Emergent Books

From my friend and brother in the Lord the ever biblically solid Gary Gilley

 

Emergent Books.

The Two Tree’s

Great article from my friends and brothers and sisters in the Lord at Herescope

He sent His Word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
(Psalm 107:20)

Meditation that is not founded upon the Word of God, like alabyrinth, is a maze that ultimately ends up in futility, going nowhere but endless spirals.

Those who have practiced Eastern-style meditation, with its emptying of the mind and/or visualization (imagery), often do so because they desire to acquire peace, or because they are hurting and desire their inner psycho-spiritual needs to be met. Yet they will eventually find that their needs are not met, and they are more empty than ever. Further, this type of meditation opens one’s mind to occult spirituality – even if it is done under the aura of being “Christian.”

Those who engage in the pantheon of contemplative practices need to beware that it is described as “two intentions that are the foundation of all contemplative practices: cultivating awareness and developing a stronger connection to God, the divine, or inner wisdom.”[1] See “The Tree of Contemplative Practices” posted HERE. This is a graphic representation of how the “roots of the tree encompass and transcend differences in the religious traditions from which many of the practices originated, and allow room for the inclusion of new practices that are being created in secular contexts.”[2]

Looking at this tree, it is obvious that what passes for “Christian” meditation in our modern era springs from the Gnostic roots of this occult tree. Is it any wonder that this tree then bears corresponding occult fruit? Note that this contemplative tree does not promise life, only “wisdom,” which just happens to be what the serpent promised Eve if she ate of the fruit of the tree in the Garden of Eden.

But what about the person who is truly needy? One who is experiencing a crisis of faith? Who is being persecuted? The fragile believer who feels that their faith is floundering or drying up? These struggling believers are being encouraged to run to this “contemplative tree” of eclectic spiritual practices to find refuge, solace and comfort. After all, it istrendy to run to this contemporary contemplative tree, despite its antiquated roots buried in the deep strata of occultism.

This alluring multifaceted tree promises healing, renewal, insight, rest, wisdom and access to God. But, warning! Eating its fruit results in spiritual blindness and deafness, bondage and emptiness.

The Tree of Life

There is another tree, which is found in Scripture. It is based on the Word of God. Psalm 1 describes the believer who finds his ”delight in the the law of the LORD” and says that in this law (God’s Word) ”doth he meditate day and night.” If a believer does this he is promised that he shall ”be like atree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (verses 2-3, emphases added). What a promise!

Meditating on the Word of God produces beautiful fruit in the lives of Christian believers. There are many other promises in Scripture for the believer who meditates upon God’s Word. These are personal promises that apply not only to daily living, but also to a wide variety of life crises, feelings, situations, hurts, pains, persecutions, trials, trouble and dangers. Here is just a brief sampling, starting at Psalm 119, which is a treasure trove of promises to those who meditate on God’s Word; i.e. His precepts, commandments, judgments, law and testimonies:

• vs. 25 - My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy Word.
• vs. 28 - My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthenthou me according unto thy Word.
• vs. 97 - O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
• vs. 104 - Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
• vs. 105 - Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a lightunto my path.
• vs. 130 - The entrance of thy Words giveth light; itgiveth understanding unto the simple.
• vs. 133 - Order my steps in thy Word: and let not anyiniquity have dominion over me.
• vs. 134 - Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts.
• vs. 161 - Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy Word.
• vs. 162 - I rejoice at thy Word, as one that findeth great spoil.

Proverbs 30:5 further promises that ”Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him.”

Isaiah 29 warns about idolatrous hearts (vs. 13) and says that the ”wisdom of their wise men shall perish” (vs. 14). Then Isaiah 30 speaks to those who ”despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon” (vs. 12), but promises that ”in returning [i.e., repentance] and rest shall ye be saved.” This same verse promises the very thing that contemplative practices claim to accomplish -rest! And it further promises that ”in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.” But, sadly, the verse concludes with the tragic statement: ”and ye would not.”

God’s ways are not hidden like the obscure “wisdom” of the occult that must be meditated upon in endless ways that never satisfy. He has given us His Word openly. Twice in Isaiah God says, ”I have not spoken in secret” (Isaiah 45:19 and 48:16). God’s Word does satisfy, and we are promised in Isaiah 55:11 that: ”So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

The New Testament, particularly in the book of Acts, records the power of the Word of God to change human lives. The backdrop to the events in Acts is strikingly similar to our modern era with its rapidly rising idolatry and occult spirituality. God’s Word alone has the miraculous power to change lives. Paul told King Agrippa that the purpose of preaching the Gospel (i.e., God’s Word) was ”To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me” (Acts 26:18). And in Romans Paul states that the Gospel of Christ ”is the power of God unto salvation”(vs. 16).

