Tom said:
Dave
I just thought I would ask you a few questions that may help you in this matter.
What do you think your Church's beliefs are on this issue?
Have you consulted with your pastor about your concern for these people? He may like to know about it, so he can provide biblical teaching.
Tom
There are a lot of people in the congregation that feel as though people can be "saved" without the gospel.
Most of the people in my congregation don't read the Bible and or don't really know much about it.
Sharing the "whole" gospel with people in my church is a sensitive process.
Most people, kind of like the Roman Catholic Church, are focused more on letting others "see Jesus in them."
This is the predominant focus in how they want to lead their faith. i.e.; being loving, kind, friendly, etc....
The main underlining problem that I witness in my church body, is that it is more of a social club. It's a place where people can gather and socialize and be friendly and teach their children good moral values. But there isn't a strong focus on the gospel and when there is someone talking about the gospel it's mainly the later part, i.e.; "the good new", that Christ died on the cross for us so that we may have a restored relationship with God. While this is certainly the gospel, it isn't convicting unless add the first part which is that we in and of ourselves were born sinners and that our righteousness is as filthy rags and the only hope in restoring our relationship with the Father is by putting our faith and trust in the only one who was able to satisfy the demands of God and that was Jesus Christ. Without Christs' righteousness imputed to us, or without being covered by His blood we are lost. It is only by putting our faith in Him and His redeeming work on the cross that we will be saved.
So.... you see, people in my congregation are very uncomfortable being confronted by their sin and sin nature. They don't like being told that they are inherently sinful. That they and the rest of humanity have a very real sin problem. That people are inherently "bad" and not "good." And most especially that unless someone is in Christ, they WILL go to hell.
I am in the process right now of discussing this issue with my pastors.
My pastors do share the gospel from the pulpit and are good ministers of the Word. I don't believe it's entirely their doing. But they are also not very convicting in this area of the gospel.
In an age of relativism, self esteem and subjective truth, it's hard to be firm on objective truths that are hard to understand and accept.
But never the less, the church is predominantly Arminian. But not totally. There has been more reformed action going on. But it all boils down to the problem of God sending undeserving people or "good" people to hell.
But what I'm trying to do right now, in the next few weeks is to work on this doctrinal idea with the Pastorate and the elders. So that is why I'm trying to gather all my ducks in a row.
So any help would be most appreciated.
Thanks,
Dave
