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Christianity was supposed to be about becoming like Jesus. | |
We went in the wrong direction. |
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Christian Pioneer - eBook for Cell Phone Everything you Know is Wrong |
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| The Legacy Christian Environment These are older congregations that are shrinking. Sometimes liberals will target these particularly in inner cities as the accumulated financial resources can make them tempting targets.  These are often heavy on ritual and seldom inspire anything in the sermons. People raised in these denominations usually find little to justify going and move on. Some move on to other churches, but most leave Christian practice altogether. The Dynamic Christian Environment These churches are more hip and usually feature music with a rock inclination. The emphasis is on the experience one can have. Like all activities that emphasize feelings, repetition dulls the experience and after awhile, there can seem little reason to continue.  These churches are very youth oriented and may sing what are called 7-11 hymns (seven words sung eleven times). The church “experience’ is often discussed in terms of sensations. The “Loving” Environment This type of feeling stimulation is more related to a sense of self-righteousness. There is an emphasis on tolerance, acceptance, and being “affirming”. If they do not have any homosexuals, transexuals, or other oppressed group, they may have to recruit some so that their “love” can be demonstrated.  The “love” demonstrated here is a sort of embarrassing self-stimulation. Biblical love on the other hand is selflessness; Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil; rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Some of these can be even more arrogant than a legalist. The Supernatural Environment The general category includes talking in tongues, healing, and prosperity. One can understand the attraction if such things were possible. However, while the bible does describe some supernatural activity in the early church, the bible also describes it as being limited and more a “taste” of the power of the age to come. Sadly, many with serious health problems are told that their condition continues because of their weak faith.  God can and does answer prayer. However, presenting God as a magic genie is to blaspheme. Speaking what might kindly be called ecstatic speech (less generously - gibberish) is not a sign of the Holy Spirit. Rather it can be the result of an intense desire to meet the expectation of others. The Achievement Environment There are churches that emphasize intellectual mastery such as having read all of the Puritan authors or being steeped in commentaries on arcane aspects of doctrine unique to the denomination. Similarly there are legalist churches that emphasize mastery over the sin nature or ability to meet criteria often spelled out on a list such as don’t smoke, drink, swear, dance, play cards, or go to movies.  Achievement churches often demonstrate smugness with a degree of swagger. the New Testament version of this would be the Pharisees. It is often these that contribute the view that Christians are hypocrites because of the frequent failure to be as righteous as claimed. Christian maturity should be measured by to what degree one is less driven by the flesh and more driven by the Holy Spirit. |
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Information about Christianity and the Christian life. |
Pictures and views of our farm | Some of our animals | See some of the old-fashioned crafts we are trying to relearn | ||