already saved — to show the world **
In the example of the eunuch, the *world* was possibly two people: Philip and the driver of the chariot.
I was baptized for the remission of sins, to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, to be added to the Lord’s church, and to have my name written in the Lamb’s Book of Life - In front of the whole world of 5 people, all of whom are probably dead now. My baptism has the most meaning to one person: ME.

Peter: Be baptized for the remission of sins. Acts 2
Jesus meets Saul of Tarsus and tells Saul that he will be told WHAT TO DO! The Lord chooses Ananias as the one who relays the Lord’s message to Saul: “Arise and BE BAPTIZED and WASH AWAY YOUR SINS.” Those are the Lord’s words, don’t mess with them.
1 Peter: Baptism now saves us.

Paul didn’t baptize anybody. But, when he met the twelve who had only John’s baptism, Paul immediately baptized them or had someone do it. Why? What were they lacking? It wasn’t faith. It wasn’t repentance. It wasn’t confession. Maybe, just maybe, probably maybe, it was salvation. They weren’t saved until they were baptized.

Choose: (1) the teaching of God-given scripture, (2) man-made denominational doctrine.

On Pentecost the Holy Spirit fell on the apostles for the purpose of activating their ministry with the *special* gift of the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit fell on the household of Cornelius, it’s purpose was to leave no doubt in the mind of Peter that Gentiles were now to be offered salvation and admission to the Lord’s church. So the first thing Peter did was to command their baptism.

But, of course, none of this makes any sense. /sarc/

I agree with you.

The whole issue is like beating a dead horse.

Christ is never going to deny His Salvation to somebody who didn’t get baptized. He even says so Himself for all those who wish to come to Him (John 6:37-39) - the modern day Judaizers who love to put pridefully pat themselves on the back to prove “how good” they are in following Him lack massive spiritual maturity on the issue.

Paul even scoffs at the idea to baptize folks (1 Corinthians 1:17).

Anyways...
Your posts are highly appreciated on this matter! It needs to be stated & restated.

Let’s take the whole Word of God then, since you picked a few:

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 5:8
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

2 Corinthians 5:21
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Acts 16:31
And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Titus 3:5
he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

1 Corinthians 1:14 (Paul)
I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,

1 Corinthnians 1:17 (Paul)
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

And the true Gospel of Salvation from Paul again:

1 Corinthians 15:1-8
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,

2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,

4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

I’m baptized FWIW, but this adding to Salvation Process (Heart, Mind, Speech) really has to stop.

***But, when he met the twelve who had only John’s baptism***

And what was John’s baptism authorized by the Lord God? “The baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.” So why did they need to be rebaptized? Some see this as a failure to understand who was being talked to.
Acts 19
4 Then said Paul, “John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.5 When they (the people who heard John preach) heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them,(those who heard Paul preach) the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
There are quite a few places in the Bible where you have to pay close attention to see who is being talked to or about.

This could also explain why there is no mention of Apollos being rebaptized.

24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.

25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.(Baptism of repentance for the remission of sins)

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