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)