Archive for August, 2007
Friday, August 24th, 2007
I read a blog entry with the title “The Bible is not a Jigsaw Puzzle”. Reading the article written by Frank Viola made me analyze how I consume, formulate, reason and discuss scripture. I think this is a great article, and well worth the long read…maybe even several reads.
Here is an excerpt (I did a little formatting):
How We Approach the NT
We Christians have been taught to approach the Bible in one of seven ways. See how many you can tick off with a pencil that apply to you:
- You look for verses that inspire you. Upon finding such verses, you either highlight, memorize, meditate upon, or put them on your refrigerator door.
- You look for verses that tell you what God has promised so that you can confess it in faith and thereby obligate the Lord to do what you want. (If you are part of the “name-it-claim-it,” “blab-it-grab-it” movement, you are masterful at doing this.)
- You look for verses that tell you what God commands you to do.
- You look for verses that you can quote to scare the devil out of his wits or resist him in the hour of temptation.
- You look for verses that will prove your particular doctrine so that you can slice-and-dice your theological sparring partner into Biblical ribbons. (Because of the proof-texting method, a vast wasteland of Christianity behaves as if the mere citation of some random, de-contextualized verse of Scripture ends all discussion on virtually all subjects.)
- You look for verses in the Bible to control and/or correct others.
- If you are a preacher, you look for verses that “preach” well for next Sunday morning’s sermon. (This is an on-going addiction for preachers. It is so ingrained that many of them are incapable of reading their Bibles in any way other than to hunt for sermon material.)
Wow, what a great description of American Christianity today. I am sad to say some personal analysis will force me into prayer and repentance.
Why are we so bent on our own formulas, ambitions, doctrines and personal agendas? I can’t answer that one, but it seems to be in our nature.
Below is the full article:
(more…)
Tags: Bible
Wednesday, August 22nd, 2007
I was listening to Pastor Wendell Smith’s sermon from 8/19/2007 titled “Get Out” and something he said caught my attention.
He starts the sermon espousing a common theme for prosperity gospel preachers, the covenant of Abraham. According to prosperity teachers, we are children of Abraham since he is the father of our faith (I agree with this). Since he is the father of our faith, they conclude we should be partakers of all the promises God made to Abraham. The scripture used is in Galatians 3.
So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. Galatians 3:9
Since we are blessed by believing Abraham, we should expect all the promises Abraham had right? Prosperity gospel preachers say we can expect to get all the promises God made to Abraham of wealth, lands, those who bless us will be blessed and those who curse us will be cursed, and through us all the nations of the earth will be blessed (thinking of money and the Gospel). Pastor Wendell says we should replace Abraham’s name with ours when we read the promises God made to him.
The major flaw in this interpretation of Galatians 3:9 is that it ignores the rest of the chapter. Let me see how Paul defines the blessings to us, and who can expect the rest of the blessings.
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:13-14
This scripture defines exactly the blessing of Abraham we receive when we are in Christ Jesus, we receive the Holy Spirit. This is what we get through faith, not cars, not money, not houses, not the things of this world. We get something much more precious, the Almighty God dwelling within us. That is the wonderful gift given to us from our Father in heaven.
Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man’s covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ Galatians 3:15-16
From this scripture we can see the promises to Abraham are not to all the believers (seeds), they are to Christ Himself (seed). It is obvious that Christ is the seed that blesses the whole world, and we as Gentile believers are recipients of that blessing. That blessing is the finished work on the Cross of Christ.
Any attempt to claim all the other blessings from Abraham is a money grab fueled by covetousness. Jesus said “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.” Luke 22:20 – why would we think the new covenant in Christ’s blood is not enough and like ungrateful children look back to Egypt for the comforts of the older and inferior covenants? Jesus fulfilled the promises to Abraham, are we to look for more? We received the Holy Spirit, greater than any earthly treasure…isn’t that enough?
Paul warned of another gospel in Galatians. The Galatians were looking to the old and inferior covenants of the Jews, and Paul was not happy. Isn’t the prosperity gospel just doing the same thing?
I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. Galatians 1:6-10
Paul said “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:2. He never preached to look back to receive more from the old covenants. I believe he preached quite the contrary, the fulfillment of Christ.
We should be focuses on being in Christ Jesus, not trying to fulfill our earthly ambitions. Christ and His shed blood is all sufficient for us, we need no other covenant. More importantly, the scriptures tell us the blessing of Abraham is the Holy Spirit. We are not to look back through Genesis and attempt to put our name where Abraham’s is. We have a better covenant in Christ.
Tags: Abrahamic Covenant, Prosperity Gospel, The City Church, Wendell Smith
Tuesday, August 21st, 2007
It was brought to my attention that Gini Smith of the City Church preached on Psalm 15 (listen to it here) on Sunday and brought up a good point about verse 3. She claimed that the blogs that bring up issues with the churches are a shame to the body of Christ. Here is the whole Psalm:
Psalm 15
1Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
2He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
3He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
4In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
5He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.
Amen to that Psalm. I think Gini did a good job expounding on many of the parts. I also think you can apply verse 3 to many blogs that are out there.
Do you think my blog is backbiting? Are there comments I have made or entries I have done that are backbiting? Of course, I do not want to be backbiting toward the City Church.
Here are the questions that have come to mind:
- Do I backbite?
- When I attack the doctrines of the church, am I backbiting them individually?
- Is making a comment about the motives of bloggers backbiting?
I am not going to try to defend what I do here so I can get comments from those who agree and disagree with what was preached. I would appreciate honest criticism/feedback.
