A Warning from 2 Timothy 4:3 - The Gospel is not a Cafeteria

[AlexB23]

Thank you, Alex, for this thread!
Whether it is in the proper forum is irrelevant to me as you have put forth Scripture and sound meditation on it... works well for me.

A question that I often wonder about is when these Cafeteria Christians actually have moved beyond being Christians at all? When does it go from being misinformed, weak of faith, stylized, (or whatever) Christianity to being a cult or (dare I say) heretical?
(Also, add to the list all the folks that talk about one person's interpretation of Scripture is as good as anyone else's).

Hey, thank you. Well, I can not say much more about Cafeteria Christianity, or if these Christians have gone apostate, as that would violate forum SOP, but look at how some of the churches being divided up right now, and churches that now invite drag queens to read Bibles to children: Think of the Children (No, Really)

Disgusting stuff going on in 2024. People worshiping transgender ideologies on the left, and people worshiping Trump on the far-right. A decade ago (early-2010s), none of this stuff was as extreme, or even really a thing.

 

[Ted-01]

Hey, thank you. Well, I can not say much more about Cafeteria Christianity, or if these Christians have gone apostate, as that would violate forum SOP, but look at how some of the churches being divided up right now, and churches that now invite drag queens to read Bibles to children: Think of the Children (No, Really)

Disgusting stuff going on in 2024. People worshiping transgender ideologies on the left, and people worshiping Trump on the far-right. A decade ago (earlyn2010s), none of this stuff was as extreme, or even really a thing.

I kinda' think, sometimes, that Christianity slipped a little sideways with the whole Evangelical thing. Inviting anyone to join the church, even as members, without regard for being assured that the individual had truly decided to devote themselves to God and conducted themselves fittingly. I don't think that was the case in the church in the formative years.
But the way I understand things, there was supposed to be an accountability factor in the church (by both elders and the general congregation), that built up, encouraged and at times admonished and even "excommunicated" members of the church when folks strayed far from "walking in the spirit. Today that's virtually unheard of. Now nobody seems to judge the members and judging outside the church is the norm. IDK.

 

[Diamond72]

if you have love for one another.

Exactly. Everyone loves everyone in Heaven. That is why we are to love our enemy. If we have been abused we are to love our abuser. We do not get into heaven if we do not love everyone that is there. Everyday we should pray and ask God to show us the way to be the person He is wanting us to be. For some the real challenge maybe to love themselves.

 

[Diamond72]

none of this stuff was as extreme, or even really a thing.

Is this a sign of end time events? Does this mean Jesus is coming soon?
when you see all these things, know that He is near Matthew 24 33

 

[AlexB23]

Is this a sign of end time events? Does this mean Jesus is coming soon?
when you see all these things, know that He is near Matthew 24 33

Yes, it might be. We will have to see what the rest of this decade, and century brings.

 

[AlexB23]

I kinda' think, sometimes, that Christianity slipped a little sideways with the whole Evangelical thing. Inviting anyone to join the church, even as members, without regard for being assured that the individual had truly decided to devote themselves to God and conducted themselves fittingly. I don't think that was the case in the church in the formative years.
But the way I understand things, there was supposed to be an accountability factor in the church (by both elders and the general congregation), that built up, encouraged and at times admonished and even "excommunicated" members of the church when folks strayed far from "walking in the spirit. Today that's virtually unheard of. Now nobody seems to judge the members and judging outside the church is the norm. IDK.

The UMC has kinda done the same thing.

Same with some, but not all PCUSA churches (duration: 3 min 30 seconds, age rating: 17+, due to false doctrine).

Summary: The pastor refers to God as being the "God of pronouns, the Great They" for Trans Day. Man, this is messed up.

 

[Diamond72]

Yes, it might be. We will have to see what the rest of this decade, and century brings.

Not much chance I will make it to the next decade, but you never know.
The doctor said it has been a lot of work keeping me alive this long.

 

[AlexB23]

Not much chance I will make it to the next decade, but you never know.
The doctor said it has been a lot of work keeping me alive this long.

Well, my prayers for you, that you are healthy. You are in luck for not making it to the even more woke 2030s.

 

[Ted-01]

The UMC has kinda done the same thing.

Same with some, but not all PCUSA churches (duration: 3 min 30 seconds, age rating: 17+, due to false doctrine).

Summary: The pastor refers to God as being the "God of pronouns, the Great They" for Trans Day. Man, this is messed up.

That's beyond sad, Alex.

 

[AlexB23]

That's beyond sad, Alex.

Yes, this is beyond sad. These churches are not churches of God anymore, but churches of flesh.

 

[BelieveItOarKnot]

Revelation 2 and 3 also warn about the dangers of false teaching and the importance of remaining faithful to the teachings of Jesus. In Revelation 2:14-15, Jesus rebukes the church in Pergamum for holding on to the teaching of Balaam, which encouraged the people to indulge in sexual immorality. In Revelation 3:15-16, Jesus warns the church in Laodicea for being lukewarm in their faith and for not realizing that they are poor, blind, and naked.

Should read "We"

 

[AlexB23]

Should read "We"

Agreed. We as a society have become this way. But, not all of us.

 

[Diamond72]

Well, my prayers for you, that you are healthy. You are in luck for not making it to the even more woke 2030s.

Years ago I prayed and told God I would be willing to go into the tribulation if I could help anyone. He said there would be nothing I could do. His approach will be totally different during that 7 years. The 144,000 will be giving a witness and a testimony for God. I like to study their teaching now. The interesting thing is if you want to learn fine. But if you attack their teaching they do not try to defend it. They will just quit answering your questions. Although there was one who offered to answer my questions for $300.