Many today avoid God’s Word. They do not run to it as a source of strength and sustenance. They will do anything butread God’s Word! In Jeremiah 2:13 we read how readily people will substitute an inferior man-made product for The Way: ”For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.”

Perhaps the reason for avoidance of God’s Word is because His Word is uncomfortable – it is ”quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). The Word provokes believers to have their conscience quickened to sin in their hearts and lives, and it encourages them to ”Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance” (Matthew 3:8)!

Many Scriptures warn about hardening of the heart, which is the consequence of not obeying the Word. These are not popular verses in our era, particularly the ones that refer to hardness of heart being wicked!

• John 12:40 - ”He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.”
• Romans 2:4-5 - ”Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;”
• Proverbs 21:29 - ”A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.”
• Proverbs 28:14 - ”Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.”
• Proverbs 29:1 - ”He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.”

Hebrews 3:8 warns particularly, ”Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness,” which is followed by verse 11, ”So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.” This is that true rest which can only be found in obedience to God’s Word. It cannot be obtained through the pursuing of meditative mechanisms.

Eating the fruit of “The Tree of Contemplative Practices”cannot result in either repentance nor rest, but rather in an increasing tolerance for doctrinal ambiguity, sinful living, ecumenism, and mysticism. Romans 1 describes the downhill progression that begins with being ”vain” in one’s”imaginations.” This vanity seems an apt description of all entry-level contemplative practices. It quickly degenerates into one’s ”foolish heart” becoming ”darkened.” Romans 1 indicates that this downward spiral becomes outright idolatry, vile affections, a reprobate mind, and a long list of evil practices.

Where is God’s sovereignty and majesty? Job was chastised by God for his inadequate and inferior view of Him. Couldn’t the same thing be said today to those who worship at “The Tree of Contemplative Practices”? While they pursue their various pilgrimages, meditations, chantings, journalings, sweatlodges and visionquests, God is saying to them:”Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding?” (vs. 4).

Likewise, Isaiah 66:5a cries out: ”Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word.” Does anyone tremble at His Word anymore? Jeremiah Burroughs, in his classic workGospel Fear: Developing a Tender Hart that Trembles at the Word of God (1647)[3], describes the effects of having a”fear of the Lord” which is the ”instruction of wisdom,” as stated in Proverbs 15:33, and notes that those who tremble at the Word must have a “teachable disposition.”[4]. Citing Proverbs 17:10 (“A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool”), Burroughs asks: “Do you find your heart so tender that a word works upon you? This is a sign of the wisdom of God that is in your soul.”[5]

Once again, ironically, the very thing that those who pursue after contemplative mysticism desire - wisdom - is there all along for those who immerse themselves in God’s Word! It is interesting that Proverbs 3, especially verses 13 and 18, promises wisdom, saying that it is a ”tree of life” - ”Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding… She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.”[emphasis added]

The Truth:

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” (Revelation 2:7)

Endnotes:
1. “The Tree of Contemplative Practices,” the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society, http://www.contemplativemind.org/practices/tree.html
2. Ibid.
3. Jeremiah Burroughs, Gospel Fear: Developing a Tender Hart that Trembles at the Word of God (Soli Deo Gloria Publications, 2001), www.SDGbooks.com.
4. p. 46.
5. p. 86, emphasis added.

The New [Age] Spirituality: The Folly of the Ages

The New [Age] Spirituality: The Folly of the Ages.

The Challenge of Pragmatism – Part 2

The Challenge of Pragmatism – Part 2.

The Challenge of Pragmatism – Part 1

The Challenge of Pragmatism – Part 1.

Discernment Ministry – A Biblical Defense

A very good article on discernment ministry and why and how the Word of God defends what we do.

Discernment Ministry – A Biblical Defense.

Everything Must Change by Brian McLaren

We have been accused of not reading the material that we do articles on ie Emergent Church leaders and authors etc..

Thats just not true everyone we used on our DVD does impeccable research and are all students of the Bible.

