What's Missing?

Lately I've been reading in the blogosphere about the dire straits of worship in the church and how it's trying to "get something going." This shows up in the music, the entertainment sermons, and so forth. I think this must be a true assessment since for the past three years, during the summers, I take a few weeks off from my own church here and there to visit other churches my larger area (Northern Los Angeles County just above L.A. City). I go to all types of churches within the "evangelical" tent. Some are Charismatic, some Pentecostal, some non-C/P but kind of open to the C/P worship expressions, and at least one very anti-C/P one. Except for the one anti-C/P one, where I truly did sense the glory of God and no one was trying really hard to "make something happen," the rest were pathetic. And it's sad I have to say the anti-C/P one was the best one. Among the worst were the Charismatic and Pentecostal churches which seem to be dead as a doornail. Of course, I didn't go to any Third Wave Charismatic churches as I consider them to be either bordering on, or pell-mell into, the occult.

The first thing I noticed when I visited these churches was the absolutely awful greeters/ushers. Doesn't anyone train these people? It really makes me appreciate my church which seems to have the best of these around. I've also heard this from our church leaders who have visited other churches. They report back to us that our greeters and ushers are remarkable. They actually say hello to you in a welcoming voice. In many of the churches I visited, you wouldn't believe what passes for greeters and ushers. But perhaps I will blog about that another time since today's is a totally different theme. In every church I visited (except at the anti-C/P one) the worship team tried very, very hard to get "something" going. I guess that "something" was the Holy Spirit's presence. I wish to report to you, sadly, that they failed. The Holy Spirit was nowhere to be found (except of course inside of believers, hiding out). The sermons were even worse, if that was possible. Dry, dull, long, boring, mostly psychobabble and self-esteem teaching. Those teachings that were more Biblical were just dead, dry and tedious. Why? Even though most of the churches 40 years ago were fairly dispensational and anti-C/P, many of the sermons seemed to be more Spirit-led than the ones I hear today. Somehow, and for some reason, the Holy Spirit has left the building. Why? Part of the reason, of course, is the apostasy that has flooded into the church. But what about those that are still hanging in there with fairly cogent doctrinal views? That is a mystery to me and I will be looking for answers in the future. I do know where we should be headed. And, I've said this here before, toward a much more Pentecostal view - a balanced one between Word and Spirit (revelation). Then why are the Pentecostal chruches so dead? Aside from those that have strayed from the Pentecostal foundations, I must admit I don't know why. But I intend to find out. So stay tuned here as I begin to concentrate on finding the answer to that question and dilemma.

How the Russians See Us

The link below is utterly fascinating IMO. And while some is exaggerated in order to promote a point of view, much of it is valuable to see ourselves in the current American way of life and culture which seems to be falling apart. I especially was intrigued about the author's American religious conclusions. This is a column written in the main Moscow newspaper, Pravda (this is the English version), and is the view of one of their columnists. But I'm wondering if it also reflects other people's views and feelings in Russia?

Here are some tidbits from the article, and then I give the link which I do hope you'll read.


*"First, the population was dumbed down through a politicized and substandard education system based on pop culture, rather then the classics. Americans know more about their favorite TV dramas then the drama in DC that directly affects their lives. They care more for their "right" to choke down a McDonalds burger or a BurgerKing burger than for their constitutional rights."


*"Then their faith in God was destroyed, until their churches, all tens of thousands of different "branches and denominations" were for the most part little more then Sunday circuses and their televangelists and top protestant mega preachers were more then happy to sell out their souls and flocks to be on the "winning" side of one pseudo Marxist politician or another. Their flocks may complain, but when explained that they would be on the "winning" side, their flocks were ever so quick to reject Christ in hopes for earthly power. Even our Holy Orthodox churches are scandalously liberalized in America."


*"So, should it be any surprise to discover that the Democratically controlled Congress of America is working on passing a new regulation that would give the American Treasury department the power to set "fair" maximum salaries, evaluate performance and control how private companies give out pay raises and bonuses?"


*"The Russian owners of American companies and industries should look thoughtfully at this and the option of closing their facilities down and fleeing the land of the Red as fast as possible. In other words, divest while there is still value left."



Link: http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/107459-0

THE Question of the Hour-1

I never thought I would ever see this as THE question evangelicals would need to ask within their own churches and culture, but today I think it surely is. And, that question is:

What exactly is a Christian?


From time to time over the next few weeks I will present various answers to that question with my comments (of course.....)


Here is a quote from A.W. Tozer (1987-1963), a very well-known pastor and author of many cherished Christian books (thanks for friend Joe for this quote),


I consider it a good sign that some people are still asking questions like these in our churches: "What should happen in a genuine conversion to Christ?" and "What should a man or woman feel in the transaction of the new birth?" If I am asked, my answer is this: "There ought to be a real and genuine cry of pain!" That is why I am not impressed with the kind of evangelism that tries to invite people into the fellowship of God by signing a card. There should be a birth within, a birth from above. There should be the terror of seeing ourselves in violent contrast to the holy, holy God! Unless we come into this place of conviction and pain concerning our sin, I am not sure how deep and real our repentance will ever be. The man whom God will use must be undone, humble and pliable. He must be, like the astonished Isaiah, a man who has seen the King in His beauty!

