Falling Away or Fulfilling Scripture?
Falling Away or Fulfilling Scripture?
5/31/22
5/31/22
As we continue to see more and more people with websites, blogs, videos, and parachurch ministries how should we react? Is this a falling away from the church?
As we continue to see more and more people with websites, blogs, videos, and parachurch ministries how should we react? Is this a falling away from the church?
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV
Ephesians 4:11-16 NKJV
If the church is healthy the body will begin to minister to itself. This is the natural outflow of the church. So, what we are seeing is supposed to happen.
If the church is healthy the body will begin to minister to itself. This is the natural outflow of the church. So, what we are seeing is supposed to happen.
But...
But...
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:23-25 NASB1995
Hebrews 10:23-25 NASB1995
If people are leaving the church and following "online" and parachurch ministries in stead of assembling together then we have a major problem. Either church leaders are not engaging in ministry as God wants or the body is being disobedient, or both.
If people are leaving the church and following "online" and parachurch ministries in stead of assembling together then we have a major problem. Either church leaders are not engaging in ministry as God wants or the body is being disobedient, or both.
Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’
Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’
Matthew 23:1-7 NKJV
Matthew 23:1-7 NKJV
Some pastors don't want their members going anywhere else for learning and growing. Some might even like to be the sole interpreter of scripture for you (this is the Holy Spirit's job!) Jesus wasn't happy with the Pharisees putting themselves in a position of power either because they had the wrong motive. He did not allow this to be an excuse for disobedience however, and neither can you.
Some pastors don't want their members going anywhere else for learning and growing. Some might even like to be the sole interpreter of scripture for you (this is the Holy Spirit's job!) Jesus wasn't happy with the Pharisees putting themselves in a position of power either because they had the wrong motive. He did not allow this to be an excuse for disobedience however, and neither can you.