Volume 14 Issue 2
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Second Feature Article
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First Feature Article
Whatever You Are Doing, It Isn’t Working
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Whatever the "church" is doing, it is failing. From Evangelicals and Pentecostals through Fundamentalists, they are failing their mission. It isn’t that the percentages of those labeling themselves Christian is on the decline, although it has been for some time; both in the decline in our
beliefs and what we might consider being "actively religious;" which is increasingly defined as church membership. Rather, the evidence of its failure is all around us in our own everyday lives and in that of our nation. As compelling as results of pollsters might be, it is the plainly obvious by what we and other Americans are doing and what they are supporting with their time and money. By simply looking around us it becomes perfectly clear that the church is making no difference in the lives of its adherents regardless of what they say they believe or how frequently they say they are attending "church." Anybody can talk a good talk, but we know if we really mean it, by putting something of what we value on the line – in so many words, "putting our money where our mouth is." If we want to know what is really important in the lives of Americans, all we have to do is "follow the money trail." It’s as simple as that.If we follow the trail of our efforts, where we spend our time, our money and the desires of our hearts, it will, with increasing regularity, take us away from the church door. Unless, of course, the churches in question is embracing and endorsing such worldly values and pursuits; a growing trend among mega-churches, "seeker-friendly" churches and the "
emerging church" movement." For an example, the 3rd largest "church" in the United States is conducting a "24hr Bed-In" that is going to be videotaped featuring the "lead pastor" and his wife. As if that weren’t enough they are holding a "Date Night" designed to, "Make sure your marriage is poised to experience passion, connection and intimacy every day." Little wonder this is a "mega-church," averaging weekly attendance figures of over 24,000. Not to be outdone by such an upstart, the number one mega-church sporting weekly attendance figures in excess of 43,000 is offering a "Business Men’s Roundtable; empowering business people (sic) for success." How to be "wealthy and successful; that’s got to be a big draw. The examples are nearly endless of how the "church" is striving to compete with the world, by increasingly becoming like the world.In current state of affairs, the "church" no more represents Christianity than those who declare themselves to be Christian. It is more of a social club where we go to have a good time and have our egos bolstered. Part of what has taken place in what is called the "Christian church" and "Christianity" in general can be summarized in the modern-day use of one word, "evangelical."
Webster’s Dictionary defines that as relating to "or being in agreement with the Christian gospel especially as it is presented in the four Gospels; emphasizing salvation by faith in the atoning death of Jesus Christ through personal conversion, the authority of Scripture (and) adhering to, or marked by fundamentalism." It defines emphasizing the literally interpreted Bible; a movement or attitude stressing strict and literal adherence to a set of basic principles." Coequal with evangelism is "fundamentalism;" which, once again, emphasizes the literally interpreted Bible. These days both are labels to be avoided at all cost because, we are told, they scare people off and give the "Church" a bad reputation as being narrow-minded, out of step with today’s cultures and bigoted.Today the term
evangelical has been almost entirely replaced with evangelism; which is defined as the militant, crusading zeal presumably to win or to restore a personal commitment to Christ. This "crusading zeal" is what most churches are these days. It is as if the passage from Mark, And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature was the only sentence in the entire Bible. The end goal of which is referred to as the "church growth movement." What is universally ignored in the fixation on this one verse, is what Jesus makes very clear; it is the G.O.S.P.E.L. that is to be preached not some conjured up nonsense.What the "church" of today is trying to do is to make Christianity appeal to the masses; fit into the cultural milieu. In order to do that it is emphasizing "positive" Biblical principle and downplaying what might be construed as negative even to the point of denying the cross. It never was supposed to appeal to the masses. They have become of the world so the world will love them. This rejection phobia is what is being preached from the pulpit and missionaries are preaching to the world. From the days of our Master it was, is and forever will be a subversive movement. True believers should expect persecution even unto death. In
three Scriptural verses, Jesus tells us that we are to be hated by the world as it hates Him. In like respect, in many verses Jesus tells us that we, His disciples, are not greater than He. (e.g. Matt. 10:24) This "Christian love-in" must stop! You may be filling the pews, but you are not preaching the Word. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28
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Second
Feature Article
This
The Door to the Church
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you
in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive
the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:38
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Where, then, does the confusion come from? Yet, confusion there is within the Christian community. For example, the Roman Catholic Church regards baptism as a sacrament, (rite) the "door of the sacraments", and the "door of the Church". Sacraments, in addition to other meanings, is frequently regarded as a rite; that is a formal procedure, a ritual or a ceremony. As an aside, the word "sacrament" does not appear in the Bible. Other divisive issues with baptism are: is it only to be done publically, at what age may a person be baptized, once baptized, is there ever a need to be rebaptized when we switch denominations or, in some instances churches, who may baptize whom? Perhaps the biggest issue concerning baptism is its function. Simply put, the issue is whether baptism is required for salvation or an outward, visible sign of the acceptance of Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross. This is a real "hot potato" that is greatly disputed and divisive is the role of baptism. One side says it is merely symbolic. The other says it is absolutely essential for salvation in that it washes away our sins.
However, the question at hand here is yet another quite divisive disagreement; the question of whether or not baptism is "the door to the church" may have serious consequences for believers. Once baptized, does a Christian have membership rights in all churches or just the one in which he/she was baptized? To ask the question another way, is baptism specific to a particular church or denomination? If it just unlocks the doors to a few isolated churches, hasn’t it become a requirement for joining an organization? Wouldn’t that eclipse all else that it is supposed to be such as for the remission of sin, an outward sign or essential for salvation? Are those, who with all sincerity accepted Jesus, but were baptized at the "wrong" age or in the wrong "manner" to be denied full membership privileges?
Another way the Roman Catholic Church describes baptism is as "the door of the sacraments." If a person is excluded from full membership rights in the church, due to his age or who baptized him, surely the door to the sacrament of Communion must be closed as well. To act otherwise is to be inconsistent at least. How is it possible that one not baptized according to a church’s or denomination’s own definition of baptism is denied full membership (e.g. voting rights) and still be entitled to partake in the Lord’s Supper? Isn’t that elevating the significance of church membership above that of Communion? Surely, if one is not regarded as Christian because of certain irregularities in their baptism, they should be prohibited from taking Communion. Wouldn’t doing so be eating the bread and drinking the cup of the Lord, unworthily? (1 Cor. 11:27) Scriptures tell us that to do so is eating and drinking damnation to himself (1 Cor. 11:29) because, for non-Christians, taking Communion is the same as eating an ordinary meal.
To receive Communion worthily, is it not required to be in a state of grace? (e.g. Acts 15:11) Isn’t This an absolute requirement which can never be set aside; discard? On the other hand, isn’t the Eucharist the highest signs of Christian unity? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. (1 Cor. 10:17) Talk about being on the horns of a dilemma. Does it seems reasonable to deny someone voting privileges at church business meetings and give to that very same person the right to receive Communion? How can we be in a state of sanctification by God, under His divine influence when it comes to Communion, but not for participation in a church business meeting? This reduces baptism to the role of a requirement to join a church. Isn’t that about as heretical as anyone can get putting these "privileges" over Communion privileges?
And he took bread, and gave thanks , and brake it, and gave unto them, saying ,
This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Luke 22:19