Postmodernism and the Emergents

If you read much postmodern philosophy (Postructuralism, Deconstructuralism, the New Criticism, etc.), you might very well stumble across the term doing violence to the text. Basically (I am saying this in a humorous, tongue-in-cheek way) this means interpreting it the way the person you are reading wants you to interpret it. Philosophically it means to just attend to what is written in the text and not bring in cultural assumptions, author's intent, and so forth. I keep writing here that the emergent church is a movement bringing in postmodern philosophy to the church. Here is something that proves my point.

This next example is so classic I can't believe I actually stumbled over it. John Chisam relates what happened on his radio show when his co-host interviewed emergent Tony Jones. Please pay particular notice to Jones' reply (I put it into bold type). Does it sound familiar in relation to the first paragraph of this post?


Recently, [on]our radio show , My co-host Rusty Beals gave a testimony of His conversion, and how God changed Him. (this starts about 33 minutes into the show)Tony dismissed the fact that his very nature had been changed by God out of hand. I quoted a number of verses, and Tony Jones called that doing violence to the Bible.

I rest my case.

Source of Chisam's remarks about the radio interview with Jones:
http://pastorboy.wordpress.com/2009/05/20/yes-tony-jones-we-have-a-new-nature/

Let's Play "Who Said"

Who said this?


No theology is genuinely Christian which does not arise from and focus on the cross.

Scroll down for answer (probably no surprise here)
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

Martin Luther


(Source of quote: http://www.challies.com/archives/book-reviews/outrageous-mercy.php)

The "Letter"

I would love for someone to write a letter like this,


Dear Emergent Pastor,

You have been my pastor now for three years and I have gained much from you. However, I recently found out that I am made right with God through what Jesus did on the cross for me. But you said it was for social justice and also Israel. Why didn't you tell me the truth? I found out that I don't have to do all the good works you taught to be right with God; that they should flow naturally after conversion. Why didn't you tell me that? In fact, why didn't you teach me the Bible the way it was written instead of bringing in your postmodern philosophical spin onto it. I just don't get it. Why would you hide such a wonderful gospel from me. And, from the others in the church? Why would you change it so drastically.
Thankfuly, I recently met someone who finally told me the real gospel. But what I really don't get is knowing that you heard the true gospel in your church while you were growing up. So, why in the world wouldn't you tell US? I mean, even if you presented both "gospels," that would be better than hiding the one from us. So, with great respect, I am withdrawing my membership from your church and going to a real one.

Yours truly,

Your emergent church member (former)

Another one Agrees with Me - Politics Will Not Change the Society

For the past thirty years I've been screaming and ranting that Christians can only change the society through conversion and witness, not through passing political laws only.
Now, finally, I am reading scads of Christians who agree with me.
Here is one, from the blog, Biblical Awakening in a post entitled, Politics, Power & Pride. Here is the first paragraph, but do read the entire post (I posted the link again after the quote),


Evangelicals may finally be realizing that political activism is not the path to preserving the Christian character and culture of America. After 30 years of the Moral Majority, the Christian Coalition and the religious right, America, last November, elected what are probably the most liberal president and congress in its history. Since that time 5 states have legalized homosexual marriage and others are poised to follow suit. Chuck Schumer, the influential, liberal senator from New York, gleefully declared that, “All this talk about family and traditional values is a thing of the past.” In the midst of all this, Dr. James Dobson, whom many would consider the most prominent voice of the religious right, solemnly announced, “We (evangelical Christians) have lost the culture war.

Post link: http://biblicalawakening.blogspot.com

Why the Emergent Drives so Many of Us Crazy!

And you wonder why I have big problems with the emergent village "beliefs."

This from an interview with emergent Tony Jones,


Recently, [on] our radio show , My co-host Rusty Beals gave a testimony of His conversion, and how God changed Him. (this starts about 33 minutes into the show)Tony dismissed the fact that his very nature had been changed by God out of hand. I quoted a number of verses, and Tony Jones called that doing violence to the Bible. But the theme of regeneration- God giving us a new nature-Paliggenesia- is seen throughout the New Testament.



Source: http://pastorboy.wordpress.com/2009/05/20/yes-tony-jones-we-have-a-new-nature/

Why Are We Changing Our Message? Others Don't

Lately I've been thinking about how postmodern Christians seem to want to change our faith to fit both their postmodern sensibilities as well as the worldly mindset. But when you visit a Mormon church, do they change their beliefs to acommodate non-Mormons? No. If you visit a muslim mosque, do they change their message to acommodate a non-muslim? No. So, why are we doing it? I was listening to a radio talk show this morning and the host commented that too many churches today (he was talking about both Protestant and Catholic) are changing their faith to fit in with today's political/philosophical idealogies. Then he posed this question:

Are our churches supposed to be churches? Or simply social/political halls?

