No Gospel for you!

[beensetfree]

If you knew who said this it might make some people biased. I've been checking out her blog after seeing her husband featured on here and have to admit there is so much I agree with that she says. Scary actually. She has a candor and sincerity that I find endearing. She speaks practically and seems like she handles her business. She denounces some false doctrine in a way that I applaud and agree with and almost forget who her husband is and what he says.
This was taken from her post on "Children in Church" I agreed with much of it. I think sermons should be for everyone. If we are truly the Body of Christ it doesn't make sense that we split everyone up based on preference, age, etc... I want to know what my child is learning and that she is seeing Christ throughout the Scriptures. Though I certainly know that while she agrees children need to be in the service; we would not agree on the reason why.
As I'm reading this post she drops a choice bomb. How is church for the edification of believers WITHOUT the Gospel? Only if you find the Law edifying and doable on your own, I guess. Certainly does it for them.

If it doesn't get figured out I'll let you know who it is eventually.

Quote:The most common concern about babies and children being allowed in the service is that they will disrupt the preaching, keeping those in attendance from hearing the gospel, or applying the sermon because they will not reach a state of "conviction".

For starters, church is not for preaching the gospel - that is something that should be done door to door, or before or after the service if there are unsaved visitors. The sermon is for the edification of believers. Even so, I would venture to guess that our church sees more people saved per capita and has members with stronger convictions than any church I have ever seen or heard of. Over 90% of our members go out door-to-door soulwinning regularly. Almost all have high standards in their personal lives, such as having no TV, homeschooling, and men who support and lead their families while the ladies stay home and raise the children that God blesses them with (as opposed to using birth control and pursuing a "career"). Almost all of our members are people that we reached - the "unchurched" - rather than transplants from other churches or those who have grown up in Christian homes. Apparently, having babies and young children in the service did not keep them from hearing and applying the preaching, and making substantial changes in their lives.

[Presbygirl]

I think this is where people misuse the term Gospel. It would seem that this church above is convinced that The Gospel is only a pamphlet with the "sinners prayer."

The Gospel "gives Life" and then living out the Gospel in our broken stories is our way of life until Christ returns. ***I dont have time to complete this thought.*** Gotta run!

[myotch]

The sermons I find most edifying are the ones that reinforce the idea of loving God and loving neighbor.

Parts of my life have been pretty crummy, and it's easy for me to fall into not trusting others, sometimes detesting others, and I pretty much succumb to the temptation of selfishness in just about every area of my daily walk. I know I'm not alone on this particular sinful way.

Instead of sermons about the sins of the world, and how the devil is probably around everyone you meet, I find it refreshing and hopeful to hear a sermon on being good and kind and charitable. It takes a lot of trust in God to do what's right in one's own life, sure. But it's not particularly healthy to be distrustful of everyone. If you don't like them, how can you help them?

[beensetfree]

(03-05-2012 04:39 PM)myotch Wrote:  The sermons I find most edifying are the ones that reinforce the idea of loving God and loving neighbor.

Parts of my life have been pretty crummy, and it's easy for me to fall into not trusting others, sometimes detesting others, and I pretty much succumb to the temptation of selfishness in just about every area of my daily walk. I know I'm not alone on this particular sinful way.

Instead of sermons about the sins of the world, and how the devil is probably around everyone you meet, I find it refreshing and hopeful to hear a sermon on being good and kind and charitable. It takes a lot of trust in God to do what's right in one's own life, sure. But it's not particularly healthy to be distrustful of everyone. If you don't like them, how can you help them?

When I let you know who wrote this you will see they don't do those kinds of edification sermons.

[pastor's wife]

I agree with Presbygirl that the writer thinks that the Gospel is just the salvation plan. It's been a WONDERFUL discovery recently that the Gospel is for ALL OF LIFE!!! We need the Gospel in our daily lives: the truth that our sins are forgiven and that we are hidden in Christ and Christ is in us, empowering us to live a holy life.

