Something is wrong with the church and with the body of Christ.
This blog post is not meant to show indifference or disregard to anyone who finds their way here or who is searching for biblical truth. Somewhere the ball has been dropped for there are many out there, in the privacy of their homes, asking questions that should be addressed in the local congregations. A Christian should not need to seek the internet to find out if the Word of God is equal to Scripture.
What is the job of the local congregation? Acts 2:42 answers this question.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (ESV)
The purpose of the local congregation is to first teach, fellowship and breaking of bread and prayer. The local church is to teach sound biblical doctrine so that the saints are equipped for the work of ministry. Ministry is not limited to providing a service in the local congregation such as a pastor. We cannot take the Gospel to the world if we do not understand the Word of God. How would we answer questions from someone inquiring about our faith if we are not equipped.
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. (Eph 4:11-14 ESV)
The local church does not share 100% in this tragedy within the body. Scripture commands Christians to study and know the word of God. (2 Titus 2:15). We bear our own responsibility to spend time with God in His revealed Word.
The local congregations are providing to its members what they want and that is entertainment and the preaching of prosperity. Sound doctrine is discarded while the pastors in the pulpit preach to their congregants how to have a happy life. One TV preacher made the national news by preaching about sex in the marriage while having a bed onstage. Entertaining the masses but not preaching Christ crucified.
The local church is not doing her job. Christians do not demand that their pastors equip them so that they are not tossed to and fro, carried away by every wind of doctrine. Congregants want entertainment and the local congregations give them what they want. Entertain the congregants and fill the pews. Today, congregations are judged successful by the size and entertainment provided. Doctrine is secondary if it is preached at all. Instead, preaching messages that are designed to make a member feel good about themselves has replaced sound doctrine. A self-help book or a self-help seminar would be equally valuable but destructive to the spiritual needs. Without preaching Christ-crucified, the road to salvation is bypassed for happy lives.
Sadly, people are turning to the internet to find answers that they should receive from their local congregations. The church has dropped the ball.
FOR SHAME!
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7 comments
1 ping
Tami
September 29, 2009 at 11:11 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
You have so many good topics & insights here. I’m missing reading your blog, but for a season — about three more weeks — my schedule is altered to meet some heavy demands. I’ll be back, so please keep writing!
tishrei
September 29, 2009 at 11:34 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Thank you Tami for your encouraging words. I hope your schedule lightens and not because you will read this blog, but because we all need a season of rest.
Be blessed!
The Lead Heretic
September 29, 2009 at 11:58 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Sadly, you are speaking the truth. Sadder still if the fact that things have been so wrong for so long no one even realizes it anymore. Truth be told I don’t really think the majority even care. I could go on and on, but this is a fantastic post.
tishrei
September 29, 2009 at 1:07 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
Hi, I agree with you, people probably don’t really care anymore. But there are some that are searching for truth for I can tell by the queries that lead them to this blog and by some of the quesitions people send to me by email. There are some really good internet sites that have excellent theology and I hope to steer people that way.
Thank you for stoppign by and for your kind words.
meanlittleboy
October 1, 2009 at 9:45 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
There are many who agree with you..This has been a thorn in the sides of many Christians,,,when was the last time the cross, hell and heaven were taught in our churches?? cheers uncle dennis,,,yes there is a hell and heaven Virginia
tishrei
October 1, 2009 at 7:40 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
I like the old saying “Give me old time religion.” While religiosity is not my cup of tea, that old saying has the connotations of preaching the whole word of God, not cherry-picking the feel good scriptures.
Loren
October 2, 2009 at 9:11 pm (UTC -7) Link to this comment
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;” (2 Timothy 4:3)
I believe that we are living in such days.
Prosperity Gospel Popularity « Fruit of the Word
January 1, 2010 at 8:03 am (UTC -7) Link to this comment
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