A GOOD Thing About Reform/Calvinist Churches

[skypair]

I'll bet they didn't fall for the "seeker friendly" craze!!!

I mean, NOBODY seeks God so why would they try??

I say this because 2 years ago the church where my nephew was an associate pastor voted to hire new pastors and start new program betting on the members and MONEY it would bring in to pay for them. Now most of them are looking for work! I can't imagine a Calvinist or Reform church doing any such thing, can you?

skypair

 

[npetreley]

I bet there are several good doctors who can help you with this pent up hostility.

 

[pinoybaptist]

..................
I say this because 2 years ago the church where my nephew was an associate pastor voted to hire new pastors and start new program betting on the members and MONEY it would bring in to pay for them. Now most of them are looking for work! I can't imagine a Calvinist or Reform church doing any such thing, can you?

skypair

Why explain yourself, man ? If you don't like Calvinists and those who hold to the Doctrine of Grace, then fire away.

Just do it.

Who cares about your reasons ?

 

[skypair]

Why explain yourself, man ? If you don't like Calvinists and those who hold to the Doctrine of Grace, then fire away.

Just do it.

Who cares about your reasons ?

Hey, I thought it was a GOOD thing, guys. C'mon, can't you see how us "free will" types have really been deluded -- turned worldly? The "joke" is on free will. I think your side is absolutely (though accidentally) right for a change!! :laugh:

Really, do you think the premise is wrong? That Reform and Calvinist churches ARE falling into the same error as "free will??"

skypair

 

[npetreley]

C'mon, can't you see how us "free will" types have really been deluded -- turned worldly?

I wouldn't say "turned worldly", since free willism has its roots in worldly to begin with. But, sure, but I saw that a long time ago. A. W. Pink predates the latest fads by a long shot, and he saw it quite clearly, too. Are you finally realizing this now? That would be great.

Once again, this quote is so appropriate:

The god of this century no more resembles the Sovereign of Holy Writ than does the dim flickering of a candle the glory of the midday sun. The god who is talked about in the average pulpit, spoken of in the ordinary Sunday school, mentioned in much of the religious literature of the day, and preached in most of the so-called Bible conferences, is a figment of human imagination, an invention of maudlin sentimentality. The heathen outside the pale of Christendom form gods of wood and stone, while millions of heathen inside Christendom manufacture a god out of their carnal minds. In reality, they are but atheists, for there is no other possible alternative between an absolutely supreme God and no God at all. A god whose will is resisted, whose designs are frustrated, whose purpose is checkmated, possesses no title to diety and, far from being a fit object of worship, merits nothing but contempt.

 

[skypair]

I wouldn't say "turned worldly", since free willism has its roots in worldly to begin with. But, sure, but I saw that a long time ago. A. W. Pink predates the latest fads by a long shot, and he saw it quite clearly, too. Are you finally realizing this now? That would be great.

Well, can't say I blame you "piling on!" :laugh: My church seems to have more atheletic activities than church activities sometimes! And the huge gym and workout facility. Surprisingly, not a Christian school though.

I'm starting to appreciate some things about y'all -- if you get together, it's to worship.

skypair

 

[DQuixote]

A god whose will is resisted, whose designs are frustrated, whose purpose is checkmated, possesses no title to diety and, far from being a fit object of worship, merits nothing but contempt.

Wow. Someone needs to explain that to Charles Capps and a few other WoF squeakers ..er.. speakers.

 

[Martin]

I'll bet they didn't fall for the "seeker friendly" craze!!!

==Biblically based churches never fall for fads no matter what form the fad may come in. That is true for Reformed and non-Reformed Churches. The churches that fall for such fads are trying to be popular with the worldly crowd. Those type churches are, in a word, worldy. They have ignored the Biblical warning about loving the world (1Jn 2:15-17, Jms 4:4).

 

[Jarthur001]

I'll bet they didn't fall for the "seeker friendly" craze!!!

I mean, NOBODY seeks God so why would they try??

I say this because 2 years ago the church where my nephew was an associate pastor voted to hire new pastors and start new program betting on the members and MONEY it would bring in to pay for them. Now most of them are looking for work! I can't imagine a Calvinist or Reform church doing any such thing, can you?

skypair

My take on this...is in my column from a few months back. "Mountain Monergism"

Here is a small clip... the full column is in the link below

4/10/2007 12:57:00 PM
Is God Worth Our Time And Worship?

Worship is all about God!


One may ask, “But what is wrong with this new trend?”


What is wrong can be said in one word, “Focus.” Why is the church trying to be more like the world when we are clearly told to be more like Christ? Why are some asking the world what they want to see in church, and caring little about ways that they can do things better for God? Why are we trying to make worship easier for us? If we are worshipping God, why not give God the best? If we worship God, why not set aside time to do so?


This is not to say you cannot come to church in your T-shirt and yard-work pants. If this is your best, put it on and come to church. Nor is this saying we cannot use new technologies to better our service. It’s a mindset we need to fix. We have some that dress up for business, then wake on Sunday morning and say, “oh its only church, I’ll just wear my AC-DC shirt”. What type of mindset is that toward God?


If we use technologies as a way to put off our worship time, what does that say about how much God is worth to us?

Mountain Monergism

 

[J.D.]

Skypair, thank you for the compliment. But while it is generally true that Reformed Churches have more resistant to compromise/pragmatism/liberalism, it is not always the case. And let us not forget the many non-C churches that are trying to be faithful.

Freewill theology leaves the door open to pragmatism. Some people think that God is all about serving us, not us serving God. If the ultimate purpose of all things is the salvation of man, then any thing that gets a profession of faith is fair play and can not be questioned. If any of us speaks against church "growth", we are cast as losers and disgruntles. But remember, only 8 were saved in Noah's day, only Lot and his family were saved out of Sodom, Christ Himself was murdered, as was all of the Apostles save John (but he was tortured). Spurgeon was thrown out of the Baptist Union and Pink was completely ostracized. But thank God for the faithful remnant He has chosen and enabled, amen!

 

[skypair]

Thanks guys!

I agree that the Reform church focuses on sanctification of the saints whereas the free will church tries to "spread the net" over ever larger "schools" of fish. Perhaps it is like Paul said, "One man planteth, another watereth, but God gets the harvest."

skypair