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Another "teaching" article from an unnamed author at Disntr. Although in the title he mentions pastors as having a flawed understanding, he never discusses this. He will talk a lot about the way churches are conducted, who they attract, and why churches that are different than his are problematic. But nothing about what pastors don't understand.
Another "teaching" article from an unnamed author at Disntr. Although in the title he mentions pastors as having a flawed understanding, he never discusses this. He will talk a lot about the way churches are conducted, who they attract, and why churches that are different than his are problematic. But nothing about what pastors don't understand.
It seems he really wants to blast contemporary church services. His purpose is to criticize those churches that aren't traditional. He mistakes his preferences for the biblical model.
The author's view is that the local church is for the saved. He doesn't document this idea, but merely asserts it. Thus churches that are geared toward contemporary expressions have the unfortunate side effect of attracting unsaved people to church, and well, this is out of order.
Thus, evangelism should only happen outside the church, which means that he wants people saved before they come to church, we would guess is so that the unsaved don't sully his somber, reverent church service. But strangely, the author will write this:
True believers may be challenged by biblical truth, but they are never offended by the unadulterated preaching of God’s word.The Gospel possesses the power to change lives, but it can only do so when preached with clarity and conviction.
So he wants the Gospel preached inside church to the saved, but evangelism, (which is the preaching of the Gospel) to be outside the church. We wish he would get his story straight.
But the idea of church being for the saved is not found in the Bible. Instead we read:
1Co. 14:16, 22-25 If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand (idiótés, " ...an amateur, an unprofessional man, a layman; an ungifted person.") say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying...?
22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers (apistos,unbelieving, incredulous, unchristian); prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers. (apistos) 23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand (idiótés) or some unbelievers (apistos) come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?
24 But if an unbeliever (apistos) or someone who does not understand(idiótés) comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, 25 and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”
So Paul clearly expected non-believers to be in the church services, with tongues and prophecy going on. The author's delineation that evangelism should be outside the local church is therefore incorrect.
(...)
The notion that the Church exists primarily to attract lost people is a misguided one that has led many churches astray. While evangelism is undeniably important, it isn’t the primary purpose of the gathered body. (This leaves room for evangelism as a secondary purpose, but he will later deny this.)
In fact, Scripture teaches that evangelism is designed to be external to the body, as believers venture out into the world to share the good news of Jesus Christ. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus instructs his disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (This verse does not tell us that evangelism should happen outside the local church.)
Meanwhile, in Ephesians 4:11-13, the Apostle Paul writes, “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (We doubt the author believes in contemporary apostles and prophets. Now certainly this passage does tell us that the local church is the place where God's people are equipped and matured, but it does not say anything about how evangelism is to work.)
Likewise, in 1 Corinthians 14:26, Paul writes, “What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.” (Again, we are pretty sure the author does not believe in tongues or revelation. And again, there is nothing in this verse about where or how evangelism is conducted.)
Meanwhile, in Ephesians 4:11-13, the Apostle Paul writes, “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (We doubt the author believes in contemporary apostles and prophets. Now certainly this passage does tell us that the local church is the place where God's people are equipped and matured, but it does not say anything about how evangelism is to work.)
Likewise, in 1 Corinthians 14:26, Paul writes, “What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.” (Again, we are pretty sure the author does not believe in tongues or revelation. And again, there is nothing in this verse about where or how evangelism is conducted.)
These passages are the clearest descriptions of the purpose of the Church that we could have, yet so many still don’t get it and subject the body to the carnalities of the world (Apparently the author's church is so poorly trained that the "carnalities of the world" is a risk to the body.
Further, the author presents a false choice, the building up of the body, verses subjecting the body to the "carnalities of the world." There are more than two choices.)
by inviting the world into the Church. (The author has yet to explain this with the Bible.
And by the way, this is not about inviting the world, it's about inviting the lost.)
