I'm pretty sure I posted this before, but can't remember when or where. After this, i intend to give the topic a rest for a long while...
There is a false god being worshiped in Christian churches; a destructive false doctrine hidden in plain sight. The god is family.
When is the last time you encountered a church that didn't emphasize that it was family-friendly? A church that didn't promise that living by the Bible would solve your family problems? A church that didn't put marriage and children front and center. A church that didn't act as if singles were somehow defective? Did you just assume this was the way things should be? The Bible says otherwise. And churches are failing because of this idolatry.
Consider these two propositions:
1. The main purpose of the church is to seek and save the lost
2. The main purpose of the church is to build strong familiy relationships.
Which of these two can you cite Biblical support for? And which is preached and practiced by your church?
"But, wait a minute!" you object. "Isn't a strong family a good thing?" Of course it is. So is banana nut bread. Should your church's main purpose be banana nut bread? Should you set aside other things for banana nut bread? And if your devotion to banana nut bread interferes with seeking and saving the lost, do you sacrifice the Great Commission for banana nut bread?
"Don't be absurd!" you reply, indignantly. "There's nothing about family that conflicts with seeking and saving the lost!"
In fact, there's quite a lot about a family emphasis that conflicts with seeking and saving the lost.
Anything set in place of God is an idol.
Churches set family in place of God.
This is idolatry.
To overemphasize family goes against Jesus
Persecution comes from family
It has consequences.
- Family-centrism makes church alienating
- kids raised in church can't relate
- people from bad families can't relate to church
- cult of marriage alienates singles
- alienates those from dysfunctional families
- destroys faith with false promises
Alernative: a balanced view.
There is a false god being worshiped in Christian churches; a destructive false doctrine hidden in plain sight. The god is family.
When is the last time you encountered a church that didn't emphasize that it was family-friendly? A church that didn't promise that living by the Bible would solve your family problems? A church that didn't put marriage and children front and center. A church that didn't act as if singles were somehow defective? Did you just assume this was the way things should be? The Bible says otherwise. And churches are failing because of this idolatry.
Consider these two propositions:
1. The main purpose of the church is to seek and save the lost
2. The main purpose of the church is to build strong familiy relationships.
Which of these two can you cite Biblical support for? And which is preached and practiced by your church?
"But, wait a minute!" you object. "Isn't a strong family a good thing?" Of course it is. So is banana nut bread. Should your church's main purpose be banana nut bread? Should you set aside other things for banana nut bread? And if your devotion to banana nut bread interferes with seeking and saving the lost, do you sacrifice the Great Commission for banana nut bread?
"Don't be absurd!" you reply, indignantly. "There's nothing about family that conflicts with seeking and saving the lost!"
In fact, there's quite a lot about a family emphasis that conflicts with seeking and saving the lost.
Anything set in place of God is an idol.
Churches set family in place of God.
This is idolatry.
To overemphasize family goes against Jesus
Persecution comes from family
It has consequences.
- Family-centrism makes church alienating
- kids raised in church can't relate
- people from bad families can't relate to church
- cult of marriage alienates singles
- alienates those from dysfunctional families
- destroys faith with false promises
Alernative: a balanced view.
