The reality of the slippery slope?

[Jason B]

Originally Posted by jfrog

I used to laugh off slippery slope arguments. They are a fallacy afterall. But I no longer find slippery slopes to be a laughing matter.

Slippery slopes are a real phenomenon. They occur because the foundation of a belief has deteriorated into tradition. Once that foundation is tradition and it gets washed away by an argument that reveals it's just tradition then the foundation is lost and if a replacement isn't quickly found then more and more beliefs that were built upon that foundation also crumble.

I believe standards at this point for most churches are based on tradition. Since whatever true foundation that started those standards has deteriorated into just a tradition then it's easy to show that standards are just a tradition and since tradition for the sake of tradition isn't revered in our movement then all the standards start crumbling away.

However, this crumbling of fundamental beliefs also causes other closely related beliefs to be examined and since one belief was based on tradition it becomes much easier to become convinced other fundamental beliefs were also wrong, etc. Before long you see people sliding away from almost everything they once believed, all because one foundation of our beliefs deteriorated into just being tradition.

The cure is to restore the foundation to something that isn't tradition and to remove any beliefs that are only propped up the current tradition based foundation.

I find much to agree with here. And this is why it's so disturbing. It's not just standards, but I see it deteriorate to the point people don't even believe that salvation is in Christ alone, question or deny all the essential elements of the atonement and openly question the authority and inspiration of scriptures. Not only do they no longer think pants on a woman are sinful (and I'd agree there) neither is fornication, homosexuality, drunkenness, drug use, divorce, gambling, etc, etc. It's all just chalked up to being authentic, real, broken, relevant, or whatever. It's maddening. It's hurtful. It's confusing. What happened to some of you people? I can understand differences with standards, even tongues. But don't you love Christ? Isn't He precious to you? Shouldn't you live according to His Word, regardless of your previous experience? I don't understand how you go from prayer meetings, shouting, worship, revival, Word, godly fellowship, and a real experience with God (though some fake it and admit it later) and then turn away, barely attend church, or attend Christianity lite diluted a hundred times over, drink, smoke, cuss, watch and listen to all manner of filth, accept all manner of sin? What? Why? Didn't holiness ever mean anything to you? When you found out it was more than just dress did you just decide not to bother at all? Trade holiness for worldliness and think you win? I don't get it. I don't understand. I fear they may be doing the very thing Hebrews 6 warns about. They have been enlighten, experienced the powers of the age to come. And it's as if it means nothing. As I said in the OP, my heart breaks for them .

Leave a demoninaton, an organization, even a fellowship. But not Christ, not the Word, and find another godly fellowship. After all the body of Christ is one, despite temporal differences. But to walk away completely, either through open unbelief, worldliness, or heresy? Unfathomable.

[Truthseeker]

False conversions is a huge problem in our church. Telling people the received the Holy Ghost when they didn't.

[Michael The Disciple]

Jason

I find much to agree with here. And this is why it's so disturbing. It's not just standards, but I see it deteriorate to the point people don't even believe that salvation is in Christ alone, question or deny all the essential elements of the atonement and openly question the authority and inspiration of scriptures.

Can you give a brief explanation what you mean by the bolded?

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by Truthseeker

False conversions is a huge problem in our church. Telling people the received the Holy Ghost when they didn't.

How do you know they did not?

[returnman]

Originally Posted by Truthseeker

False conversions is a huge problem in our church. Telling people the received the Holy Ghost when they didn't.

I saw this a lot.

[Truthseeker]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

How do you know they did not?

Being told they got it but didnt really speak in tongues. Emotional hype

[Truthseeker]

Originally Posted by returnman

I saw this a lot.

It's very discouraging to me. We have had tent revivals where 40 some people suppose to get it, but dont see them again. Hyped up manipulating alter calls with no real anointing.

[Jason B]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Can you give a brief explanation what you mean by the bolded?

In this instance, I'm talking about people who don't even believe it's necessary to believe in Christ to be saved. Some exes believe Muslims, agnostics, all manner of heathen are saved. Really it goes hand in hand. If you deny the reality of the atonement the why believe people must believe in Christ to be saved.

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by Jason B

In this instance, I'm talking about people who don't even believe it's necessary to believe in Christ to be saved. Some exes believe Muslims, agnostics, all manner of heathen are saved. Really it goes hand in hand. If you deny the reality of the atonement the why believe people must believe in Christ to be saved.

Who are exes? Evangelicals? I dont know any Pentecostals who believe this except a few Trinity TV Preachers. I have heard the phrase probably hundreds of times "saved by Christ alone" with the meaning of once saved always saved. To me that is a slippery slope to fall into.

[1ofthechosen]

Originally Posted by jfrog

I used to laugh off slippery slope arguments. THEY ARE A FALLACY AFTERALL. But I no longer find slippery slopes to be a laughing matter.

So are they a fallacy, or no laughing matter?