The Evangelical Church is on fast track to disillusion and self destruction. The Evangelical Church began like all good things, trying to be a balance between Bible based (Solae Scriptura) and Spirit Filled (Charisma). It was answer to those who wanted to be Baptists that knew the Bible, and yet have Holy Spirit come into the services with some checks and balances to keep it from getting unruly. Unfortunately, Evangelicalism was hijacked by the Seeker Friendly Movement, started by pastor who went and interviewed people door to door who hadn't been to church in a long time, their answer was they weren't entertained, and their kids weren't having fun (because that's the goal of Christian life, ugh). This transformed the Evangelical Church, which watered down the Gospel, removing the repent part and making people feel comfortable with "feel good sermons" reminiscent of Paul's words, "For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear." (2 Timothy 4:3). Then to capitalize on this, literally, Evangelical Churches began to hire PR companies that were secular, to sell "their brand", turning churches into Nikki, Apple, McDonalds, and Gucci for those seeker friendly people. The result has created what I call the "Brand Churches" which sell a type of church and its speaker, examples of this branding are Joel Osteen Ministries, Joyce Meyer's Ministries, and T.D. Jakes.
I believe the Evangelical Church, not Evangelicalism itself is about to either collapse entirely or have major schism akin to the Lutheran and Presbyterian splits in recent years, and it will not be over Transgender and Homosexual ordination issues, it will be over branding, money, and watering down of the Gospel to make profits. Stephen Furtick, the upcoming new brand manger and pastor of His Elevation Church. He is the clear successor and next gen Rob Bell [who lead Noomai, remember how the bell tolled on him, when Rob Bell fell from grace and embraced Universalism in his blasphemous Love Wins). Furtick just signed a contract of $110 Million dollars with Lakewood Church. That is the equivalent of merger or contract of major athletes and companies like Apple! The corruption of Evangelical Church and its worldliness is creating a mass exodus to High Churches. It isn't just branding, money laundering, and worldly lifestyles of the Evangelical Brand Churches that is repelling people, it is the lack of family, and business model. In early church, everyone knew each other like family and church meetings were intimate, "All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer." (Acts 2:42), and they so cared about each other they sold their possessions and estates to help other Christians out of love (Acts 4:29-35), but today its opposite, Churches building their brand and become empires like Microsoft, Apple, Sony, and Nikki instead of helping widows and orphans in their own congregations. It's disturbing to say in the least.
I have question I would ask Stephen Furtick and other brand pastors, how they can reconcile these contracts and major money bids with the following words of Jesus Christ and His Apostles,
"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money," (Matthew 6:24), "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows," (Timothy 6:10), "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal," (Matthew 6:19), "The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful," (Matthew 13:22), "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you," (Hebrews 13:5), "Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions," (Luke 12:15), " "Am I now seeking the approval of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ," (Galatians 1:10), "You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God," (James 4:4), "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God," (Romans 12:2), "Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ, All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you," (Philippians 3:8,15), "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them, For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world," (1 John 2:15-16), and, "Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions." (1 Peter 5:2-3). The consensus of Scriptura is prett clear that becoming a brand church is antithetical to what Jesus Christ the God of Churches and the Apostles who lead the Early Church teach!
The Evangelical Church is at moral tipping point, a place where it is either going to splinter into sects via Reformation, or it is going to become so different than True Church as laid out in New Testament, Holy Bible, that it will be like the Roman Catholic Church which has deviated majorly from teachings of Jesus Christ and the apostles. Just as money is major motivating factor for sell of indulgences and talismans in Roman Church, the Evangelical Church is selling its brand, its pastors, and its concert like vibe. I think it is clear that if the crisis at heart and soul of Evangelical Church isn't addressed, we are going to see more and more Millennials, and further generations abandon the Church and seeking either white washed tombs (Matthew 23:27-28), High Churches, or they will abandon the faith all together. This is why I have said repeatedly that you must base your Christian faith on Jesus Christ alone, and the Holy Bible. What it means to be Christian is not what Furtick, Joel Osteen, Kenneth Copeland, Joyce Meyer, T.D. Jakes, Francis Chan, Rick Warren, Pope Francis I, Bishop Kallistos Ware, or any of contemporaries leaders say; what it means to be Christian is laid out in New Testament words of Jesus Christ and His Apostles who under the inspiration of Holy Spirit wrote everything necessary to practice the Christian faith in the Holy Bible!
It is time to get back to the Scriptures and Spirit Filled, to stop chasing brands, pastors, and scholars like little puppies, and start relying on Christ ourselves who lives in us (Colossians 1:27)! For the Apostle said, "All wisdom and knowledge is found in Christ." (Colossians 2:2-3). We must not be partisans of church brands like politicians are part of their party lines. We must be loyal to the Godhead Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and adhere to teachings, models, and inspiration found in Holy Bible! Being a Catholic, Evangelical, or part of Elevation Church doesn't mean anything! Believing in Jesus Christ as Lord, God, and Savior, and following Him with help of Holy Bible and His Spirit, and Holy Spirit, and Father's guidance is all we need to be good Christians. Stop chasing the brands of today (1 Timothy 4:3-4), and instead stick to what is in Holy Bible which has all sound doctrine and spirit filled examples. Amen.
Comments
Post a Comment