Well Named?
We drove through a neighborhood called Goldbar the other day. To my knowledge no gold was ever found there.
We visited a neighborhood called Foxboro. The name is ironic because it used to be a farmer's field with a big stand of trees and foxes living there. Many times I saw the foxes and there kits there. The area has developed so much that there hasn't been a fox in that area for years.
Names can be misleading. It can even happen with churches.
Some churches boldly identify themselves as Christian, but there is no Christ in their teaching. They deny the resurrection, instead claiming there are many paths to heaven. They deny the truth of the Scriptures, but claim their teaching is Biblically based.
What often began as a subtle softening has become a complete compromise. If Christ is not the way and the Bible is not the truth, why bother with the pretence of calling themselves Christian?
There are plenty of good social clubs or service clubs out there who do wonderful things. Instead of clinging to the name of something they don't believe, why not have the honesty to rename themselves "The Sunday morning social club, nice people group"?
I'm not speaking here of any particular group, just offering a warning that just because someone or something uses the name Christian doesn't mean it is.
2 Peter 2:1-3 NIV
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them -- bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. How can you tell the difference? You can start by knowing what your Bible says and comparing the teaching you hear to it. Do they align? There are areas where godly men and women can disagree but here are some areas to look for.
a. Do they believe the Bible is fully inspired by God and without error?
b. Do they believe in original sin?
c. Do they believe in the virgin birth, Christ's incarnation as an infant, sinless life, death on the cross and resurrection as actual historical events?
d. Do they believe in salvation by faith alone?
e. Do they believe Christ's death on the cross was payment in full for our sins?
f. Do they believe in a triune God One God - three persons - Father, Son, Holy Spirit?
g. Do they believe God is all knowing, all powerful and ever present?
h. Do they believe that salvation through Christ is the only path to heaven?
i. Do they believe that God will raise the dead bodily and judge the world, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal conscious punishment and the believer to eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord in the new heaven and the new earth.
If the answer to any of these questions is "NO" find another church. This list isn't exhaustive but is a good place to start.
Too often we choose a church because of the name on the door or the feel of the worship or the programming. While those things can be very important, if their beliefs don't line up with Scripture the other things don't matter.
Then look to see if they practice what they preach. Of course they're going to be imperfect but are they welcoming and loving. Are they filled with grace and Holy Spirit's presence or are they doctrinally sound but cold, lifeless and legalistic?
If what they practice doesn't align with the preaching find another church.
There are plenty of solid Bible believing, practice what they preach churches out there. Find yourself one and commit to it.
Kevin
We drove through a neighborhood called Goldbar the other day. To my knowledge no gold was ever found there.
We visited a neighborhood called Foxboro. The name is ironic because it used to be a farmer's field with a big stand of trees and foxes living there. Many times I saw the foxes and there kits there. The area has developed so much that there hasn't been a fox in that area for years.
Names can be misleading. It can even happen with churches.
Some churches boldly identify themselves as Christian, but there is no Christ in their teaching. They deny the resurrection, instead claiming there are many paths to heaven. They deny the truth of the Scriptures, but claim their teaching is Biblically based.
What often began as a subtle softening has become a complete compromise. If Christ is not the way and the Bible is not the truth, why bother with the pretence of calling themselves Christian?
There are plenty of good social clubs or service clubs out there who do wonderful things. Instead of clinging to the name of something they don't believe, why not have the honesty to rename themselves "The Sunday morning social club, nice people group"?
I'm not speaking here of any particular group, just offering a warning that just because someone or something uses the name Christian doesn't mean it is.
2 Peter 2:1-3 NIV
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them -- bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. How can you tell the difference? You can start by knowing what your Bible says and comparing the teaching you hear to it. Do they align? There are areas where godly men and women can disagree but here are some areas to look for.
a. Do they believe the Bible is fully inspired by God and without error?
b. Do they believe in original sin?
c. Do they believe in the virgin birth, Christ's incarnation as an infant, sinless life, death on the cross and resurrection as actual historical events?
d. Do they believe in salvation by faith alone?
e. Do they believe Christ's death on the cross was payment in full for our sins?
f. Do they believe in a triune God One God - three persons - Father, Son, Holy Spirit?
g. Do they believe God is all knowing, all powerful and ever present?
h. Do they believe that salvation through Christ is the only path to heaven?
i. Do they believe that God will raise the dead bodily and judge the world, assigning the unbeliever to condemnation and eternal conscious punishment and the believer to eternal blessedness and joy with the Lord in the new heaven and the new earth.
If the answer to any of these questions is "NO" find another church. This list isn't exhaustive but is a good place to start.
Too often we choose a church because of the name on the door or the feel of the worship or the programming. While those things can be very important, if their beliefs don't line up with Scripture the other things don't matter.
Then look to see if they practice what they preach. Of course they're going to be imperfect but are they welcoming and loving. Are they filled with grace and Holy Spirit's presence or are they doctrinally sound but cold, lifeless and legalistic?
If what they practice doesn't align with the preaching find another church.
There are plenty of solid Bible believing, practice what they preach churches out there. Find yourself one and commit to it.
Kevin
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