2. The person falls out of church. They no longer attend. They are bitter at everyone and anyone because they were searching for something and nobody was able to see past Soul winning. They are saved. They are disobedient to the Lord and to the Scripture. Yes, it is their fault. Yes, they have the Holy Spirit residing in them. Yes, they have ignored the conviction of both the Holy Spirit and their own moral conscience. However, to limit the fault to this individual is unjust. Where was the discipleship? Where was "Barnabas"? Who takes them "under their wing"? Everyone is so preoccupied doing the "Great Commission" that they actually forget to "Teach Them To Observe All Things". Yes, I know, "I disciple from the pulpit". Which is exactly why they are now distant and are nothing but a mere shadow from the assembly of the believers and have no walk with God.
I have been told numerous times growing up that SOUL-WINNING is the Main Thing. I cannot tell you the number of times Revelation 2:4 has been taken out of context remind people that the first love was soul-winning. I will take the liberty to not only provide the verse - Revelation 2:4 "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love."
If the Great Commission is all about Soul winning, Baptizing people, and teaching them to go Soul-winning, then there should be no reason in furthering our education and study in the things of God. There is no reason for Paul to "ramble on endlessly" about "growing in grace, study to shew thyself approved, and building yourselves up in the Most Holy Faith." There is no need for Biblical separation, Standards, Convictions, or even Diligence to the hidden things of Christ.If all that matters is SOUL WINNING, then there is no need to be part of a local assembly of believers...there is NO need for CHURCH.
The person in our scenario was neglected because the church is more focused on "Winning the Lost" and not "redeeming the fallen". It isn't exactly an Independent Fundamental Baptist "distinctive" ya know. We tend to focus on the outward appearance and on the "display window" and not the "actual inventory". No wonder our churches are dubbed as shallow, unintelligent, and unloving. That person leaves the church because they are no longer enamored by the emotional drive they once had. They are no longer interested in "church" and they move on to the next thing. They are still saved. They still want to "experience God", but they are giving up on the whole concept of "IFB".
Because they are looking for something meaningful, they head down the street and end up at a Pentecostal Church. They end up at a "seeker sensitive church". Maybe even worse, they are going to a Kingdom Hall, etc. What drives them to that place in their walk with God? "They must not have been saved." They went out from us and were never a part of us".
I strongly disagree. They left our churches because they found it lacking something. Maybe they really are saved, but was never "brought to the Barn". The fields are white unto harvest, and it is not just talking about the lost, but about the souls of men as a whole. Until we re-evaluate our shallow, "cookie cut" Christianity that resides within our "denomination", we will never see real fruit; we will never see true Christianity.
A friend and I were talking about this very subject and he reminded me that the person on the other side of "that door" doesn't care if you use the KJV. They are not impressed by our title of "Independent Fundamental Bible Believing, Pre-millennial, Hell fire, sin hating, Bible thumping BAPTISTS!!" They want to know, do you have the Love of God through Christ Jesus being demonstrated...LIVED in your life? That person on the other side of the door doesn't care about "we don't have dress standards" or "we have contemporary music". They want to know, when the "chips fall", do you practice what you preach? Do you have the fruit of the Spirit? Do you have love? Do you express love? Do you know what love is?
That person who is waffling in and out of church does so because they are lacking something and "CHURCH" is supposed to be the closest thing on THIS earth to what they are looking for. The Love of Christ which constraineth us - that is, it SHOULD.
If we truly love God, we will not mishandle His Word or misrepresent His Great Commission. Recently, I was introduced to a situation where a mother was using her body as a "baby factory". All she wanted to continue to do was to have babies and then turn them over to the "system". She didn't want to wean the infant. She didn't want to see the baby walk. She willingly gave birth and then walked away. Sickening isn't it? So it is with those of us who "lead someone to the Lord" and then leave them to fend for themselves. Never teaching them commitment to Christ (Baptism). Never "teaching them to observe all things".
The person in the example leaves church because either nothing has changed on his part, or nobody challenged them or helped them along. (to be continued)
Friday, November 20, 2009
Hokey Pokey Christianity - Part 2
1. A powerful message is preached. The preacher delivers another riveting message on Hell, Heaven, or "if you are not doing this,this, or this....check your salvation." So, the person checks their salvation. They realizes they are not where they should be. So, they go forward. The altar worker asks why they are there. They tell them, they are checking up on their salvation. So, they take them aside, and lead them down the Romans' Road....again. They try to back out of where it is heading. The altar worker realizes they are balking, and reminds them that tomorrow is not a guarantee. The person again balks. "I already did that." The worker then counters that with the verses for assurance. The individual is now embarrassed because the preacher is saying "Christians, remain in an attitude of prayer for this ONE being dealt with." GREAT! Now they are gonna be looking at them. Yeah, yeah, I know, the preacher says "please keep your heads bowed and eyes closed, blah blah blah" but EVERYONE knows that people are still looking to see who is being "dealt with."
