To say that character and discipline are out of vogue would be an understatement. Ours has become a culture that caters to the irresponsible. In children’s sports participation awards have replaced trophies for winning. Forced equal outcomes in childhood are preparing this generation for the coming socialistic takeover.
Paul’s admonition to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12) is a seldom expounded, and unpopular, text. By the way, it does not say to work out your salvation with “Fun and Calmness”—but with Fear and Trembling.
A Man Is Deceived When... 1. He becomes a hearer and not a doer of the Word. (James 1:22) 2. He says he has no sin. (1 John 1:8)
You attract what you are... right? Churches tend to assimilate people who look alike, think alike, vote alike, dress alike, sound/sing alike, earn alike, sin alike, etc., right? So what about the mixture of nationalities and cultures that comprised the early church: Greeks, Jews, Barbarians, Scythians, etc. (see Col. 3:11)? How were they able to unite such cultural diversity in this new organism called the church?
Most prayer in the Book of Acts was corporate prayer. The Apostles had two main responsibilities: leading the church in prayer and ministering the Word (Acts 6:4). Serving tables and the like were handed over to Spirit-filled men (deacons) so the shepherds could oversee the prayer ministry in the church. Is it not instructive that shepherding in prayer is mentioned prior to the important task of preaching? This order is not a trivial fact. But what other factors contributed to such powerful prayer?
Institutional churches resort to a manageable god—one who stays in his place. A manageable god patiently overlooks the elevation of man’s tradition over the commandments of God. He never overwhelms with a sense of frightening holiness. Such a docile deity is just as much a fabrication of man’s imagination as Dagon was the fabrication of a man’s hands.