What is the greatest threat to the church in our generation?

[Tinker Grey]

I'd want to see the actual questions they're asking, though. For example, they cite as demonstrating a belief in karma, the idea that people will receive good if they do good; but that could also draw on (for example) St. Paul saying that we reap what we sow.

The article contains a lot of that -- or some

 

[Offline4Better.]

Guys, could in-fighting within the church itself be a threat to Christianity? We have probably all heard of the Young-Earth Creationist and Old-Earth Creationist debates. I am an Old-Earth Creationist Catholic, but love my Young-Earth Creationist brethren, as we are all one in Jesus Christ. For instance, @Vambram told me that he believes in a Young Earth. I do not judge him for believing so, even though I believe the Earth is 4.5 billion years old. Both he and I have a similarity: We both believe that God created the universe, while the only difference is the time frame (cos the Hebrew word for day "Yom" could be interpreted differently).

Also, I love my Protestant and Orthodox brethren, as Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox all believe in the saving power of Jesus Christ.

Ahh, my favorite verse from Galatians is below, and is relevant for us all Christians:

Galatians 3:26-28 (NKJV): "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Satan: true as long as its not a cop out for lazy believers who refuse to examine themselves, and find him within themselves.

That's a good point, too.

 

[Paidiske]

The article contains a lot of that -- or some

My point was, if the question was, "To what extent do you agree with the statement 'If you do good, you will receive good...' " A person could tick "agree" thinking of St. Paul's statement in Galatians, and meaning it as a "Biblical" principle. But this survey classifies that as belief in karma and "new spirituality" and "not a Biblical worldview."

It's too ambiguous. If that's what they're using to decide that someone doesn't have a "Biblical worldview" it becomes meaningless. But I would want to see all the questions, and how they're presented, in order to really analyse that, and we're not given that here.

 

[tdidymas]

And yet two people can make different decisions, both based on " what the Bible says."

There is one interpretation of what the Bible says, and many applications. A person who has a Biblical worldview chooses pro-life outcomes, and one who does not have a Biblical worldview will accept convenience abortions as acceptable behavior, as one example. One with a Biblical worldview knows that God hates those who shed innocent blood, and what can be more innocent than a baby in a womb? One with a Biblical worldview knows that God wants people to repent from their sins, so they will be telling people to repent. One without a Biblical worldview (that is, one with a secular worldview) will teach a "nice" Jesus who lets people continue in their sinful lifestyle and doesn't tell them any truth that would be uncomfortable to them. One with a Biblical worldview teaches the whole counsel of God, including the warnings about the coming judgment. Can you see the difference?

 

[Paidiske]

Can you see the difference?

I can see that there are many areas where Christians can legitimately disagree, while both informing their position from Scripture.

 

[tdidymas]

... I know there's many choices to pick from by which to answer the OP question, but I'm still going with the old-standby of "Satan" as my answer.

Right, and because we see major apostasy, I think we can safely say that many pastors are messengers of Satan. Of course, God can use anyone for His own purpose.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Right, and because we see major apostasy, I think we can safely say that many pastors are messengers of Satan. Of course, God can use anyone for His own purpose.

That's a concern, I know. But I think we need to be charitable first with people who are confused and struggling in a fallen world, even when we find them in the pulpit of a church. Let's not assume they're wolves or perps until we actually know that they are wolves or perps.

 

[Jermayn]

Progressivism. More and more churches are viewing the Bible as a living document, and I don't mean living as in it can give you life, but as a document that can be updated periodically to support whatever worldview is popular at the time. Given enough time, you will eventually see the vast majority of churches adopt the same theology as Unitarian Universalists.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Progressivism. More and more churches are viewing the Bible as a living document, and I don't mean living as in it can give you life, but as a document that can be updated periodically to support whatever worldview is popular at the time. Given enough time, you will eventually see the vast majority of churches adopt the same theology as Unitarian Universalists.

That's strange! 'Cuz when I apply my handy-dandy stethoscope to the cover of my Bible, I don't hear a heartbeat ... of course, what do you expect from a library of documents written in dead languages?

 

[timothyu]

And yet two people can make different decisions, both based on " what the Bible says."

Is that not because one will see it from the viewpoint of the world while the other will see it according to the Kingdom?

 

[Tropical Wilds]

Satan: true as long as it’s not a cop out for lazy believers who refuse to examine themselves, and find him within themselves.

Yawn. The number of times somebody yells about Satan and somebody being a not true Christian to avoid having to think about how it might be then who’s wrong is enough to make the whole “it’s Satan!” threat virtually meaningless.

 

[timothyu]

Satan: true as long as its not a cop out for lazy believers who refuse to examine themselves, and find him within themselves.

Of course. The Adversary and mankind prefer their will ahead of the will of God, contrary to what God has said from the beginning.

 

[LoriSaysHey2U]

Christians.

I agree. Seems that most people in the churches these days are not real Christians.
Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 1 Thessalonians 5:7 Don't see much of this going on these days. Growing up in a small town in the South, the churches stood up against evil in the community and exposed it. The Bible belt was the safety belt of the country until the 70s generation (my generation) destroyed all of this. I blame the churches for sticking their heads in the sand by not exposing evil out of fear of them loosing their 501(C) standing.

 

[Desk trauma]

A Biblical worldview is one in which decisions are made based on what the Bible says.

Good thing there are no disputes over that.

 

[Tropical Wilds]

I agree. Seems that most people in the churches these days are not real Christians.
Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 1 Thessalonians 5:7 Don't see much of this going on these days. Growing up in a small town in the South, the churches stood up against evil in the community and exposed it. The Bible belt was the safety belt of the country until the 70s generation (my generation) destroyed all of this. I blame the churches for sticking their heads in the sand by not exposing evil out of fear of them loosing their 501(C) standing.

Actually, this mentality was what I was referencing.

 

[Hvizsgyak]

If you are talking the institution then God is the greatest threat as that church sold out the Kingdom and rejoined the world of man 1700 years ago and has not repented yet.

Boy, are you misinformed. The biggest threat to Christianity is our disunity. See John 17 and stop spreading lies, please. You scandalize the faithful.

 

[Larniavc]

767K views · 37K reactions | What is the greatest threat to the church in our generation? “Pastors. Honestly, pastors.” – Paul Washer #paulwasher #gospel #scripture #reformed #creedsconfessions #christ #salvation #christian #theologian #preacher #

What is the greatest threat to the church in our generation? “Pastors. Honestly, pastors.” – Paul Washer #paulwasher #gospel #scripture #reformed #creedsconfessions #christ #salvation #christian...

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Hand on heart and no silly jokes: the behaviour of Christians and ready access to the Bible online.

 

[dlamberth]

767K views · 37K reactions | What is the greatest threat to the church in our generation? “Pastors. Honestly, pastors.” – Paul Washer #paulwasher #gospel #scripture #reformed #creedsconfessions #christ #salvation #christian #theologian #preacher #

What is the greatest threat to the church in our generation? “Pastors. Honestly, pastors.” – Paul Washer #paulwasher #gospel #scripture #reformed #creedsconfessions #christ #salvation #christian...

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Fundamentalism.

 

[Hvizsgyak]

Well, I don't think we're going to recover from the clergy child sexual abuse scandal in this generation, so there's that.

One's faith should not be shaken because of sinful people in the Church. They have always been there and they will always continue to be there.