The pressure is to "get reassurance" and "nail it down for good." It is not conviction. It is pressure. It is man-made. The 40th stanza of "Just as I am" is being played. The altar worker is insisting that he/she prays the sinners prayer to ensure that they have their assurance of their salvation. Fine. They utter the words. Praise the LORD! Brother/Sister "so and so" just got assurance of their salvation! The church celebrates. The person stands there totally embarrassed and feels ridiculous. Not because they "made a decision" but because they know in their heart that NOTHING changed. They leave doing the SAME things they did before. Nothing was settled.
The pressure is to "get reassurance" and "nail it down for good." It is not conviction. It is pressure. It is man-made. The 40th stanza of "Just as I am" is being played. The altar worker is insisting that he/she prays the sinners prayer to ensure that they have their assurance of their salvation. Fine. They utter the words. Praise the LORD! Brother/Sister "so and so" just got assurance of their salvation! The church celebrates. The person stands there totally embarrassed and feels ridiculous. Not because they "made a decision" but because they know in their heart that NOTHING changed. They leave doing the SAME things they did before. Nothing was settled.
Hokey Pokey Christianity - Part 1
Growing up in an Independent Fundamental Baptist Church, I not only witnessed the endless cycle of "salvation, reassurance, and dedication/rededicating their life to the Lord, but I also took part in it. Here is what the Holy Spirit has taught me from personal study and self examination.
At face value, it was plain and simple, they got saved. They weren't too sure they were saved. They wanted to live their life for God. They wanted to rededicate themselves to God. They were not sure they were saved. They rededicate themselves to the Lord. Over and over it went. It was very very very very redundant it was (did that on purpose - laugh, get it out of your system). Sensitivity to the Working of The Holy Spirit in one's life is always a plus. There are dangers to this. A visiting evangelist preaches hard on Hell. He preaches on the horrors, screaming, agony, and eternity of the flame. GREAT! However, because we approached it from a humanistic stand point, we painted a picture so terrible about hell that nobody wants to go there, even if you AREN'T going there. People who have confessed Christ are scared into going to Hell and they don't want too. So, what is the natural response? They go forward, and the "altar worker" who lacks discernment, "leads them to the Lord." WELL, GLORY! They GOT SAVED! They get presented to the church, and ushered around back to get baptized. The whole while the person is struggling inside, "wasn't I already saved? I was baptized! I have had spiritual growth, I have had answered prayers. I have a concern for the lost.I love the brethren, I have had fellowship with the Father." They are led up to the Baptismal, and as they war within themselves, they balk. The "helper" speaks reassuring words and they are "guided" to the pool. They are now hold the attention of the entire church on them. Did they REALLY just get saved? Reassurance? who knows. All they know is that the preacher has the napkin to their nose and down they go!
A few days later, they are reconstructing the events leading up to that service. They were distant in their Bible reading and prayer time. They rushed through their day, week, month, or year without ever acknowledging God. The preacher crafts a sermon so masterfully, that even Paul himself would doubt his Salvation. Ok, not literally. The evangelist came in looking for "lost souls" and whether or not he found them, he wanted to "scare "hell" into them instead of out of them. Is that wrong? Well, on paper it is good. However in execution it was not. If I want to save time and NOT shower before going to church, than I must also realize and accept the fact that I will offend someone in the process. It is a fact of life. People stink. Some people, they are against bathing altogether. Back to the main trail. An evangelist's goal was to preach a GOSPEL message in CHURCH. The likelihood of a REAL lost person in the church is slim to none. However, there is a whole host of people in that church who need to be fed from God's Word. They need that instruction in Righteousness. They need a word of encouragement. They need a rebuke. A reproof. They need correction. They need help. Instead of helping them they seek after "instant fruit".
Is that so bad? Well, yeah. It is. Because He desires Instant fruit he only focuses on instant fruit. I already know what you are thinking, so let me save you the time of looking it up:
Matthew 13:3-9
"And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear"
The Immediate response may not always bring about "instant fruit."
Again, I bring up the thought which I discussed previously in "Pastors who Pawn Their People" (Shameful Shepherd part 3). A discerning Pastor, Parent, teacher, or even a church member with insight should be talking to that person who makes repeated trips doing the same exact thing. Someone said "insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result." If that is true, than we have a "denomination" filled with insanity!
Two or 3 months have passed since that person went forward to 'get assurance'. Their life hasn't changed one iota. The preacher is preaching about a changed life. Instead of being discipled they have been told to stay faithful to the House of God. So, they have been faithful. They were told to read their Bible every day. They try for a few days, but they can't make out what is being said. PRAY! Yep. They now pray before meals and at bed time and the occasional prayer when they are stressed out.
