Lesson # 31 The Emergent Church - Part IV Selected Scriptures Presented Live on June 25, 2017 I. Introduction and review A. We have established that the emergent church movement is spreading across our country B. It is much like an epidemic C. We have demonstrated that it is a heresy, due to the fact it wants to make serious modifications to Biblical mandates and doctrinal positions which we hold dear D. So how can we know when it is coming to a church near us? II. Becoming an emerging church doesn t just happen, it is planned A. So what are the signs? 1. If you develop a concern or question actions taken against established doctrinal positions, and you are told by the pastor or elders of your church that you have a choice to make a. Either get with the program, or b. Find a new church 2. If you find that your church is moving away from the Bible as authoritative and adding authority based upon the experiential and mystical Page 1 of 8
a. Sound Biblical doctrine is labeled as dangerous and divisive b. While the authority of the Word of God is undermined, images and sensual experiences are promoted as the key to experiencing and knowing God c. Both individual experiences and mystical renderings are given greater role in establishing true doctrine d. These experiences include icons, candles, incense, liturgy, labyrinths, prayer stations, contemplative prayer, experiencing the sacraments, particularly the sacrament of the Eucharist 3. If you find that the concept of absolute truth is being left behind a. Scripture is no longer the ultimate authority as the basis for the Christian faith. 4. If you find that your church is uninterested in Biblical prophecy and does not expecting the literal return of the Lord Jesus Christ a. The concept of the rapture is discarded (that word is not even in the Bible along with millennium and dispensations, they will say) (1) a`rpa,zw harpazo {har-pad'-zo} Meaning: 1) to seize, carry off by force 2) to seize on, claim for one's self eagerly 3) to snatch out or away (2) Rãpiþus (Latin) (3) [1 Corinthians 9:17; Ephesians 1:10; Ephesians 3:2 and Colossians 1:25] îndeplinire b. Spending time on prophecy and eschatological passages is seen as a waste of time c. The teaching that Jesus Christ will rule and reign in a literal millennial period is considered unbiblical Page 2 of 8
and heretical. 5. If you find that the future goal is preparing for and taking at least the initial steps to establish the Kingdom a. The gospel as a salvation message becomes the gospel of the kingdom, preparing for the coming kingdom b. The gospel therefore becomes a social gospel, involved in social programs c. There is a firm belief that the kingdom can be established by human effort d. The teaching that the Book of Revelation does not refer to the future, but instead has been already fulfilled in the past e. The centrality of the gospel of Jesus Christ is being replaced by humanistic methods promoting church growth 6. If you find that the nation Israel becomes unimportant to your Church a. It is claimed that Israel in our time has little, if any Biblical importance b. The promises which God made to Israel have been forfeited due to their disbelief c. Now those promises belong to the church d. The church has now replaced Israel in their role in God s ultimate plan 7. If you find that intense and in depth Bible study is slowly being replaced by studying someone s book, together with his methods and ideas a. Methods and means become more important than defining the true goals recorded in the Scripture for the church b. The teaching becomes experience based and incorporating corrupted doctrine, e.g. the devotional booklet known as Jesus Calling Page 3 of 8
8. If you find that the health of your church is being measured by quantity a. The quality of people who attend b. The amount of money raised c. The extent of assets accumulated by the church d. The widespread of the church s ministry by means of public media 9. If you find that God s word is given less and less importance a. Concepts like hell, sin and the need for obedience are downplayed and then labeled as divisive and offensive b. New translations are substituted for sound, doctrinally accurate translations of the Bible c. An example of this would be the Message (1) Whose message is it? (2) When examining a new translation, one should consider passages that form the core of the Gospel message (3) I selected John 1:12; John 3:16-17; Ephesians 2:8-9 and Titus 3:3-5 (4) John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, (a) But whoever did want him, who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said, He made to be their true selves, their child-of-god selves. Jn. 1:12 The Message (5) John 3:16-17 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that Page 4 of 8
the world might be saved through Him. (a) "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, His one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Jn. 3:16-17 The Message (6) Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (a) Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! Eph. 2:8-9 The Message (7) Titus 3:3-5 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, (a) It wasn't so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, Page 5 of 8
ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. 4 But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, 5 he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Tit. 3:3-5 The Message 10. If you find that there seems to be a strong emphasis on ecumenism indicating that a bridge is being established that leads in the direction of unity with the Roman Catholic Church. a. Some evangelical Protestant leaders are saying that the Reformation went too far. b. They are reexamining the claims of the church fathers saying, e.g. that communion is more than a symbol and that Jesus actually becomes present in the wafer (the bread) at communion [Transubstantiation] c. There will be a growing trend towards an ecumenical unity for the cause of world peace, claiming (1) The validity of other religions and (2) That there are many ways to God. B. There are seven or so steps that those seeking for your church to become emergent will seek to inculcate into your church 1. Identify those who will be resistant to change, even to doctrinal positions 2. Determine the depth of their potential opposition and the strength of their resistance 3. Befriend those who are undecided and provide them with benefits for moving in your direction Page 6 of 8
4. Marginalize those who do resist and remove them from positions of influence 5. Those members of the resistance should be urged to leave and and if they refuse, they must be vilified 6. Establish new rules and a new order in the church that will silence all opposition 7. The broad church membership will not be told what is going on until it is too late III. The initial symptoms of the emergent church heresy A. Change the music of the church from classical to contemporary 1. Remove all hymnals 2. If hymns are sung change the words, or the tempo, or add new transitions endings or beginnings 3. Replace the organ and piano with rock music type instruments 4. Install repetitive singing of praise lyrics B. Encourage members to dress down and wear casual clothes C. Eliminate business meetings, committees, boards of elders and or deacons and allow a small group of 3 to 5 men take over the business of the church D. A new study program will be instituted stressing psychological relationships with fellow members, with the community and the world E. Sunday morning, evening and Wednesday night meeting times are changed or eliminated F. Sunday School teachers are moved to different classes or simply replaced 1. The named, Sunday School, will be eliminated G. Crosses and other traditional Christian symbols moved or removed from the church IV. What should an informed believer do? A. They should seek to educate themselves [Books to read] B. We must dogmatically recognize that a Christianity not based Page 7 of 8
upon the Scriptures, is a false Christianity 1. It may be ecumenical 2. It may also attract large numbers of congregants 3. But it is not Biblical and therefore inspired by Satan C. We must be vigilant to safeguard five central doctrines in our church and its ministries 1. The key five foundation stones a. The verbal, plenary inspiration of the Scriptures, together with their full authority b. The virgin birth and full deity of the Lord Jesus Christ c. The bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead d. His atoning, vicarious death for the world s sin e. The literal return of the Lord Jesus Christ to the earth www.believersbibleclass.com and www.believersbibleclass.podbean.com 2017 - Believer s Bible Class, & Douglas W. Brady Page 8 of 8