Excellent, Jack. Thanks, brother. I’m so tired of cliché “christianity” and these tired, trite expressions like, “we’re all broken,” blah blah blah. Keep up the good work in exposing the populist, unbiblical theology that is corrupting and crippling the church.
Our church’s mission: “Joining Jesus to restore and transform one another and our world.” Living it in today’s cultural religion is an ongoing challenge.
Amen Bro Jack. A few years ago a sister(?) remarked "Jim, Your sermons are gloomy." She wanted feel good sermons, where she was at in life w/ no repentance. Ironically, about 10 years later after they had moved 1200 miles form her, a brother straight up remarked, she is a hypocrite. I was not surprised at the remark,, but was surprised that he volunteered it our of the clear blue. It is amazing that folks think they can hold hands with worldliness and God at the same time. BTW, the menu of sermons is balanced. Currently, the series is drawing near to God. As Bro J. Franklin Camp would say to you, "Say on brother, say on."
Thanks for this. The 'we're sinners here, too' refrain has been bothering me of late. If you are sincerely practicing the faith, the holy spirit should be santifying you. If you can't show evidence of that, put down the microphone.
I think it's an attempt to mollify people who have been hurt by churches in the past. So there's a facade of humility to reduce the perceived authority, perhaps? And of course, there are bad churches, bad pastors, bad doctrine or practices.
But the Gospel in it's true form is also offensive to the world, in no small part because it points out we need to change, and offers to do it.
Wonderful article, Jack! You made some very cogent points.
I would like to make two observations. First of all, some of our preachers have preached so many self-help and feel-good sermons that they would have a difficult time calling for the change that biblical holiness demands. Secondly, there are some Christians who have been so lulled by the "I'm a member of the church" mentality that they are not aware of the biblical call to live holy lives. We can treasure being a member of the church and pursue Christian holiness simultaneously.
thank you for this article, you make some really good points! I totally agree with you.
all humans are made in the image of God and worthy of the good news. at some point, we have to change our identify from broken sinner and slave of sin to united with him in his death and burial and raised to walk in newness of life, a slave of righteousness, walking in the light as best I can.
to agree with your point, it's one thing to be humble, which is good, but you're right, to identify as a broken sinner is to negate one's new identity in Christ. If someone says "I walk in darkness" and you say "yeah me too", as a Christian, I'm supposed to be walking in the light! Not that I don't sin, we all do, but we're trying to practice righteousness and live according to the spiritual things above, not practice sin and unrighteousness and live for worldly desires. we can't be doing both.
also, when Paul and Peter write to the churches of 1st century, they don't say "to the broken sinners in the church in (___), they say to the one's made holy, the ones set apart. that's us! so it's really good to remember what the Bible says about our identity, thank you for this excellent reminder!
Lizzo and her entire "body positivity" movement has caused so much destruction among women. You can be morbidly obese, where skin tight clothes, fake eyelashes where you can't even see (or have stars on them as happened to be in a restaurant) or hair scraping the floor, but you are told how beautiful you are and it doesn't matter. Every time I see a female looking like this or wearing pajamas and their bonnets in public, I think "where did the self respect go?!"
Excellent, Jack. Thanks, brother. I’m so tired of cliché “christianity” and these tired, trite expressions like, “we’re all broken,” blah blah blah. Keep up the good work in exposing the populist, unbiblical theology that is corrupting and crippling the church.
Our church’s mission: “Joining Jesus to restore and transform one another and our world.” Living it in today’s cultural religion is an ongoing challenge.
Amen Bro Jack. A few years ago a sister(?) remarked "Jim, Your sermons are gloomy." She wanted feel good sermons, where she was at in life w/ no repentance. Ironically, about 10 years later after they had moved 1200 miles form her, a brother straight up remarked, she is a hypocrite. I was not surprised at the remark,, but was surprised that he volunteered it our of the clear blue. It is amazing that folks think they can hold hands with worldliness and God at the same time. BTW, the menu of sermons is balanced. Currently, the series is drawing near to God. As Bro J. Franklin Camp would say to you, "Say on brother, say on."
Jack you have such great judgment to notice something like this. I'm really lucky to have found you as a teacher.
Excellent. You said it well enough; nothing more for me to add.
YES!
Thanks for this. The 'we're sinners here, too' refrain has been bothering me of late. If you are sincerely practicing the faith, the holy spirit should be santifying you. If you can't show evidence of that, put down the microphone.
I think it's an attempt to mollify people who have been hurt by churches in the past. So there's a facade of humility to reduce the perceived authority, perhaps? And of course, there are bad churches, bad pastors, bad doctrine or practices.
But the Gospel in it's true form is also offensive to the world, in no small part because it points out we need to change, and offers to do it.
Thank you for this. We do need to talk more about holiness
Wonderful article, Jack! You made some very cogent points.
I would like to make two observations. First of all, some of our preachers have preached so many self-help and feel-good sermons that they would have a difficult time calling for the change that biblical holiness demands. Secondly, there are some Christians who have been so lulled by the "I'm a member of the church" mentality that they are not aware of the biblical call to live holy lives. We can treasure being a member of the church and pursue Christian holiness simultaneously.
thank you for this article, you make some really good points! I totally agree with you.
all humans are made in the image of God and worthy of the good news. at some point, we have to change our identify from broken sinner and slave of sin to united with him in his death and burial and raised to walk in newness of life, a slave of righteousness, walking in the light as best I can.
to agree with your point, it's one thing to be humble, which is good, but you're right, to identify as a broken sinner is to negate one's new identity in Christ. If someone says "I walk in darkness" and you say "yeah me too", as a Christian, I'm supposed to be walking in the light! Not that I don't sin, we all do, but we're trying to practice righteousness and live according to the spiritual things above, not practice sin and unrighteousness and live for worldly desires. we can't be doing both.
also, when Paul and Peter write to the churches of 1st century, they don't say "to the broken sinners in the church in (___), they say to the one's made holy, the ones set apart. that's us! so it's really good to remember what the Bible says about our identity, thank you for this excellent reminder!
Lizzo and her entire "body positivity" movement has caused so much destruction among women. You can be morbidly obese, where skin tight clothes, fake eyelashes where you can't even see (or have stars on them as happened to be in a restaurant) or hair scraping the floor, but you are told how beautiful you are and it doesn't matter. Every time I see a female looking like this or wearing pajamas and their bonnets in public, I think "where did the self respect go?!"