Monday, February 16, 2015

2 Corinthians 6:14

"Don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?"  2 Corinthians 6:14 New Living Translation
I'm deeply disturbed by something that is happening in the church today.   It's the idea of using wicked things to draw people into church to preach the gospel to said people.  I am hopeful that this idea has not permeated the church, but I do see it in quite a few churches.  
Here is an example:  A church is doing a sermon series entitled "50 Shades of Grey".   Now in the church's defense, the pastor told the people from the "stage" that he does NOT recommend anyone go to see the movie or read the book.   He then proceeded to preach a very good message on sex and boundaries.  I want to be clear that I believe the church should talk about sex.  We should stand up for the Biblical viewpoint on sex and marriage.  The pastor did do that.   I think that sermon series can be used to help Christians delve deeper into the Bible principles.
My problem comes into place because the church is using a title of a book/movie that is totally unbiblical.  One might say that it is wicked.   So how can a church say it is ok to draw people into the church using something that is totally against what the Bible teaches about sexuality and marriage.   Do the ends justify the means?   I don't think so.
Does the church not know that friendship with the world is enmity against God?  We are at war with the darkness that is growing in our world.   We are to be a light to the world.  How can we have light in one hand and darkness in the other and say:  "God is on board with this."
What happened and when did it happen that God said it is okay to use the things of the world to bring people to Him?  Then they can preach the gospel.  It is justified by saying that our church is growing and prospering.  I wonder what would happen if they had nothing to do with unrighteousness, and preached the gospel?  What then?  Perhaps, God would have added twice or three times as many people to the church?   What if they are settling for good when they could have had what is best?
Is it possible that "God will bless places He will not dwell?"  (Rick Joyner).   I believe that is a key truth for pastors everywhere.   I want to be a dwelling place for God.  I want to go to a church where God dwells.    If God is dwelling in a people, it is hard to imagine how much they could do for God.  If God said of the people at the tower of Babel, "
"6 And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do."  Genesis 11:6
What could be accomplished through a group of believers who refused to have anything to do with wicked things and came together to see God's will established in the earth?
For any pastor reading this that thinks that the above way is the way to bring in people to their church, I ask you to do research.  Here is one to start on:  Dr. David Berman of  New Hampshire.  His church's website is http://clfchurch.com/

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