Dr. Stanley is a no-nonsense preacher who sticks to scripture in his sermons and relates that scripture to today's world. I like that very much.
Part of his sermon dealt with how one should handle the all too common problem of their church becoming liberal---moving away from scripture and the tenets of Christianity in favor of the popular views of today's world.
Jesus said we must all build "on Rock". He said the wind will blow and the rain will fall, and if we are built on sand---or anything other than solid Rock, our structure will fall. That is just as true of the church as it is in our own personal lives.
He likened the liberal-leaning church to a country club, where it has become primarily a social organization. Wow---did that ever hit home!
Cindy and I moved from a church recently where our large Sunday school class had become mostly a group of clubbers. The lessons, which at one time were usually scriptural in nature, had devolved into a joke---"Religious Beliefs of the American Indian", "Yoga" (bring your own mat), "Muslim Beliefs", "Going Green", "Snake Handling", "The Joys of Grandparenting", and the beat goes on...and on. Not much is said these days about Jesus or scripture.
Then there are the parties. Oh, the parties. Nothing wrong with a party, of course, but when you dedicate about five Sundays a year to socializing at the expense of building faith, you have further diluted the faith.
Keep in mind that most mainline Protestant churches in the United States have lost membership steadily over the past 40 years. Methodists, Baptists, Episcopalians, etc have all lost membership---even as the population of the nation grows steadily.
There are reasons for this. A church that tries to satisfy the trends of the day is not built on Rock. And it will fall.
Boy Clint, He hit it right on the head. I like Charles too. With Jack Van Impe leaving TBN and Hal Lindsey refusing censorship there. We are seeing false doctrine at every turn.
ReplyDeleteSigns of the times
Thank you and God bless!!
ReplyDeleteYeah Charles Stanley is one of the good preachers on TV. I agree totally- we need to be in the Bible. That's what people are hungry for some righteousness and truth.
ReplyDeleteTo be open to new things but not loosing the sight of the origin.
ReplyDeleteGreetings and bless you
Well Clint, that is why I left the Nazarene church I attended in Massachusetts and have not joined another church here in Maine. The pastor decided to delete all the scripture readings and teachings in order to allow himself and his friends to sing to us for almost an hour every service. Sure he had a good voice but I was looking to hear the word of God not this man. He put in air conditioning at the expense of the church because he sweat too much. Maybe the heat he was feeling was coming from below.......:0
ReplyDeleteCarol B.
Most enjoyable to read Clint and interesting also.
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Yvonne.
I wish this blog post was not true. It seems the churches are trying to cater to everyone's whims and it just isn't working to increase membership.
ReplyDelete(I've had problems today and not been able to post on blogger comments, I hope this shows!)
This is so sad, Clint. And sadder still is that the faith for which martyrs died is fast being watered down... in the guise of making it all relevant, or "seeker friendly."
ReplyDeleteBut you are really right in what you pointed out... if it is not built on solid rock, it will fall.
Find the church that will stand the test of time... built on solid foundation of God's unchanging truth.
Blessings to you and CIndy on Rosh Hashanah...
Lidia
This is so sad, Clint. And sadder still is that the faith for which martyrs died is fast being watered down... in the guise of making it all relevant, or "seeker friendly."
ReplyDeleteBut you are really right in what you pointed out... if it is not built on solid rock, it will fall.
Find the church that will stand the test of time... built on solid foundation of God's unchanging truth.
Blessings to you and CIndy on Rosh Hashanah...
Lidia
How true! We really enjoy Charles STanley...in fact we were on the Alaska Cruise with him this summer... a great time of sound teaching!
ReplyDeleteYep. I remember quite a number of folks speaking out against the liberalism movement in churches: J. Gresham Machen, Francis Scaheffer, Kathryn Kuhlman.... "will the Son of Man find faith when He returns?"
ReplyDeleteI definitely share your view points and those of Dr. Charles Stanley. I LOVE his no-nonsense approach too. I always smile at his catch-phrase... "Now, listen to this." 'Cause you know he's really got something to listen to! I hope someday he will come to the east coast of Australia. I download his sermons weekly, on iTunes.
ReplyDeleteThat's very sad about your previous church. May God reveal His truth to them.
All the best to you and Cindy settling in at the new church you're attending.
GOD BLESS!
Truer words were never spoken...well entered.
ReplyDeleteI have not been back to the church I was brought up in since my sister was ousted for non presence. She was very ill, as her husband was and could not get there. NO One, not even the pastor, visited, or attempted to see if there was something they could do, even after they were made aware. Prayers were not even said. It hurt...deep. They both were in their 50's with cancer and severe diabetes. They died within 6 months of one another, in hospitals with the Lord by their sides, thanks to our strong-faith family and the Chaplain of the hospitals. How sad to be ousted by your baptismal, catechism church that you had so much faith in. Here's the funny part...the pastor was ousted. That too was sad.
Thanks for this profound entry. I've never heard Dr. Stanley, but will be now.
BlessYourHearts
When I lived in north Ga. I traveled into Atlanta many times to hear Dr. Stanley. Amazing!
ReplyDeleteWe have lost two new churches that came in wanting to reach "everyone". Less than a year and both were gone!
Good post, Clint!
xo, misha
Hi Clint,
ReplyDeleteIt is sad, but everything you say here is true.
By making the church look appealing to the world will not result in the growth of the church. The Bible tells us to preach the Word and Jesus said He would build His church.
BTW, I think Dr Charles Stanley is one of the better preachers out there, we need more like him.
Blessings,
Ken
Sadly what you and your wife experienced in your Sunday school class is becoming the norm in most churches today.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice day Clint :-)
& BTW, thanks for your recent comment on my WCS post. ~Ron
Great post Clint. You hit it right on...sadly.
ReplyDeleteDear Clint! I always treasure your visits over at my place ~ your input is always such a blessing, and you are so full of the Lord's "truth" and "grace" and "love"!! I had tried to comment on this post, earlier this week, but I was having all sorts of weird computer problems....something with my "cookies" functionality, I couldn't post comments on most blogs....anyhow, it seems fixed now. I was saying earlier, that I love this pastor and his teaching. When I was homeless, living in my car, I used to listen to him on the radio at 2 in the morning (when they would play his sermons). I was always deeply convicted, but yet made very hungry for JESUS. I so agree, all the other "worldly" entities churches or us "humanoids" (a Clint term!!:>) try to fill our empty lives with WILL NOT FULFILL ~ the hole was meant for JESUS, JESUS, JESUS....and JESUS ALONE.....NOTHING ELSE....NO....NOTHING ELSE....will every satisfy! And that was what I tried to post earlier this week!! :>)
ReplyDeleteWell said, Clint.
ReplyDeleteHi Clint -
ReplyDeleteI love Charles Stanley's style of preaching and that he consistently speaks the truths from the Holy Bible.
You made some helpful points here. Thank you
Great post, Bro. Clint! Man, I am hindered by the limitations of blog-post-comment communications!! I would truly love some day to sit and have a beverage with you and exchange tales of our life-journeys. One part of my journey has to do with churches as businesses, social clubs, people-pleasing productions, etc. Nevertheless, as we have focused on chasing God Himself and His Word, we continue to find New Life and Fresh Oil. HalleluYAH!
ReplyDelete