A Dying Man and Your Church

"But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves." -- 2 Peter 2:1

Many people often wonder why I seem to be so negative. I've been accused of bashing pastors and wanted to tear down churches. Why don't I just support all people who are "working for the Lord"? Did I forget about Christian unity?

Honestly, I think a lot of people say those things to me because they don't know what a large majority of evangelical churches are like today. I do. Everyday I read another story of another church trying desperately to bring the world into their church, and in the process make themselves look like complete fools.

I recently watched the the following video on YouTube, and I really think it would help you understand where I'm coming from if you watched it as well. Included are many clips from modern evangelical church sermons and promotions. Unfortunately, because we're talking "modern evangelical", some of the clips are inappropriate. (You might want to skip 2:10-2:60.)

As you watch, remember what the Bible says church should be: "They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." (Acts 2:42)

Rick Warren: Fundamentals of the Faith a "Legalistic and Narrow View"

"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it." -- Matthew 7:13-14

On May 23, 2005, Pastor Rick Warren was a quest speaker at the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. At this event, he made this shocking statement concerning the nature of Christianity:

Now the word "fundamentalist" actually comes from a document in the 1920s called the Five Fundamentals of the Faith. And it is a very legalistic, narrow view of Christianity... (Read entire transcript here; this quote is about half way down the page.)

What is this 1920's document that Pastor Rick Warren finds so legalistic and narrow? Here is what that document says:

There are five fundamentals of the faith which are essential for Christianity, and upon which we agree:

1. The Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:1; John 20:28; Hebrews 1:8 9).

2. The Virgin Birth (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:27).

3. The Blood Atonement (Acts 20:28; Romans 3:25, 5:9; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:12-14).

4. The Bodily Resurrection (Luke 24:36-46; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 15:14-15).

5. The inerrancy of the scriptures themselves (Psalms 12:6-7; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:16 17; 2 Peter 1:20).

And those who disagree with any of the above doctrines are not Christians at all. Rather, they are the true heretics.

So disagreements are perfectly acceptable within the confines of Christianity, because our salvation does not hinge upon doctrines other than the above five. (Read the entire document here [look at left side of the page].)

Does this sound at all like legalism? Does he not believe that this document accurately presents Christianity? If these five fundamental Christian truths are "legalistic", I wonder what he believes about Christianity?

HT: Lighthouse Trails Research