– Spurgeon
Teaching theology to a heathen will not bring him to faith in
Christ. He may learn the evangelical
vocabulary and verbally affirm the truth. He may accept the truth of a list of gospel facts. But
without a divine miracle to open his blind eyes and give him a new heart, he will only be a
theologically informed pagan, not a Christian.
vocabulary and verbally affirm the truth. He may accept the truth of a list of gospel facts. But
without a divine miracle to open his blind eyes and give him a new heart, he will only be a
theologically informed pagan, not a Christian.
~John MacArthur
Quote:
Why is it that people are trying so hard to get
nonbelievers to stay in their churches? There seems to be more effort in
keeping the uncommitted happy than to upholding holiness in the church. The
most persecuted people in the church, in my opinion and observation, are those
who are trying to hold the bride of Christ to a true biblical standard. What a
shame! Today pastors are centering more on getting people to come and stay in
their churches that they forget that God wants His bride holy. The church was
never intended to camp unbelievers. The church is designed by God as a place
where the church members (His body of believers) can get together to worship,
minister their spiritual gifts in order to edify and build up the rest of the
body, and where the godly Elders can feed the sheep the Word of God from the
pulpit so that they, having been fully equipped with the wisdom of the Word,
can go forth and live a victorious Christian life throughout the week and win
others to Christ. It is great to invite unbelievers to hear the true message of
salvation but to have them fit in, attempt to serve, and be permanent minglers
and loiterers within the church is to invite Satan’s people to infiltrate and
desecrate God’s bride. To welcome tares and wolves into the church is to
violate God’s purpose and design for His people.
“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” (Act 20:28-32).
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” (2Co 6:14-17).
“Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” (Act 20:28-32).
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” (2Co 6:14-17).
End quote.
Susan Brackley
Many churches are amusing the goats
instead of feeding the sheep as Spurgeon said. This is one of the worst
problems of the churches today: wrong ecclessiology. And as we know, wrong
doctrine leads to wrong practice. If we invite the world into the churches,
they become the focus, distractors, and the agent of cowardice in leadership
for fear of wanting to offend the offenders of God. No church discipline will
be practiced, either.
2 comments:
Good post Denise. Too many pastors and elders seem to care more about numbers and accommodating unbelievers than they do the blood bought bride. Christ said HE would build HIS church and He doesn't need our help. He told us just to "Go". Here are a couple of tweets from a brother and sister that I respect.
"It seems that some churches believe that their chief end is to exist." Doug Easton
"The aim of the church isn't to fill the pews with the lost but to fill the community with the gospel. Go!" Diane Lytle
God bless!
Well said Denise! Thanks for stopping by, friend! =)
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