Identifying Problems in the ‘Emerging Church’

Insider weekly newsletter to The Moral Majority Coalition and
The Liberty Alliance http://www.moralmajority.com

From: Jerry Falwell
Date: April 13, 2007

The late economist Peter Drucker said a few years ago: “Every few hundred years in Western history there occurs a sharp transformation ... Fifty years later, there is a new world. And the people born then cannot even imagine the world in which their grandparents lived.”

I believe we are witnessing a modern effort to transform the church into an institution that experiences broad cultural acceptance. This effort, known as the Emerging Church, is a much-talked about movement that has brought new challenges into the Church of Jesus Christ.

The so-called Emerging Church movement was formed out of frustration with dead and irrelevant evangelicalism. The problem is that it has decided to modernize and re-create the church so as not to offend sinners. This renders virtually meaningless the life-changing message of the Gospel.

John 8:32 tells us: “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” This is not truth that can be modified to fit cultural whims; it is as relevant today as it was when John was inspired by God to write those words around AD 170.

However, the website of The Leadership Network, the headquarters of the Emerging (or sometimes Emergent) Church movement, states that their outlook on “truth” offers a “flexible approach to theology whereby individual differences in belief and morality are accepted within reason.”

The site further states that members wish to “reanalyze the Bible against the context into which it was written.”

This is very dangerous territory.

Such a view opens perilous avenues that enable suggestions that Jesus is not the Christ, that the Bible is not inspired by God Himself and that there are ways to heaven other than through Jesus. Such notions counter the very fabric of the Gospel.

In this era of diversity and political correctness, we can ill afford to weaken the very foundations of the Gospel.

But the Emerging Church has determined that core doctrine and theology are sometimes roadblocks to converting the lost.

This is the epitome of contradiction.

Further, Emerging Church groups have decided that profanity and vulgar talk from the pulpit and elsewhere is acceptable because it is relevant to the culture. Such teachings counter the biblical teachings that Christians are “new creatures in Christ.”

Another problem of the Emerging Church is that its leaders, who no doubt started out with good intentions, have very little theological training. Their emphasis has been on appearances. Many of its leaders have been to “conferences” that tell them how to do things, but they don’t know why they are doing them. Thus, they have a little bit of knowledge, but no wisdom.

Dr. James McDonald spoke my feelings when he said: “I resonate deeply with much of the criticism flowing from the Emerging Church against current Western Christianity, but I am deeply grieved to see the emergent remedies accepted so uncritically by those who feel gratified by the accuracy of their critiques.”

While I have no problem with the church adapting to the culture, we must ensure that we remain painstakingly true to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that we remain obedient servants to His truths.

As Jesus stated: “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me …” (John 14:21).

Why The Local Church Is Important

David Jeremiah

(The following story was carried by Baptist Press on May 25, 2007)


EL CAJON, Calif. (BP)--Today millions of Americans carry a Triple-A roadside assistance card. It's worth its weight in platinum when you blow a tire or run out of gas on a darkened road. The church also exists, in part, so its members can encourage each other by lending a hand. God planned for His local churches to offer roadside assistance.

The church does that primarily by providing the uplift of worship. In the Gospels, the disciples gathered behind locked doors on the evening of the first Easter, insecure and uncertain. But Jesus suddenly appeared among them, and they saw Him with 20/20 vision; for John 20:20 says, "Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord."

"Glad" is a great description of the church in worship. The psalmist said, "I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go into the house of the Lord'" (Psalm 122:1).

When we walk through the doors of our church, we're there to focus on who Jesus is. He's alive, and we are glad. We can be joyous people, worshippers who stand and sing His praises, and who sit at His feet to hear His word.

That's why there's exuberance in our services. Sunday morning is a time of celebration. The church is a house of happiness, rejoicing because Jesus is among us and we are glad. It's not manufactured joy, but a natural, normal response to who He is. We lift up Jesus first and foremost, and when we lift Him up, we get excited and we can't help but rejoice.

