Comments on: Influencing the Culture or Preaching the Gospel http://robert.williamsonline.us/2004/01/influencing-the-culture-or-preaching-the-gospel/ I am crucified with Christ, and yet I live Sun, 17 Jan 2010 13:28:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 By: Discoshaman http://robert.williamsonline.us/2004/01/influencing-the-culture-or-preaching-the-gospel/#comment-490 Discoshaman Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://robert.williamsonline.us/?p=614#comment-490 This is a theme we've been batting around at Le Sabot lately. We also talked about the chuckleheadedness of removing "offensive" things like blood, Hell, sin and the Cross from Sunday preaching in order to make it more "sensitive" for Seekers. Pagan-centered preaching. It seems to me that a good portion of Evangelicals are making the same mistakes regarding postmodernism that the Church made when confronted by the challenges of modernism -- being overeager to be "relevant", and thus preemptively surrendering to the World. The casualty list from the last time is sobering -- what we call liberal, mainline denominations is what was then called the Church -- Presbyterians, Methodists, Episcopalians, Congregationalists, etc. In 50 years will we be talking about the AOG, the Baptists and Calvary Chapel in the same way? Unless the church stands firmly on not only the inerrancy, but also the SUFFICIENCY of the Word for faith and practice, we'll be swept off into the morass of postmodernism just as surely as we were by modernism. This is a theme we’ve been batting around at Le Sabot lately. We also talked about the chuckleheadedness of removing “offensive” things like blood, Hell, sin and the Cross from Sunday preaching in order to make it more “sensitive” for Seekers. Pagan-centered preaching.

It seems to me that a good portion of Evangelicals are making the same mistakes regarding postmodernism that the Church made when confronted by the challenges of modernism — being overeager to be “relevant”, and thus preemptively surrendering to the World. The casualty list from the last time is sobering — what we call liberal, mainline denominations is what was then called the Church — Presbyterians, Methodists, Episcopalians, Congregationalists, etc.

In 50 years will we be talking about the AOG, the Baptists and Calvary Chapel in the same way?

Unless the church stands firmly on not only the inerrancy, but also the SUFFICIENCY of the Word for faith and practice, we’ll be swept off into the morass of postmodernism just as surely as we were by modernism.

]]> By: Robert Williams http://robert.williamsonline.us/2004/01/influencing-the-culture-or-preaching-the-gospel/#comment-491 Robert Williams Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://robert.williamsonline.us/?p=614#comment-491 I've been reading some of AW Tozer's works. He regularly lambastes the church for imitating the world. And that was 40+ years ago! I wonder what he'd do if he could see where some of us are today. I was just reading the other day about a church that gave away door prizes - namely, a brand new car and a brand new motorcycle! - at their Christmas service. But hey, I bet they drew a crowd, and that's what it's all about, right? Go where the people are, do what they do. Be all things to all people. I'm pretty sure this is NOT what Paul meant. The thing that gets me with some of these approaches is just how _blunt_ we are about it. Do some marketing research, figure out what Seeker Sam likes, and give it to him. There's not even a _pretense_ of letting the gospel (and its effect in our lives) do the drawing. I’ve been reading some of AW Tozer’s works. He regularly lambastes the church for imitating the world. And that was 40+ years ago! I wonder what he’d do if he could see where some of us are today. I was just reading the other day about a church that gave away door prizes – namely, a brand new car and a brand new motorcycle! – at their Christmas service.

But hey, I bet they drew a crowd, and that’s what it’s all about, right? Go where the people are, do what they do. Be all things to all people. I’m pretty sure this is NOT what Paul meant.

The thing that gets me with some of these approaches is just how _blunt_ we are about it. Do some marketing research, figure out what Seeker Sam likes, and give it to him. There’s not even a _pretense_ of letting the gospel (and its effect in our lives) do the drawing.

]]> By: mark white http://robert.williamsonline.us/2004/01/influencing-the-culture-or-preaching-the-gospel/#comment-492 mark white Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://robert.williamsonline.us/?p=614#comment-492 Have been deceived by the purpose driven church stuff and why has the HOLY SPIRIT been left out of the church and rick warren taken over. thanks. Have been deceived by the purpose driven church stuff and why has the HOLY SPIRIT been left out of the church and rick warren taken over. thanks.

]]> By: mark white http://robert.williamsonline.us/2004/01/influencing-the-culture-or-preaching-the-gospel/#comment-493 mark white Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 http://robert.williamsonline.us/?p=614#comment-493 Have been deceived by the purpose driven church stuff and why has the HOLY SPIRIT been left out of the church and rick warren taken over. thanks. Have been deceived by the purpose driven church stuff and why has the HOLY SPIRIT been left out of the church and rick warren taken over. thanks.

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