The church does not take it's directives from the world
The Church does not take it’s directives from the world.
A short essay By Rev. Earl Jackson
www.RevEarlJackson.com
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Mat 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
There is a disturbing trend occurring within the church of Jesus Christ, and I have been seeing more and more evidence of it lately. I think it is especially prevalent within the emergent movement, which is seeking more and more to disassociate themselves from traditional evangelical moorings. It is the trend to take ministry cues from the unchurched.
Let me explain. Author Gabe Lyons, and co-author David Kinneman, who wrote a popular book (The UnChristian); popular within the current trend away from evangelical associations; have stated in essence that they take their ministry directives from polls of non-Christian people between the ages of 18 and 29. They are encouraging churches and leaders to do the same. According to them we should listen to what the lost are saying about us, and we should design our programs and preaching to reach them according to the way they view us.
According to them and their polls, the non-churched think: that Christians are too old fashioned, hypocritical, anti-gay, too political, they are too concerned about getting people saved, and they live in a bubble of unreality. Christians are fakes, have lists of rules and regulations that they have to follow, they are judgmental of other people, they think that they are better than other people, they don’t have fun, they always have ulterior motives, they do not live in the real world, they lack concern for the poor, they abuse the environment, and they are right wing.
Nobody would say that these concerns are without warrant. All of these observations are indeed true on some levels. But not all of these accusations are true in all cases, with all Christians, or with all churches. So blanket statements do not address the real issues, but only throw up a smokescreen to disguise the real problem. Churches are visible communities composed of all kinds of people. The tares and the wheat grow together. The lost are mixed in with the saved. The true believers are side by side with devils…wolves in sheep’s clothing. This is the problem. When you have blanket statements supposedly about Christians, they do not make the necessary distinctions between the true followers of Christ and the peripheral people who profess but do not possess. Both kinds of people are within the veil of the visible church.
The problem that I see here, is that designing our programs and methodology of preaching or witnessing, by taking cues from the lost, ignores one huge issue... THE BIBLICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE TRUE CONDITION OF THE LOST. The lost are blind, stupid, ignorant, and they know nothing about Christ, His Bride, His Truth or His People. They are the enemies of God. They are totally depraved, and as such, they have no capacity to evaluate Christ or His people.
Christians have a mandate to evangelize the lost, not to listen to what they have to say about spiritual issues. They know nothing about anything spiritual, because such issues are spiritually discerned.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Our posture, and all of our directives as children of God, come from Christ, through His word, as illuminated by the Holy Spirit. Quite simply, there is no room to allow contamination by the world, when it comes to church methodology. Revelation is our only guide to truth. The blind lead the blind, but they certainly should never be allowed to lead the church. This seems to me to be a very simple and biblical concept, yet there are many who even call themselves Christians who would challenge me. They would say that we are supposed to love the lost, and approach them gently. They would tell me that we should try all kinds of different things to reach them, and that we should not be so adamant about preaching the gospel, after all that just turns people off. I understand these viewpoints, but they are wrong.
Jesus Christ and His church are not in a popularity contest. We are not supposed to be popular or liked by the world. In fact Jesus taught us that we would be the most hated people on earth. We have no right nor reason to try to change what Jesus said. Instead we must remain faithful even when hated.
Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake:
It is not about how to win friends and influence people, it is about how to live the Christian life as Jesus taught, and how to be His witnesses the way that He taught us we should witness. We must be light bearers for our King, and the light is nothing less than the pure truth of the gospel, including the parts about the rottenness of sin and the depravity and wickedness of the human heart. Of course men won’t like us. Our message will be pure foolishness to them.
1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
Just a quick note to preachers. If you are inclined to follow this utterly devilish idea that the church must become palatable and likeable to the world, that they must approve of what we do and say, then please repent and get back to a Bible orientation and a viewpoint that honors God. These tendencies in the emergent movement are designed to grow huge churches, full of lost people! If been in them, I know what’s going on. They think they are saved because they wave their hands on Sunday and sing “Let’s all just praise the Lord.” They think they are saved because the tap their feet to the worldly rhythms, which only 20 years ago would never have been allowed in the church. It’s all about money and fame for the preachers who are caught up in this nonsense. The bigger the church, the bigger the pastor’s paycheck and the bigger his fame. This destroys the servant-nature of the office of bishop, and turns it into Hollywood franchise. That is not of Christ. It is of the devil and the flesh. Don’t continue down that road. It is doing irreparable harm to the body of Christ.
I recently heard of a mega church pastor who was charging admission to his speaking engagements, and when it came time for book-signing the line was around the block, and the books were being sold for over $20.00 each. Tee shirts and videos were also available. Celebrity Church seems to be the new norm. Jesus would have none of this if he were here. He would overturn these money grabbers tables, the same as He did when He was here on earth. Cashing in on the gospel, has become very big business, but it saddens our Fathers’ heart. Please, I beg of you, dear pastor, please rethink what you are doing, and ask God to make you a faithful servant of Jesus Christ, and not a superstar, hot shot pastor. He must increase and we must decrease. That is how He is glorified and honored.