As we lift Him up, we receive the uplift of praise. We encourage one another with the contagious joy of the Spirit. We dare not miss that. Hebrews 10:25 warns against neglecting "the assembling of ourselves together." The book of Acts says the early Christians gladly received the Gospel, were baptized, were added to the church, and "they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:41-42).

FRIENDSHIP

That suggests another element of roadside assistance: friendship and fellowship. The church is a place where people get together -- they assemble. The very word "church" is a translation of the Greek term "ecclesia," meaning those who have been "called out" of the world and into a gathering of God's people where we can assemble and find commonality.

If we're going to have congregations that make a difference, we must focus more on people than on programs, and more on relationships than on rituals. We're going to have to find ways of bringing people together in small groups, support groups, Bible studies, ministry teams and fellowship circles.

The church needs to be a place that knows how to hug. Love is manifested and relationships are built in church.

PARTNERSHIP

The church also assists us by providing opportunities to partner with Christ in accomplishing the greatest work in the world. It's a place where you can influence others for Christ. We can change the world one person at a time.

One of the problems with today's church in America is that we've become consumer-based. We want to take in, but we've forgotten that the purpose of getting is to give out. Yes, the church is here to meet our needs, but if we turn our attention simply on ourselves and are always thinking about what we can get out of church, then our whole philosophy and purpose is wrong.

We're called to be partners together with God, and sometimes that involves hard work. God has a ministry for you in His church, and finding it adds a sense of purpose and fulfillment to your life.

Cities and societies are built up and torn down, but the church remains steadfast through the ages to assist God's people along the road of life.

Don't neglect your roadside assistance. Don't forsake the assembling of yourselves together. Be in church Sunday and discover the worship, fellowship, and partnership of being part of a group that says, "I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go into the house of the Lord.'"
--30--
David Jeremiah is the founder of Turning Point for God, senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, Calif., and chancellor of San Diego Christian College (formerly Christian Heritage College). For more information on Turning Point, visit www.TurningPointOnline.org.

A HERO GOES HOME

I was traveling when my wife called to inform me of the death of the Reverend Jerry Falwell. My first thought..."another giant has left us." W.A. Criswell, Adrian Rogers, Manley Beasley, Bertha Smith and now...Jerry Falwell. Although each of the aforementioned had different gifts and ministries in the Kingdom, God used them mightily. Jerry Falwell stood for righteousness. He stood toe to toe with liberals, athiests and militants.

Several years ago, he led his church (Thomas Road Baptist Church, Lynchburg, VA)traditionally independent to affiliate with the Southern Baptist Convention. Conservative, before conservative was cool, he liked what he saw in the resurgence of the largest evangelical denomination in the world.

The news media is calling him a television evangelist. I suppose in some regards he was, but he was more. He was a pastor first and foremost. He was a preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ and he did not waver one bit in his commitment to the gospel. He was an educator, apologist and visionary. He was a husband, father and grandfather. And I must not leave out that he was a lover of pastors.

Frank Page, SBC President said, "His ministry must be seen from the perspective of being a pastor. Dr. Falwell never aspired to be anything other than a pastor who spoke prophetically the Word of God. Not everyone agreed with his stances, but all should admire his passion and commitment to the cause of Christ to the end. He desperately wanted our culture to understand God and to understand where obedience and disobedience lead."

Dr. Richard Land is quoted saying, "A true giant of the faith has gone on to his heavenly reward. Our grief at our loss of his witness, energy and giftedness for the kingdom is mitigated by the fact that he is now with his Savior for eternity. Dr. Falwell’s home-going leaves an enormous gap in the leadership ranks of evangelical Christianity in America and around the world. He will be greatly missed."

