Friday, May 23, 2014

“I was nothing before I came to Saddleback.” [not Jesus, Saddleback.]

Chilling comments heard over and over again from those who have become a part of the Saddleback fellowship of believers.

Billy Graham says his beliefs are basically the same as those of orthodox Roman Catholics. He claims that the Mass is “straight and true to the gospel” and boasts that he is welcomed everywhere by the RCC, even the Vatican.

With an Orthodox rabbi and a Muslim sheik as his travel companions, Pope Francis is heading to the Middle East with what he hopes will be a powerful message of interfaith respect.

Tolerance, Unity, Respect. Love, Acceptance, Ecumenicalism, Embracing our likenesses… When did it begin, where will it end?

As I ponder these questions I wonder:  did it begin when the church forgot to call sin, sin. Did it begin when the church failed to call a sinner, a sinner. Overlooking the adulterous affairs of the Kennedys, through the Johnsons. Into the Carters whose life style was a series of drunkenness and parties, but on the outside, the public side, a Bible carrying, church going family.  Whitewashing the sins of the Clintons. refusing to correct GWB on his stand with Islam; saying Jehovah and Allah were one in the same, turning a blind eye while swallowing the lies of Obama and his cohorts.

Sending million$ to Paul and Jan Crouch. Building mega empires for the Elmer Gantry' of the 20th century; Benny Hinn,  Creflo Dollar, Pat Robertson, Kenneth Copeland and the latest and greatest among us in the 21st century ''Christian world"  Rick Warren, Beth Moore, Todd Burpo, Mark Driscoll...

Where will it end?  I shudder to think.

Perhaps this is why tens of thousands have given up on church, no longer seeking a house of worship, a body of true believers, becoming instead Sunday morning arm-chair Christians.

"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." Colossians 2:8

3 comments:

  1. You have pointed out a LOT of what's wrong with today's 'Christianity'. Don't forget all the scandals, including that of Doug Phillips and the latest which involves C.J. Mahaney. Sin is covered up and overlooked as the 'good ole' boys' embrace each other regardless of the sinful baggage that embrace includes. Christians are taking sides on this issue and biting and devouring one another. Where's the cry for those who name the name of Christ and yet sin so grievously to be brought to repentance? If they do not repent, then they must be removed from the church!!
    Unfortunately, church discipline is no longer practiced in the majority of churches, and it shows. Christ is NOT first in the hearts of most, and His word is not precious to most.

    You are also correct in stating many have given up hope in finding a true, solid, bible believing church. It seems the churches in America are under judgment, Christ has removed the candle stick from them. Here's a couple of different commentaries on Christ removing the candle stick...
    If the presence of Christ's grace and Spirit be slighted, we may expect the presence of his displeasure. He will come in a way of judgment, and that suddenly and surprisingly, upon impenitent churches and sinners; he will unchurch them, take away his gospel, his ministers, and his ordinances from them, and what will the churches or the angels of the churches do when the gospel is removed? - Matthew Henry

    'and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent'; or thee out of the candlestick, the pastor from the church, either by persecution or by death; or else the church, and church state itself, signified by a candlestick; and may design a shaking and an unsettling of it, which is sometimes done by violent persecutions, and by false teachers and their doctrines, and by the divisions and contentions of saints among themselves. - J. Gill

    There's no denying false teachers and men- pleasers fill most pulpits in this country; they have no love for Christ in their hearts.

    How we desperately need to get on our faces before God and cry out for His mercy; for Him to work a holy fear and reverence in the hearts of His people! O that Christ would truly be our all in all, and if He isn't, may it please God to cause us to cry out for more of Christ and none of 'self' or the world! Where is our zeal? Our passion? Our dying to self, taking up our cross, and following Jesus? Where are those who truly desire Christ and Christ alone?

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  2. Amen!!! We must stand firm on His Word. There is no other way.

    Thanks Lyn.

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  3. The first line got me shaking my head; the person was nothing until they went to a seeker-sensitive, market-driven, entertainment-oriented, ecumenically-driven church facility!?!?! And they then became something?? What was it they became - a goat in a goat-pen?

    The deception is rampant.

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