Guest Posted January 14, 2005 Posted January 14, 2005 The topic was...why has presenting the gospel been sidetracked in our society? I replied with several points but laid most of the responsibility with the organizational approach in homiletics. I used a quote from George Whitefield and mentioned that Rick Warren, in the beginning of his book, (Purpose Driven Life) addresses the improper focus ..which is in self. That, generally speaking, people are afraid, ashamed, or unprepared to outreach for Jesus. Afraid-because they are intimidated by the system of the world. Ashamed, because their leadership deceives them into believing that it is expected or OK to sin and remain a sinner this side of heaven..thus they are unconsecrated and feel like a hypocrite or are embarrassed to present the gospel or share spiritual matters. Unprepared because preachers are inept and incompetent in teaching outreach/evangelistic methods and skills...also the focus in most sermons is exactly what Rick Warren counsels against. Most sermons are geared to promote selfishness, cater to the needs of the listeners and engender meism verses altruism. Churchgoers are hooked on religious dope. As long as there is a demand for .."preacher..give me MY weekly fix and religious therapy session"..there will be no desire to reach out. This is the approach of most SDA pastors..they troubleshoot their flock and then once in awhile mention about sharing the 3 angels message for lip service without educating in outreach skills.This lays a stressful guilt trip or frustration on people with sensitve consciences. They ought to be fired for this. I just shared my on air experience with a head deacon of my former church and there is currently no outreach program cooking at the church.. It is just file in every week..listen and file out... How about where you go?? Oh but ..but ...we give a mission offering of $1 once in awhile... Whoooopeeeedo. Bet you show Mission Spotlight too??? Quote
Guest Posted January 14, 2005 Posted January 14, 2005 Just thinking this... Ya know where in Revelation it mentions that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy..? SDA's by their embraced religious persuasion are at odds with the general status quo of other persuasions.. It is just inherent and implied...the advertised disagreement is sometimes perceived as disapproval and it should be perceived this way. This generates different levels of animosity..which for now is kept under wraps..yet it won't always be this way as mentioned in prophetic writings,, that many are familiar with. The spirit of prophecy is not limited to predictive or prescient capabilities alone... As you have learned from the Old and New testament..the spirit of prophecy was CONFRONTING LIFE STEALING/GOD COMPETING ORGANIZATIONS,SYSTEMS AND INDIVIDUALS. Some do this indirectly with just their label..some are more active in this. Quote
Moderators Nan Posted January 14, 2005 Moderators Posted January 14, 2005 Were you listening after you spoke on the talk back show to hear what others thought of your points? I would be seriously interested to hear how others in your area perceive this topic. Quote
Guest Posted January 14, 2005 Posted January 14, 2005 Yes I did.. None complained and said I was all wet... in fact the host repeated one of my points and 2 callers in a row mentioned the afraid and embarrassed point as well as valid from their perspective. Then the program was over. I picked on Dr James Kennedy as far as his homiletics and the host didn't like that and disagreed..I think due to his style being similar Quote
Pockey Posted January 14, 2005 Posted January 14, 2005 Quote: ...and mentioned that Rick Warren, in the beginning of his book, (Purpose Driven Life) addresses the improper focus ..which is in self. Did you read the whole Purpose Driven Life book? Quote
Nicodema Posted January 16, 2005 Posted January 16, 2005 Quote: The topic was...why has presenting the gospel been sidetracked in our society? ... the improper focus ..which is in self. ...That, generally speaking, people are afraid, ashamed, or unprepared to outreach for Jesus. Afraid-because they are intimidated by the system of the world. Ashamed, because their leadership deceives them into believing that it is expected or OK to sin and remain a sinner this side of heaven..thus they are unconsecrated and feel like a hypocrite or are embarrassed to present the gospel or share spiritual matters. Unprepared because preachers are inept and incompetent in teaching outreach/evangelistic methods and skills...also the focus in most sermons is exactly what Rick Warren counsels against. Most sermons are geared to promote selfishness, cater to the needs of the listeners and engender meism verses altruism. Churchgoers are hooked on religious dope. As long as there is a demand for .."preacher..give me MY weekly fix and religious therapy session"..there will be no desire to reach out. Oh but ..but ...we give a mission offering of $1 once in awhile... Whoooopeeeedo. Bet you show Mission Spotlight too??? Kind of like ... you're hoping and dreaming of being a missionary, OK ... you go online looking over all the calls, seeing which ones you'd be suited for, groaning at how even the mission field has seemed to follow after the world in assuming anyone over 35 is fit only for the scrap-heap ... and you've got some personal issues you're working out in your life hoping when the decks are clear there that God will answer your prayer and open the way for you to do this ... and then one night you are praying and pleading with God and in frustration the words just tumble out of your mouth that you need this or else your life won't be meaningful -- and all of a sudden there's your answer staring you in the face. Being or becoming a missionary isn't ABOUT doing "something meaningful" with YOUR life. It's not about YOU at all. There's an even subtler and trickier to detect way of falling into this trap, however. Can anyone guess what that is? Quote "After such knowledge, what forgiveness?" -- T.S. Eliot
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