Dr. Morris Chapman, SBC Executive Director said of Falwell, "Jerry Falwell leaves a spiritual legacy that is lasting. During a tumultuous time in our culture, he took a stand on the Word of God that emboldened evangelicals to come together to speak in a common voice for the protection of our country’s moral and spiritual values. He will be known not only for his leadership on issues debated in the public square, but also for his tireless work to establish ministries to the hurting and those in need."

In 1998, Phyllis and I had the privilege of going to Israel with Him. You haven't lived until you run where Jesus walked with Jerry Falwell. Unlike the liberal media would characterize him, he was charming, witty, adventursome and fun to be around. What a great guy.

All three of our daughters attended Liberty. Yes they were Jerry's kids and the impact that the school and Dr. Falwell had on their lives is immeasurable. They will be forever grateful for the opportunity to attend and blessed to be LU grads.

Thank you Jerry. I know you have already heard it from Him, but "well done."

Moral Decadence

J.J. Jasper is the host of a radio program for American Family Radio. The following letter was posted on his blog. It is from a listener from Branson, MO.

"While I was visiting the Ukraine, our group had the opportunity to tour six prisons, speak to large groups of inmates and have meetings through the country with prison administrators. The goal of our visit was to educate prison authorities of the importance of faith-based programs in the prisons. At each correctional facility, we began by meeting with the warden. At one of the units, a warden, after learning that I had 25 years of experience in corrections, asked me a challenging question. He asked, “As great as the United States is, why do you incarcerate more men and women than any country in the world?” I felt that I had to answer him honestly and frankly. I shared that I believed our prison population is a reflection of our society. I explained by saying that we have had a breakdown of the home; for example: divorce, domestic and child abuse, etc. We have removed Bible study and prayer from our schools. We have permitted abortions any time, any place and under almost any circumstances. We are permitting same sex marriages. We promote violence through our media outlets. Pornography is a billion dollar a year industry in our country. After these brief statements to this warden, I concluded by saying that it is no surprise that we incarcerate more people than any other country. I restated that our prison population is a reflection of our moral breakdown in society. He surprised me when he responded by saying, “That is what I thought [too]. I was just wondering if that is what you believed.”

Isn't it interesting that there are those in other parts of the world that know our problem better than we do? Sometimes we "can't see the forest for the trees."

WHERE WILL WE BE IN 100 YEARS?

?? THE YEAR 1907??

This will boggle your mind, I know it did mine!
The year is 1907.
One hundred years ago.
What a difference a century makes!
Here are some statistics for the Year 1907 :
************************************

The average life expectancy was 47 years.

Only 14 percent of the homes had a bathtub.

Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.

There were only 8,000 cars and only 144 miles
Of paved roads.

The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.

The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower!

The average wage in 1907 was 22 cents per hour.

The average worker made between $200 and $400 per year .

A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year,
A dentist $2,500 per year, a veterinarian between $1,500 and $4,000 per year, and a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.

More than 95 percent of all births took place at HOME .

Ninety percent of al doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION!
Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which
Were condemned in the press AND the government as "substandard."

Sugar cost four cents a pound.

Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.

Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.

Most women only washed their hair once a month, and used
Borax or egg yolks for shampoo.

Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from
Entering into their country for any reason.

Five leading causes of death were:
1. Pneumonia and influenza
2. Tuberculosis
3. Diarrhea
4. Heart disease
5. Stroke

The American flag had 45 stars.

The population of Las Vegas, Nevada, was only 30!!!!

Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and ice tea
Hadn't been invented yet.

There was no Mother's Day or Father's Day.

Two out of every 10 adults couldn't read or write.
Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.

Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over the counter at the local corner drugstores. Back then pharmacists said, "Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind, regulates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian of health."
( Shocking? HUH! )

Eighteen percent of households had at least
One full-time servant or domestic help.

There were about 230 reported murders in the ENTIRE ! U.S.A. !

Now I forwarded this from someone else without typing
It myself, and sent it to you and others all over the United States,&Canada�
Possibly the world, in a matter of seconds!

Try to imagine what it may be like in another 100 years.