We’ve established that Rick Warren preaches “another gospel”, that Rob Bell is a heretic, and that Joel Olsteen is a charlatan…but what now?
I thank God that he has placed watchmen at the gate to sound the trumpet. I do. But I wonder if I have left behind a club of apostasy and heresy, only to walk into another kind of club, the kind where the goal is to glory in not being in the apostasy and heresy club?
Why can’t we glory in being in Christ?
Many of the folk I encounter on the internet who stand firm on issues of the full gospel presentation and the belief that the preaching of the Word is the means by which the salvation message is to be delivered (as apposed to wrapping it up in pop-psychology in the five minute conclusion to your church’s latest entertainment program) would appear to be Calvinist inclined.
As such, what right have we to be smug? If we truly believe we are saved by grace alone, by the merciful predestination of God, called by Him and saved by Him when we were dead in our sin and our mind was blackened with the darkness of that death, when we were irresistibly drawn by Him because of His immeasurable mercy, how then can we feel superior to those still in darkness or to anyone at all?
I don’t for a moment mean that we shouldn’t judge our brethren who claim to be Christian, but are showing fruit to the contrary; emphatically, I am not saying that. But what I am asking is, where is our first love? Where is the delight in our bridegroom? Our overflowing desire to talk about the wonder of His grace and the beauty of His sacrifice?
Those who know me will know that I am not a woo-woo sloppy sentimental type. I am not talking about the “Jesus is love, let’s all hold hands and sing Kum ba ya” type of mindset. What I am saying is that after we have declared something to be false, let’s move on from it, rather than flogging a dead horse. Those in deception will not have their eyes opened by you singing the same song over and over, and those who are aware will not be encouraged toward “love and good works so much the more as we see the day approaching”.
Folks, we have a message of hope for those in darkness, and our brethren. He SAVED me! Saved me from the fearful wrath and judgment of a Holy God! That is the news worth declaring! Can you believe that someone, and not just someone, but God incarnate, died for me?
Has it become “cooler” or maybe less socially awkward, to talk about the state of the church than it is to talk about the Gospel? God forbid.
We can be diligent in all matters we have been charged to oversee, and I commend the many for the efforts they spend it declaring truth. But in the midst of the truth about the wolves we’re exposing, let us not lose the greatest Truth.
The best defense against a counterfeit gospel is the presentation of the true gospel.
Nov 29, 2008 @ 18:40:20
Amen! And yet I have also been guilty of feeling a little self righteous at times too – for these very reasons. At times, it is easy to be proud that we aren’t walking with ‘that’ crowd…KWIM? Well, this is hardly a gracious and gospel-filled attitude eh?
Oh that I should be speaking more about Christ:
That –
(a) Jesus is the Messiah predicted by the OT prophecies. His ministry of teaching, his actions, his death, resurrection and ascension all comport with the prophecies, and affirm him to be Messiah.
(b) His death was God’s act to deal with sin. His resurrection attested to the effective power of the Cross, and affirmed Jesus as Lord over life, death, creation
(c) We need to believe his Lordship, believe on him, repent of our sins, and receive forgiveness from the Saviour, Jesus.
Nov 29, 2008 @ 21:40:47
What a wonderful and thought-provoking post Mrs BB! It is so true, we can get so side-tracked by the very bandwagon we jump on. It truly is all about Him! Let’s fall in love with Him, as we have never done before…
Well said, my friend.
Nov 30, 2008 @ 13:40:12
Hello friend Susan,
“At times, it is easy to be proud that we aren’t walking with ‘that’ crowd…KWIM?”
Know what you mean? I’d love to say, “no, I’m clueless.”
However, it is precisely because I know what you mean that I wrote this post. Sadly, I didn’t see it in myself until I came out the other side of it (by God’s grace, not by my goodness)
But lately many of the sites I frequent, written by Godly men, have been been harsh, and dare I say it, arrogant in the presentation of material they seek to influence people with.
Now you know that I, having been a fan of the Sacred Sandwich for years, appreciate a dose of satire. But there is a time and a place. I’ve wondered lately if some of the good folk writing this stuff, almost glorying in the reporting of it, have not been caught up in the fact that it almost guarantees an audience? After all, there are those who read it for the sake of being made aware, those who read it to be outraged that their idols are being torn down, and those who read it because it is one more justification for forsaking the gathering together of the saints – a large and diverse readership!
