Years ago a prominent figure in our brotherhood came to speak to our preacher's group in North Jersey. During his talk he made the statement that our exclusivity was killing our evangelism. Afterwards I happened to be in the car next to him headed for lunch. I took the time to disagree with his statement. I said that our inclusivity is killing our evangelism. I pointed out that ever since I've become a Christian (1973) I've heard that Churches of Christ were one of the fastest growing churches during the 50s. I have often wondered why no one suggested that we recapture the attitudes and message that was present back then. Some may not have liked that our brotherhood was decidedly exclusive in its message but back then we knew who was lost and who was saved. I don't believe that this alone made us evangelistic, but it certainly helped. When we become overly inclusive there is no need to evangelize because everyone appears saved.
Our society today as a whole has moved to the left in its quest to be tolerant. Tolerance means that we accept everyone and their message. No one is lost. So if we evangelize any group we insult them and society jeers at us. Remember when the Southern Baptists were lambasted in the media because they believed that Jewish people in general were lost? I believe firmly that if we don't know who is saved and who is lost then we won't evangelize. I'm not suggesting that we necessarily believe that we are the only Christians but I am saying we must have a clearly articulated message that gives a clear indication of what we believe is the message and the response to it. Without this as a minimum we will have an unclear path for evangelism.
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Bob's meandering about life and fun.
About Me
- Bob Bliss
- Mount Dora, Florida, United States
- I've been in full time ministry for over 30 years (one year of youth ministry and the rest in the pulpit) with four churches. I'm married since 1976 to Pat. I have three grown children and three grand sons.
Prayer List
- Janice Taylor
- Dennis Hall
- Jean Wright & family
- Cathy Brown
- Sonia Sides
- Dana & Craig
- Carter family
- Smith Family
- Godknecht family
Currently Listening To
- 1Kings (ESV)
- My iPod
- 105.9 (Corolla)
Currently Reading
- Theology for the Community of God by Stanley Grenz
- Biblical Theology: A Proposal by Brevard Childs
Favorite Quotes
- ***"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." (C. S. Lewis)
- ***"Our churches have turned into theaters and our preachers have turned into witty motivational speakers with high entertainment value," (Thomas G. Long)
- **Too often, Preachers think that they have to make the Gospel more interesting to the world instead of allowing an already interesting and powerful Gospel go about remaking the world. Can preaching once again be revived to its proper end? (William Willimon)
- **Habit is habit, and not to be flung out of the window by any man, but coaxed downstairs one step at a time. (Mark Twain)
- **The fundamental problem with most of us is not deficient self-esteem but inadequate divine-esteem. (Daniel Block)
- **If my sermon becomes another product that makes you feel a little less miserable this week, then that, it seems to me, is a little less than the gospel. (William Willimon)
Family Blogs
Friend's Blogs
Blogs I Read Regularly
- Ben Witherington
- Bible Software Review
- Biblioblogs
- Bill Williams
- Bobby Cohoon
- Bobby Valentine
- Brian Nicklaus
- Chris Clouse
- Donneyland
- ESV Translation Blog
- Evangelical Textual Criticism
- Expository Thoughts
- Jim McGuiggan
- Logos Bible Software Blog
- Matt Dabbs
- Mere Comments
- Michael Duduit
- My Place
- Neva Cooper
- Paula
- Phil Sanders
- Preacher's House
- Preacherman
- Preaching.Org
- Pulpit Magazine
- Steve Puckett
- Tim Archer
- Trey Morgan
- Uncommon Descent
- William Willimon
4 comments:
There is more and more research out there that moving a bit more conservative is attracting more members. People want to be different. They want to stand for something (even the truth!). To try to be just like the world offers them nothing they can't get at work. I don't think we need to swing extreme conservative but I do think we need to stand up for what the Bible teaches.
Good thoughts. Thanks.
I understand what you mean dad. We can't just accept everyone, or else what's the point. However I think the main thing similar to exclusiveness that people do not like about the church is a feeling of judgement. It's not that they don't want to be accountable (though some don't) its that they think we look down upon them, that we think we are superior. While it might not be true for all I will admit I have even felt this from other christians. That I think is what is hurting the church. But surprisingly the generation I am apart of seems more liberal in some senses, but especially more not accepting but understanding. We know more b/c of technology. We are hit with more issues before we have a clear standing on them. We maybe can more easily see both sides. ok that's enough. just my thoughts.
I do agree that being inclusive and more relaxed on rules and the bible is not the way to go.
Trey,
Glad to see you reading a commenting on my issues. I'm doing a series of lessons on Evangelism on Sunday nights so these thoughts are in my head. I've been wanting to put them down someplace and my blog seemed as good a place as any. It seems to me that no matter what stance we take we will always be seen in the eyes of most of the world in a negative light. If the world didn't accept Jesus then how can we as His disciples believe that we can be tolerated by the world at large?
You are right about the exclusiveness issue. Some may see that as arrogance. The real question is how to stay true to the Scriptures without giving the impression of arrogance? Is is possible that the world will always think of us in those terms? Or maybe it's just organized religion. And we are painted with the same brush as everyone else. A lot to think about.
huh?
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