 

[AlexB23]

Years ago I prayed and told God I would be willing to go into the tribulation if I could help anyone. He said there would be nothing I could do. His approach will be totally different during that 7 years. The 144,000 will be giving a witness and a testimony for God. I like to study their teaching now. The interesting thing is if you want to learn fine. But if you attack their teaching they do not try to defend it. They will just quit answering your questions. Although there was one who offered to answer my questions for $300.

Remember, do not accept bribes or pay money to folks to answer questions or vice versa. But yes, we should witness to Christ every day, if possible. I do not witness enough sadly, though these devotionals may help one, I hope.

 

[BelieveItOarKnot]

Agreed. We as a society have become this way. But, not all of us.

I'd suggest there is no sinner better than any other, Romans 3:9

 

[Diamond72]

I'd suggest there is no sinner better than any other,

Most people think everyone else is a worse sinner than them. I think in terms of how much pain or sufferings we cause others. Some people believe that whatever pain we cause others a time is coming when we will experience that pain. They always say HItler, the Nazi and the Holocaust was the worst although some people say Stalin killed more people. Some people remember the 3 million people that died in Cambodia.

I have a book here that talks about the laws of Karma. It is a lot more involved than the simple version people talk about. For example if we want to change our life we have to change ourselves. We are the ones responsible for what happens to us. People like to argue against this the most. They like to play innocent victims and take no responsibility for what happens or is happening to them in life. This is the law of responsibility that we admit to the good and bad we do in life and quit trying to blame others. Sometimes victims unknowingly contribute to their situations.

 

[BelieveItOarKnot]

Most people think everyone else is a worse sinner than them. I think in terms of how much pain or sufferings we cause others. Some people believe that whatever pain we cause others a time is coming when we will experience that pain. They always say HItler, the Nazi and the Holocaust was the worst although some people say Stalin killed more people. Some people remember the 3 million people that died in Cambodia.

I have a book here that talks about the laws of Karma. It is a lot more involved than the simple version people talk about. For example if we want to change our life we have to change ourselves. We are the ones responsible for what happens to us. People like to argue against this the most. They like to play innocent victims and take no responsibility for what happens or is happening to them in life. This is the law of responsibility that we admit to the good and bad we do in life and quit trying to blame others. Sometimes victims unknowingly contribute to their situations

The scriptural depiction of our universal condition is that:

All have sin as a present tense condition primarily stemming from a bad unseen actor that is not the person, Mark 4:15, 1 John 3:8 among many other scriptural citings pointing to the tempter, our adversary, the devil.

Any believer can attest to the fact of temptations and illegal illicit thoughts in our own minds, these being unavoidable regardless of any attempts to stop them or any freewill applied to the efforts.

Jesus also advised us, every last one of us, that evil thoughts do defile us, Mark 7:21-23.

It's not optional

As it pertains to false proclaimers of Christ, it would seem any and every proclaimer has there issues with these matters. Only those in truth are equipped to speak truthfully about it, as the devil can not do such.

Paul rejoiced no matter how Christ was proclaimed. And I'd suggest his faith resided far more so in Christ than any given proclaimer

 

[Diamond72]

regardless of any attempts to stop them

We can do what we want. Often we just do not want to. Some people say we create all of our own situations in life. Others believe in random theory and they like to play innocent victims of circumstances they had no control over. The laws of Karma and what they call the power of attraction says otherwise. That we have the ability to attract positive or negative thoughts and energy from the Universe.

• Some philosophical and psychological perspectives emphasize personal responsibility and agency. They argue that our choices and actions significantly shape our lives. According to this view, we actively create our reality through decisions, habits, and responses to events.

God gives us the desires of our heart so we need to purify out heart so we only desire what is good, right and true.

 

[BelieveItOarKnot]

We can do what we want. Often we just do not want to. Some people say we create all of our own situations in life. Others believe in random theory and they like to play innocent victims of circumstances they had no control over. The laws of Karma and what they call the power of attraction says otherwise. That we have the ability to attract positive or negative thoughts and energy from the Universe.

• Some philosophical and psychological perspectives emphasize personal responsibility and agency. They argue that our choices and actions significantly shape our lives. According to this view, we actively create our reality through decisions, habits, and responses to events.

God gives us the desires of our heart so we need to purify out heart so we only desire what is good, right and true.

No amounts of efforts will make any of us sinless, if that's what you're proposing

Take it from there

I finished trying to pull my own leg on this subject quite a number of decades back

No amounts of "good choices" or "freewill applied" makes a single person undefiled or without sin.

The entire positive thoughts always results in positive outcomes messages are just lies in a world full of liars and wickedness

The heart is, just as scriptures propose, deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Jer 17:9

Best not to kid ourselves and at least be honest about it. Honesty at least gives us an honest look at things, rather than some delusional nonsense about how we control our destiny via our thoughts. Spreading that nonsense does make a few people rich by selling the programs to others though, granted.

Personally I could care less what Tony Robbins thinks or what he spouts when I already know he has illicit illegal defiling thoughts just like everyone else. He's just incapable of telling the truth about it. So how positive is a common liar?

 

[Diamond72]

No amounts of efforts will make any of us sinless, if that's what you're proposing

The entire positive thoughts always results in positive outcomes messages are just lies in a world full of liars and wickedness

So God does not give us the desires of our heart?

You think it is a lie that good begets good and evil begets evil?