(I’d actually like to be wrong about that…)
“It is so true, we can get so side-tracked by the very bandwagon we jump on.”
Hello Pearls of Truth! (cool name)
Yep, it reminds me of my political activism issues (I hear you groaning, lol!) but truly, I think the church is so often distracted from proclaiming The Truth. It matters not that what we are declaring is something true and worthwhile, if it distracts us from the gospel, then.. what’s the point?
Nov 30, 2008 @ 14:14:06
Teehee…I feel kind of funny commenting on this post since you and I are pretty much night and day when it comes to the finer points of what the “Truth” is – although I do believe we agree on the part that really matters, which is that Jesus Christ suffered and died in reparation for our sins, and without Him we have no hope of everlasting happiness in heaven.
The part of your post that stood out for me was the mention of people who persist in flogging the ol’ horse when the poor guy was dead long before. I’ve seen this happen time and again – in matter of religion, educational choices, parenting styles and so on. And I wonder if the ones who can’t seem to drop the stick and be done with the beating are really trying to make sure the horse is dead, or are attempting to convince THEMSELVES that he’s a goner. Perhaps the folks who join the “glad we’re not the other guy” clubs aren’t so sure that the club they’ve joined is the right one. KWIM? Maybe all the singing, and ranting, and exclusiveness is an attempt to convince themselves that the horse is dead.
Ummm…I know I’ve probably gone in a completely different direction than you intended for this post. But what can I say? – that’s just the way I am. Hope you don’t mind.
Row, row, row your boat…
LOL!
Nov 30, 2008 @ 15:27:17
ABM, it IS a bit weird hearing your thoughts on this one, because I as read, I wonder, “Does she mean that leaving Catholicism was wrong, and therefore we have to convince ourselves that we’re right, or does she mean it in a general way?”
Not that I want to debate the whole Catholic v’s Protestant issue: I have been drawn down that path once before (over the issue of Christmas – I still have nightmares about it, lol!) but the one thing that I guess made an impression on me was the lady that I was discussing the issue with said that there is no salvation outside the Catholic church. (I was previously unaware of that sentiment)
So now when I have any kind of discussion of spiritual things with a Catholic, I wonder if my lack of salvation and apparent defection from the Catholic church is the uppermost thing in their mind? (Such discussions I admit are not too frequent after my last experience, not because the lady wasn’t nice, I truly valued her as a friend, but because after weeks of discussion, we got nowhere as a result of having a differing final authority.)
So, (talk about stream of consciousness! Watch me at the oars Old Woman!
) my well disguised point is: I am confused about what you mean. 
“But what can I say? – that’s just the way I am. Hope you don’t mind.
You’re always welcome here, though I can’t become politically correct or spiritually neutral, even for your darlin’ sweet self
Nov 30, 2008 @ 17:47:40
She meant it in a general way.
Awww, BB – I’d NEVER ask you to become politically correct or spiritually neutral – ‘specially now that you’ve called me darlin’ and sweet.
There are Catholics who will tell you that there is absolutely no salvation for those outside the Catholic Church. (Incidentally, I believe those people belong to the horse flogging group I mentioned in my previous comment.) I think they are a little off on their interpretation of what the Church teaches. Now, the teaching is that there is no salvation outside the Church, BUT (and this is a big but here) the teaching has lots and lots of “loopholes”, if you will. Perhaps we should call them exceptions.
Anyway – whatever we call them – it is important to know about them. Basically, the Church teaches that those, who through no fault of their own, have never heard of the Church or her teachings may be moved by God’s grace through the dictates of their conscience to do His will, and in that way have the possibility of salvation. According the the Catechism of the Catholic Church those of other Christian faiths – and indeed other religions – also have the hope of salvation as you can read in this little bit I copied and pasted for you: ” All men are called to this catholic unity of the People of God. . . . And to it, in different ways, belong or are ordered: the Catholic faithful, others who believe in Christ, and finally all mankind, called by grace to salvation” (no. 836).