A short essay By Rev. Earl Jackson
www.RevEarlJackson.com
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Mat 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
There is a disturbing trend occurring within the church of Jesus Christ, and I have been seeing more and more evidence of it lately. I think it is especially prevalent within the emergent movement, which is seeking more and more to disassociate themselves from traditional evangelical moorings. It is the trend to take ministry cues from the unchurched.
Let me explain. Author Gabe Lyons, and co-author David Kinneman, who wrote a popular book (The UnChristian); popular within the current trend away from evangelical associations; have stated in essence that they take their ministry directives from polls of non-Christian people between the ages of 18 and 29. They are encouraging churches and leaders to do the same. According to them we should listen to what the lost are saying about us, and we should design our programs and preaching to reach them according to the way they view us.
According to them and their polls, the non-churched think: that Christians are too old fashioned, hypocritical, anti-gay, too political, they are too concerned about getting people saved, and they live in a bubble of unreality. Christians are fakes, have lists of rules and regulations that they have to follow, they are judgmental of other people, they think that they are better than other people, they don’t have fun, they always have ulterior motives, they do not live in the real world, they lack concern for the poor, they abuse the environment, and they are right wing.
Nobody would say that these concerns are without warrant. All of these observations are indeed true on some levels. But not all of these accusations are true in all cases, with all Christians, or with all churches. So blanket statements do not address the real issues, but only throw up a smokescreen to disguise the real problem. Churches are visible communities composed of all kinds of people. The tares and the wheat grow together. The lost are mixed in with the saved. The true believers are side by side with devils…wolves in sheep’s clothing. This is the problem. When you have blanket statements supposedly about Christians, they do not make the necessary distinctions between the true followers of Christ and the peripheral people who profess but do not possess. Both kinds of people are within the veil of the visible church.
The problem that I see here, is that designing our programs and methodology of preaching or witnessing, by taking cues from the lost, ignores one huge issue... THE BIBLICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE TRUE CONDITION OF THE LOST. The lost are blind, stupid, ignorant, and they know nothing about Christ, His Bride, His Truth or His People. They are the enemies of God. They are totally depraved, and as such, they have no capacity to evaluate Christ or His people.
Christians have a mandate to evangelize the lost, not to listen to what they have to say about spiritual issues. They know nothing about anything spiritual, because such issues are spiritually discerned.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Our posture, and all of our directives as children of God, come from Christ, through His word, as illuminated by the Holy Spirit. Quite simply, there is no room to allow contamination by the world, when it comes to church methodology. Revelation is our only guide to truth. The blind lead the blind, but they certainly should never be allowed to lead the church. This seems to me to be a very simple and biblical concept, yet there are many who even call themselves Christians who would challenge me. They would say that we are supposed to love the lost, and approach them gently. They would tell me that we should try all kinds of different things to reach them, and that we should not be so adamant about preaching the gospel, after all that just turns people off. I understand these viewpoints, but they are wrong.
Jesus Christ and His church are not in a popularity contest. We are not supposed to be popular or liked by the world. In fact Jesus taught us that we would be the most hated people on earth. We have no right nor reason to try to change what Jesus said. Instead we must remain faithful even when hated.
Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake:
It is not about how to win friends and influence people, it is about how to live the Christian life as Jesus taught, and how to be His witnesses the way that He taught us we should witness. We must be light bearers for our King, and the light is nothing less than the pure truth of the gospel, including the parts about the rottenness of sin and the depravity and wickedness of the human heart. Of course men won’t like us. Our message will be pure foolishness to them.
1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
Just a quick note to preachers. If you are inclined to follow this utterly devilish idea that the church must become palatable and likeable to the world, that they must approve of what we do and say, then please repent and get back to a Bible orientation and a viewpoint that honors God. These tendencies in the emergent movement are designed to grow huge churches, full of lost people! If been in them, I know what’s going on. They think they are saved because they wave their hands on Sunday and sing “Let’s all just praise the Lord.” They think they are saved because the tap their feet to the worldly rhythms, which only 20 years ago would never have been allowed in the church. It’s all about money and fame for the preachers who are caught up in this nonsense. The bigger the church, the bigger the pastor’s paycheck and the bigger his fame. This destroys the servant-nature of the office of bishop, and turns it into Hollywood franchise. That is not of Christ. It is of the devil and the flesh. Don’t continue down that road. It is doing irreparable harm to the body of Christ.
I recently heard of a mega church pastor who was charging admission to his speaking engagements, and when it came time for book-signing the line was around the block, and the books were being sold for over $20.00 each. Tee shirts and videos were also available. Celebrity Church seems to be the new norm. Jesus would have none of this if he were here. He would overturn these money grabbers tables, the same as He did when He was here on earth. Cashing in on the gospel, has become very big business, but it saddens our Fathers’ heart. Please, I beg of you, dear pastor, please rethink what you are doing, and ask God to make you a faithful servant of Jesus Christ, and not a superstar, hot shot pastor. He must increase and we must decrease. That is how He is glorified and honored.