Here is a book review by Pastor Gary Gilley

Everything Must Change by Brian McLaren

Shared via AddThis

G12 Master Plan Could Expose Thousands of Nazarenes to Contemplative/Emerging Spirituality

From my friends and brothers and sisters in the Lord at Lighthouse Trails

G12 Master Plan Could Expose Thousands of Nazarenes to Contemplative/Emerging Spirituality

“Training Today’s Leaders for Tomorrow’s Churches” is the motto for New Church Specialties, a Christian consulting organization that largely reaches Nazarenes. But New Church Specialties and the affiliated New Church University (where pastors and leaders are mentored and trained) are a conduit for the new spirituality, and their G12 Master’s Plan could potentially expose thousands of Nazarenes to contemplative spirituality and the emerging church.

While New Church Specialties does mentor and train leaders from various denominations, a 2008 Annual Ministry Report reveals that 62% of NCS’s 2008 income came from Nazarene churches with Salvation Army, Wesleyan, and other denominations covering the rest. The report says that NCS’s vision is “changing the way churches communicate,” and its mission is to “assist the starting and strengthening of churches worldwide.” But evidence shows that this changing and strengthening of churches is going to be done using, at least in part, contemplative/emerging authors.

New Church Specialties is offering to their followers books by New Age sympathizers Leonard Sweet, Brian McLaren, and Ken Blanchard for instruction and guidance. 1 Leonard Sweet, author of Quantum Spirituality, has worked on a number of occasions with Rick Warren to bring about what he refers to as a “new spirituality.” 2 A well-documented expose on Sweet’s beliefs can be found in Warren Smith’s new book, A “Wonderful” Deception. Smith shows that Sweet has been influenced by major New Age proponents such as Matthew Fox, David Spangler, and a number of others. One of the most, if not the most, outstanding figures for New Age spirituality, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, is said by Sweet to be “Twentieth-century Christianity’s major voice” (see p. 118, AWD). Such a misconception – de Chardin is perhaps the New Age’s “major voice” but certainly not true Christianity’s.

Ken Blanchard, also used by NCS, has been promoting and endorsing and writing forewords for New Age meditation authors for many years. From Deepak Chopra (7 Spiritual Laws of Success) to Gay Hendricks (The Corporate Mystic) to Anthony Robbins (Unlimited Power) to Jim Ballard (Mind Like Water), and others, Blanchard has been consistent in showing his affinity with New Age meditation teachers. All of these books just mentioned teach and/or promote eastern-style mysticism. In a book titled, What Would Buddha Do At Work?, Blanchard states in the foreword: “Buddha points to the path and invites us to begin our journey to enlightenment. I … invite you to begin your journey to enlightened work.” In 2007, Blanchard wrote the foreword to Jim Ballard’s book, Little Wave and Old Swell, a book in which the front cover says it is inspired by Paramahansa Yogananda, a Hindu guru (the book is kind ofA Course in Miracles for children – god in all).3

The book New Church Specialties is using by Leonard Sweet, The Church in Emerging Culture, is a compilation of five authors including emerging church/futurist/mystic proponent Erwin McManus and atonement denier/emergent leader Brian McLaren. McManus has an interesting way of viewing Christianity. He states: “My goal is to destroy Christianity as a world religion and be a recatalyst for the movement of Jesus Christ” and “Some people are upset with me because it sounds like I’m anti-Christian. I think they might be right” (see link above for sources). He admits that his popular book, The Barbarian Way (a book that David Jeremiah advocates) has a core of mysticism in its foundation.4

A 2008 Lighthouse Trails article, “Is General Baptist Ministries Going Toward Contemplative?,”discusses New Church Specialties and its founder Larry McKain. Sadly, that article points out that Church of the Nazarene General Superintendent Dr. Jim Diehl endorses the work at NCS. Lighthouse Trails explains that when Ray Yungen’s book A Time of Departing first was released in 2002, Jim Diehl read that book and contacted Lighthouse Trails by phone to say he wholeheartedly agreed with its message. Other endorsements of NCS include an array of denominational leaders. 5

How is New Church Specialties going to be able to impact thousands of Nazarenes and other Christians? New Church Specialties has implemented a program that can potentially serve as a catalyst to bring the spirituality of Sweet, McLaren and Blanchard to countless unsuspecting Christians. This program is best known as G12 (Government of 12). NCS refers to this as “The Master’s Plan.” In short, this is a church-growth technique adapted partly from Korean pastor David Cho and Columbian pastor Cesar Castellanos, which promises substantial church growth. The Master’s Plan proposes that true church growth can only come about through a CELL structure where a leader will vigorously train 12 people, who will train 12 people, who will train 12 people. While numbers often grow with this structure, there are disturbing testimonies of abuse and discipline if one does not follow implicitly the CELL leader over him or her. An overview of NCS’s Master Plan (written by a Nazarene pastor in Anaheim, California) lays out The Master’s Plan in more depth, acknowledging that a “disciple” will need to meet with his 11 brothers and sisters up to three times a week and remain committed to them for “life.” The Encounter Weekend Retreats provide further training to disciples, including the very problematic (occult in origin from Agnes Sanford) “inner healing.”

