The Church Industrial Complex

[JohnD]

Ecumenicism is preached to the point that most believers feel 

'as long as we all believe in some sort of Jesus...

we are all brothers and sisters and can agree / unite on

other moral principles and teachings...'

So the underlying message is that we no longer live in a time

when:

2 Peter 2 (AV)
1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Doesn't the omission of such teaching by the mainstream Church tell you something?

 

[JohnD]

28 minutes ago, Traveler said:

The sheep and the goats, gathered on the left and the right.

Jesus will know who are his by the spirit within them. The Holy Spirit or the spirit of this world.

Well said.

[Michael37]

13 hours ago, JohnD said:

most believers feel 

How do you know what most believers feel?

[Riverwalker]

There is only one church, and Jesus is the head

Do not confuse the machinations of man (denominations) with the Church that God has gathered to himself

[Who me]

18 hours ago, JohnD said:

Ecumenicism is preached

Is it? 

What of the opposite view that if you don't fit the I'd and cross all the 't's' of what I believe you are a heretic .

 

How many church's in small towns differ on historical minor points of doctrine and strive to serve there town, duplicating there efforts, wasting resources, dividing people and creating hostility all because of minor issues.

 

 

Are large churches automatically right, there is a case that many cultural Christians hide in large churches where they know they won't get challenged on there lack of growth or maturity as a Christian.

 

 

[JohnD]

On 1/27/2021 at 11:25 PM, Michael37 said:

How do you know what most believers feel?

Perhaps I should rephrase...

The way most believers appear not to be concerned about this matter

it is by observation

safe to assume

they feel.

You feel better now?

[Michael37]

15 hours ago, JohnD said:

Perhaps I should rephrase...

The way most believers appear not to be concerned about this matter

it is by observation

safe to assume

they feel.

You feel better now?

You still need to knock it down a peg or two so that you are not falling into the fallacy of argument by generalisation. Also, whilst most believers that you observe may appear to be unconcerned about errors amongst them,  how do you actually know that your sample group is representative of Christians?

Once again tares amongst wheat applies in respect of your OP, and I agree the errors of ecumenicalism are something to guard against, and a cross to bear when friends and family welcome them.

[Marathoner]

22 hours ago, JohnD said:

Perhaps I should rephrase...

The way most believers appear not to be concerned about this matter

it is by observation

safe to assume

they feel.

You feel better now?

You would do well to heed the words of the scripture, @JohnD.

Do not slander a slave to his master,
Or he will curse you and you will be found guilty.
(Proverbs 30:10 NASB)

You neither know most believers nor are you privy to the secrets of their hearts, my friend. Beware that in taking a stand against something you hate, you do not become that which you abhor.  

Edited January 31, 2021 by Marathoner

[Logostician]

There are always struggles within churches between loving acceptance and adherence to the full and truthful word of God.  There is also a struggle between worldly things and full adherence to the teachings of Jesus.  The go along (with the world) to get along (with the world) approach is dangerous.  An ecumenical approach is good when it is based on agreement to the full teachings of Jesus.  But an ecumenical approach that avoids the full teachings of Jesus, and adherence to these teachings is a trap.  Half truths are no truths 

The seven churches of Revelation are instructive.  They were actual churches at the time of John's writing.  But I also think they represent the churches of all time, and especially the end times when churches will be, and are, under assault from without, and within.

5 out of 7 churches in the book of Revelation receive stern rebukes from Jesus.

Ephesus adheres to church discipline and the teachings of Christ, and would reject ecumenicalism.  But during this quest they have lost their strong love for Jesus and each other.

Pergamos is the church that will allow anything and everything, to the point of outright heresy.  They have gone far beyond ecumenicalism in a quest for "inclusiveness" that no longer resembles Christianity at all.

Thyatira displays love, but like Pergamos allows heresy in it's midst.  Like Pergamos, false teaching is tolerated in the ecumenical quest for inclusiveness.

Sardis is called the dying church.  They are going through hollow formalism that lacks love.

Laodicea is the lukewarm church that has lost it's intensity of love as their worldly wealth has increased, and their heavenly treasures have diminished.

Only Smyrna and Philadelphia find no fault with Jesus.  Smyrna is the opposite of Laodicea.  They are poor in worldly terms, but rich in love and faithfulness to God.  They remain true to Jesus and will not tolerate an ecumenical, anything goes approach.  Philadelphia also "hast kept my word".  They are the loyal church that will not budge from truth of Jesus.

So what is the answer?  Love and truth must coexist in the church to be pleasing to Jesus.  We cannot have stern formalism that lacks love.  And we cannot have love that denies the full truth of the teachings of Jesus.  As the world falls further into sin, and politically correct conformism, we must stand true to Jesus, and be prepared for the persecution it brings, rather than allowing the world to encroach and allow our churches to die from a cancer that is introduced from the outside/world, and then weakens and eventually kills us from the inside.  But we must do all things with love.

Edited January 31, 2021 by Logostician
Addition

[JohnD]

12 hours ago, Marathoner said:

You would do well to heed the words of the scripture, @JohnD.

Do not slander a slave to his master,
Or he will curse you and you will be found guilty.
(Proverbs 30:10 NASB)

You neither know most believers nor are you privy to the secrets of their hearts, my friend. Beware that in taking a stand against something you hate, you do not become that which you abhor.  

Did this apply to the Jewish Sanhedrin who had the Romans crucify

the Lord Jesus Christ, Lord of Glory, Holy One of Israel, perfect Truth

Sinless Innocence...

???