The problems that Timothy was sent to fight in Ephesus arose from a twisting of the Gospel. There were myths and endless genealogies as well as those who added the Law to Jesus. The results were terrible - fighting and anger in the church, a loss of order, confusion... not unlike many of our churches and much of Western Christianity today. There is much at stake.
Sadly, as the church has moved further and further from the Gospel and from good theology in general many church goers cannot distinguish between truth and lies. Mention the name of Jesus and we are happy and accepting. Not everything with Jesus' name is really the Gospel. People need to know that.
Take a look and listen to Creflo Dollar - is this really what the Bible means when it talks about 'the righteousness of God?'
Creflo twists the Gospel message into a message of health, wealth, and prosperity. That doesn't seem to be the Gospel that Paul enjoyed, or preached. It doesn't seem to be the Gospel of the countless martyrs who lived and died in faith and even in the joy of the Gospel.
Creflo turns the great and glorious news of the Gospel and all that God has done for you in Jesus into a man centered means to live large. That's not the Gospel. The righteousness of God that Jesus suffered and died for had NOTHING to do with your Wendy's order. That's just sick.
So are people coming to Jesus because they love and trust Him - because they have beheld His beauty and glory - Are they coming in repentance seeking FORGIVENESS or are they coming to that great vending machine God who wants to give them a raise, a new car, and a great house?
Here is a note from one of our Acts 29 pastors in India. Does this sound like prosperity?
Please uphold us in your prayers as some of our church members were beaten badly by anti-christian elements on 16th of this month as they were going to carrol singing from house to house that night. We have not informed to the police as Christmas is nearing and we dont want to run arround the police station during this time, instead we are informing the local leaders about the situation. One of the team members by name Prabhu is sevearly beaten and is undergoing treatment and i appriciate your prayers for his quick recovery.
Pastor Sudhakar Hyderabad.
Maybe the poor guys just didn't have enough faith, huh?
Then there is Joel Osteen. Joel knows the Bible, which says - I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except by Me. Jesus, John 14:6. The Good News is JESUS - the Gospel is JESUS. Jesus has made the way - Jesus has taken our place on the cross, Jesus' blood is where we find cleansing and forgiveness. In Him their is justification, and righteousness and all that is needed to rightly relate to God, our Father. And apart from His name, Acts 4:12, there is no other name by which we are saved... sorry - I could go on!
What, when asked by Larry King before potentially millions of watchers did Joel say?
So - name names? Yeah. There's a lot at stake.
What do you think?