In view of how extremely pervasive mystical contemplative spirituality is throughout most of Christianity today (and in view of NCS’s promotion of contemplative advocates), this G12 structure could literally cause contemplative to explode in thousands of lives very rapidly.

As with most false teachings, there is an element of hiding the truth regarding NCS’s G12 implementation. In the overview, it states: “Avoid the use of the phrase ‘G12′ in your public discussions. Call it The Master’s Plan or The Discipleship Model or some other generic name. For some reason, some people get worked up over the phrase ‘G12.’” The Master’s Plan hopes to eradicate traditional programs like Sunday School from existence: “Existing ministries will either move over to The Master’s Plan or they will wither in time and die of their own natural causes” (p. 29).

New Church Specialties’ coupling of contemplative/emerging authors with the G12 Master’s Plan could have major affects on so many and could bring to fruition Leonard Sweet’s comments about the christ consciousness: “The power of small groups is in their ability to develop the discipline to get people ‘in-phase’ with the Christ consciousness and connected with one another” (p. 147, Quantum Spirituality), but this is not the Christ of the Bible, but as Paul warned is a “another gospel” and “another Jesus” (II Corinthians 11:4). Nazarenes should take note not to implement New Church Specialties into their own local churches but rather to cling to the truth of God’s Word, which rejects the panentheistic, interspiritual nature of contemplative spirituality.

For those who don’t quite understand or who may even be skeptical, consider the following: New Age author Marilyn Ferguson, who wrote the classic book The Aquarian Conspiracy, said that 31% of all people who are involved in New Age spirituality entered it through the catalyst of Christian mysticism (i.e., contemplative). This is not surprising when you hear what mystic Richard Kirby said: “The meditation of advanced occultists is identical with the prayer of advanced mystics” (see A Time of Departing). Anyone who realizes the truth of this has to be motivated to take a stand on one side or another. Neutrality in this case is not an option.

Posted on October 3, 2009 @ 3:54 pm
Source URL:

A Renewed Confidence in the Word of God By Pastor Gary Gilley

New article from one of the featured speakers on the Concerned Nazarene DVD Pastor Gary Gilley.

Gary is a friend and brother in the Lord and was critical to the success of our DVD in turning people back toward Gods Word.

Here is the article-

Emergent spokesman Brian McLaren calls for the evangelical community to get over its love affair with certainty.  He writes, “Drop any affair you may have with certainty, proof, argument – and replace it with dialogue, conversation, intrigue, and search.”[1] Are we to take McLaren seriously?  If so, then the best way to get over our love affair with certainty, according to McLaren, would be to replace it with uncertainty, or more commonly, mystery.  It is definitely in vogue at this point in church history to make the rather “certain” claim that we cannot be certain about anything.  Of course, the irony of such certainty about uncertainty is obvious.  But much like impossible political promises, when statements are left unanalyzed and unchallenged they tend to be uncritically absorbed by the minds of some people, often resulting in great harm.

It is important then that we give careful thought to the recent love affair with uncertainty. What are its origins?  Is it really something new? Does it line up with the claims of Scripture?  How should the people of God respond?

Inroads of Uncertainty

There is little doubt that those espousing an “uncertain” or mystery brand of Christianity, as found in the Emergent church and similar groups, are merely lip-synching postmodern philosophy which has permeated much of the Western world.  Postmodernism,[2] which is still taking form, and simultaneously has grown tiresome, is best known for its uncertainty.  Knowable absolute and universal truth is denied, even despised, in the postmodern system.  Christian thinker Os Guinness offers the following definition of postmodernism:

Postmodernism is a movement and a mood as much as a clear set of ideas, so it often feels as if it is everywhere and nowhere.  Doubtless, this means it is blamed for too much as well as too little.  There are, of course, telltale fingerprints that postmodernism leaves on all it touches – the rejection of truth and objective standards of right and wrong, the leveling of authorities, the elevation of the autonomous self as the soul arbiter of life and reality, the equalizing of cultures,  the promotion of image over character, the glorifying of power…”[3]

