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Modern Churches to Bible Preachers: "You're Not Welcome"
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Posted by: billiefan2000
I read this online
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MODERN CHURCHES TO BIBLE PREACHERS "YOU'RE NOT WELCOME"
By Pastor Chuck Baldwin
We often hear pastors, radio preachers, and televangelists refer to the great prophets and Apostles of the Bible. Rightly, these Bible characters are lauded as examples for today's Christians. The problem is, hardly any of those giants of history would be welcome in America's churches today!
On the whole, America's Christians today do not want to hear the truth. They want a place where they can be made to feel good, where they can be entertained, where they can socialize and make business contacts, and where their children can have a place to play.
To many Christian parents, it is far more important that their church have a gymnasium and constant youth programs than it is that their children hear the truth of God's Word and learn the rigorous disciplines of a Christian life. Recreation is far more important to them than Bible study. In fact, most parents seem to believe that the only way to "keep the kids in church" is to have constant, non-stop entertainment. Of course, it doesn't work.
Furthermore, it seems that most of today's sermons amount to little more than "Positive Mental Attitude," feel-good drivel: "How to think better about yourself," "How to squander more money on yourself," "How to 'find yourself,'" "How to pamper yourself," ad nauseum, ad infinitum. Comparing the preaching and philosophy of most churches today to that of Bible characters will quickly reveal how unbiblical our churches have become.
For example, can you imagine how the average church in America today would react to the decisions of Daniel and the three Hebrew children? All four of them were unashamed and unhesitant to practice civil disobedience. All four of them were charged with capital crimes by their government and sentenced to death. In Daniel's case, all he had to do was not pray out loud to God for thirty days. Thirty days! I can just hear today's Christian pragmatists screaming, "It's only for thirty days. You can still pray in your heart. We must obey the government." Can you imagine Daniel being asked to preach a message on "How And When To Defy Your Government" to the vast majority of churches in America today? Forget it!
Moreover, take a look at practically every single Old Testament prophet. Ninety percent of their preaching was negative. They seldom had anything positive to say, especially about the way their nation's leaders were behaving. They were often jailed, beaten, starved, or even killed. They were as familiar with prisons as they were with pulpits. They were despised by political leaders, rejected by religious leaders, and shunned by business leaders.
It wasn't much better for the Apostles and disciples in the New Testament. John the Baptist was beheaded for "meddling in politics." The Apostles were beaten, stoned, and jailed. The Apostle Paul was especially hated. He was hated by Jews; he was hated by Romans; he was hated by businessmen; he was hated by politicians; he was even hated by fellow ministers.
Can you imagine the Apostle Paul preaching a message on "Conquering Low Self-Esteem"? Get real! Give Paul an opportunity today to preach to a church of one thousand members one Sunday morning, and by Sunday night (if they even had a Sunday night service), there might be fifty people back to hear him.
It is probably difficult for this generation of Christians to even comprehend that this fearless, uncompromising, "like it or lump it" kind of preaching was the kind of preaching that America cut its teeth on. The colonies and frontier of this nation were filled with prophet-like clergymen. And it didn't really matter which denomination one attended, either; he or she heard the same kind of preaching.
Whether it was the Baptist Joab Houghton or the Presbyterian James Caldwell or the Lutheran John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg or the Episcopalian Samuel Provost or the German Reformed Nicholas Herkimer, they were all plucky, pugnacious preachers! Why, I can even recall hearing old fashioned "hell-fire and damnation" preachers when I was a lad.
It was a "hell-fire" Holiness preacher that led my mother to Christ. A "hell-fire" Baptist preacher led my alcoholic father to Christ. I can even recall many trips to the last remaining Billy Sunday Tabernacle in Winona Lake, Indiana, to hear the great "hell-fire" preachers from virtually every Protestant denomination in the country. I remember the crowds of thousands sitting on those hard, wooden benches for hours listening intently to those masterful sermons. In my mind, I can still see (and smell) the sawdust floors where hundreds of people rushed to the front in answer to those altar calls and the studio high atop the platform where radio station WMBI transmitted those great sermons over the air. Alas, those days are gone.
No wonder our people today have become self-centered, sensitive, and shallow. They seldom, if ever, hear honest, straight-forward, fearless (telling-it like-it-is) preaching.
Therefore, the next time you hear someone refer to the great men of the Bible, ask yourself, "Would that prophet be welcome in my church today?" In most instances, the answer is a resounding no! And now you know why America is in the shape it's in today: the nation always takes the form of its preachers and churches.
Posted by: JeriRose12
Lord, give us courage and conviction! Help America! We are soft! In China they are hung upside down for hours or jolted with a cattle prod or other horrible things (killed, many times.) In some countries, they hide in caves in the hills during the dasy, then, at night, they come down and preach to the poeple. Dear Lord, have MERCY on American Christians! We have grown soft! Yet, many DO take a stand, and for thiose I thank You! I thank You for those who remind us we are losing our relgious freedoms.... the ones our forefather's gave their life's blood for. Lord, bring BOLDNESS to American Christians! Let us take a stand for You and for righteousness and for TRUTH! Let us not be afriad to preach the TRUTH about heaven AND HELL. In Jesus Name, amen.
