[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

I think some preachers and evalgelicals have found that some people can't take in the full message of Salvation and Faith in one gulp, and they have decided to start with God loves you. "God so loved the world"

Then they move on to "that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but shall have everlasting life."

What's missing isn't the second half but the first half. Man is a sinner. The wages of sin is death. Then and only then do you get to the free gift of God. And you can't leave out repentance and faith. The free gift is only free to those who repent and believe. Half a gospel is a false gospel. It is deceptive to imply that God forgives before we repent. The unrepentant still stand under His judgement.

[patriciaruth]

you can't leave out repentance and faith.

Agree completely. When I go to other churches I miss the repentence of sins part of the liturgy before communion.

I am an oldster who needs the liturgy. The music isn't so important to me.