| Designing Your Own Christianity |
Matters of Faith
by Pastor Steve Cornell
http://www.songtime.com/sbc/sbc0603.htm
"I am sorry, but I can't accept a God who would send people to hell." "I can't accept a God
who requires the death of his son for me to be forgiven." "I can't accept a God who…"
Protests like these are common. Yet many who make them continue to
attend churches that hold to some form of Christianity. Of course, they must
be churches where they won't hear sermons on those intolerable portions of
the bible. They want pastors who only teach about God's love and mercy.
They want a God who fits their comfort-zone and is willing to adjust to
their crowded schedules. They clearly don't want a God who would place
demands on them or make them feel guilty. And they don't want a God who
judges people (unless it's the really bad people they read about in the
newspaper).
And what about Jesus? Was he just a nice guy who did nice things for needy
people? These people want a gentle Jesus-- one the children can learn about
in Sunday school. They don't want too much emphasis placed on the miracles
of Jesus or his death for sinners. These are viewed as stories made up about
him to help us learn about being kind to others. They certainly don't want to
hear about the Jesus who said, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body
but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both
soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28). This is too judgmental. They also
reject the Jesus who said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). This sounds too
exclusive.
The Jesus who said, "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me
is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is
not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is
not worthy of me" (Matthew 10:38-39), is too demanding. Their favorite
teaching of Jesus is "judge not lest you should be judged."
The Pastors of churches chosen by such people face a number of challenges.
First, it is mandatory that their sermons be brief (people start squirming after
15 minutes). Secondly, they must avoid large portions of scripture as they
delicately prepare messages that will not offend. Thirdly, and perhaps most
difficult, they must live with the shame of concealing the truth from those
they lead. Yet these pastors probably don't believe in the God revealed in
scripture. They are most likely wolves in sheep's clothing.
The bible spoke in advance about these people and their pastors. "For the
time will come when people will not put up with sound teaching. Instead, to
suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of
teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears
away from the truth and turn aside to myths" (II Timothy 4:3-4).
This "pick and choose" approach to scripture implies that we stand as judges
over God. It contradicts the truth that scripture, "never had its origin in the
will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy
Spirit" (II Peter 1:22). Without exception, "all Scripture is God-breathed" (II
Timothy 3:16). Those who reject major themes and large portions of the bible
have no reason to believe any of it. The God they believe in is a creation of
their own imaginations- custom designed to fulfill their own desires. Yet if the
whole bible is true, such rejection puts one at serious risk of coming under
God's judgment. The only ones who would have more to fear are the pastors
who have taught these people that their selective belief system is acceptable
with God.
Steve Cornell
Senior pastor
Millersville Bible Church
----------------------------------------------------
Further Reading:
False Preachers - Passing out candy on the way to destruction
Church Apostasy - Living In The Last Days
The Frightening Future Of "Christianity" - Where Is The Gospel?
Cease Not To Teach and Preach The Lord Jesus Christ!
A Few Thoughts On Churchianity and Apostasy
by Pastor Steve Cornell
http://www.songtime.com/sbc/sbc0603.htm
"I am sorry, but I can't accept a God who would send people to hell." "I can't accept a God
who requires the death of his son for me to be forgiven." "I can't accept a God who…"
Protests like these are common. Yet many who make them continue to
attend churches that hold to some form of Christianity. Of course, they must
be churches where they won't hear sermons on those intolerable portions of
the bible. They want pastors who only teach about God's love and mercy.
They want a God who fits their comfort-zone and is willing to adjust to
their crowded schedules. They clearly don't want a God who would place
demands on them or make them feel guilty. And they don't want a God who
judges people (unless it's the really bad people they read about in the
newspaper).
And what about Jesus? Was he just a nice guy who did nice things for needy
people? These people want a gentle Jesus-- one the children can learn about
in Sunday school. They don't want too much emphasis placed on the miracles
of Jesus or his death for sinners. These are viewed as stories made up about
him to help us learn about being kind to others. They certainly don't want to
hear about the Jesus who said, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body
but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both
soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28). This is too judgmental. They also
reject the Jesus who said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). This sounds too
exclusive.
The Jesus who said, "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me
is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is
not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is
not worthy of me" (Matthew 10:38-39), is too demanding. Their favorite
teaching of Jesus is "judge not lest you should be judged."
The Pastors of churches chosen by such people face a number of challenges.
First, it is mandatory that their sermons be brief (people start squirming after
15 minutes). Secondly, they must avoid large portions of scripture as they
delicately prepare messages that will not offend. Thirdly, and perhaps most
difficult, they must live with the shame of concealing the truth from those
they lead. Yet these pastors probably don't believe in the God revealed in
scripture. They are most likely wolves in sheep's clothing.
The bible spoke in advance about these people and their pastors. "For the
time will come when people will not put up with sound teaching. Instead, to
suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of
teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears
away from the truth and turn aside to myths" (II Timothy 4:3-4).
This "pick and choose" approach to scripture implies that we stand as judges
over God. It contradicts the truth that scripture, "never had its origin in the
will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy
Spirit" (II Peter 1:22). Without exception, "all Scripture is God-breathed" (II
Timothy 3:16). Those who reject major themes and large portions of the bible
have no reason to believe any of it. The God they believe in is a creation of
their own imaginations- custom designed to fulfill their own desires. Yet if the
whole bible is true, such rejection puts one at serious risk of coming under
God's judgment. The only ones who would have more to fear are the pastors
who have taught these people that their selective belief system is acceptable
with God.
Steve Cornell
Senior pastor
Millersville Bible Church
----------------------------------------------------
Further Reading:
False Preachers - Passing out candy on the way to destruction
Church Apostasy - Living In The Last Days
The Frightening Future Of "Christianity" - Where Is The Gospel?
Cease Not To Teach and Preach The Lord Jesus Christ!
A Few Thoughts On Churchianity and Apostasy
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