As postmodernism has encroached on our society it is becoming more and more common to see its views reflected in many realms of evangelicalism.  For example, theologian Donald Bloesch writes, “Scripture is authoritative by virtue of its relation to the living Word, not by virtue of its truthfulness as such.”[4] And, “The knowledge of faith is not an empirical objectifying knowledge but a knowledge of which we are lifted above reason and sense into communion with the living God.”[5] In a rather convoluted manner

Bloesch is challenging a rationalistic approach to Scripture, which teaches that the Bible provides propositional truth and a common sense approach to the understanding of life, and replacing it with a postmodern, mystical understanding.  Others have been clearer; for example Brian McLaren believes conservatives have entirely missed the Bible’s purpose and message and therefore, “Hardly anyone in conservative churches actually encounters the Bible any more.”[6] As a result, those of a postmodern bent, we are told, “find the doctrines and principles [drawn from Scripture] as interesting as grass clippings.”[7] This is because conservatives, according to McLaren, “Have conquered the text, captured the meaning, removed all mystery, stuffed it and preserved it for posterity, like a taxidermist with a deer head.”[8] But even McLaren’s friend and cohort, Tony Campolo sees the danger of this mystical approach to the Scriptures.  In response to the thoughts of McLaren as quoted above, Campolo writes,

Most biblical scholars would contend that the apostle Paul’s theological propositions have largely defined traditional Christianity… Brian may have bought into postmodern thinking just a little too much for me.  As I see it, Jacques Derrida, the famous postmodern deconstructionist philosopher, and his followers contend that the text of Scripture has no single interpretation; instead the Bible should be read as though it was a Rorschach test.  They tell us to see in the text whatever meaning we want to impose on it.  They tell us that no single interpretation should be considered objectively valid.  The text, says these postmodernists, has a life of its own—and once it is written, the reader provides the meaning.  To me, that approach to the Bible has inherent dangers.[9]

Campolo, certainly no conservative, nevertheless is correct.  Once we decide that the Bible is primarily the means of a mystical encounter with God rather than God’s truth revealed to man which is “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16b-17), the purpose of God’s revelation changes.   Scripture can be twisted to mean anything we want it to mean; the meaning of the revelation is not important, what matters is our supposed encounter with God.  There is no question that we encounter God in the Bible, for as Jesus said, He came to “explain” God to us (John 1:18), and Hebrews 1:2 tells us that God has spoken to us “in His Son.”  My contention is that we encounter God in the truth that He reveals.  John said that his greatest joy was knowing that his “children [were] walking in the truth” (3 John 4).  The Bible offers more than truth claims and propositions, but it does not offer less.

The Product of Uncertainty

A medical physician friend of mine compares this postmodern/mystical approach to the AIDS virus.  He told me, “Postmodernism attacks true Christianity’s defense system, the truth (including God’s Word), denying it exists or at least that it can be known with any degree of certainty.  Like the AIDS virus, which leaves the body subject to all manner of infections and malignancies, postmodernism leaves Christianity with all manner of heresies if not apostasy.”[10]

This disease of uncertainty has produced a very ill patient.  A recent report entitled, “Crisis in America ’s Churches: Bible Knowledge at All-Time Low”[11] reveals a startling picture of the evangelical church.  Below are some of the findings by George Barna and other researchers as documented in this report:

• The most widely known Bible verse among adult and teen believers is “God helps those who help themselves” – which is not in the Bible.
• Less than one out of every ten believers possesses a biblical worldview as the basis for his or her decision-making or behavior.
• When given thirteen basic teachings from the Bible, only 1% of adult believers firmly embrace all thirteen as being biblical perspectives.
• Of Baptists (of all kinds) only 34% believe Satan is real, 57% believe that good works earn heaven, 45% do not believe that Jesus was sinless and 34% do not believe the Bible is totally accurate.
• Only 32% of “born-again” Christians believes in the existence of absolute moral truth.

Commenting on such beliefs Professor Gary Burge of Wheaton College believes such theological and biblical illiteracy is the result of:

• The failure of the church to transmit what it believes to the next generation.  One of the reasons for this is an overemphasis on personal experience to the exclusion of serious Christian education.
• Many churches have abandoned serious Bible exposition and theological teaching.  Exegesis is becoming a “lost art” in the pulpit.
• Today there is a tremendous influence of nonbiblical philosophies and worldviews on churchgoers.
• Christians have accepted and combined so many ideas from other worldviews and religions that they have created their own faith system.  The average born-again, baptized, churchgoing person has embraced elements of Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, Mormonism, Scientology, Unitarianism and Christian Science – without any idea he has just created his own faith.

