Comments on: “Inoculated Against Jesus” (part 2) http://loveandlead.wordpress.com/2008/03/29/%e2%80%9cinoculated-against-jesus%e2%80%9d-part-2/ A Spiritual Journey Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:23:11 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Jay Fleming http://loveandlead.wordpress.com/2008/03/29/%e2%80%9cinoculated-against-jesus%e2%80%9d-part-2/#comment-266 Jay Fleming Wed, 02 Apr 2008 05:32:25 +0000 http://loveandlead.wordpress.com/2008/03/29/%e2%80%9cinoculated-against-jesus%e2%80%9d-part-2/#comment-266 I have come to believe that the root issue in the American evangelical church today (and yes, I include Southern Baptists in that group) is that we have exchanged the biblical Gospel, which is about following Jesus Christ as Lord, for a 'gospel' of personal salvation. Gone is a message of true life-change and in its place is a 'plan of salvation' that begins with the question, "Do you want to go to heaven when you die?" and concludes with the assurance that if one mentally assents to the 'ABC's of becoming a Christian' (copyright Lifeway VBS material) and says the prayer that is suggested, then they are a Christian. At issue is what the Scripture means when it uses the word 'believe'. I find helpful what Ron Martoia writes in his book "Static". He shares that a good biblical word, "repent", was used in the first century when one king or government conquered another's territory. The conqueror would send out a proclamation declaring that all should 'repent' of former allegiances and swear a new allegiance to his authority. That's what it means to say "Jesus Christ is Lord!" He's the new boss. If our preaching/teaching/witnessing doesn't make this clear, then yes we are inoculating people against true Christianity. I have come to believe that the root issue in the American evangelical church today (and yes, I include Southern Baptists in that group) is that we have exchanged the biblical Gospel, which is about following Jesus Christ as Lord, for a ‘gospel’ of personal salvation. Gone is a message of true life-change and in its place is a ‘plan of salvation’ that begins with the question, “Do you want to go to heaven when you die?” and concludes with the assurance that if one mentally assents to the ‘ABC’s of becoming a Christian’ (copyright Lifeway VBS material) and says the prayer that is suggested, then they are a Christian.

At issue is what the Scripture means when it uses the word ‘believe’. I find helpful what Ron Martoia writes in his book “Static”. He shares that a good biblical word, “repent”, was used in the first century when one king or government conquered another’s territory. The conqueror would send out a proclamation declaring that all should ‘repent’ of former allegiances and swear a new allegiance to his authority. That’s what it means to say “Jesus Christ is Lord!” He’s the new boss. If our preaching/teaching/witnessing doesn’t make this clear, then yes we are inoculating people against true Christianity.

]]> By: Panhandle Poet http://loveandlead.wordpress.com/2008/03/29/%e2%80%9cinoculated-against-jesus%e2%80%9d-part-2/#comment-257 Panhandle Poet Sun, 30 Mar 2008 04:06:03 +0000 http://loveandlead.wordpress.com/2008/03/29/%e2%80%9cinoculated-against-jesus%e2%80%9d-part-2/#comment-257 Through your words I am reminded both of Rich Mullins and Brendan Manning. Where oh where is radical Christianity? Through your words I am reminded both of Rich Mullins and Brendan Manning.

Where oh where is radical Christianity?

]]>