Extreme Theology

Take The Deeds NOT Creeds Challenge!

This challenge will be VERY challenging for anyone who attends a purpose-driven or seeker-sensitive church.

I strongly recommend that everyone take the challenge. Click Here.

Pitting Evangelism Against Discipleship

Pastor Steven Furtick of Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC is a living incarnation of the seeker-sensitive deeds NOT creeds thinking that has invaded the church.

He recently preached a sermon series entitled “Confessions of a Pastor” and he did all of us a huge favor. He candidly and passionately articulated his disdain for doctrine, discipling and feeding God’s sheep with God’s Word. (some video from the sermon is posted below)

I’ve seen this over and again with churches that have gone Purpose-Driven. Sound Biblical teaching is replaced with self-help 'practical living' sermons, hymns and songs with ANY deep doctrinal content are replaced with me-centered 7/11 songs, and those who complain about the lack of doctrinal depth and missing Biblical content are mocked and ridiculed and forcibly shown the door. But, normally this is done in private. Furtick, in the video below, decided to do this in public.

Listen carefully and you will hear how Furtick and others like him justify their entertainment-driven, relevant, self-help topical services. Its all in the name of evangelism and ‘kingdom multiplication’.

The most telling quote from Furtick’s diatribe is:

“If You Know Jesus This Church is NOT for you!”

His attitude is this:

We don't teach from Books of the Bible because it gets in the way of evangelism.

We don't offer different kinds of Bible studies because it gets in the way of evangelism.

We don't teach doctrine because it gets in the way of evangelism.

If you want to be fed God's word or have the Bible explained to you then you are a fat lazy Christian and you need to shut up and get to work or you need to leave this church because we ONLY do evangelism.

Notice also that "serving in the church" is the ONLY benchmark Furtick accepts as a good work for Jesus. What about serving Jesus by being a good spouse, parent, child, student, employee or business owner? Furtick and countless others like him, in their myopic obsession with evangelism and numbers have literally ignored their duty to feed and care for God's sheep and make disciples.

What is at stake is the Gospel itself because the people who attend these churches won't have enough Biblical grounding to withstand even the most ridiculous 'wind of doctrine'. These men, by pitting evangelism against their Biblical duty to 'make disciples' are setting the church up for Total-Apostasy.

Please take the time to read the scriptures passages I've supplied below the video. The contrast between the two is stark.

John 21:15-17   When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”

Luke 10:38-42   Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her.”

Matthew 28:19-2 "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

John 8:31-32   So Jesus said ...“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Acts 2:42   And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles.

Titus 1:7-10 "For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not tbe arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. 10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers..."

Titus 2:1-10   But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, uworking at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. 9 Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

2 Timothy 4:1-4   I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

1 Corinthians 1:18-25   "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, -- “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” -- Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and lthe wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men."

They Will Know We Are Christians By Our Sex?

A "Decision Card" For Today's New Churches

Clicking on a 'decision' will take you to a page about that 'decision'.

AC/DC's Hell's Bells Played During a Church Service

I've posted this under Purpose-Driven Critique because Pastor Perry Noble of Newspring Church is very open about the fact that he is a big Rick Warren fan and that he is purpose-driven.

He recently had his Praise and Worship band play AC/DC's "Hell's Bells" as a part of the church service. The video is posted below. In the video Perry Noble defends his decision for playing this song by saying "110 people met Jesus".

How on earth can we believe that people are "Meeting Jesus" in church's that are playing "Hell's Bells" in their services?

The church of Jesus Christ is not called to invite people to 'Meet Him". The church is called to preach God's Law and the Gospel. The church is supposed to call ALL people to repentance from sins and trust in Christ for the forgiveness of their sins.

If you are offended by my saying that, I would invite you to read a post from a few months ago entitled "Repentance: The Ultimate Message of Love"

Here's the video.

Take the Little Leaven Pop-Quiz

A Little Leaven has a very eye-opening pop-quiz on their site. If you fail this quiz then you need some serious doctrinal intervention. This quiz even features a deleted scene from the movie Gladiator. Click Here to Take the Quiz.

Too many dunking pastors are “sprinklers” when it comes to the word of God.

In the course of my day-to-day research I listen to a lot of sermons. I listen to sermons from well known mega-church pastors as well as pastors that few, if any, have ever heard of. Recently, I noticed an interesting trend among the seeker-sensitive, purpose-driven church pastors that I listen to.

1. They almost all insist that baptisms be done by immersion. Pardon the pun, but they are very religious about dunking people. It is nearly impossible to find a “sprinkler” in the bunch. In fact, they all give practically the exact same reasons and scripture verses to support baptism by immersion AND they passionately defend this practice.

2. Strangely enough, practically every single one of these pastors are ‘sprinklers’ when it comes to preaching. Their sermons all fall into the same Biblically watered-down, self-help, 3 point life application type lessons with 3 or 4 “out of context” verses “sprinkled” in for good measure.

How Odd.

The Bible does NOT give a clear command that says that baptism must be by immersion and must have a minimum number of gallons of water in order for it to be valid. Yet, these pastors passionately defend dunking as if it did.

YET, the Bible DOES give VERY clear instruction to pastors and teachers in the church that they are to Preach the Word (2 Tim 4:1-5), preach what is in accord with sound doctrine (Tit 2:1), and preach Christ Crucified for sinners (1 Cor 1:22-25). In other words, the Bible doesn’t allow for ‘verse sprinklers’ when it comes to preaching and teaching in the church. Despite this fact, the seeker-sensitive, purpose-driven type pastors openly refuse to preach expository or expositional sermons. They say it is because the unchurched don’t like them or find them irrelevant.

Hmmmm...

Christ told the church to go and make disciples. Here are His words from the Great Commission:

Matt 28:19-20 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

Verse 20 makes it clear that a crucial part of making disciples is teaching people to observe ALL that Jesus commanded.  These commands can ONLY be found in God’s word.  In fact, here is how Jesus defines a disciple...

John 8:31- 32 “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

By Jesus’ own definition, His disciples are those who “Abide in His Word”.

There are no two ways about it, Abiding Requires Immersion. Sprinkling just won’t do.

This is why the Apostle Paul, through the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit gives this charge to young pastor Timothy.

2 Timothy 4:1-2   In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction.

This verse makes it clear that pastors are to Preach God's Word.

Sadly, we live in a time when preaching God’s Word is ‘out of season’. Today, it isn’t fashionable, relevant, practical or seeker-sensitive to actually preach God’s word. But, God the Holy Spirit knew that there would be seasons like this and He made it mandatory for pastors to Preach the Word regardless of the season. In this passage, God the Holy Spirit charges pastors to immerse the sheep in their care in God’s Word. They are to discharge this duty Sunday after Sunday. In other words, verse Sprinkling is out of the question for all Christian Pastors.

Question: Is your pastor a sprinkler or a dunker when it comes to God’s Word?

A Call for Unfaithful Pastors to Repent!

Enough is enough! There is an plague of pastors in the church who refuse to do their Biblical duty and preach God's word, preach sound doctrine and make disciples who are grounded in God's word.

These pastors would rather be relevant, popular, purpose-driven, seeker-sensitive, hip, kewl, or emergent than do their Biblical duty.

It is time to call these men out and call them to repentance.

Here is a link to a web-page i've written that you can send to those pastors who refuse to do their Biblical duty. Please take the time to pass it on to those pastors who need to repent and get back to preaching God's Word and Christ Crucified for sinners.