 The Church ...The Organization
Christian Courses
The Circus Is In Town... Again!
Christians have a seemingly bottomless appetite for new fads and jump from bandwagon to bandwagon every few years.. There is a new book, a new program or a new emphasis every year or so. It's all anyone can talk about; it's all the preacher preaches about - for a while. Then, as quickly as it came, it's gone. A look at some of the most recent Christian courses including The Purpose Driven Program, The Alpha Course, Cleansing Stream, Theophostic Ministry Etc... Church Growth Movement
The Market Driven Church focuses is on what the consumer (Unchurched Harry) wants and thinks he needs, rather than on what God wants and what He says Harry needs. In other words, market-driven churches are built upon the foundation of polls, surveys, and the latest marketing techniques, instead of upon the Word of God. The Emerging Church
Sandi Dolbee of the Sam Diego Union-Tribune said this “Music that's rock-concert loud. Rap that recites Scripture, verse by verse. Art stations for people to express their spirituality in the midst of the service. Flashing videos and wafting incense. Celtic crosses and coffeehouse poetry. Interaction and contemplation”. It seems that the “Emerging Church” is reemerging. Spirituality and Mysticism
There is an increasing number of professing evangelicals involved who, under normal circumstances, would have nothing to do with the Church of Rome, but who, wittingly or unwittingly are caught up in mystical practices (or at least advocating such practices) which are either a direct legacy of Roman Catholic mysticism or are a deceptive derivative of it. Contemplative or Centering Prayer
The twentieth century, which has seen so many revolutions, is now witnessing the rise of a new mysticism within Christianity. Contemplative or Centering Prayer is a practice derived from Eastern mysticism. Precious biblical concepts like God's grace and love are actually replaced by vague notions of wholeness through an eastern religious meditation technique. Walking The Labyrinth
The Labyrinth.. Touted as A Medieval Tool for the Postmodern Age. The mother of the modern labyrinth movement is Lauren Artress, canon of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco. Artress, who does not disguise her contempt for “fundamentalism” and the “religious right,” whose “literal interpretation of the Bible . . . breeds small-mindedness and mean-spiritedness.” Discernment is at such an all time low that thousands of Christians are embracing this age-old occult practice. (Section) Ecumenism
The pressure is mounting for interfaith communion and dialogue. Christians seem to totally forget that they are followers of the man who called the Pharisees white-washed tombs and drove the money- changers out of the temple. We are students of the Apostle Paul, who called down God's curse on anyone who preached a different gospel, the man who publicly confronted Peter. Yet we cosy up to organizations like the World Council of Churches. (Section) Heresy in The Church
Compromising the doctrines that are essential to faith can confuse the gospel sufficiently to make it powerless and is a serious assault upon the character of God, of Christ and salvation itself. Vineyard Churches
From very small beginnings a mere twenty years ago there are 850 Vineyard churches worldwide (in over 80 countries) with approximately 600 Vineyard churches in the United States alone. They also boast of an international church planting movement, a publishing house and a music production company. This phenomenal growth, (an average of over 42 churches a year), begs the question.. What are the Vineyard churches about? What doctrine do they espouse? Mosaic
Erwin Raphael McManus, A native of El Salvador, and graduate of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is the lead pastor and cultural architect of Mosaic, a Christian community in Los Angeles, California. A futurist and author, McManus was named by ChurchReport.com in January 2007 as one of the “50 Most Influential Christians in America.” But... The Mennonites
Claim nearly 1.5 million members worldwide but have strayed far from their conservative roots. CCN (Church Communication Network) And Lead Like Jesus
Church Communication Network (CCN) broadcasts live programs to over 2500 subscribers representing thousands of viewers. While there have to be quite a few simulcasts that are valuable, there is plenty of dross mixed in. Consider one of the best known programs... Ken Blanchard's Lead Like Jesus, featuring among others, Laurie Beth Jones.. Questionable Organizations
Missing the mark in too many ways.. Promise Keepers, YWAM, The Seventh Day Adventists, Campus Crusade, The World Christian Movement Merchandising The Gospel
Pushing The Tacky, The Trashy, and The Trivial. Marketing, not ministry, is the driving force behind most of the industry these days. (Section) Single Articles Will The Real Church Please Stand Up
While the evangelical church has been chasing the ever changing fads and whims of our society, she has jettisoned her unique message. At the same time that the church has forgotten her purpose, she has also been infiltrated by a wide range of diluting and influences that have changed the very core of her being. 10 Things I Hate About Church
Worship Pastors - Seriously? Paid singers? Seriously? True and False Unity
Christian unity is unity under and through the gospel. It is nurtured through the teaching of sound Biblical doctrine. False unity is unity that is demanded and prescribed by religious leaders to their own ideas and organizations. This is the unity that the religious leaders of Israel wanted and that Jesus threatened. The Contemporary Church
The contemporary plan is plain for all to see—create a worship service (none dare call it liturgy!) that is fast-paced, light on doctrine, and very heavy on music and drama. We are preoccupied with being "trendier-than-thou." Four Tragic Shifts
Few Christians realize the central concepts and practices associated with what we call 'church' are not rooted in the New Testament, but in patterns established in the post-apostolic age. Disarming The Church
As history has shown, it is a common tactic for the oppressing force to gain control of a nation by seizing the means by which individuals might defend themselves. Once the citizenry are disarmed, it is a relatively easy matter to exert complete tyrannical control. It seems to me that the same principal holds true in the spiritual realm Will Christ Remove YOUR Church’s Candlestick?
There are few biblical texts which are so vital that today's church congregations should understand than the 'church messages' of Revelation 2-3, but such congregations usually never hear a sermon on them!' So let us not ignore or neglect the messages to the 7 churches any longer! Abandonment Theology
Christianity - the deepest, most meaningful and awe-inspiring religion ever, the magnificent driving force behind Western Civilization, and the transcendent hope of mankind's future - has been dumbed down into a comic-book religion.
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