Dave,

I enjoyed your comments and also to learn of what is going on in your own personal life and church. And I was particularly interested in this comment you made:

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A common argument is that God will use it. But my argument is that where do we mature in Christ? Are we going to be so Liberal so we can seemingly get more converts but not ever do anything to help mature the body in fear of offending them?
As I responded to Tom in one of my replies to him, the fundamental issue is in this matter of "converts". The modern church is quick to acknowledge any type of profession and/or experience as a "conversion". But most lack any true marks of regeneration. It is my deepest concern that the modern church with its myriad worldly methodologies are producing fleshly conversions and nothing more. And the unfortunate individuals who are told that they are now "Christians" are yet dead in sin and under the judgment of God. They have been deceived and are being deceived into a false sense of security when in fact they need to be given a new nature by God's sovereign work, repent of their sins and truly cast themselves before the Lord Christ in faith.

Thus, although maturing in Christ is something which is incumbent upon us all to strive for, one must first be made alive and reconciled to God in Christ before one can mature in Christ. The "seeker-friendly" methods are offering at best crumbs of the Gospel and not the full-course meal which is the power of God unto salvation. And the result actually puts people in a more precarious condition than they were beforehand. What I see is the "blind leading the blind" and unless the Lord is pleased to intervene and dispense His mercy and grace upon them, they shall both fall into the precipice. [Linked Image]

In His Grace,


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simul iustus et peccator

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