The denial or neglect of key biblical doctrines is another negative trend flourishing today. With the focus placed squarely on man, churches do not want to offend or appeal to only a small fraction of people. So, they compromise and jettison doctrines in order to attract a wider range of prospects. The first to go is anything pertaining to hell and judgment. This is not popular and can only breed fear and guilt, so it is removed or never spoken of. The sovereignty of God is also rarely considered. The kingly rule of God is not a favorite of red-blooded Americans who live in and love democracy. Plus, we want to be in control of our destinies. As a result of being convinced that we are completely free, we decide what to believe, how to worship, whether or not to go to church, where and how we are saved, what the Bible says, and what to believe.
The penal, substitutionary, propitiatory, atonement of Christ has even been black listed. In our day of enlightenment and sophistication, we cannot possibly be expected to believe in something so barbaric and primitive. Can we? Besides, the thought of God the Father torturing his Son sounds to much like cosmic child abuse. The overly-sensitive western church could never hold to these antiquated teachings. Sin, sacrifice, appeasing a wrathful God, a vicarious replacement, can that be preached to a lost world? We would be ridiculed and mocked. We would lose all respect and our message would not be plausible.
What does God’s word say? Is the gospel supposed to be popular and cherished by the masses? Was it designed to be unoffensive? Hardly. Paul was sent by God “to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:17-18). “It pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe” (vs. 21). “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:14).
The doctrine of justification and the imputed righteousness of Christ have been altered or disregarded as well. Why wouldn’t it? it is and has been a crucial doctrine and is the quintessential teaching on salvation. Sinners are declared righteous by a gracious and just God due to the perfect obedience of Christ and his finished work on the cross. He took our sins and in exchange we are credited with his righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21). This is the glorious truth of God’s gospel so it stands to reason that it will be attacked. Doctrines such as these are humbling and God-centered. Modern man simply cannot have this so they are redefined, contorted, rejected, twisted, or forgotten.
Not only are certain doctrines denied or neglected, but the affirmation of other ideas and teachings soon follow to accommodate the perverse sensibilities of post modern man. God goes by a new name today- Tolerant. In the name of tolerance, entire religions are being spawned. Sin is no longer sin, and God is not angry anymore, so anything goes. The church can now accept homosexuals, look the other way on divorce, and even endure abortion. Feminism reigns too. Woman can be ordained and do everything a male can. Consequently, the true gospel is watered down and is deemed archaic and old-fashioned. Something new is needed. Something like (I wish that I was making this up, but I’m not) the gospel according to Peanuts, Star Wars, Harry Potter, the Simpsons, Twilight, the Beatles, Starbucks, Hollywood, and Tony Soprano! Wow, really? This is what many see as a creative way to communicate the gospel. This is not the gospel message. It does not need to be adapted to worldly culture to be effective. The gospel is the power of God to salvation. It does not rest in the power or abilities of man to be successful. Why do we think that God requires our help? Why must we seek to entertain in everything we do? Why can’t we recognize blasphemy and sacrilege?
Universalism and annihilationism are adopted to soften the blow of judgment and an eternal hell. In an effort to remake God’s image and to improve his popularity, undesirable attributes are weakened or altered. Hell and the wrath of God are declared fallacious and unloving. This is blatant idolatry and will not go unpunished. The irony of this should not be missed; the very truths that these cretins attempt to discredit and destroy, will be the very same that will hold them in a merciless and graceless grip for all eternity. They may scoff now, but the day will come when hell and God’s righteous indignation will be all to real.
Join me in examining ourselves and our churches. Pray for a true revival. May God have mercy on us! The gates of hell will not prevail, but do we have to make it so close? Our only hope and solice is trusting God. He has a plan and is executing it perfectly according to his will.
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