Then, the emotions run out, and they begin to fall back into the same mundane things they had fallen prey to. They aren't reading their Bible. They are out of church or just go out of duty. They no longer pray. They still have a twinge of conscience when they do something wrong. They look over their shoulder before they sin outwardly. They still have the capability to blush.
Jeremiah 8:12 "Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD."
They fall into a false sense of security. Nobody knows who and what they are. They can get away with their sin. Inwardly, they are at war with themselves. The Holy Spirit is convicting them; warning them against it. Their flesh is urging them on. The sin becomes a habit. They are still in church because they have to maintain a certain "air" of spirituality about them. Maybe they hold a position in the church. maybe they are related to someone who has a position in the church, a father, a brother, a cousin. It continues for some time.
One of three things happen. I will explain what I believe happens in the next few blogs (and will probably revise them as I go along)
At face value, it was plain and simple, they got saved. They weren't too sure they were saved. They wanted to live their life for God. They wanted to rededicate themselves to God. They were not sure they were saved. They rededicate themselves to the Lord. Over and over it went. It was very very very very redundant it was (did that on purpose - laugh, get it out of your system). Sensitivity to the Working of The Holy Spirit in one's life is always a plus. There are dangers to this. A visiting evangelist preaches hard on Hell. He preaches on the horrors, screaming, agony, and eternity of the flame. GREAT! However, because we approached it from a humanistic stand point, we painted a picture so terrible about hell that nobody wants to go there, even if you AREN'T going there. People who have confessed Christ are scared into going to Hell and they don't want too. So, what is the natural response? They go forward, and the "altar worker" who lacks discernment, "leads them to the Lord." WELL, GLORY! They GOT SAVED! They get presented to the church, and ushered around back to get baptized. The whole while the person is struggling inside, "wasn't I already saved? I was baptized! I have had spiritual growth, I have had answered prayers. I have a concern for the lost.I love the brethren, I have had fellowship with the Father." They are led up to the Baptismal, and as they war within themselves, they balk. The "helper" speaks reassuring words and they are "guided" to the pool. They are now hold the attention of the entire church on them. Did they REALLY just get saved? Reassurance? who knows. All they know is that the preacher has the napkin to their nose and down they go!
A few days later, they are reconstructing the events leading up to that service. They were distant in their Bible reading and prayer time. They rushed through their day, week, month, or year without ever acknowledging God. The preacher crafts a sermon so masterfully, that even Paul himself would doubt his Salvation. Ok, not literally. The evangelist came in looking for "lost souls" and whether or not he found them, he wanted to "scare "hell" into them instead of out of them. Is that wrong? Well, on paper it is good. However in execution it was not. If I want to save time and NOT shower before going to church, than I must also realize and accept the fact that I will offend someone in the process. It is a fact of life. People stink. Some people, they are against bathing altogether. Back to the main trail. An evangelist's goal was to preach a GOSPEL message in CHURCH. The likelihood of a REAL lost person in the church is slim to none. However, there is a whole host of people in that church who need to be fed from God's Word. They need that instruction in Righteousness. They need a word of encouragement. They need a rebuke. A reproof. They need correction. They need help. Instead of helping them they seek after "instant fruit".
Is that so bad? Well, yeah. It is. Because He desires Instant fruit he only focuses on instant fruit. I already know what you are thinking, so let me save you the time of looking it up:
Matthew 13:3-9
"And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear"
The Immediate response may not always bring about "instant fruit."
Again, I bring up the thought which I discussed previously in "Pastors who Pawn Their People" (Shameful Shepherd part 3). A discerning Pastor, Parent, teacher, or even a church member with insight should be talking to that person who makes repeated trips doing the same exact thing. Someone said "insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result." If that is true, than we have a "denomination" filled with insanity!
Two or 3 months have passed since that person went forward to 'get assurance'. Their life hasn't changed one iota. The preacher is preaching about a changed life. Instead of being discipled they have been told to stay faithful to the House of God. So, they have been faithful. They were told to read their Bible every day. They try for a few days, but they can't make out what is being said. PRAY! Yep. They now pray before meals and at bed time and the occasional prayer when they are stressed out.
Then, the emotions run out, and they begin to fall back into the same mundane things they had fallen prey to. They aren't reading their Bible. They are out of church or just go out of duty. They no longer pray. They still have a twinge of conscience when they do something wrong. They look over their shoulder before they sin outwardly. They still have the capability to blush.
Jeremiah 8:12 "Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD."
They fall into a false sense of security. Nobody knows who and what they are. They can get away with their sin. Inwardly, they are at war with themselves. The Holy Spirit is convicting them; warning them against it. Their flesh is urging them on. The sin becomes a habit. They are still in church because they have to maintain a certain "air" of spirituality about them. Maybe they hold a position in the church. maybe they are related to someone who has a position in the church, a father, a brother, a cousin. It continues for some time.
One of three things happen. I will explain what I believe happens in the next few blogs (and will probably revise them as I go along)
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