It seems to me that those cheerleading for a Christianity devoid of propositional truth and centered around an experiential encounter with Christ should be quite pleased – they have gotten what they want.  Scripture is basically ignored by the average believer who now measures his Christian life by how he feels and what experiences he has encountered.  On the other hand, I am convinced that our Lord is not so pleased.  He designed and commissioned His church to be the “pillar and support of the truth” (1 Tim 3:15), but the church is rapidly becoming a place without truth.  David Wells informs us, “Theology does not fare well in the culture because it is not believed, it does not fare well in the church because it is not wanted.”[12] He goes on to warn, “A church that neither is interested in theology nor has the capacity to think theologically is a church that will be rapidly submerged beneath the wave of modernity [or swallowed up by its culture].”[13]

The roots of this weakened form of Christianity can be found long before the influence of postmodern philosophy.  In an oft’ quoted observation, Michael Saward, surveying the evangelical scene in the 1980s, could say,

This is the disturbing legacy of the 1960s and 1970s.  A generation brought up on guitars, choruses, and home group discussions.  Educated, as one of them put it to me, not to use words with precision because the image is dominant, not the word. Equipped not to handle doctrine but rather to “share.”  A compassionate, caring generation, suspicious of definition and labels, uneasy at, and sometimes incapable of, being asked to wrestle with sustained didactic exposition of theology.  Excellent when it came to providing religious music, drama, and art.  Not so good when asked to preach and teach the Faith.[14]

Where to from Here?

As a result of these past and present influences, the church of Christ is facing an authority crisis.  There has been a steady erosion of confidence in Scripture for several decades cumulating in theological and/or practical elimination of the need for the Bible in our lives.  After all, in a society infatuated  with success—theological understanding, biblical knowledge and even righteous living are no match for fancy buildings, high-powered programs, the finest in entertainment and emotional experiences (no matter what the source).  Very few churches grow numerically today because of solid teaching of the Word.  That is because very few Christians today see the importance of the Word. To them the Bible is much like a musical concert, there to produce an experience, not to transform their lives.  They see no vital connection between Scripture and life.  To know God’s truth is not essential to how they want to live their lives, therefore they have no desire to study the Bible.  This leaves a vacuum that is being filled with mysticism, rituals, entertainment and fun, all in the name of Christ.  Ultimately, however, like the sinkholes in Florida a few years ago, once the faith has been sucked dry spiritually there will eventually be an implosion.  Without a timely recovery of the importance and sufficiency of the Word of God such an implosion is imminent, although it will most likely take the form of a slow degeneration rather than a sudden collapse.  I believe we are witnessing such deterioration even at this moment and yet few believers have noticed – another sign of our spiritual condition.

Our buildings are large, megachurches are prolific and multiplying, our programs are well-funded, the Christian entertainment industry is big business, and church atten dance is still respectable, at least in America .  Outward appearance would reveal a robust evangelical community filled with ministry opportunities and overflowing with life.

But beneath the surface we detect serious concerns.  Two generations of believers have, for the most part, been devoid of sound systematic teaching of the Word.  An appetite for the superficial has been cultivated and few crave solid food.  Biblical discernment is a relic of a bygone era and is viewed with disdain by a people trained to cherish relativism.  Such a situation cannot be long endured by God’s church.  Francis Schaeffer warned in the early ‘70s,

Once we begin to slip over into the other methodology—a failure to hold on to an absolute which can be known by the whole man, including what is logical and rational in him—historic Christianity is destroyed, even if it seems to keep going for a time.  We may not know it, but when this occurs, the marks of death are upon it, and it will soon be one more museum piece.[15]

The Bible Stands

One of my favorite Christian songs is “The Bible Stands.”  Although it is difficult to find in hymn books these days, its message has always encouraged my heart:

The Bible stands like a rock undaunted
‘Mid the raging storms of time;
Its pages burn with the truth eternal,
And they glow with a light sublime.

The Bible stands tho’ the hills may tumble
It will firmly stand when the earth shall crumble;
I will plant my feet on its firm foundation,
For the Bible stands.

The Bible lays out its own claim to authority and power.  Our familiarity with 2 Timothy 3:16-17 should not rob us of its force, “All Scripture is inspired of God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequately equipped for every good work.”  Paul makes a radical assertion that the Scriptures are profitable to identify the true needs and issues in our lives, to correct us, to teach us how we should live and then train us in righteousness.  When the Scriptures have finished their work we will be found adequate and equipped for every good work.  It is no wonder that Paul follows up this declaration of the Bible’s power with a charge to preach the Word (4:2) and to do so while there are still people wanting to hear and respond to its message (4:3-4).  Paul speaks of a window of opportunity that, with the help of hindsight, apparently opens and closes throughout history.  We can observe an opening of the window, for example, during the times of the Reformation and the Evangelical Awakening.  Now we can observe the window of opportunity for the Word, especially in the Western world, rapidly closing.  We urgently need to proclaim God’s truth while some are still willing to listen.