So no, the uppermost thing in my mind is not your lack of salvation – or, for that matter, the assurance of my own. I don’t believe any of us know our eternal destiny until we are judged after death. I would never be so presumptuous as to declare whether or not any soul will be saved from the fires of hell, as I can never know another’s heart and would never, ever presume to know God’s mind or His will.
Are you still confused about what I meant?
I hope not.
I’m off to bed now.
Nighty night.
Nov 30, 2008 @ 21:20:20
“Are you still confused about what I meant?
“
All clear, thanks
Dec 01, 2008 @ 01:36:30
(Wiping the sweat off her brow) Whew…good!
Dec 01, 2008 @ 07:07:03
Phew! We were all waiting with baited breath! LOL
Dec 01, 2008 @ 08:17:28
Our collective exhaling is probably contributing to global warming
Dec 01, 2008 @ 08:50:08
LOL Mrs BB you are a crack-up
Dec 01, 2008 @ 10:01:17
Amen and amen!
Your post wrenches my heart. I actually took a hiatus from blogging awhile back because the Lord convicted me that I loved writing more than I loved Him.
The Lord revealed to me that I needed to seriously re-center my focus upon Him and realize that He is my goal, He is my prize, He is my treasure, not wordsmithing or theological precision.
There’s no lack of “head knowledge” of the scriptures in even the rankest and apostate of churches. They know the facts even if they wrest and deny them to their own destruction.
Likewise there’s no lack of scholarly, theological, intellectual assent to the truth claims of Christ in the most fundamental and God honoring of churches. They too know the facts even as they idolize their doctrines and worship at the altars they’ve erected to orthodoxy.
The problem is we often have plenty of head knowledge and very little heart knowledge. The question is never “do you know Jesus”, but rather “Does Jesus know you?”.
Too often we have our evangelism backward and upside down not realizing that God is altogether and wholly set apart from us; he is wholly “other”, impassable, incomprehensible, vast beyond reckoning and wise beyond compare and under girding all His beautiful myriad attributes is His absolute, fiery, all-consuming and utter Holiness.
Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty.
This being said theological precision is important to God as He has revealed in His Word, therefore we ought not flippantly wink at sin or be cavalier in rightfully dividing the Word of Truth — but what is the goal?
What is the objective underlying all our motivations?
Should it not be to bring Him glory, to magnify Him?
Is He not glorified by the bold and uncompromised proclamation of His Eternal Gospel of Grace? Is this not only the greatest story ever told, but the greatest and most profound spiritual reality ever to exist since it proceeds from the very mind of the thrice holy Triune One True and Living God?
I tremble and stumble at the prospect…I’m dumbstruck…I cover my mouth and fall on my face in awe of Him Who was, Who is, and Who is to come.
Maranatha Lord Jesus!
In Christ,
CD
Dec 01, 2008 @ 10:24:07
“Our collective exhaling is probably contributing to global warming”
SNORT!! You’re a funny gal, BB!
Dec 01, 2008 @ 11:36:23
Coram Deo,
Thank you for sharing honestly of your own challenge in this area.
“The problem is we often have plenty of head knowledge and very little heart knowledge. The question is never “do you know Jesus”, but rather “Does Jesus know you?”.
This is so true, and reminds me of something I read by Richard Wurmbrand in “Preparing For the Underground Church.” Some one asked him which of the many Bible verses helped him most during his darkest times of enduring torture at the hands of his captors? His reply was (and I will cut and paste because my narration cannot do it justice);
“My answer is: “NO Bible verse was of any help.” It is sheer cant and religious hypocrisy to say, “This Bible verse strengthens me, or that Bible verse helps me.” Bible verses alone are not meant to help.
We knew Psalm 23 – “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want… though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death….” When you pass through suffering you realize that it was never meant by God that Psalm 23 should strengthen you. It is the Lord who can strengthen you, not the Psalm which speaks of Him so doing. It is not enough to have the Psalm. You must have the One about whom the Psalm speaks. We also knew the verse: “My Grace is sufficient for thee.” But the verse is not sufficient. It is the Grace which is sufficient and not the verse.
I want to be like that. I think Richard Wurmbrand could confidently say with Paul, follow me as I follow Christ!