Monroeville Christian Church

Preacher’s Six (6) Point Comments:   

1.  Good Words with Mixed and Deceptive Meanings.  If you haven’t kept up with the way many words are presently used, you may be in for the surprise of your life.   To promote a program, a fad or feel good-ism people have taken good words and given them special meanings.  The use of these terms is often for the purpose to mislead and gain some sort of approval.     It is like saying “the Bible contains the Word of God.”  Sounds good, doesn’t it?  However, the phrase is used to deceive the less astute.  The Bible doesn’t contain the “Word of God”; it is the “Word of God”.       In our day we find words like tolerance, progressive, change, blended, contemporary and traditional; good and noble words that have been corrupted, words that have special meaning to the users and do much to cause problems within a local church.  Be on guard when someone comes to the elders or other influential people of the church and preaches or teaches the importance of accepting change.  This is generally a one way street.  They mean “you change”, and in most cases your change will not be enough, you will be asked to change again and again until they are in control.  True, some change may be helpful, but not all change is good.  Change just for the sake of change can lead to destruction.  Words like old, archaic, out of date, etc, may intimidate some.  But the faithful will not be misled by these and other words.      It reminds me of some debates and discussions I’ve had in the past.  Somewhere in these debates I was told “we need to keep an open mind”, but in most cases it was a one way street.  What they meant was, Art needs to be open minded, Art needs to accept their ideas or else he is not opened minded.  Much of what I have seen in the contemporary, progressive, and tolerance movement is simply an attempt to dumb down the church and in many cases to introduce the ways of the world. Many of the so called “Christian musical groups” look more like the world than Christian and some even look like clowns, and the music is often extremely loud with moves, actions and gyrations that often appeal to the worldly nature of man.  Then there is in many churches what is called “Christian Dancing”.  This is often done in provocative dresses & gowns and is referred to as interpretive dancing.  Many have convinced themselves, or been told they are serving God, but in most cases it’s all about themselves or holified me-ism.  Less and less time for real Bible Preaching and teaching and more and more feel good-ism.  Remember certain entertainment, programs, music, etc, are not good, right, or helpful simply because some youth minister, professor, older preacher or parent says they are.  Sadly, many youth camps, youth programs and some Bible Colleges have destroyed many good young people and adults.  Peer pressure can be very strong and demanding and not many are able or willing to go against it.  More and more of God’s people need to become self-thinkers.  All must beware of the world with its entrapments and deceptive practices.  The world offers and gives what we want.  God gives us what we need.     Doesn’t John warn against the love of the world and things of the world?  I Jn 2:15     Those who desire to join us in worship and working for God are welcome, but we will not follow them.  They may need to make the change, a change of thoughts and actions.  All must follow Christ and seek unity and not division.     Unless I know a person personally, and even then I have been misled, when someone approaches me and talks about improving the congregation and they use the words tolerance, contemporary, progressive, blended, traditional, etc., an alarm goes off in my head and I get highly suspicious.  Good words but often mixed meanings.  Be on guard!!  Most activities like this begin small and grow and grow until they are out of control.  God’s word is still superior to man’s word.  By the foolishness of preaching, people will be saved.  I Corinthians 1:21

2.       Many people have asked me if I thought the special singer on Sunday evening a couple weeks ago was too loud.  Yes, and very much so.  The songs were great, the message of the songs was great, but all this was overrun by the extremely loud background music.  I apologize, however this was addressed when we were contacted several months ago, but it wasn’t followed.  I do want to say his CD’s and tapes are excellent. We have many of them at our house and we enjoy them.  I think you will enjoy them, too.