Too bad the bad guys are good!
One of our problems when it comes to reform as that those who are leading the church away from the truth are not bad people. They don't commit adultery. They love the poor. They want to be nice to everybody. They do the best they can. It would be so much simpler if they looked and talked like traditional villains. To attack what such "nice people" are doing in the church just doesn't seem right. But if people don't speak up as these nice people slowly destroy the theological foundations of the church there will come a day when it is no longer the church. If we stand by while the Lordship of Jesus is downplayed in our liturgy, while society's norms replace scriptural norms, while salvation by grace is replaced by salvation through niceness then we fail both the Lord of the Church and those nice people. Reformers and reform movements are never popular with those who have caused the need for reform or those who like things the way they are. But popularity is not what the reformer seeks but faithfulness to scripture and the God of scripture. Let us pray that God will raise up reformers for this church in its time of need.
posted by Personal Diatribes at 5:14 AM
6 Comments:
It's coming to the point where being "nice" can almost be considered an insult. Perhaps Webster's will have to retune the definition of this word in the next edition of the dictionary. Nice: 1) Depicting someone who tries to please all the people, all of the time, accomplishing very little in the process and generally managing to upset everyone at the end of the day. 2) Being used as a doormat and basically spineless.
We are seeing what you are describing all over. At home, in the workplace, in both local and federal government. It's not just a problem within the church.
Thanks again for posting your thoughts, Pastor. Since I've been reading your posts, one thing has been going through my mind that I've avoided mentioning. I guess I was trying to be "nice." Your thoughts and Justsue's about the problems with being "nice" encourage me to bring the point up now.
I do not see how a Christian church can fail to condemn abortion as a means of birth control. Obviously other people disagree with my view, but I think about 70 percent of the American public agree with it. So as I read, for example, your concern about the new hymnal, your point is credible. But in perspective, it also seems to me like an exercise in rearranging deck chairs.
As I return to the fellowship of the Church after a lapse of many years, I am grateful to have been welcomed warmly by the Lutheran congregations I have visited. But due to the abortion issue more than any other, the congregations I've visited have not included a single one from the ELCA.
-- Anonymous Rex
I make the BEST coffee this side of Ireland. As to your most recent post While I agree the problem is much deeper that you wrote (But then I don't need to tell you that!)
I have tried to stand up for Christ in every church I pastored I teach verse by verse and yet most church folk say in word or deed "Give me me 50 cents worth of God please!"
We are paving the path to hell with "nice" for millions. The price Christ paid for us was not "nice"- and neither is His message. He calls us to repent and to follow Him and then to help build His kingdom. Sugar coating His message is an insult to what He has done for us.
Programs can easily take the place of what God calls us to do. I've seen churches that have a wonderful batch of programs and ministries that do good things but leave out the gospel for fear of offending anybody..
"salvation through niceness"
That pretty well defines the problem.
Without absolutes, any definition becomes acceptable - if it is nice enough.
Thanks
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