tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post112019117865748966..comments2024-03-24T03:21:03.154-04:00Comments on CAMPONTHIS: Where in the World is the Church...is Evangelical Co-Belligerence (ECB) really the answer? (part one)SJ Camphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15844201288864307481noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1146590384566269402006-05-02T13:19:00.000-04:002006-05-02T13:19:00.000-04:00Steve,Thanks for posting this. This topic has long...Steve,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for posting this. This topic has long been on my heart. The Body of Christ is to be seperate from the World. In the World, but not be conformed to it. (Romans 12:2) Taking one political agendas, etc. brings in conformity to the world whether we intend for that or not. <BR/><BR/>I do appreaciate your Ministry.<BR/><BR/>In Christ<BR/><BR/>Mike RatliffMike Ratliffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14067841429011899105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1146572821438249292006-05-02T08:27:00.000-04:002006-05-02T08:27:00.000-04:00Hi Steve,I'm glad you put the notice at the bottom...Hi Steve,<BR/><BR/>I'm glad you put the notice at the bottom there, that this was a repost. As I read through it I was sure I'd read it before!<BR/><BR/>Timely indeed, and thoroughly convicting as well. <BR/><BR/>It seems to me that in our day so many Christian leaders have truly missed the boat when it comes to being leaders. Methods & marketing, programs & politics seem to take extreme precedent over the simplicity of preaching & teaching the Bible's truths.<BR/><BR/>Just like the childhood game of follow the leader, those under the leadership of these men repeat what they teach, and attempt to live out what they have told us is important. When they are critiqued or questioned, we spring to their defense. When <B>we</B> are questioned, we resort to a form of apologetics through the lense of "this is what my pastor teaches, how dare you tell me it's wrong?!".<BR/><BR/>Maybe I'm just extremely simple minded, but it seems to me that the gospel of Jesus is such a simple thing. We live according to it, we share it with the lost, and by the power of the Holy Spirit quickening spiritually dead people, in Godly sorrow and repentance, they come to Christ. <BR/><BR/>How did that get so complicated? When (and who?) was it decided that the gospel truth, lived & proclaimed was ineffective, and we needed new ways, political ways, cultural bells & whistles, and all sorts of other add-ons? When was it determined that the gospel message was insufficient in reaching the lost and we suddenly needed all these extras?<BR/><BR/>Well, I'm long winded, lol. I could go on about this for another hour or 6, but I won't. Good message, good timing.<BR/><BR/>SDG,<BR/>CarlaCarla Rolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09395062089776262435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1146565656245915112006-05-02T06:27:00.000-04:002006-05-02T06:27:00.000-04:00You wrote: "fighting spiritual battles with carnal...You wrote: "fighting spiritual battles with carnal “weaponry” is ineffectual"<BR/><BR/>There are times I cannot sleep. I am sometimes suddenly, at times, awakened by a burden to pray for someone or something. This time it is for my pastor and his family. We ate lunch with them this past Sunday. It is always a joy to be with them. This is a family that stands for uncompromising truth and you know what that means. (it means they are in an outright war fighting spiritual battles where carnal weaponry is ineffectual)<BR/><BR/>I earlier asked you how to define Evangelical because I am discouraged by what I see. I'm not ready to stop claiming to be an Evangelical Christian woman, but I do not know if it is because I am trying to hang on to something familiar for the wrong reasons. I just really don't know.<BR/><BR/>We can all get motivated by the expedient rather than the essential. ...avoiding that uncompromising Gospel truth which sadly causes discord ... avoiding it because it costs, it is sacrifice beyond what too many are willing to pay... we want to be liked and stay out of the uncomfortable battle... burying our heads in the sand.... too busy for the cause of Christ.