I believe the Word of God has the power to transform our lives and lead us into godliness first and foremost because it makes that claim.  The typical evangelical would likely pronounce a hardy “amen” to the above statement—unless and until the claims of the Scripture run cross-grain to the patterns of his life.  When the authority of the Bible steps into the arena of his career, his personal habits, his psychological concepts, his finances, his marriage and family, his sports, his dealing with conflict, then suddenly the Holy Scripture is considered of no value and eliminated out of hand.  After all, our friend reasons, what does the Bible have to say about such things?  The answer—everything.  Our friend retorts, it is an ancient book full of nice stories and good proverbs, suitable for worship services and funerals, but it has no reasonable bearing on everyday life, does it?  The answer—the Bible, through the power of the Holy Spirit, says it can absolutely transform our lives—every aspect of our lives.

The Holy Spirit in Romans 12:2 indicates that everyone is born with a mind conformed to the world system.  As a result we naturally think and act as one would expect those lacking an understanding of God to think and act.  Upon conversion we become new creatures (2 Cor 5:17) with new capacities to think and act in ways that please God (1 Cor 2:14-16).  But such a transformation is not automatic.  We carry with us into the Christian life the residue of our unregenerate, conformed state.  It is for this reason that the New Testament calls for us to lay aside our former manner of living (Col 3:5-9) and put on the characteristics of our born-from-above nature (Col 3:10-17).  But such a transition will successfully take place only as our minds are renewed ( Col 3:10).  Paul commands us to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom 12:2).  Such renewal is possible only as the Word of God penetrates our minds and heart.

The Scriptures then stand ready and able to expose and correct all our former conformity to the world system and its way of interacting with life.  And by the same token they stand ready and able to teach us how to live and to train us in the right path.  When Scripture is viewed in this way it becomes the indispensable power and wisdom of God to direct us in every area of life.  The Word is not just adequate for church services, funerals and occasional pick-me-ups.  It is adequate for every area of our lives from child rearing to job selection to investments to tragedies and loss.  The Bible is every bit at home in the work place, in the hospital, and on the basketball court as it is at a church service.

This becomes obvious when we observe that, immediately following the command to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, Paul launches into application on the most practical of everyday issues.

• Serving one another (Rom 12:3-8).
• Dealing with people (Rom 12:9-13).
• Handling difficult people and conflict (Rom 12:14-21).
• Attitude and behavior in regard to government (Rom 13:1-7).
• Loving one another (Rom 13:8-10)
• Moral behavior (Rom 13:11-14).
• Relating to those who embrace different opinions from ours (Rom 14:1-15:6).

This represents just a sampling of the many areas in which the Scripture brings our thinking into conformity with God’s.  I would venture to say that the Bible speaks to every issue in our lives either directly or through principles.

The article referenced earlier dealing with biblical illiteracy ends with this sour prediction, “Experts do not expect the trend toward biblical illiteracy in churches to change.”

But the prediction is followed up with wise exhortation: “This does not alter, though, the responsibility of church leaders to do all they can do to reverse this dangerous trend…we must try.” [16]

And, by God’s grace, perhaps we will succeed.

---

[1] Brian D. McLaren and Tony Campolo, Adventures in Missing the Point (Grand Rapid: Zondervan, 2003), p. 84.

[2] For more on postmodernism see my book “This Little Church Stayed Home,” ( Darlington, England : Evangelical Press, 2006): pp. 21-54.

[3] Os Guinness, Time for Truth ( Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2000), p. 52.

[4] Donald Bloesch, Essentials of Evangelical Theology ( Peabody, MA: Prince Press, 2001), p. 275.

[5] Ibid., p. 268.

[6] Brian D. McLaren and Tony Campolo, Adventures in Missing the Point, p .78.

[7] Ibid., p. 77.

[8] Ibid., p. 79.

[9] Ibid., p. 89.

[10] Personal letter from Dr. James Blankenship.

[11] Michael J. Vlach, “Crisis in America ’s Churches: Bible Knowledge at All-Time Low,”http://www.theologicalstudies.org/page/page/1573625.htm.

