|
Christian
Education Pre-K-12
Richmond Academy
| |
One Narrow Road
part
1
Mat 7:13-14 (KJV) “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and
broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in
thereat: (14) Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth
unto life, and few there be that find it.”
Many definitions of, “modern day Christianity” seem to have become broad and
obscure. The Holy Bible, in its original text, has not changed; but portions
being taken out of context have increased immensely. That may simply be a result
of people not wanting it in its original form. Like anything in the natural that
needs to be solid but gets mixed, it takes only a little variation to ruin the
whole batch. Therefore, if the path is already known to be narrow, we should use
great caution if ever attempting to broaden the conditions for walking thereon.
Mat 23:37-39 (KJV) “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [thou] that killest the prophets,
and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy
children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under [her] wings, and
ye would not! (38) Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. (39) For I say
unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed [is] he
that cometh in the name of the Lord.”
People have always had a problem with the untainted word of God. Think about it,
everyone loved following Christ when He was healing and feeding them and casting
demons out of them; but when He would stop and teach them, the crowd would
usually diminish until there were only twelve. At some point even the twelve
were noted as saying, “This is a hard saying, who can abide in it.” Jesus knew
that there would not be many that would follow, but He was not impressed by
numbers and notoriety. Jesus gave more notice to the conversions such people as
Mary Magdalene and Zacheus the tax collector, along with the difference that
their faith and repentance made in the way they lived. Why? Because it is God’s
living word, and the difference that it makes when applied to our lives that is
needed.
Many churches that have diminished in membership and attendance numbers have
been influenced to turn to this modern age of new technological strategies, and
philosophical approaches for drawing in new people. They have been labeled,
“Seeker-Sensitive Churches.” Rather than emphasizing the Gospel of the Lord
Jesus Christ, the emphasis of these churches has shifted to meeting the needs of
the people. Those who attend will no longer view themselves as sinners that need
to be saved, but rather as seekers that come from broken and messed up families,
the lonely and single, or victims of society. The messages are mostly formulated
to appeal to natural needs of the seekers instead of encouraging a love for God
and a walk of obedience to His Word. The main pitfall is that the focus of the
seeker-sensitive church is too often on the seeker rather than upon God.
(to be continued)
-Kurt Thurston
September
Newsletter 2007 | Tough Calls |
Pastor's Journal September 2007
Are You Committed? part 3 of 3 |
One Narrow Road part 1
| |
Biblical
Counseling for Leaders
|
