Quote:
Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa
So, you believe that the narrow way isn't so narrow, and the few who find it don't have to really re-examine anything. They just need to be "Christians"
Sound about right?
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I believe the way IS narrow.
Salvation is only through faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ. And it is only those who have been regenerated by the Spirit who are truly saved.
I do believe that much of what goes under the banner of Christianity is apostate, particularly:
-Sub christian sects (JW, Mormonism, SDAs)
-Theological liberalism (mainline Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists, and Episcopalians) The issues that has come to define them are 1)whether they affirm or deny the inerrancy of scripture and 2)whether they preach homosexuality as a sin or are gay affirming. These denominations that have been over run by liberalism are apostate. (All these denominations have formally split or are in the process of doing so. I do see the liberals as apostacized, not so for the conservatives. An example would be the huge differences in the PCUSA contrasted with the PCA. The PCA brethren are goid conservative, largely bible believing people. I think they're wrong on padeobaptism amongst other things, but I believe many are true Christians).
-seeker sensative christianity- this is just a mockery of the church and gosprl, repackaging it to entertain carnal people. Its hard to define because it is stretching s tentacles into various churches. AFF even had a thread about a UPC church having a blow up Spider man on the platform. Newspring church in South Caroluna doi g Highway to Hell during song service on Easter a few years back. Williw Creek surveying the community to see what they want preached. Saddleback and Rick Warren, Lakewood and Joel Osteen, Steven Furtick, Andy Stanley, etc, etc. And all the copy cats. We have a local church here who advertised the "39 minute church", thats right, they promise to get you out in less than 40 minutes. The same church tried a Nascar theme and had nascar decor throughout (we're about 30 minutes from Texas Motor Speedway), the Cowboy churches here are wildly popular, and here in Decatur we have the "full armor biker church" complete with Harley decor and the Harley Davidson badge as a pulpit. Seeker sensative churches minimize repentance and I believe are largely apostate.
-prosperity gospel: Copeland, Dollar and the whole TBN ilk.
-charismatics: not all, but all that is wrapped up by the derogatory expression "gone charismatic", not always distict from prosperity gospel guys, but a different emohasis. Bill Johnson & Bethel Church, Jesus Culture, Hillsong, Rick Joyner & Mirningstar, Mike Bickle & IHOP, Todd Bentley, Benny Hinn, all these types, signs and wonders, third wave types. I dont even know if its apostate christianity, its more like neognosticism.
-emergent church guys, Rob Bell, Brian McClaren, Dan Kimball, etc.
Sadly, this covers the majority of "Christianity" in our day.
I believe only those who repent of their sins, who have truly been justified and are sanctified (actively seeking to live holy God honoring lives) are truly saved. I believe this "invisible church" is a mere remnant compared to the large number of confessing christians who are in reality not christians at all.
And that is just the Christian sphere. I dont believe anyone who rejects the person and work of Christ is saved in that error, which means Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, secularists, agnostics, athiests, pagans, Jews, etc.
I believe there is one God who is God of the Jews and Gentiles, and therefore one way of salvation, specifically through Jesus Christ.
Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.
Romans 3:29?-?30 KJV
So yes, I believe the way is narrow.
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