Category: Denominationalism
Subject: Denominationalism
Podcast: Is Sincerity Sometimes Enough?
Podcast Number 56
Denominationalists have long called for union and tolerance of doctrine error, and vain religious practices. The common claim is that as long as one is sincere, he is accepted by God. This is not true. There is a litmus test for acceptance by God, abiding in truth!
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AOTS: Dear God, Why So Many Religions?
AOTS Number 54
Did God make the many different world religions? They are confusing, and God is not the author of confusion. The world’s religions were made by man. God intends all of us to follow His Son.
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Sermon: Denominationalism
The various explanations and defenses used in promoting denominationalism as acceptable to God fall short of scriptural justification for the practice. Denominationalism is sinful in the sight of God.
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Sermon: The Name Christian
The name by which the people of God are known is Christian. It is the only proper name given to the disciples of our Lord in the entirety of scripture. And understanding of this important point is helpful in dealing with the denominational concept of Christianity, and teaching those caught in its web of error.
(Note: The audio is a bit under par, as the microphone battery was weak, and got weaker as the sermon progressed. It is, however, very intelligible).
Sermon Audio: Click Here .
In The News: Upside Down Episcopalians
There is a movement among Episcopalian leadership to evict congregations from Episcopal church buildings if the congregations have “abandoned Episcopalians”. If one were not aware of the liberal bent of the Episcopal church, it might be surmised that those accused of abandoning the Episcopalian Church would be those who are seeking to change long held doctrines and dogma. In fact, the opposite is true. Note the following quotes:
“In mid-January, Episcopal leaders in Virginia declared 11 congregations there, including some historic churches, to have abandoned Episcopalians. The congregations were instructed to surrender their assets. Similar actions are underway in numerous other states, and in some cases legal battles over church property have begun.
“As part of their rejection of new Episcopal teachings [emph. mine, SC], the traditionalists in Attleboro changed the name on the sign in front of their church from All Saints Episcopal to All Saints Anglican and, in September, they voted to join the Anglican Mission in America and place themselves under the supervision of Archbishop Emmanuel Kolini of the Anglican Province of Rwanda.” (Grant Swank, The Conservative Voice, 2/6/07)
What are some of these “new” Episcopal teachings?
Podcast: Redefining Adultery
Podcast Number 32
The denominational world (and some brethren) seek to redefine and minimize the sin of adultery. In so doing, they exhibit a laxness in their attitude toward this heinous sin.
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In The News: North Richland Hills church of Christ to Begin Using Instruments in Worship
On Saturday, February 10, 2007, the Richland Hills church of Christ will begin holding a weekly Saturday evening worship service that will include the use of musical instruments in worship, and an observance of the Lord’s Supper. Jon Jones, (the former “pulpit minister” and one of the elders), said that the elders “fully and completely” endorsed the decision. At an adult Bible study, he said, “There is unity in our eldership, and we are so thankful for that.”
However, two of the 17 elders serving resigned when the decision was made. Though there seems to be some “politicking” going on, and the two remain members of the congregation, Roger Dean, one of the remaining 15 elders acknowledged that the decision had prompted the two elders to resign.
Podcast: A Mark of the True Church
Podcast Number 30
An examination of the Bible text reveals how different the Lord’s church is from the denominations today. If a congregation of Christians follows the pattern of the New Testament, then and only then it can be known as the true church of Christ.
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In The News: The Social Gospel
A recent Google search (News division) of the word church resulted in the find of the following headlines:
Church to Participate in Christmas Open House
Building on the success of last year’s event, Sutter Creek Methodist Church is planning to provide a festive and religious dimension to the festivities. (Sacramento Ledger Dispatch)
Durham Church Plans Fair Trade Bazaar
All sales will assist in improving the quality of life for people half a world away. (Seacoastonline.com)
Church To Hold Holiday Tea
Mark your calendar and call for your reservations for the annual Holiday Victorian Tea and Boutique to be held at the Presbyterian Church in Garden City. (Garden City News)
Yummm! Annual Pie Social and Church Fair set for Dec. 1,2
On the second floor in the Education Wing, a Kid’s Fair is held offering kids the chance to play a game, do a craft or get their nails painted.
