by Kevin Williams
"The early church were careful whom they admitted into fellowship. Every Christian who sinned were only readmitted into fellowship by open repentance." John Owen, Apostasy from the Gospel.How far has the Church fallen today in it's bid to get bums on seats, but keep them lost? Church discipline despite it being commanded, is rarely practiced today because 'we apparently we love people more than Jesus'. And so carnal lusts are used to build church empires on the bones of unconverted church members. If you go to a supermarket or a sports game and see thousands of people you don't think 'wow, there must be a great work of God happening' Yet why do people judge the church by the same criteria? Jesus said "you will know them by their fruits," not numbers!
I was rebuked by the Pastor in a church we visited last year for sharing the Gospel with someone who told me he didn't yet believe. I was told I shouldn't talk about sin and judgment in case he doesn't come back, yet this man who had no understanding of his sin, God's Justice and the Gospel had been going to the church for over fourteen months, and this was in what you'd call one of the better English churches!!
In the main, the Gospel of Jesus Christ dieing on a cross to pay for our sins is not deemed as enough for today's self obsessed generation, and so another gospel is being preached of 'come to Jesus and he'll help fix your marriage, give you health, wealth and happiness' and how living life to the full is doing extreme sports with a Jesus loves you t-shirt on.
Churches will tell you that they believe and teach the whole Bible, yet they will avoid teaching on things like Holiness, the Doctrines of Grace, or the Attributes of God. When was the last time you heard a sermon on the hatred of God? Which is one of His attributes. Of course people say "how can a loving God hate?" Well, if you love children then you can't be neutral about abortion and child abuse, otherwise you don't love children.
The following spoof video's, the "Me Church" and "Me Worship" although hilarious are sad reflections of many churches today. Instead of all to the Glory of God, man-centred teachings are served up and so it is the person in the pew that is worshipped. I recommend listening to this excellent sermon by Paris Reidhead-Ten Shekels and a Shirt (click to play or right-click save as to download mp3) which is an indictment of individuals and organizations practising humanism behind a mask of Christianity.
The 'Me' Church
'Me' Worship
See also: Is Your Evangelism God Centred
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