<BR/><BR/>Interesting that you are writing about Titus 3. I have already shared that our church youth group is memorizing Titus. THey are on Chapter 3 right now and will be quizzing on it this next week... and interesting that you talk of Matthew Meed and the "almost Christian"... my pastors sermon this past Sunday was in Hebrews 6:4-6, "The 5 Characterisitics of the Almost Christian." It was excellent. He is expostitionally going through Hebrews. At the end of the sermon he said that we must grow in our abhorrence of sin... and if we are not, pray to God that we will and then be greatful of the grace of God that He does not stomp us out, but carries His children along. <BR/>Am I like Simon or Judas? Are my "beliefs" motivated by selfish reasons? Am I an imposter that is actually full of bitterness and bound by iniquity, unwilling to repent, unable to persevere to the end? Does His Word change me? Am I at God's disposal, continually ready for action? Am I moved and awed by preaching or by God's Word but unchanged by it? (red flags if that be so)<BR/>Am I eager to share what Christ is doing? Do I know Christ and the power of His resurrection? <BR/><BR/>Thank you, Mr. Camp... this is still a timely and true post and i am very thankful you reposted it. I have so much to learn. So far to go. What a longsuffering, merciful, all-powerful, perfectly holy, just and loving God!4givenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16604421713579961024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1120671220448901992005-07-06T13:33:00.000-04:002005-07-06T13:33:00.000-04:00Steve, great post. This evangelical co belligerenc...Steve, great post. This evangelical co belligerence really troubles me. It seems that evangelicals are willing to compromise biblical truth for the sake of the false notion that we can achieve victory in the culture war apart from the unadulterated gospel of Jesus Christ (sola fide) Evangelicalism today has certainly gotten sidetracked from our primary mission of proclaiming the gospel to the lost. Awhile back on the Pyromaniac’s blog, a <A HREF="http://phillipjohnson.blogspot.com/2005/06/machen-speaks-from-grave.html" REL="nofollow">post</A> addressing this issue generated some comments from people that disturbed me to the point that I was compelled to discuss this on my own <A HREF="http://authentictruth.blogspot.com/2005/06/ecumenical-danger.html" REL="nofollow">blog</A>. It seems that many are clueless concerning the way that evangelicals are inadvertently distorting the truth of Scripture through ecumenical compromise. When the main focus becomes political activism and partnering with those chiefly concerned with fighting moral decay, it is inevitable that truth is going to be set aside for fear of offending these other groups, thus breaking the alliance. When the truth is watered down or muddled, it creates a great deal of confusion concerning the gospel – both within and outside the church.AuthenticTruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10067252582009478310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1120580669091668652005-07-05T12:24:00.000-04:002005-07-05T12:24:00.000-04:00Steve,Thanks for your article! You've really nail...Steve,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your article! You've really nailed it: if the church is going to transform the world, it's going to do so from the inside out, as God sovereignly changes the hearts of sinful men and women. How foolish to trust in the transforming power of politics when we serve an Almighty God! I also appreciate your reminder that we ought to have compassion and pity on the sinners around us. Everything good that the Christian enjoys is a gift of God. We have nothing, absolutely nothing, of which to boast save Christ and Him crucified, so how dishonoring it is to God when we put on our Pharisaical robes and strive to force sinners to live as though they were saints, when we ourselves cannot keep God's Law except as He gives us the grace to do so.<BR/><BR/>Davetheinscrutableonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00918928202965884076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1120280567368316472005-07-02T01:02:00.000-04:002005-07-02T01:02:00.000-04:00Hey Steve,Thanks for the post. You're hitting on ...Hey Steve,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the post. You're hitting on some things that have been troubling me for a long time. It troubles me that the Evangelical church seems to have become so identified with the Repulican party and conservative politics.<BR/><BR/>We have a message that is so much more important to proclaim. Moral issues like abortion and sanctity of marriage are important, but if that is all we stand for, than we really aren't any different than the Mormans (or Muslims for that matter).<BR/><BR/>Thanks for sharing your views.<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://puritankevin.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow">The Reluctant Puritan</A>Kevin Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13235310196313993208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14012689.post-1120193013063298782005-07-01T00:43:00.000-04:002005-07-01T00:43:00.000-04:00Jesus is not a Republican?Years ago I heard Tony E...Jesus is not a Republican?<BR/><BR/>Years ago I heard Tony Evans speak at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, Ca. The most memorable thing he said was:<BR/><BR/>"When Jesus comes back, he will not take sides. He is going to take over."<BR/><BR/>Gotta love that.Away From The Brinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01437744242086239050noreply@blogger.com