While I don't mind a postmodern approach, I do agree that we need to stop tinkering with the message.

Are We Giving Enough Information?

I like to get to the root of things. That way you can really resolve the issue instead of simply putting bandaids on it. For the past few years I've noticed that the Young Calvinists are having conniptions about who is and who isn't born again in evangelical churches. But I think they have at least one good point and that is - how much gospel do you have to hear to become a Christian. And that leads to the second question - are people hearing enough today to become Christians? I'm not talking about "Jesus Followers" of Rabbi Jesus. I am talking about people getting converted through Jesus Saviour. So, what do you think? How much gospel do we need to hear? I am not asking HOW we should present it (that will be another post), only IF we are giving enough information.

Why is the Cross so Offensive to Evangelicals Today?

I've been thinking lately why so many churches are not preaching the cross and what Christ did with our sins and his mediatorial work there. I mean who wouldn't want to receive Christ's work to make you righteous with God instead of trying so hard and never getting anywhere? I just do not get it. Or maybe I do. I began to think about what is replacing it. Good works. Helping the poor. Taking care of the environment. In other words, man's works. Why does man want to cozy up to God with good works? The answer is.............................................

People who do good works to get to God feel as if they are in control. When God does it all, or I should say did it all, you're not so much in control right?

The Blood of the Lamb-silly

This really happened in my "drifting rapidly into emergent/liberal Protestantism" church. We had a guest speaker from Intervarsity. This used to be a wonderful organization but recently I am hearing really weird stuff about parts of it. Also, a lot of the emergent books have been published by Intervarsity Press (IVP). Well, after our guest speaker I can believe Intervarsity is in trouble. He blathered on like they all do today about how we used to evangelize with bad news (I guess he meant things like God's wrath and hell), but today he has discovered the "good news" to tell others. The good news of course never mentions the cross or what Jesus did there. At least he never mentioned it. The "good news" is that God loves us....Period. I would submit to you that people cannot get born again from that "gospel." Then he went into the usual, "secular society today doesn't understand Christianese terms" routine, like you know (he slightly laughed-smirked) the Blood of the Lamb, to which 1/2 of my church congregation laughed. I was stunned.....and terribly grieved in my spirit. Reverence anyone? What he should have said was the secular society doesn't understand many of the Bible terms. These aren't terms that "we (fundamentalists I guess)" use. We got them from somewhere. We didn't just make these terms up from out of the air. What should have been done was to use the Biblical terms but explain them for, and in, a non-Christian context - not dump the terms and then laugh ourselves silly.

Quote of the Week

From the Onward, Forward, Toward Blog,


The church is not dead. It is asleep and in a state of slumber (Romans 13:11-14). In fact, the church is very similar to the little girl who was to the point of dying in Mark 5:21-40.


And at the end of the post is what the blogger thinks should be happening in churches. And a say a great BIG Amen!


To the heart of the peculiar people:

Doctrine replaces Dominionism

Holiness replaces Heresy

Healing replaces Heterodoxy

Hermeneutics replaces “holy heebie-jeebies”

Repentance replaces randomized guesses to unlock the blessing

Private prayers and repentance replaces public posturing and power brokering

True Worship replaces Wanton Whoredom

Sanctification replaces spiritualized salivation


Source: http://availablelightonline.com/blog/2009/05/08/reset-button-in-the-spirit/

Steve Gaines on Liberal Protestanism

Wow! My computer was at the computer doctor's for a whole week. I almost went stir crazy. But I am baaaack.......

A pastor named Steve Gaines has written an interesting book entitled, When God Comes to Church. The reason I call it interesting is because he's a Baptist pastor (Southern Baptist I believe) but seems to be more Charismatic without actually calling himself or his church Charismatic. But then, I'm learning this is becoming more and more common in Baptist churches.

In the chapter entitled, "Liberalism," he writes,

In my opinion theological liberalism has sent more people to hell than the effects of secular humanism and radical atheism combined.


I couldn't agree with that statement more as I grew up in liberal Protestanism. I don't think most evangelicals understand it or its dangers which is I guess why so many formerly very evangelistic churches, collees and seminaries are drifting into it.


Here is another quote from that chapter,

Liberals [he's talking here about theological liberals, not political liberals necessarily] start out denying the accuracy of Scripture and before long they're denying the authority of Scripture. "We don't care what the Bible says about this or that; we're going to do what we think is best."


An excellent encaspulation of what the core problem of liberal Protestanitsm is.

Computer is "sick"

My computer is at the computer doctor's, so I won't be writing posts until early in the week of May 4. The next post will be about a book that I've been reading by Steve Gaines.