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Man, this one is gonna be a heavy one. But, here goes it.
Date | May 15, 2024 | Rebuking Worldly Churches |
Verse | 1 Timothy 5:20 (ESV): "As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear." Galatians 2:11-14 (ESV): "But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, ‘If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?’" |
Explanation | 1 Timothy 5:20 is a command from the apostle Paul to Timothy, instructing him to rebuke those who persist in sin in the presence of the entire congregation. The purpose of this public rebuke is to make an example and deter others from falling into the same sin. It also creates a fear of accountability and encourages a lifestyle of obedience to God's Word. Galatians 2:11-14 is an account of an incident where Paul confronted Peter (Cephas) for hypocritically separating himself from Gentile believers when Jewish leaders arrived. Paul challenged Peter's actions, stating that if he, as a Jew, lived like a Gentile, he should not force Gentiles to live like Jews. This passage highlights the importance of maintaining the truth of the gospel and not compromising it for the sake of pleasing others or fearing their opinions.A.W. Tozer's quote, "The church that can’t worship must be entertained. And leaders who can’t lead a church to worship must provide the entertainment", emphasizes the need for authentic worship within the church. When a church cannot engage in genuine worship, they often resort to entertainment to keep the congregation engaged. However, this can lead to harmful, secular practices being introduced into the church. |
Societal Relevance | In modern society, some churches have resorted to including secular music or events into the sanctuary. One notable example was a church in Ohio, where a pastor kicked the Holy Bible in a game of football on the stage with the other church leaders, and then held a sacrilegious music performance of Wrecking Ball in early 2024. Nobody inside the church had the guts to call out the pastor’s actions. However, in April 2024, a Christian men’s conference at James River Church in Missouri entered public notoriety when megachurch pastor John Lindell invited a sword-swallower (a former Las Vegas strip club performer) to perform an acrobatic stunt on a tall beam in front of thousands, sparking outrage. Pastor Mark Driscoll* spoke out when he quoted that the Jezebel spirit had entered the church: "Before the Word of God was open, there was a platform. It was a high place. On it was a pole, an ashera, the same thing that's used in a strip club by women who have the Jezebel spirit to seduce men. And in front of that was a man who ripped his shirt off like a woman does in front of a pole at a strip club". In other words, Mark Driscoll spoke the truth, in front of the congregation, which pastor Lindell fought back with a perversion of scripture. Lindell misquoted Matthew 18, saying that Driscoll should have spoken privately. However, 1 Timothy 5:20 clearly states that to protect the church, it may be necessary to speak out when a wrongdoing has been committed by those who sin in front of a congregation. Remember, rebuking sin is necessary sometimes, in order to protect the sanctity of the church. *Disclaimer: However, we must also realize that Mark Driscoll is not blameless, in fact, his church teachings have been cult-like. For instance, Mark Driscoll’s church (Mars Hill) uses surveillance on anyone who does not agree with his teachings. He has cussed out his staff members using profanity, as well as calling security out on anyone who disagrees with the conduct of the Driscoll family run church. In 2012, using the analogy of a bus for his church, Mark Driscoll used a threatening message “There is a pile of bodies behind the Mars Hill [church] bus”. So, in other words, the hypocrisy of Mark Driscoll is evident. Pastor Driscoll mandates loyalty of his congregation, or else he threatens his people in a similar tactic to how dictators control the populace in third world countries would. My mom told me the dangers of YouTube pastors, and explained that Driscoll has been running a cult for over a decade. Source: The Roy’s Report – Mark Driscoll’s Cult-like Actions and 24/7 Surveillance In 2023, Reverend Dr. Caleb J. Lines preached a false teaching (5 minute video) – a blasphemy, stating that “God is trans” and “gay”, which the Bible clearly states that God made man and women in his image (Genesis 1:27). The congregation failed to rebuke him, as the church had an un-biblical ideology as a whole, similar to the Church of Laodicea (Revelations 3:15). As a Christian bi guy myself, I have made the decision to remain celibate/virgin unless married to a wife, in order to abide by the law of the Bible, abstaining from sin. Yes, some guys are really handsome, especially Asians, but God wants to protect us from sin and illness, which could be brought on by sexual encounters with the same sex. So, let us proclaim the truth, and live our best for Jesus. To avoid and call out harmful, secular practices in churches, Christians should:
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