NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A leader in Southern Baptist evangelism says he's "heartbroken" over feuding within the denomination over theology and worship styles and says it's distracting from the critical work of religious outreach.
Bill Curtis, chairman of trustees for the North American Mission Board, said the disagreements are intensifying as baptisms in Southern Baptist churches are at their lowest level in 12 years and 73 percent of member churches are either not growing or declining.
Let us consider another Parable --- the Parable of the wicked servant...
You will find this Parable, Spoken By Christ Himself, in Matthew 18:23-34.
Read that Parable and as you do PONDER "The Matters Of the Heart"!!!
This one Parable DEBUNKS the "ReLiGiOuS" boggle made by the Baptist and the doctrine they cling to --- it is this misconception that is SO DANGEROUS...
This is not being said to be ugly or to seem high minded !!!
This TRUTH is being pointed out for those With Ears To HEAR...
It is a sade thing to SEE men clinging to the doctrines of men...
It seems that we as a people, on the whole, have become a people that enjoy our own version(s) of truth more so than THE TRUTH Of GOD As IT Has Been Set Forth To us IN HIS WORD.
This is a generation that Will Not HEAR THE TRUTH About themselves --- that's why homosexuality, lesbianism and all the other perversions, to include ABORTION (*which is MURDER*) have become NEGLIGIBLE ------- It's because this is a people whose Hearts have been **hardened** to THE TRUTH...
It is a twisted and perverse people who only want to hear good things about themselves and the god they have created in their own imaginations...
WOE to a people such as this --- a people that Will Not HEAR...
Here's where I get a little confused, and thank you all for your thoughtful posts.
What difference does it make if one denomination is in unity with another? Isn't it true that even if we stand amongst a small group or amongst a large group, aren't all groups going to have the wheat and the weeds grow together until the end (Matthew 13:30)?
If that be true, which we know it is, what is the real danger of uniting together around the resurrected Christ?
I'm not talking about selling your soul, but the fellowship this pastor Bill Curtis speaks of, if we are walking in the fruits of the spirit, should help us grow, no?
I also believe what the scriptures say about obedience of the saints, and that the anabaptist churches (more so in the past) are the closest to true Christianity. The IFB's got some good things going on, but all the other garbage is a turn off.
Let's not let what we believe get in the way of increasing the numbers of new members? Is not Christ's redemptive work on the cross a "theology"? What about denominational distinctives? The danger is that if you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything! To the gentleman who doesn't believe in perseverance of the saints, why not go to Brethern,Mennonite, or Methodist church? Christ keeping us in his fold as a good shepard, is a distinctive of the Baptist denomination.
Well --- let's get right down to the root of the problem !!!
Not trying to be ugly --- just calling a spade, a spade.
This morning in Bible Class a well educated individual, by the worlds standard, was teaching (??? "from his point of view") --- and in the course of this teaching he said "We Baptist Believe you cannot lose your Salvation...".
I am here to tell you that isn’t what THE WORD SAYS about man and the Condition of the Heart !!!
“GOD’S WORD” IS CLEAR To Those With Ears To *HEAR* --- TRUE “BELIEF” *IN* Christ Is *A Matter Of The Heart* and will manifest itself in the life of those that are SO INCLINED !!! ------- WHY ??? --- Because TRUE “RELATIONSHIP” Brings The Tenderness Of Conscience…
It is flimflam “ReLiGiOn” that has fostered false conversion (full of Churchy Duty but VOID of Heart CHANGE)…
John 3: 19-21 *Amplified* 19) The (basis of the) judgment (indictment, the test by which men are judged, the ground for the sentence) lies in this: THE LIGHT is come into the world, and people have loved the darkness rather than and more than THE LIGHT, for their works (deeds) were evil.
20) For every wrongdoer hates (loathes, detests) THE LIGHT and will not come out into THE LIGHT, but shrinks from IT, lest his works --- his deeds, his activities, his conduct --- BE EXPOSED AND REPROVED.
21) But he who Practices TRUTH --- who Does what is RIGHT --- comes out into THE LIGHT; so that his works may be plainly shown to be what they are, Wrought With GOD --- DEVINELY PROMPTED, Done With GOD’S HELP, In Dependence UPON HIM.
***GOD SENT Christ --- John 3: 15 In order that every one who BELIEVES in Him --- who cleaves to Him, trust Him and relies on Him --- may not perish, but have ETERNAL LIFE and actually LIVE FOREVER.
The point I am moved to make, is this: “ReLiGiOn” and the “ReLiGiOnIsTs” of the day have *failed* to Grasp Hold of The Expansive Depth Of GOD’S TRUTH As IT Relates To The Heart of A TRUE “BELIEVER”…
It would serve us all well to Contemplatively Search GOD’S WORD For HIS TRUTH Concerning What It REALLY MEANS “TO BELIEVE”…
??? men ??? have failed to HEAR “THE TRUTH” --- they have completely ignored The Many *WARNINGS* Set Forth To The Church In GOD'S WORD. (???)
There's a *HEARING* problem in our midst...
............................................. GOD HELP us !!!
I am surprised that the Southern Baptists are declining since from what I hear from folks, there is a lot of fun going on in most of these churches. The same church I attended as a child does not even resemble that church when observed now. Of course I guess that is the same for most churches.
I am just thankful that I attend an Independent Baptist church where the Word is preached and people look like they are in church and not a ballgame.
We are living is sad times; however, we should not be surprised. All these things must happen. God help us to remain strong.
If the Southern Baptists want unity it will either be in truth to the Word of God
or in some worldly corrupted imitation that will ultimately be joined with the Great Whore of Babylon and by being friends with the world would be an enemy of God.
Chose wisely ye Southern Baptists, chose wisely.
For that matter may God help us all to chose wisely.
The good old Southern Baptist were some of the greatest soul winners of their day but, they started going down hill when they left the authority of the authority of the God honored, proven King James Bible. Now over 10,000 of the 41,000 Southern Baptist Churches report no new souls saved in any given year. That's over a million sermons total preached in these churches without results. Now that the SBC has published their own translaion (the Holman) things will get worse. Without a final authority it's "anything goes". Sometimes as a Bible Believing conservative SBC pastor, former missionary and associational director...I feel all alone. But Thank God there are still 7,000 who haven't bowed a knee to Baal.
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What fellowship has light with darkness.