Tewksbury Advocate
Church Leaders Plan To Build Family Center
Two long-time city churches have merged and will build a multimillion-dollar family center on U.S. 19 that is expected to draw new parishioners from throughout Pinellas County. (Pinellas Park Beacon)
Ham and Beans on the Menu at Church Supper
The Union Congregational Church of Madbury will sponsor a ham and bean supper on Saturday, Nov. 18, at the Madbury Town Hall. (Seacoastonline.com)
Contrast the preceding activities: Open house, Bazaar, Tea, Pie Social, Family Center and Church Supper, with the actions of the first century church. “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). While the first century Christians enjoyed each others company, it was an individual thing, as Christians broke bread “from house to house.”
In fact, Paul admonished the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 11, “Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in?…” (vs. 20-22a).
The church of the Lord is not a social club. It’s purpose is to save the world through the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. While it is fine and dandy for Christians to participate in Pie Socials and Holiday Teas, such things are not the work of our Lord’s church. No soul was ever saved by a Family Center. Preach the Word! It is the gospel that saves!
In The News: Choosing My Religion
An article in the Tuesday, August 15th issue of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram carried the above title, with the subtitle: “Shopping around for a family church—when the parents aren’t regular attendees—can be intimidating, but experts say it’s never too late to start keeping the faith.” The author of the article, Gaile Robinson, related a cub scout field trip that sent herself and her son to a Catholic mission, with a group of other little boys. The site of a larger than life cross with the Christ figure upon it, with the crown of thorns complete with painted blood, led to an awed silence among the boys, but caused her son to ask, “Whoa, what happened to that guy?”
Church Maligned on CNN
In the aftermath of the Gary Winkler murder, pundits are filling the airwaves with speculation regarding motive, and seeking to fill in the gaps of knowledge regarding the relationship between the deceased and his wife, Mary Winkler. Also, there is interest in knowing more about the church of Christ. Unfortunately, in a recent (March 27th) edition of Nancy Grace’s show on CNN, Ms. Grace asked, not a member of the Lord’s church, but a Baptist Minister, about the church. A partial transcript of the show is below:
“Unity Events”
The way Wade Hodges sees it, a cappella churches of Christ and instrumental Christian Churches share too much in common not to treat each other like family.
But in Truitt Adair’s view, any attempt at unity that does not include an “honest discussion of the things that divide us” risks creating more division than reconciliation.
Such are the disparate views among church leaders 100 years after a 1906 federal religious census first reported the a cappella and instrumental churches as separate bodies…
Seahawks Gospel Takes Hold
First, praise the Lord. Then, “Go Seahawks!”
After morning services Sunday, many South Sound churches will throw huge Super Bowl parties.
They’ll show the game on mammoth projection televisions normally used for worship lyrics. They’ll eat pizza and drink soda pop. And they’ll shout for the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL.
Some congregations are even shifting or canceling Sunday night services to accommodate the home team’s first appearance in the Super Bowl.
Sacrilege on the Sabbath? Not so, pastors say. The Super Bowl is a chance for churches to reach out to nonmembers and members consumed by the Seahawks, they say.
The Social Gospel in Action
This past week we received the January 2006 issue of “The Christian Chronicle” in the mail.
The paper chronicles events, news and “ministries” of many of the institutional churches both in America and the rest of the world. In addition to various news items there are featured articles regarding church “ministries” and trends. There were three feature articles that caught my eye:
First Christian Church Celebration
The September 8, 2005 edition of the River Oaks News had a front page article detailing the upcoming September 18th celebration of the First Christian Church’s 150th year of existence.
In 1855, the first church in the city of Fort Worth was chartered as the “First Christian Church.” The small building built at that time has been replaced by the large structure presently occupying that same location.
