Popular Post angels4u Posted March 16, 2017 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 56 Topic Count: 1,664 Topics Per Day: 0.20 Content Count: 19,763 Content Per Day: 2.39 Reputation: 12,160 Days Won: 28 Joined: 08/22/2001 Status: Offline Popular Post Share Posted March 16, 2017 Can you see these things happening around you and in which way? Is your church holding on to the truth ? The Way, the Truth, and the Life5“Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?” 6Jesusanswered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7If you had known Me, you would know My Father as well. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”… Quote Here's How the New Christian Left Is Twisting the Gospel Peek behind the curtain of some "progressive" or "hip" evangelical churches, past the savvy technology and secular music, and you will find more than just a contemporary worship service. You'll find faith leaders encouraging young evangelicals to trade in their Christian convictions for a gospel filled with compromise. They're slowly attempting to give evangelicalism an "update"—and the change is not for the good. It's painful for me to admit, but we can no longer rest carefree in our evangelical identity—because it is changing. No doubt you have seen the headlines declaring that evangelicalism is doomed because evangelical kids are leaving the faith. It is no secret that there is an expanding gulf between traditional Christian teachings and contemporary moral values. But the sad truth is that the ideological gulf between America's evangelical grown-ups and their kids, aka the millennials, seems to be widening too. Somehow the blame for this chasm is being heaped on traditional churches. They are accused of having too many rules as well as being homophobic and bigoted. Yes, we've heard those false claims from popular culture in its desperate attempt to keep Christianity imprisoned within the sanctuary walls. But now popular culture is being aided by Christ-professing bedfellows whose message to "coexist," "tolerate" and "keep out of it" is more marketable to the rising generation of evangelicals. The seasoned Christian soldiers are noticing these distortions of the gospel. But for young evangelicals, the spiritual haze is harder to wade through. Desperate for acceptance in a fallen world, many young evangelicals (and some older ones) choose not to take Christ out of the chapel, and so they are unwittingly killing the church's public witness. In this uphill cultural battle, mired by scare tactics and fear, three types of evangelical Christians are emerging: Couch-potato Christians: These Christians adapt to the culture by staying silent on the tough culture-and-faith discussions. Typically, this group will downplay God's absolute truths by promoting the illusion that neutrality was Jesus' preferred method of evangelism. Cafeteria-style Christians: This group picks and chooses which Scripture passages to live by, opting for the ones that best seem to jive with culture. Typically, they focus solely on the "nice" parts of the gospel while simultaneously and intentionally minimizing sin, hell, repentance and transformation. Convictional Christians: In the face of the culture's harsh admonitions, these evangelicals refuse to be silent. Mimicking Jesus, they compassionately talk about love and grace while also sharing with their neighbors the need to recognize and turn from sin. I know about these three types of Christians because at one time or another, I have fallen into each of these three categories. My parents will tell you that even though I was raised in church, I morphed into a full-fledged feminist, told my parents they were ignorant for not endorsing homosexuality and bought into the distorted social justice rhetoric that confuses caring for the poor with advancing socialist or big government systems and demonizing the United States for its free-market system. I'm not ashamed to share my story because my experiences and those of my fellow bold evangelicals are a testimony of God's awesome, transforming power. Being countercultural for Christ isn't easy. What does the Great Commission say? Jesus commanded us to go, "teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you" (Matt. 28:20a). Where Did We Go Wrong? I see so many parents scratching their heads trying to figure out where they went wrong with young evangelicals. Following the instructions of Proverbs 22:6—"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it"—many evangelical parents took their children to church and prayed with them every night before bed. Yet the values those children now hold dear do not reflect the traditional teachings of Jesus. To be perfectly clear, I want to let you know up front that this isn't a parenting how-to guide that, if followed, will lead your loved ones to salvation. Instead, what I can offer you is a glimpse into the world of a 20-something who sees thousands of young evangelicals being spiritually and emotionally targeted on Christian university