There are churches that present the plan of salvation - you're a sinner/Jesus died for you/pray this prayer - Sunday after Sunday and never move on to any of the meat of the Word. The writer is saying that her church is no such church. But I do hope that Jesus is proclaimed from their pulpit. Otherwise those children in her services are hearing moral platitudes but not about the One Who gives us the reason and the ability to live a godly life.

I'm also slightly amused that she claims her people have "stronger convictions than any church I have ever seen or heard of." Um, I'm not sure "stronger" is the right word here. I'd say we ex-fundies have pretty strong convictions! And of course her assumptions are typical: "Almost all have high standards in their personal lives, such as having no TV, homeschooling, and men who support and lead their families while the ladies stay home and raise the children that God blesses them with (as opposed to using birth control and pursuing a "career")." So if I have a TV or work outside the home, I don't have high standards? The constant judgmentalism in fundy circles comes across as so arrogant when you're not in it. They obviously do NOT believe in the individual priesthood of the believer since they're claiming that homeschooling and using no birth control is the best option for people's lives instead of just preaching Christ and allowing their members to make decisions about procreation and education for themselves.

[beensetfree]

(03-05-2012 06:40 PM)pastors wife Wrote:  I agree with Presbygirl that the writer thinks that the Gospel is just the salvation plan. It's been a WONDERFUL discovery recently that the Gospel is for ALL OF LIFE!!! We need the Gospel in our daily lives: the truth that our sins are forgiven and that we are hidden in Christ and Christ is in us, empowering us to live a holy life.

There are churches that present the plan of salvation - you're a sinner/Jesus died for you/pray this prayer - Sunday after Sunday and never move on to any of the meat of the Word. The writer is saying that her church is no such church. But I do hope that Jesus is proclaimed from their pulpit. Otherwise those children in her services are hearing moral platitudes but not about the One Who gives us the reason and the ability to live a godly life.

I'm also slightly amused that she claims her people have "stronger convictions than any church I have ever seen or heard of." Um, I'm not sure "stronger" is the right word here. I'd say we ex-fundies have pretty strong convictions! And of course her assumptions are typical: "Almost all have high standards in their personal lives, such as having no TV, homeschooling, and men who support and lead their families while the ladies stay home and raise the children that God blesses them with (as opposed to using birth control and pursuing a "career")." So if I have a TV or work outside the home, I don't have high standards? The constant judgmentalism in fundy circles comes across as so arrogant when you're not in it. They obviously do NOT believe in the individual priesthood of the believer since they're claiming that homeschooling and using no birth control is the best option for people's lives instead of just preaching Christ and allowing their members to make decisions about procreation and education for themselves.

I agree PW. It's an excerpt from Steven Anderson's wife's blog. I have to admit, he's a captivating speaker.
I really wish I could hear what Jesus said to those disciples on the Emmaus Road.

[redbeardiam]

She made one salient point, which is one more than I would have expected from Anderson-land. It's asinine to ban babies from a worship service.

The rest of it is bullgipp as far as I'm concerned.

[myotch]

(03-05-2012 04:44 PM)beensetfree Wrote:  When I let you know who wrote this you will see they don't do those kinds of edification sermons.

What a great video. I was entertained, the way Andy Kaufman's Tony Clifton persona was thoroughly entertaining. I immediately wanted to write down and refute his points, but he jumped around and danced at a rather dizzying pace, and I couldn't even logically think his points through. All the hallmarks of performance art.

He's a firecracker, and his attack method was refreshingly original, even though his points are tired. (Isn't he the "pisseth against the wall" preacher?)

[notdrinkingthekoolaid]

So...I have a question. What level are my convictions (high or low) if I AM a stay home mom and have been since my oldest was born, BUT I also use/d birth control so as not to have 10 children, just the 3 that were "planned"? Does that mixed message really make me less capable of sharing and living Gospel?

[GraceThruFaith]

Wait a minute....was PW's original post supposed to be sarcastic, because quite frankly I disagree with almost everything that comes out of Steve Anderson's mouth (the blogger's husband), and I think PW does too, although I can't speak for her.