[12] As quoted in Gary L. W. Johnson & Ronald N. Gleason, Reforming or Conforming? “Church and Community or Community and Church?” ( Wheaton: Crossway, 2008), p. 174.

[13] Ibid.

[14] As quoted in Iain H. Murray, Evangelicalism Divided ( Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust: 2000), p. 254.

[15] Francis Schaeffer, The Complete Works of Francis Schaeffer, The God Who Is There (Wheaton: Crossway, 1982), p. 47.

[16] Ibid.

IS CHRISTIANITY ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS?

Many times in speaking with Emergent folk and those who are part of the great falling away they stress the importance of relationship over the stress on sound doctrine (the stress on sound doctrine is of course the biblical stance).
Here is a great article by my friend and brother in the Lord Paul Proctor.
By Paul Proctor
September 11, 2009
NewsWithViews.com

“Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” – Luke 6:26

It seems I am receiving a little extra email these days from troubled Christians who have had to give up a church, some friends and/or certain family members in order to remain faithful to God and His Word. I can tell you without hesitation that I certainly have – and on more than one occasion.

No one can lead you down the road of temptation quicker than a close friend, family member or fellow Christian. The downgrading of today’s “Church” along with society has clearly taken its toll on the brethren and is now driving many out the sanctuary doors to preserve their faith in Jesus Christ.

I heard Authority Research founder and director, Dean Gotcher, in a recent radio interview refer to the loneliness that results from the loss of such relationships as the taking up of one’s cross for Christ. When I respond to the heartbreaking email of readers who have had to leave their local church in obedience to God’s Word, I often reply with some empathetic encouragement and a link to a short piece written by A.W. Tozer titled: The Loneliness of the Christian.

For believers new to this column, I realize that the idea of sacrificing treasured relationships, even those we worship with, is probably a stark contrast to what you regularly receive from the pulpit of your local church and the lectern of your weekly Bible study class where most everything these days revolves around establishing, protecting, sustaining and maintaining relationships of all kinds, at all costs – a dangerous notion that is just not biblical.

Advertisement

“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” – Amos 3:3

Simply put, it turns people into church worshippers who revere, embrace and obey the consensus of a congregation with a contrived unity rather than God worshippers who put His Word and Authority far and above the fellowship, opinions, theories, life experiences and personal tastes of well meaning Christians and clergy.

This Religion of Relationships has now all but taken over what is called “Christianity” and ought to be called what it really is: “Churchianity” – the worship of and faith in those who claim to be the “Body of Christ” – especially its leaders who treat their own counsel, conjecture, sermon stories and agendas as equal to or greater than the Word of God.

Those who embrace Churchianity will often respond to a rebuking scripture with: “Yeah, but…” as if to be able to trump it with some greater knowledge, wisdom, anecdote or seemingly contradicting verse from the Bible. This is the ugly arrogance of today’s humanistic spirituality and its self-serving, self-worshipping ways.

When listening to a fellow church member, teacher or preacher talk about the Christian life, how many times have you heard them cite that sacred slogan: “It’s all about relationships?”

Baloney!

It’s about repentance and faith in Jesus Christ and our loving obedience to His Word, whatever may come – a faithfulness that will cost you more relationships than it will ever garner you! Our first love and loyalty is to Him, not our fellow man. That doesn’t mean we don’t take up the towel to wash feet, serve others, sacrifice ourselves and love our neighbor – it simply means they don’t come first in our lives – Jesus Christ does. That’s why we call Him “Lord” and not the brethren.

But, when we place our hope and faith in the redeemed rather than the Redeemer and put the words of men over the Word of God, we become no better than new agers who believe that God is in everyone and in everything – worshipping the creation instead of the Creator and in doing so, make ourselves gods to be praised and exalted with reciprocating adulation and acclaim.

“They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.” – Psalm 12:2

If your Christianity isn’t costing you at least some friends and family, both inside and outside the church house, your hope and faith may have turned horizontal. If your Sunday gatherings have become flattery festivals where people are quoted and praised more than Jesus Christ, you might want to reconsider your church membership. If you have friends and family that hate God, but love you, it might be time to reexamine your witness for Christ and your commitment to Him.

“And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.” – Luke 21:16-17

Take a sober and discerning look around your church next Sunday and tell me what you see. If it’s all about relationships there, it may be time to hit the door and go find your cross.

“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” – Matthew 10:33-39

Related articles:

1. The Loneliness of the Christian
2. Authority Research
3. Are You A Church Worshipper?

© 2009 Paul Proctor – All Rights Reserved