campuses, in college ministries and at churches nationwide by a growing liberal movement cloaked in Christianity. Research tells us evangelicals are drifting further away from the orthodox truths their parents and grandparents held dear. Our churches have rarely—if ever—faced the exodus we are seeing today. This will have a direct effect on the spiritual and moral values that will shape the nation in the coming years. That is why it is urgent that concerned Christians start acting now before the situation gets worse. The Collision of Faith and Culture Faith and culture will continue to collide in America. The culture wars, the growth of family, the success of missions, the prosperity of our great nation—the future rests on millennial evangelicals' worldview. And that is cause for concern, because something has gone wrong with young evangelicals' theology. The millennial generation's susceptibility to "feel-good" doctrine is playing a big part in America's moral decline. Millennials' religious practices depend largely on how the actions make us and others feel, whether the activities are biblical or not. For example, we only attend churches that leave us feeling good about our lifestyle choices, even if those choices conflict with God's clear commandments. We dismiss old hymns that focus on God's transforming salvation, love and mercy and opt for "Jesus is your boyfriend" songs. Or we contribute to nonprofits that exploit and misuse terms such as justice, oppressed and inequality because tweaking the language makes us feel more neutral, less confrontational. Popular liberal evangelical writers and preachers tell young evangelicals that if they accept abortion and same-sex marriage, then the media, academia and Hollywood will finally accept Christians. Out of fear of being falsely dubbed "intolerant" or "uncompassionate," many young Christians are buying into theological falsehoods. Instead of standing up as a voice for the innocent unborn or marriage as God intended, millennials are forgoing the authority of Scripture and embracing a couch potato, cafeteria-style Christianity, all in the name of tolerance. This contemporary mindset is what Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German theologian whose Christian convictions put him at odds with the Nazis and cost him his life, called "cheap grace." In his book The Cost of Discipleship Bonhoeffer wrote: "Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate." Right now, cheap grace theology is proliferating around evangelical Bible colleges, seminaries and Christian ministries. Christian Doctrine Hijacked It is not that millennial evangelicals were not taken to church by their parents. It is that their training has been hijacked by ineffective and sometimes intentionally distorted doctrine. As constant and pervasive as the attacks on Christianity are at public universities, it is important to remember that millennials' worldviews do not start taking shape after they move out of their parents' houses. Their understanding of Jesus' teachings and cultural convictions begins to form while they are still at home and under the influence of their local church. What I hope and pray evangelical parents and leaders come to realize is that the church has been too trusting. In our jam-packed lifestyles, parents have treated Sunday school as they do softball or ballet class—drop off the kids for an hour, then pick them up and hope they learned something. Early on in my Sunday school teaching days, my co-teacher and I followed the curriculum pretty narrowly, the exception being that my co-teacher had an outstanding knowledge of biblical history that he imparted to the kids. We taught all about Jesus' birth, resurrection and saving grace. Thinking the fluffy kids ministry curriculum covered all of the necessary bases, I felt confident these kids had a firm grasp on their Christian worldview. Boy, was I wrong! One day my co-teacher and I decided to play "True or False." We casually went down a list of worldview questions with our class, sure that our little evangelicals would nail every question correctly. No. 1: Jesus is God. "True." Great job. No. 2: Jesus sinned. "False." Bingo! No. 3: Jesus is one of many ways to heaven. "True." What?! Shocked is the only way to describe how I felt. Hadn't they been listening to us? When I asked who taught them that, one girl said, "Coexist." Yes, these young evangelicals had been listening to their Sunday school teachers and their parents, but they had also been listening to their public school teachers, TV celebrities and rock stars. Youth ministers, volunteer leaders and pastors also have to start preparing these kids to deal with the very real hostility that faces young evangelicals. If we never talk about abortion in church, how can we expect the rising evangelical girl to calmly explain the option of adoption to her frightened best friend who just admitted she is pregnant? What will surprise you is how much young evangelicals actually crave honest discussions about