As the adage goes, “what you win them with, you must keep them with.” If we attempt to attract people to the Church with gimmicks, entertainment, and watered-down preaching, (Again the author is presenting a false choice. For him, the churches he doesn't like are simply offering entertainment. And of course, his own church is doing it correctly. So if these churches are not doing it like his church, then they are in error. They are only offering gimmicks and superficial preaching. His church is right.
As the adage goes, “what you win them with, you must keep them with.” If we attempt to attract people to the Church with gimmicks, entertainment, and watered-down preaching, (Again the author is presenting a false choice. For him, the churches he doesn't like are simply offering entertainment. And of course, his own church is doing it correctly. So if these churches are not doing it like his church, then they are in error. They are only offering gimmicks and superficial preaching. His church is right.
This is cultic thinking.)
they may linger for a time, but they will not be truly nurtured or nourished. (So, based on this hypothetical church supposedly committed to empty entertainment, the author determines that the entertainment is what the attractant is, and the superficiality of it will mean people won't stay.
This simplistic and vapid generalizing is typical for the author. He looks at a modern church with its modern music, contemporary atmosphere, and celebratory people, decides he doesn't like it, and relegates it all to doom with a wave of the hand.
In actual fact, he has no idea about why people are there. He doesn't know their eternal status. He has no idea if their worship style is repugnant to God or accepted by Him. His arrogance is based on personal taste coupled with a caricature of a contemporary-oriented church service.)
Eventually, they will grow weary of the spectacle and seek something else, leaving behind a congregation of people who have not experienced genuine transformation through the power of the Gospel. (The author continues to generalize about things he cannot know.)
To witness authentic growth and transformation in our churches, we must be willing to carry the truth of God’s word beyond our walls and proclaim it to the lost, while also standing firmly on that truth within our walls, even when it’s challenging or unpopular. (Well, this is certainly true. But if the local church is healthy, there are going to be seasoned, mature believers. But there should also be the just-saved and those who haven't been saved. It almost seems that the author wants people to be saved before they're allowed into the building.)
To witness authentic growth and transformation in our churches, we must be willing to carry the truth of God’s word beyond our walls and proclaim it to the lost, while also standing firmly on that truth within our walls, even when it’s challenging or unpopular. (Well, this is certainly true. But if the local church is healthy, there are going to be seasoned, mature believers. But there should also be the just-saved and those who haven't been saved. It almost seems that the author wants people to be saved before they're allowed into the building.)
True believers may be challenged by biblical truth, but they are never offended by the unadulterated preaching of God’s word.
The Gospel possesses the power to change lives, but it can only do so when preached with clarity and conviction. We must be willing to challenge our congregations, to call them to repentance and faith, and to equip them for works of service. (Oh. So there are unsaved people in the author's church? How did they get there? Were they attracted by something, like maybe the church's traditional approach to church services? Doesn't that make his church a choice based on style as well?
The Gospel possesses the power to change lives, but it can only do so when preached with clarity and conviction. We must be willing to challenge our congregations, to call them to repentance and faith, and to equip them for works of service. (Oh. So there are unsaved people in the author's church? How did they get there? Were they attracted by something, like maybe the church's traditional approach to church services? Doesn't that make his church a choice based on style as well?
The lost have no idea what constitutes biblical preaching. They know no doctrines. So if they wander in the door one Sunday, they aren't there because of solid doctrine. They are there because of the way the church seems to them. According to their taste.)
Only then will we witness enduring growth and transformation in our churches, as individuals are genuinely transformed by the power of the Gospel.
Ultimately, we must remember that it is not our responsibility to save people, but simply to proclaim the truth of God’s word. If God chooses to save someone, it will be through the truth. Let us remain steadfast in preaching the Gospel in all its fullness, trusting in the power of God to accomplish the rest.
Ultimately, we must remember that it is not our responsibility to save people, but simply to proclaim the truth of God’s word. If God chooses to save someone, it will be through the truth. Let us remain steadfast in preaching the Gospel in all its fullness, trusting in the power of God to accomplish the rest.
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