To start out, here are some of the warning signs (borrowed from the following link - http://www.understandthetimes.org/commentary/c54_pf.shtml):
*Scripture is no longer the ultimate authority as the basis for the Christian faith.
*The centrality of the gospel of Jesus Christ is being replaced by humanistic methods promoting church growth and a social gospel.
*More and more emphasis is being placed on building the kingdom of God now and less and less on the warnings of Scripture about the imminent return of Jesus Christ and a coming judgment in the future.
*The teaching that Jesus Christ will rule and reign in a literal millennial period is considered unbiblical and heretical.
*The teaching that the church has taken the place of Israel and Israel has no prophetic significance is often embraced.
*The teaching that the Book of Revelation does not refer to the future, but instead has been already fulfilled in the past
*An experiential mystical form of Christianity begins to be promoted as a method to reach the postmodern generation.
*Ideas are promoted teaching that Christianity needs to be reinvented in order to provide meaning for this generation.
*The pastor may implement an idea called “ancient-future” or “vintage Christianity” claiming that in order to take the church forward, we need to go back in church history and find out what experiences were effective to get people to embrace Christianity.
*While the authority of the Word of God is undermined, images and sensual experiences are promoted as the key to experiencing and knowing God.
*These experiences include icons, candles, incense, liturgy, labyrinths, prayer stations, contemplative prayer, experiencing the sacraments, particularly the sacrament of the Eucharist.
*There seems to be a strong emphasis on ecumenism indicating that a bridge is being established that leads in the direction of unity with the Roman Catholic Church.
*Some evangelical Protestant leaders are saying that the Reformation went too far. They are reexamining the claims of the “church fathers” saying that communion is more than a symbol and that Jesus actually becomes present in the wafer at communion.
*There will be a growing trend towards an ecumenical unity for the cause of world peace claiming the validity of other religions and that there are many ways to God.
*Members of churches who question or resist the new changes that the pastor is implementing are reprimanded and usually asked to leave.
My thoughts are simple .... with everything else in our society moving more and more away from the traditional, conservative way of doing things, how long will it be before we see the youth of this country [being influenced by peers, academia, media, social change, political correctness, tolerance, etc.] start to deman and affect chenges with the traditonal Baptist church!
It has already infiltrated the Prsbyterians, Lutherans, Catholics, Methodists, and United Church of Christ. I believe it is only a matter of time before the church will succumb to the pressures to remain relevant and operational [financially sound] affect and result in changes that will carry the Baptist church down the same path the others have fallen for!
We know that Paul speaks of the great falling away in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 when he warns the church, "Don't be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed--the one who brings destruction." And in 2 Timothy 2:3-4, "For there will be a time when people will not tolerate sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves, because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things. And they will turn away from hearing the truth, but on the other hand they will turn aside to myths." 1 Timothy 4:1, "Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons." FINALLY, Matthew 24:9-10, "Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons."
We know that the path to heaven/eternity is "narrow" (Matthew 7:13-14), so, I find it not far fetched to believe the day is fast approaching where will witness an apostasy of great magnitude taking place in what is left of the Bible teaching churches, including the Baptists!
What are your thoughts on coming apostasy and falling away?
*Scripture is no longer the ultimate authority as the basis for the Christian faith.
*The centrality of the gospel of Jesus Christ is being replaced by humanistic methods promoting church growth and a social gospel.
*More and more emphasis is being placed on building the kingdom of God now and less and less on the warnings of Scripture about the imminent return of Jesus Christ and a coming judgment in the future.
*The teaching that Jesus Christ will rule and reign in a literal millennial period is considered unbiblical and heretical.
*The teaching that the church has taken the place of Israel and Israel has no prophetic significance is often embraced.
*The teaching that the Book of Revelation does not refer to the future, but instead has been already fulfilled in the past
*An experiential mystical form of Christianity begins to be promoted as a method to reach the postmodern generation.
*Ideas are promoted teaching that Christianity needs to be reinvented in order to provide meaning for this generation.
*The pastor may implement an idea called “ancient-future” or “vintage Christianity” claiming that in order to take the church forward, we need to go back in church history and find out what experiences were effective to get people to embrace Christianity.
*While the authority of the Word of God is undermined, images and sensual experiences are promoted as the key to experiencing and knowing God.
*These experiences include icons, candles, incense, liturgy, labyrinths, prayer stations, contemplative prayer, experiencing the sacraments, particularly the sacrament of the Eucharist.
*There seems to be a strong emphasis on ecumenism indicating that a bridge is being established that leads in the direction of unity with the Roman Catholic Church.
*Some evangelical Protestant leaders are saying that the Reformation went too far. They are reexamining the claims of the “church fathers” saying that communion is more than a symbol and that Jesus actually becomes present in the wafer at communion.
*There will be a growing trend towards an ecumenical unity for the cause of world peace claiming the validity of other religions and that there are many ways to God.
*Members of churches who question or resist the new changes that the pastor is implementing are reprimanded and usually asked to leave.
My thoughts are simple .... with everything else in our society moving more and more away from the traditional, conservative way of doing things, how long will it be before we see the youth of this country [being influenced by peers, academia, media, social change, political correctness, tolerance, etc.] start to deman and affect chenges with the traditonal Baptist church!
It has already infiltrated the Prsbyterians, Lutherans, Catholics, Methodists, and United Church of Christ. I believe it is only a matter of time before the church will succumb to the pressures to remain relevant and operational [financially sound] affect and result in changes that will carry the Baptist church down the same path the others have fallen for!
We know that Paul speaks of the great falling away in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 when he warns the church, "Don't be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed--the one who brings destruction." And in 2 Timothy 2:3-4, "For there will be a time when people will not tolerate sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves, because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things. And they will turn away from hearing the truth, but on the other hand they will turn aside to myths." 1 Timothy 4:1, "Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons." FINALLY, Matthew 24:9-10, "Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons."
We know that the path to heaven/eternity is "narrow" (Matthew 7:13-14), so, I find it not far fetched to believe the day is fast approaching where will witness an apostasy of great magnitude taking place in what is left of the Bible teaching churches, including the Baptists!
What are your thoughts on coming apostasy and falling away?