abortion, sexuality, sexual exploitation, feminism and radical Islam. My friend and Evangelical Action adviser Richmond Trotter has two non-negotiable topics when addressing youth: creation and life. Having volunteered in church youth ministry since 1996, Richmond is not afraid to have serious discussions about what Scripture says about abortion, evolution and homosexuality. Make no mistake: The trend away from biblical truth is not concentrated in the hipster city limits. It is unfolding in the crevices of America's plains, hills, mountains and swamplands. All across this nation, "old-fashioned" conservative evangelicalism is being traded in for a bright and shiny, mediocre Christianity. If America's evangelicals disengage from the public square and fail to engage the rising generation of Christian leaders, then we risk losing our public voice, then our religious liberty, then liberty altogether. What Happened to the Religious Right? The last several decades witnessed tremendous evangelical influence in the United States. Leaders such as Billy Graham, Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Tim and Beverly LaHaye, Paige and Dorothy Patterson, James Dobson and James and Betty Robison made a bold impact on America's families, churches and government. Now that those few leaders are aging or retiring, or have died, there are very few traditional evangelical leaders left holding the torch, and even fewer candidates to whom they can pass it. But religious convictions in America are not on the verge of disappearance just yet. There is still hope. In the book God Is Alive and Well: The Future of Religion in America, Gallup Inc. Editor-in-Chief Frank Newport opines: "Christianity will prevail in the U.S. America will remain very much a Christian nation in the decades ahead, albeit less so than in the past because of an increase in Americans who don't have a religious identity." Heed the Warning Signs Evangelicals and culture warriors in the U.S. do not have to look far to discover what happens when Christian denominations give up on their traditional convictions and teachings. All we have to do is look at the dwindling memberships of mainline Protestant denominations. In order to safeguard the trajectory of young evangelicals, we must uphold the authoritative Word of God. It is imperative that those in a position to influence millennials have transparent and honest discussions about the culture wars in which evangelical youth are already engaging. Otherwise they will be silent and accepting in the face of persecution and false doctrine. The importance of arming the next generation of evangelicals cannot be overstated. If we continue to follow the example of mainline Protestants, evangelicalism will have a gloomy future. We must offer sorely needed leadership, but before we can do that, we need to know exactly whom and what we are up against. http://www.charismamag.com/life/culture/22494-how-the-new-christian-left-is-twisting-the-gospel 18 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willa Posted March 16, 2017 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 68 Topic Count: 185 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 14,204 Content Per Day: 3.35 Reputation: 16,629 Days Won: 30 Joined: 08/14/2012 Status: Offline Share Posted March 16, 2017 Bravo! The only phrase I sharply disagree with was that the use of contemporary Christian Music is a sign of a degenerating doctrine and message. Our churches were part of the beginning of the use of contemporary christian music in worship but we have not softened our evangelical fundamentalist beliefs at all. The Gospel is firmly preached with repentance, abortion clinics are denounced by the high school and college age kids, and evangelism is promoted regularly. Our college age group has about 50 people attending. Homosexuality is opposed from the pulpit telling why, as well as how the drugs and alcohol that are used shortens lives but enables them to live with themselves. Our pastors offer counseling and compassion for gays. It also supports a Christian based clinic that teaches what is done in an abortion and what the alternatives are, and provides counseling for girls seeking abortion or who have had abortions. Our sermons cover whole books of the Bible about 15 verses at a time, studied in detail. Nothing in the Bible is glossed over or neglected. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angels4u Posted March 17, 2017 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 56 Topic Count: 1,664 Topics Per Day: 0.20 Content Count: 19,763 Content Per Day: 2.39 Reputation: 12,160 Days Won: 28 Joined: 08/22/2001 Status: Offline Author Share Posted March 17, 2017 6 hours ago, Willa said: Bravo! The only phrase I sharply disagree with was that the use of contemporary Christian Music is a sign of a degenerating doctrine and message. Our churches were part of the beginning of the use of contemporary christian music in worship but we have not softened our evangelical fundamentalist beliefs at all. The Gospel is firmly preached with repentance, abortion clinics are denounced by the high school and college age kids, and evangelism is promoted regularly. Our college age group has about 50 people attending. Homosexuality is opposed from the pulpit telling why, as well as how the drugs and alcohol that are used shortens lives but enables them to live with themselves. Our pastors offer counseling and compassion for gays. It also supports a Christian based clinic that teaches what is done in an abortion and what the alternatives are, and provides counseling for girls seeking abortion or who have had abortions. Our sermons cover whole books of the Bible about 15 verses at a time, studied in detail. Nothing in the Bible is glossed over or neglected. Willa, we listened today to some good old gospel songs in the car and I was talking with my husband about many songs they sing these days in churches, many songs are just feel good songs , they often don't even mention Jesus or God in it anymore but if so then, to who do we sing? If many songs are indeed feel good songs ,what would draw people to God? Music these days is often made into a idol . I know not all churches are like that ( Thank you Lord) but it is more difficult for younger people to hear the gospel as we did when we were young.. This whole generation is going to grow up with completely different values and morals ,I even see and hear many Christian compromise with this world Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warrior12 Posted March 17, 2017 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 5 Topic Count: 53 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 2,373 Content Per Day: 0.87 Reputation: 1,490 Days Won: 0 Joined: 10/05/2016 Status: Offline Share Posted March 17, 2017 (edited) Very good article,concise and with the points straight at the target. You go to a typical church in my city and the demographic would be kindergarten, pre-teens,adults from lets say 40 t0 ---. Teens and young adults are just not there in numbers, very few, and their parents are worried about who they are going to marry. The Bible has spoken of these times and it is before our very eyes. What i have witnessed in the spiritual is very revealing too, as very ugly and vile things are taking place for profit and pleasure in the business world. I think what this article is pointing out too, is, the true state of believers in the nation is not what it actually is. There are many who are Christians only on paper. The writer asked the question to the very end, "We must offer sorely needed leadership, but before we can do that, we need to know exactly whom and what we are up against". Most Christians do no believe the devil can do much manipulation and cause strife, enmity and havoc. Again, if you have been in spiritual warfare, you would fully understand his wickedness, off course with God's permission. Is he not the God of this world. I have recommended a book by Thomas Brooks titled " precious remedies agains satan devices " many times, here. Don't know how many have read it, but the contents is some solid advice laid out plain and simple to grip the reader and Christian to see the schemes of the deceiver and advice's. by Thomas Brooks (1608 - 1680) "Lest Satan should get an advantage of us - for we are not ignorant of his devices" - 2 Corinthians 2:11 The Epistle Dedicatory A Word to the Reader Introduction I. THE PROOF OF THE POINT II. SATAN'S DEVICES TO DRAW THE SOUL TO SIN [12 devices and their remedies] 1. By presenting the bait and hiding the hook: For remedies, consider that 1) we ought to keep at the greatest distance from sin and from playing with the bait 2) sin is but a bitter sweet 3) sin will usher in the greatest and the saddest losses 4) sin is very deceitful and bewitching 2. By painting sin with virtue's colors: For remedies, consider that Edited March 17, 2017 by warrior12 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warrior12 Posted March 17, 2017 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 5 Topic Count: 53 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 2,373 Content Per Day: 0.87 Reputation: 1,490 Days Won: 0 Joined: 10/05/2016 Status: Offline Share Posted March 17, 2017 Is the link provided at the end of the article to a charismatic website. I see some articles in there that are ???. e.g Clear principles for prophesying. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willa Posted March 17, 2017 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 68 Topic Count: 185 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 14,204 Content Per Day: 3.35 Reputation: 16,629 Days Won: 30 Joined: 08/14/2012 Status: Offline Share Posted March 17, 2017 2 hours ago, angels4u said: Willa, we listened today to some good old gospel songs in the car and I was talking with my husband about many songs they sing these days in churches, many songs are just feel good songs , they often don't even mention Jesus or God in it anymore but if so then, to who do we sing? If many songs are indeed feel good songs ,what would draw people to God? Music these days is often made into a idol . I know not all churches are like that ( Thank you Lord) but it is more difficult for younger people to hear the gospel as we did when we were young.. This whole generation is going to grow up with completely different values and morals ,I even see and hear many Christian compromise with this world A former pastor would not allow many old time gospel songs to be sung because they had either no scriptural basis or they opposed scripture. Not all of those were so good either. I always claim that it is the lyrics that determine whether music is sacred or not. I have sung hymns by Wesley that did not mention God either but were all about service. They were dead and so was that church. Service without God is like filthy rags. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMatrixHasU71 Posted March 17, 2017 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 6 Topic Count: 21 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 1,573 Content Per Day: 0.52 Reputation: 723 Days Won: 0 Joined: 12/10/2015 Status: Offline Share Posted March 17, 2017 On 16/03/2017 at 8:06 AM, angels4u said: Can you see these things happening around you and in which way? Is your church holding on to the truth ? The Way, the Truth, and the Life5“Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?” 6Jesusanswered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7If you had known Me, you would know My Father as well. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”… Christians are too afraid to stand up for the truth for fear of being seen as hateful /racist /homophobic/ (fill in the blank) bigots. They would sooner remain silent for fear of offending somebody People need to quit worrying about what mere men think of them and worry only about what God thinks. I really hate what is going on today in many churches, those among them who have become gay friendly (churches should only be gay friendly if they gay person is wiling to listen to the truth) or are inviting Muslims to join in with their services allowing them to read their antichrist Koran. Or what about those churches that allow their churches to be used by Muslims or other religions for their religious services? Too many out there need a serious spiritual kick in the rear 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KPaulG Posted March 17, 2017 Group: Royal Member Followers: 71 Topic Count: 340 Topics Per Day: 0.10 Content Count: 16,828 Content Per Day: 4.76 Reputation: 13,544 Days Won: 81 Joined: 07/24/2014 Status: Offline Birthday: 04/02/2000 Share Posted March 17, 2017 On Thursday, March 16, 2017 at 7:06 AM, angels4u said: Can you see these things happening around you and in which way? Is your church holding on to the truth ? The Way, the Truth, and the Life5“Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?” 6Jesusanswered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7If you had known Me, you would know My Father as well. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”… Very sad. This is a sign of apostasy. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angels4u Posted March 17, 2017 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 56 Topic Count: 1,664 Topics Per Day: 0.20 Content Count: 19,763 Content Per Day: 2.39 Reputation: 12,160 Days Won: 28 Joined: 08/22/2001 Status: Offline Author Share Posted March 17, 2017 It's very sad , it started with many countries letting down morals and laws so people would get used to it, if then entered the churches , now also many evangelical churches, remember awhile ago that Pokoman was even in the church ? (game) no wonder if the children growing up will not know right from wrong , because they learn it this way in school ,its everywhere around them and we can't say anything against it or they would take te children from the home.. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender_rights_in_Canada Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KPaulG Posted March 17, 2017 Group: Royal Member Followers: 71 Topic Count: 340 Topics Per Day: 0.10 Content Count: 16,828 Content Per Day: 4.76 Reputation: 13,544 Days Won: 81 Joined: 07/24/2014 Status: Offline Birthday: 04/02/2000 Share Posted March 17, 2017 3 minutes ago, angels4u said: It's very sad , it started with many countries letting down morals and laws so people would get used to it, if then entered the churches , now also many evangelical churches, remember awhile ago that Pokoman was even in the church ? (game) no wonder if the children growing up will not know right from wrong , because they learn it this way in school ,its everywhere around them and we can't say anything against it or they would take te children from the home.. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender_rights_in_Canada America's apostasy is WORSE than Isreal's apostasy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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