It is no secret I believe they preach a gospel that is not biblical (prosperity and word of faith), and I welcome honest criticism of what I am doing/believe. I will say though, the “I know your heart is wrong and my Pastor’s is right” argument doesn’t fly. The bible teaches we don’t know our own heart, let alone anyone else’s.
Tags: Backbite, Gini Smith
Friday, August 17th, 2007
This article at The Daily World outlines how the City Church is supporting a pastor ousted by the elders of his church for anger issues in accordance with Paul’s teaching:
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 1 Timothy 3:1-3
I find it interesting that you don’t need to follow the rules if you have the right friends with enough money and power.
I listened to the sermon by Doug Cotton at the City Church called “The God of Breakthrough“. I think if you are going to be an MFI pastor you must preach this exact sermon 100 times before you can plant a church. I can’t distinguish this sermon from most other ones I heard at TCC.
I am not surprised by the “Good ‘ol Boys” club planting a church in competition with the one Cotton left. It reminds me of how Tully’s would place their stores across the street from Starbucks to attract coffee drinkers…I guess MFI needs a revenue center in that area.
What does surprise me is how the “church” has a lawyer as a spokes person. Astounding to me.
See articles about this subject below, I think enough has been said at those locations:
An Inside Look at MFI (City Business Church)
Elders ask Popular Pastor to Resign over Anger Problem (The Daily World)
Lawyers make a bad situation worse (City Business Church)
From what I have read, it seems to me the local eldership had things under control by removing a pastor for biblical reasons. Wendell didn’t like the fact his friend of 30 years (see Daily World article) was getting canned so he sent in the big guns, didn’t get what he liked and now they are planting a competing church in the area.
I wonder if the tithers who are flipping the bill for this ousted pastor’s new church know the full story behind what happened there? Something tells me they are left in the dark.
Shameful.
<Hat Tip City Business Church>
Tags: Aberdeen, Doug Cotton
Wednesday, August 15th, 2007
This video radically changed how I viewed my Christian life and made me question how I viewed salvation and how I viewed the Bible. It got my eyes off myself (prosperity gospel) and onto God (true Gospel).
Watch it at Youtube here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=uwbps9k5Dj0
Watch it at sermon index: http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/singlefile.php?lid=2903
Description from Sermon Index (creator of the video):
Description: This is a very powerful audio message that will stir your spirit for revival! Clips of following speakers included in this message: Ian Paisley, Leonard Ravenhill, Paris Reidhead, Duncan Campbell, A.W. Tozer, T. Austin Sparks. This is probably one of the most potent and powerful audio recordings on this entire site. You will be changed as you listen to this compilation.
Thursday, August 9th, 2007
I found this article from Truth Watch (a New Zealand Evangelical web site). It has about 25 questions to answer about your church fellowship, and you are to answer YES or NO.
I answered the questions from when I was at my previous church, and I got a score of 12. They say if you get 11 or more you should be very concerned with the practices and teaching of the church.
I don’t know how scientific it is, it seems more like a quiz you take in a young girl magazine to see if your boyfriend is cheating on you, but it was fun to do. Some of the questions are very thought provoking.
This series of questions aims to find out if you are fellowshipping in a church which uses mind control. You may not realize it, but many church leaders use overt means of controlling and manipulating congregations to do things which are unacceptable and more importantly, unbiblical.
Please answer the following questions with a YES or NO.
Note down how many questions you have answered with a YES, and read on at the end of the questionnaire…
- Is your doctrine legislated rather than guided (you should be free to search things out for yourself)?
- Are you unsure of the background of your leader/s? Do you solely rely on information given to you by your group?
- Is there pressure to avoid all other information about your group?
- Is there pressure on you to agree with all that the group says?
- Are leaders or other members hostile to your questions?
- Do they often react emotionally and defensively to criticism?
- Are you fearful of your leaders?
- Are you allowed to look at the financial records of the group?
- Is there any obvious financial exploitation?
- Are members ever “disciplined” by threats, bribes, or other unpleasant ressures to conform?
- Are issues of obedience and submission overemphasised?
- Are you dependent on your leaders or on the approval of others for what you do?
- Do you stay on in the hope that things will one-day change?
- Do you tend to ignore the fact that other members are leaving?
- Are you afraid of leaving?
- Do people constantly leave amidst controversy, strife and bitterness?
- Do you ignore your friends’/family’s comments about your situation?
- Do you now justify things, which you once considered to be wrong?
- Do you feel threatened by others’ opinions?
- Do you use “God wants me here” as an excuse to avoid facing the issue of leaving?
- When your group uses the Bible, does it use it only with reference to another person’s teachings?
- Are members dependent on a “revelation” in order to become fully-fledged members (those without the “revelation” being rejected)?
- Does your group derive its teachings from personal experience and then try to find Scripture to authenticate the experience?
- Where scriptural authentication cannot be found, is “special revelation knowledge” appealed to?
If you have answered YES to 5 – 10 questions, you should be very wary of the church you belong to.
If you have answered YES to 11 – 20 questions, you should be very concerned with some or all of the practices and teachings of the church you belong to. There is probably a high level of legalism being exerted upon the people involved with this church.
If you have answered YES to more than 20 questions, you should seriously consider leaving the church you belong to. This may prove to be a difficult thing to do for many reasons. Please contact Truth Watch for advice and further information if it is needed.
View the article here. I don’t know anything about the rest of the site, so I may or may not agree with what they say.
I did look at the “Who are we?” page, and it was a bunch of educated professionals with no formal biblical training. They all seemed fed up with the “self esteem” type gospel being preached today. Sounds familiar to me, especially since the first guy on the list is an account like myself.
Tags: The City Church
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