Monday, August 12, 2013

What am I missing.?.

My list of concerns for our congregation and its leadership seem to be continually expanding, ever growing heart breaking burdens.!. Am I being too narrow, too critical, too judgmental too “picky.”

Many things  within the congregation have troubled me in recent months. The latest a prayer request sent out to the membership. No problem there. At the end of each prayer request the sender includes quotes from various authors, seldom using scripture. Red flags began billowing gently in the breeze as I read past prayer request with questionable quotes from questionable secular authors while excluding The Word of God.

Today however… well, you be the judge:


“Let us never forget to pray. God lives. He is near. He is real. He is not only aware of us but cares for us. He is our Father. He is accessible to all who will seek Him.” ― Gordon B. Hinckley, Standing for Something: 10 Neglected Virtues That Will Heal Our Hearts and Homes

and

“...there is a God, there always has been. I see him here, in the eyes of the people in this [hospital] corridor of desperation. This is the real house of God, this is where those who have lost God will find Him... there is a God, there has to be, and now I will pray, I will pray that He will forgive that I have neglected Him all of these years, forgive that I have betrayed, lied, and sinned with impunity only to turn to Him now in my hour of need. I pray that He is as merciful, benevolent, and gracious as His book says He is.”
Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner

On the surface, these quotes sound good, until one realizes that Gordon B, Hinckley is a past president of the Mormon church and Khaled Hosseini is a Muslim.

Paul urges the church to “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might … but with subtle quotes like these coming from church leadership the church will quickly become a herd of
goats devouring any and everything that' placed before them, the blind leading the blind; if it hasn’t already.

What am I missing .?.
 

5 comments:

  1. Ali,

    I re-posted a great article from A. W. Pink entitled 'a call to separation'. In it he states this,
    “Be ye not unequally yoked together.” This applies first to our religious or ecclesiastical connections. How many Christians are members of so-called “churches,” where much is going on which they know is at direct variance with the Word of God either the teaching from the pulpit, the worldly attractions used to draw the ungodly, and the worldly methods employed to finance it or the constant receiving into its membership of those who give no evidence of having been born again. Believers in Christ who remain in such “churches” are dishonoring their Lord. Should they answer: “Practically all the churches are the same, and were we to resign, what could we do? We must go somewhere on Sundays,” such language would show they are putting their own interests before the glory of Christ. Better stay at home and read God’s Word, than fellowship that which His Word condemns."

    I would address the leadership concerning quotes from ungodly sinners being spoken in a gathering of what's supposed to be God's people. You are right in stating red flags went up. God has given us the gift of discernment for a reason, we should not ignore those red flags, nor should we embrace what is ungodly; that would include quotes like the ones you posted here.


    May God give you strength, may He guide you in all truth.

    xoxo

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  2. Lynn - thanks. I just read your post and was convicted.

    I have addressed the leadership regarding their stand with John Piper, Al Mohler, St. Augustine, FOTF...I have grave issues with the elder board of this congregation as well as with numerous comments by the pastor during his sermons. Having accomplished nothing in my previous comments, I doubt I will be speaking to this issue. :-(

    I know there are problems within this body but,that being said, the head of our household loves the church and has no desire to leave. His feeling is that there is going to be "something" in all congregations we do not like. Pray for them and let it go.

    and so I blog, venting my frustrations through my writing, praying others will see the dangers when they arise within their congregations and be aware of what to look our for.

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  3. You are wise to be concerned, yoking with the likes of Mohler, Piper, etc is very dangerous. They are part of the movement known as 'new Calvinism', which strives to be hip and cool with no reverence or demand for holiness. Let's pray for the head of your household, that he would see the dangers of compromise, even the slightest bit of it. As Walter Chantry stated in his book 'today's Gospel, authentic or synthetic?' - "When a half truth is presented as the whole truth, it becomes an untruth."

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  4. You aren't missing anything. And even though past attempts at correcting the leadership failed, I'd think you would have a much better chance with these particular citations, seeing as how they are total pagans.

    This seems to me to be a very dangerous practice on the part of your leadership. I would respectfully point out to the head of your house that there is a big difference between "something" in congregations we can't agree with, and the fact that this congregation is promoting teachings from unbelievers and cult members. I pray you can open his eyes to see the need to worship elsewhere.

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  5. I will contact the pastor voicing my concerns regarding this email. Thanks for your words of encouragement.

    I would have left the congregation a year ago, but.....

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