The church today is holding her hands over the eyes of her members who are going into a Christless eternity by keeping them pre-occupied with doing insignificant tasks around the life of the church. Ministers know full well the awful and frightening eternity that awaits those who do not know Christ personally and Saviour and Lord, and worse, for those who die rejecting the only Saviour of the world. This is a fact that the church, in many places, does not want her members to see.
But this only demonstrates just how callous and unloving and uncaring these ministers are. If individuals do not care about their souls, some ministers do! How critically important it is for ministers to tell their people plainly the whole Gospel, including what awaits all who die without the Saviour! How desirous it is that they are impelled to seek Christ before it is forever too late, to seek Him urgently, and to seek Him in faith! If we do not tell them of their pending perdition, who will? If the church fails to urge them to trust Christ alone for eternal salvation, no one else will! And sadly the church has effectively placed a blindfold over their eyes so that they can sit in the church week by week as they journey to a lost eternity.
Why isn't the church in many places failing to do this Christ-commanded work? Because they prefer their own peace long before they prefer the eternal peace of those who listen to them. Also, when the church elders accept people as Christians on profession of faith, why ought they to be concerned about their soul's salvation? The church says they are Christian; how dare any Gospel preacher even suggest that some of them might not be!
No, it is not the Gospel preacher who is in the wrong, but the church elders who accept into membership those who are not regenerate. And why do the elder accept such people? Because they know that many of them are unregenerate themselves.
Unless and until the church gets back to biblical standards for church membership, she will continue to cannabolise Christ's ministers, the prophets of God/
4 comments:
What you seem to be describing is typical of any number of institutional churches - far removed from the New Testament pattern.
But I cannot see where you suggest as remdey. So far you have advocated more and better preaching in such churches instead of radical reform at every level.
Where for example is there any NT precedent for the system of church membership you mention - let alone sanction for "admittance" on the part of church elders?
Hazlett. Do you not have a running blog for contributors? Following your invitation for bloggers to contribute I have offered several comments in relation to your articles - but little by way of responses from yourswelf or others!
Some of the issues raised are important and deserve interactive discussion. ? ?
Hi Graham. Sorry for not responding to your comments. I have been extremely busy these past days, so getting to the blog was not always convenient, as can be seen for the fewer posts I placed during this past time. I am a very busy man.
I find it very difficult to see where you are coming from, supposing that you are from a brethren or other non-reformed background. I find it hard to see who you resent the position and work of the Christian minister in his role not just as an evangelist, but as a teacher and encourager of the saints.
Hi Hazlett. I took the heading of your blog at face value:
"A forum in which Christians can discuss spiritual issues and learn reformed theology. Your opinions are important."
As I said, I have posted various comments in response to your articles posted, but very little by way of "a forum to discuss spiritual issues" seems to take place!
No other contributors post comments, and it appears you are too busy. What is the blog for?
As a PS. I don't "resent" anything or anybody - I merely seek to respond to articles you post.
I certainly have issues I question with regard to your comment about "the work of the Christian minister" and other related matters to do with needed reform in the church- but it seems the policy of this blog is a discreet reticence on such matters!
Incidentally, I find it odd that no other contributors seem willing to engage in any discussion of the "spiritual issues" referenced in your blog heading.
However, I will presevere for a bit longer and see if there is progress!
Perhaps what (we) need is a Berean spirit where all things are viewed as open, in the spirit of "prove all things"
I am asssuming that concerns for the Church of Christ are common to us all, and that reform will only come through dialogue and discussion - irrespective of "party" or denomnation.
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