I read this book a few years ago and found it was very clear about why we as believers are not reaching the world with the gospel. It has nothing to do with activities, programs nor the music.
"The church is not touching the culture
because the culture has invaded the church."
~ Ken Ham ~
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7 comments:
The culture has invaded the church is right.
I think God is more grieved over the state of the church than we realise.
If His word is anything to go by, that judgment begins at the house of God, then we are in more trouble than we realise.
I do appreciate the Answers in Genesis ministry and have bought some books and videos from them over the years.
Thanks for the article.
I find a great number of churches rejecting the lost instead of reaching out to them. I was an evangelist and experienced a breakdown. The mistreatment I received from christians was enough to keep me away from church for the rest of my life. I had a memory of a loving Heavenly Father and that kept me looking. I wrote about my experience in my new book, "The Cross and the Psychiatrist!" Find it at amazon.com and also google it. Terry Dorn
Anonymous,
2 Cor 5v10, 'For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ...'
You are not the first person to be 'hurt' by christians, and you will not be the last.
I've been hurt, but it didn't kill me, it taught me to be not like that, and it toughened me up for when the suffering and persecution comes.
And it will come.
Maybe you should never have been an evangelist, if you could not take what hurt you.
As for your book, I'll definitely pass.
Mr. Dorn,
I am sorry that you felt that many churches rejected you. I'm sure it does happen because there are many false churches out there. However, my experience has been that most churches are entirely too accepting to sinners. Right down to doing everything to appeal to the sinners while ignoring God's own commands in His Word for how churches are to respond to the world.
If you were an Evangelist, what gospel did you give? For you see the real Gospel is a gospel of forsaking our own sinful desires and conforming to the image of Christ, all because Christ died in our place for our deserved punishment of sins. Being in the image of Christ means being obedient to God’s Word. God commands His believers to not forsake the assembly of themselves with other believers.
You are correct that God is a loving God. But He is also a Holy, Righteous God who cannot allow sin to go unpunished. If the gospel you are teaching is just the typical God is love and nothing else then you have been teaching a false gospel. I would encourage you to get into reading the Scriptures and to find a good Bible believing and preaching church and get right with the real God of Creation. There are several links on the sidebar to help you in finding a church. There is also the ministry of Nouthetic Counselors that deal with depression from a Biblical basis and not from a worldly standpoint.
Berean Wife
Dora,
I'm afraid you are correct that God will have to judge the churches for allowing the world to dictate their practices. If they are truly believers than the Lord must discipline His children and if they aren't then they face the same judgment of the world.
I got to hear Ken Ham a few years ago and really enjoyed him; even the children when young were captivated by his teaching.
All believers will be hurt by those who say they are believers at some point. That just lets us have a small glimpse at what Christ suffered for us. But as you said it is no reason to reject the true church or God.
Berean Wife
Brother Ham is absolutely right.
It is impossible to reach those in the culture if we aren't offering any real alternative in the way we live our lives.
Terry,
Very few Christians have such a life that others would want what they have. Many aren’t different enough that casual acquaintances would even know they were Christians, since they never speak of it nor act any different than the world.
In addition, Ken Ham's point that we are assuming that the average unbeliever has some familiarity with what we are discussing is so true. Many young people didn't grow up in a church environment, they don't speak the same language when it comes to the big words like salvation nor do they see any point for being saved. We have to start at the beginning with them.
Berean Wife
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