Apostasy of the Church
1/20/2016 CFBC, Chester, IL Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker
A There is an absence of sound biblical teaching in the modern church.
1 People who are hungry for strong preaching from God’s Word are often left wanting for old-fashioned preaching that stirs your bones.
a It’s not just a departure found in America. . . . it’s around the world.
b Why the departure? The answer is found in the very same Bible that isn’t being taught, predicted this event would happen in the Last Days . . . Apostasy.
2 2 Timothy 4:1-4 (NASB) 1 I solemnly 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, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.
a The bible says there is a day coming when people will not put with sound doctrine . . . in other words, they won’t want to hear the Bible.
b They will flock to preachers/churches who preach to “itching ears.”
aa “itching” means “to desire that which is pleasant.”
bb In the last days, people will not want to hear the Bible anymore, so they’ll gather around teachers who give them pleasant/unarming preaching from the pulpit.
cc They’ll want cotton candy fluff that makes them feel good about themselves.
B “and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.” v.4
1 “myths” means made up stories.
a According to the Bible, we’ll know when we’re living in the Last Days when people in the church don’t want to hear the Bible anymore . . . instead
aa Just tell me pleasant things . . . make stuff-up, preacher.
bb No one wants to hear about sin, grace, holiness, death to self, brokeness, cross, . . . for sure no one wants to hear what the Bible has to say about specific sins (homosexuality, fornication, adultery, gluttony, divorce, authority of pastor and elders.)
b We’re seeing the apostasy of the church in this generation.
B I believe part of the blame stems from a subject that runs in denominational roots: Church Growth Movement.
1 I can personally attest to you, show you the books/class notes, that in the early 1990's, our denomination bought into this movement.
a The “Church Growth Movement” stresses that in order to have a “successful church” you need to start treating it like a business instead of a spiritual body that needs spiritual food.
b Pastors’ were challenged to stop being shepherds and turn into CEO’s.
aa Track every number you can, market your church all to achieve one goal . . . big numbers!
bb Jesus clearly stated that a successful is when you make disciples, not pew warmers.
2 Matthew 28:17-20 (NASB) 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful. 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
a Jesus is not concerned about most the numbers that appear in our bulletins, budgets.
aa How many got saved? Living Christian lives?
bb Calling sin, sin? How many people are being discipled?
b A successful church in God’s eyes is made up of disciplined learners who know the Bible through and through.
aa Pastor’s are not taught how to make disciples anymore . . . taught how to grow churches.
bb If you have 200 people in your church and only 20 are saved, what have you accomplished?
c If the numbers aren’t going up then we’re doing something wrong (preacher isn’t doing his job.)
aa It’s not the churches/preachers job to make people feel good, entertained, feel pleasant about their condition.
bb “Oh, don’t say homosexuality is a sin. Gay marriage is abomination. Abortion is murder. Talk politics, Islam, Sacrificial giving . . . we don’t want to hurt feelings. They’ll stop coming . . . giving.”
cc If we’re not judgmental, intolerant then people will come to church. . . we’ll have big numbers! Won’t that be great!
C These are some of the examples that are being passed off as church today . . .
1 Drive-Thru Church
a Service last about 5 minutes, you don’t have to get out of your car.
aa Communion served to you at your car.
bb A station is set up for an informal choir, and if your interested in singing, come on up.
b Different themes: fishing, communion served out of a tackle box, clean bait cup.
2 Clown Communion Church
a A clown performs communion, the congregation encouraged to dress up as clowns.
b The clown teaches the worshipers about the elements of communion.
3 Porn Movie Church
a Usually, on Super Bowl, many churches are participating in “Porn Sunday”
b Allegedly meant to help those addicted to pornography.
c One church that hosted this event said it was one of the best days ever in Church.
4 In Virginia, there is a full blown nude church.
D Church Growth Movement is just about numbers, it’s also about making those in the church feel good about “themselves.”
1 Therefore, don’t say anything that may hurt their self-esteem, feel bad about their behavior, upset them ...(better stay away from the Bible.)
a They’ll get upset, leave, and your numbers will go down.
b Gut your sermons of anything that might actually convict people, like sin/hell/judgement.
2 Stick to the stuff that makes people feel good and you’ll do great as a pastor!
a https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RcIqhcNNhw
b In other words, self-love comes first even above God.
aa That’s not just nuts,
bb It’s another sign we’re living in the last days.
E 2 Timothy 3:1-4 (NASB) 1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
1 Notice how many of our songs talk about being satisfied, blessed, loved by God as compared to worship of the one true God. (Music has come to reflect the Last Days Apostasy of the Church.)
a Amazing Grace
aa Some of the new hymnals/versions have omitted “wretch like me” and put less damaging wording.
bb “saved a person like me”, “saved and set me free”
b Victory In Jesus
aa “I heard an old, old story, How a Savior came from glory, How He gave His life on Calvary, To save a wretch like me”
bb changed to “ . . . To save one just like me.”
c How Deep The Father’s Love for Us.
aa “How vast beyond all measure, That He should give His only Son, To make a wretch His treasure” . . .
bb “To make us all His treasure.”
d The PCUSA asked the writer’s of “In Christ Alone” to change one key line in the third stanza . . .
aa In Christ alone, Who took on flesh, Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died, The wrath of God was satisfied;For ev’ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.
bb The committee wanted it read, “As Jesus died, the love God was magnified” but the writers said no . . . so the song was left out.
2 Why is it so hard to find a healthy church?
a Bible warned us that in the last days sound doctrine will be hard to come by. Rare.
b People want clowns to serve them communion, feel good about their sinful condition, hear about how much God loves them . . .not about how much God abhors sin.
c Those last days are here . . .the church needs to start looking up.
Conclusion:
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Respectfully,
Mike Fogerson
