If you're an ME (Modern Evangelical) I'd like to challenge you to do something. Here it is; see if you can actually do it:
Sit down at a table with a pen and a tablet that will fit in your pocket. List all the churchy sayings you and your friends say to each other and that you hear your pastor say over and over. After you've written down every religious saying or bit of wisdom you think you hear and say at church or Bible study, close up the tablet and put it in your pocket. Keep it there for at least a week because as days go by and you listen to ME radio or watch ME TV, you'll hear some you forgot or simply remember some old ones. Write them in the tablet, too. Be sure to take your sayings tablet to church and Bible study at least once and write every saying down. EVERY one. "God helps those who help themselves." "Who are you to judge?" "Make the gospel relevant." "God loves a cheerful giver." "God doesn't want any of His children poor or sick." "Love them into the Kingdom." "Lifestyle evangelism." "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." "The Pharisees were too into following everything the Bible says." "Doctrine isn't important." "Jesus is too much of a gentleman to make you repent." "God doesn't hate anybody." "Hate the sin; love the sinner." "God doesn't send anybody to hell." "Don't preach to people." "Pray this prayer to be saved..." "God wants me happy." "Accept God." "Plant a seed offering."
When you're satisfied you have them all, sit down again. Look up each saying in a concordance or a topical Bible. If you can’t find them, what does that tell you? It tells you they probably aren’t in the Bible, doesn’t it? Drop them and never say them again. Replace them with Bible verses and partial verses. If you do find one of your old sayings, like “Don’t judge”, read the entire chapter where you found it. It might not mean what you thought it did. If you find one in the Bible and it really means what you thought it meant, GREAT! Keep it. You're good. Read enough Bible regularly that you get new Bible verses all the time to replace the old sayings as they drop away and don’t try to remember all of them. That’s not the point. Just keep doing this. You will begin to change. You will see the world through brand new eyes, eyes filled with the Spirit of God.
In a very short time you will be amazed at just how silly some of the things you used to say were. Then start reading the Bible over and over and over. Read it through at least once a year. Anything less puts you in danger.
It'll change your life. God promises that, you know.
I’m serious.
Phil.
STILL TO COME: Parts II and III of AMERICAN EVANGELICALISM IS A MENTAL GHETTO.
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7 comments:
That is an awesome thing to do. There are so many people out there that just take the things that Christians say and make them part of scripture. Studying scripture yourself is the best way to avoid this. I would recommend using Bible software. If you are reading this blog you are already on a computer. Why not study there?
Full disclosure: I work for Logos Bible Software so I am a little prejudiced…
If you want to take your Bible study to the next level, take a look and give me a call and I would love to offer you a discounted price!
Jared Bryant (800) 875-6467 ext 2319
Jared,
Thanks for the compliment. I'm serious about this being a good exerecise. If folks were reading their Bibles, as you point out, they'd not have to do it, because good doctrine would be pretty much automatic. I did go and listen to the Logos advertisement. Having heard of it, but not familiar with it because I use Bibleworks, I checked it out. I was very disappointed at what I found. May I point out what I saw that was wrong?
Here's why:
1. The marketing--
a. Those marketing it make false claims. For one, they claim to give "all the references" on a particular passage or subject. They either don't know Scripture or are willing to lie about it. I don't believe for one second that anyone on God's green earth knows all the passages on any particular subject.
For instance, look up all the references to "holiness". You can't. You'd have to quote almost the entire book of Leviticus and many chapters of Exodus. And I'd like to see their references to the fear of God. I know personally more than 150 verses apply and I've not caught all of them.
Lying is lying, even if the world calls it "aggressive advertising". Let the world do that. We ought not.
b. The marketing is being done either by people who lack discernment, or are sprirtual whores.
Wow! That's a shocking statement. But there's a rational reason for it. When I went to the Logos site, I found endorsements by heretics such as Bob Lepine, Dennis Rainey, Bruce Wilkinson, Bill Bright, David Jeremiah, and Josh McDowell.
The average Joe Church has no idea that those folks are heretics and I'm not about to chew on Joe Church for not knowing. Joe Church also has a family and a job. He has probably depended on his pastor to keep watch for the wolves. And his pastor unbuckled his belt and took a nap after potluck, instead of doing just 30 minutes of research each week to protect his flock.
However, the mucky mucks at Logos are computer literate and could have googled each of these clowns. Either they were two lazy, or they don't want to limit their market. Lazy or whores. We don't have to decide. God will.
2. The content is a little scary for a guy like me. Having studied at a seminary and taught at a Baptist college, I know just how lazy and dishonest many, if not most, preachers are. Logos gives sermon outlines.
I'll bet many preachers buy it just for that.
So, thanks for the compliment, but take a good look at the company you're working for. They're in sin.
In Christ,
Phil Perkins. PS--If you get any sales, I want a commission, since I didn't get paid for the advertising. ;)
Good Stuff!
Phil,
I actually had someone who should know better say something like "The Bible says we will get the government we deserve." I laughed and said, "That's a hippie saying from the sixties! It's not scriptural!" This person actually said "It isn't?"
Amazing what people DON'T know...and should.
Excellent assignment, Phil. I'd love to pass it on to the congregation I pastor and via my blog too.
God bless!
Yomi,
Please do so.
Also, how are you?
Phil.
Phil,
I am fine, thank you, abiding in the sovereignty and grace of our God.
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