Paul Proctor -- Is a new church emerging from the pulpits of compromise?

IS A NEW CHURCH EMERGING FROM THE PULPITS OF COMPROMISE?

By Paul Proctor

October 10, 2007

NewsWithViews.com

What do you suppose it means when a 2008 presidential candidate named Barack Obama tells an evangelical church on the campaign trail, "I am confident we can create a kingdom right here on Earth," even though Jesus Christ told Pilate shortly before His crucifixion: "My Kingdom is not of this world"? (John 18:36)

And what do you suppose it means when our current compassionate conservative born again evangelical president says in an interview, "�I believe that all the world, whether they be Muslim, Christian, or any other religion, prays to the same God" when Jesus Himself said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me"? (John 14:6)

And what do you suppose it means when Colorado Community Church in Englewood Colorado uses a violent video game as a "recruiting tool" to draw kids into their basement where a twelve year old participant proclaims: "It's just fun blowing people up"?

And what do you suppose it means when a church called The Gathering in Sevierville, Tennessee sends out 50,000 pamphlets advertising "Red Hot Sex" to arouse nearby residents into attending their services?

And what do you suppose it means when churches like The First Baptist Church of Hendersonville, Tennessee bring in an organization called XXX Church and hosts a porn-themed Sunday to try and address their church's own addiction to pornography?

And what do you suppose it means when the children's pastor at Christ Church in Nashville publicly endorses an 11-inch plastic Jesus doll as a teaching tool for kids, when the second commandment clearly states: "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image�"? (Exodus 20:4)

And what do you suppose it means when Grace Community Church in Clarksville, Tennessee purposely hides the Gospel from those who need to hear it behind community service projects and volunteerism while Pastor Ron Edmonson declares: "All our volunteers have been asked to invest expecting nothing in return" when Jesus specifically commanded Christians 2000 years ago to "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15)

In an August 2000 article titled "The People's Church," I posed the following question:

"As the doors are all thrown open to anyone and anything, I ask you, is the church affecting the culture or is the culture infecting the church? Who is proselytizing whom here? Look around and tell me what you see.

I would say the answer to that seven-year old question is now obvious, wouldn't you?

So what does it all mean?

Here's a clue:

"For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." - Acts 28:27

Related articles:

1. CNN Political Ticker Obama: GOP doesn't own faith and values
2. Bush: All religions pray to 'same God'
3. Thou Shalt Not Kill, Except in a Popular Video Game at Church
4. Church preaches power of sex
5. XXX Church Turns Heads In Hendersonville
6. Talking Jesus doll tests how religion, retail mix
7. Church members volunteer, check evangelism at the door
8. The People's Church - A Wayward Vessel

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Paul Proctor, a rural resident of the Volunteer state and seasoned veteran of the country music industry, retired from showbiz in the late 1990's to dedicate himself to addressing important social issues from a distinctly biblical perspective. As a freelance writer and regular columnist for NewsWithViews.com, he extols the wisdom and truths of scripture through commentary and insight on cultural trends and current events. His articles appear regularly on a variety of news and opinion sites across the internet and in print.

E-Mail: watchman@usa.com�

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