~JeriRose~
Finding YOU in 2005 
Posted by: Christian Commando
Isaac Newton, of the fifth Century, a renonwed Christian Scientist, I believe spoke a Word of Prophecy, when stated that there would come a day in the "Last Days", when a group of men shall stand up amidst much clamor and opposition, and insist upon returning to the literal interpretation of God's Word.
We see where religion of these last centuries divides the "Body of Christ" thru so many beliefs taught of God's word. There are more rising up I've noticed tho, wanting to return to original beliefs taught.
God Bless!!
Posted by: michellejane
Amen. If we take away the Hell and Heaven then their is no need to be saved is there? I was saved in this way in church along with the Holy Spirit nudging me.
I pray that when the church is full of people for Christening, for marriage or funerals that the Truth is told, we have become too politically correct and the people are becoming complacant.
Jesus, Guide us back to using fear to bring people in, fear is the beginning of wisdom afterall isn't it. Through Jesus Christ. Amen
Posted by: eagle4him
Churches have become what the money has been demanding--places for entertainment. Take away the entertainment--and the money will also leave! I believe that God is about to move mightily in the hearts of those that know His voice. Sure, we know His word, but not many know His voice!
I believe that God is raising up an army of people that are tired of looking at the backs of heads of those in front of them sitting idly in a church with light shows, entertainment, rock and roll music (sure the lyrics have been changed), and programs for everything you can imagine.
This is good marketing--get people interested, usher them to an altar, hide them in a back room get them on the rolls, then sake them down for their "tithe" offerings. Forget about their souls--preach to them a gospel that sounds and feels good, not one that changes lives or convicts their hearts.
Posted by: Stacy H.
I used to work at a Christian bookstore and worked with a manager who'd been in the business a long time. We were talking one day about churches and he said that he hated to say it but church is a business. That they're run as such. They strive to keep their congregation cause the congregation means money. If you don't entertain them then the money dissappears. I'd NEVER thought of that and the thought had never crossed my mind. That was when I woke up and it made me furious. I can't stand going to churches that have services that wrap up nicely in an hour cause "we know you have things to do this weekend". Why are pastors catering to their flocks schedules etc.? There aren't many churches that have long services like 2+ hours of church time (know of any please let me know!). I know that Mars Hill's services in Seattle is always 3 hours and I think that's great! Anyhoo getting off soapbox now.
Also to be honest I don't go to church much since alot of the hypocrisy makes me upset.
Posted by: Christian Commando
Well, God declared you cannot serve Him and money. That money is the root of all evil- satan's hold over society, particularly today, even with Christianity. Seminaries actiually teach thier ministers ways to keep people satisfied, in order to keep congregations as well as interest new ones to join.
It's a secular movie I know, but a message hit home so strongly, it's incredible. In the movie- "footloose", a preacher's daughter at one point, sits and listens to her father practice his sermon in thier church.
When sees her, he stops. He asks her something about it. She replys, I used to love listening to you preach. He said "and now?" She says, I see a stage, props, fancy dress and acting. She then says, "it's show buis isn't it?"
He then says it's the only way he knows how to get thru to people now.
Yes, as all of you have stated, things have changed, for the worse.
God Bless!!
Posted by: billiefan2000
christian commando,I agree it has gotten bad.
It has gotten so bad,that some pastors in my town and across the country who believe what John 14:6 says in the bible or preach the gospel or preach on hell or teach christians biblical discernment or among other things that are being taught in churches anymore are called every name under the sun including "cult leader" just because these preachers wont compromise or water down the gospel.
If you are a pastor and you dont believe Jesus is the only way to Heaven,I say that you should resign and not lead people astray with false teachings
eagle4him,I know that many churches have become social halls instead of a house of God.
Many churches in the Omaha Nebraska metro area where I live care more about entertaining the congreagations rather than preach the gospel.
In fact some here in my town have gone as far as replacing communion waffers with jelly beans and kool-aid to make the congreagtion more "comfortable" or calling christians who want to be spirtually feed "Immature Baby christians"
Posted by: eagle4him
Things are going to get a lot worse before they get any better. Jesus says that in the end times the love of many will grow cold.
The Bible warns us that there will be a great apostasy just before the revelation of the antichrist, and then the end is near. We are in that stage right now!
I decided to put my money where my mouth was. I haven't had much time for the prayer board recently. My wife and I started a Christian Fellowship in our home. Right now we meet once a month, plan to meet once a week, as the Spirit moves on us.
I have also been attending another small group, where I give studies once a month or so. And then by the Spirit of God I was led to a small church where the pastor has taken me under his wing and is going to allow me to preach at his church from time to time to sharpen some speaking skills.
I can't do much about the falling away of many in the church. I pray for that pastor and his congregation. The bible says that if you believe a false gospel, or preach it you will be eternally dammed!
Pray for souls.Take up your cross!