Poll: The Church of Jesus Christ 2006

I saw the two voting for:
I think the Church in 2006 is just fine, thank you

1. Polly
2. Anna

 

Legalism
Conforming
Lukewarm

 

Conforming to Worldly Standards/Morals
Rock Music / CCM
Too much entertainment, not enough Bible thumping
(too much "feel good" gospel that appeals to the flesh--not enough preaching on sin & repentance)

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (2 Timothy 4:2-4)

 

That's true. A lot of people, usually at least in their 60's, have said that "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Amazing Grace" really make them feel good.

 

Only 6 out of 63 chose "Not sending enough missionaries," even though the all-around evangelical missions force is decreasing. That's very sad. And your church expects to fulfill the last marching orders of Christ, the Great Commission? The priorities of most churches in America are all wrong.

Don't anyone tell me I'm out of touch with America, either. I had a 6 month furlough last year and saw a lot of churches. Plus, I'm seeing the older men who came over after WW2 retire one after another.

 

I didn't mark that one, John, because our IFB church supports TONS of missionaries...

 

God bless you for that! The IFB movement is the only segment of evangelical Christianity in which the missions force is actually growing.

 

Music is music. That is a cop out answer becuase you don't like it. Old hymns back in the day wasn't held in high regard. "Amazing Grace" was at first shunned by the church. Musical taste and worship don't go hand in hand. Worship is from the heart and not predicated on a certain style. If your's is then you need to define what true worship really is!!!

 

Just because the music style of today is not the same as 100 years ago does not mean that the church is worldly. It means that the church is doing exactly what it has always done until about 1950 or so. That is stay contemporary with what is current styles in the musical world. Preferences does not a holy person make. And to those that think the Bible does not tell us what kind of instruments to use in worship, Read your Bible again and actually try to understand what it says.

 

I agree with patrick CCM certainly doesn't mean a cold church. In psalm 150 we see drums and guitars and paino's mentioned and we use all three in worship.

 

Wow...so if we get rid of "rock & CCM" we will be spiritual juggernauts, ready to attack hell with water pistols?

Please.

I defend anyone's right to say, "I don't like xyz in worship." But you better be careful saying, "xyz is not of God." Jesus went off on the pharisees that accused Him of using the power of Beelzebub.

Perhaps you can tell the twenty students led to Christ in our student ministry this last year that Satan was actually in charge of the worship they attended. And read Matthew 12 before you assign blame to Satan for what I have seen God use.

Besides all this, "the church" encompasses untold thousands of people from every culture, language, and background. I've been in dead churches that sang hymns, dead churches that rocked, vibrant traditional, and vibrant contemporary churches. Some churches are worldly and "social club;" others are legalistic and cold. I'm not sure I can answer what is wrong with THE church...I'm concentrating on what God would have me do here in "MY" church (actually His, but you get my point).

-end of rant-

 

Hi guys,
I believe Scarlett hit the nail on the head.
Lukewarmness & lack of Bible study. As a S.S. teacher, myself, I also see too much reliance on pastors and teachers for biblical nourishment. Ignorance of God's Word is rampant among believers. And the local assembly suffers greatly because of it, in worship, and in outreach.
In Christ,
Word Walker

 

I would have voted for leadership abuse if it had been in the poll. Of two kinds --

Leaders being abused, typically by neglect, inattention, indifference; but ...

In too much of the church, leaders abusing their privileges, demanding followers obey them, slacking off their work, and expecting extraordinary financial benefits. I have heard too many stories just in the last couple of days, all of which suggest that there is a generation of pastors right now who are affected with "Bishop Disease".

 

joey Boy,
if you would spend the time talking about the goodness of Jesus that you spend slamming Brother PAt, You might have some joy in your life.

 

Exactly!