Musing – Are there Unbiblical Messages/Beliefs in Today’s Church?

Hebraic Musing – Are there Unbiblical Messages/Beliefs in Today’s Church?

Has the Salvation message been watered down?  Is it now taught that all you need to do is “Answer the altar call, say a prayer and your sins are forgiven and you have eternal life with Jesus”?  Such a deal!  BUT has the person been encouraged to read the Bible and understand what is biblically defined and/or required? 

Let’s take a closer look and examine some other common but questionable beliefs.

Salvation is attained by making a decision for Christ at an altar call.  If a person repeats "the sinner's prayer" are they "saved"?  Might we be giving false hope to the respondent?  Does the Bible say we are saved by saying a prayer?  What does it say?  “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Rom 10:9-10  NIV  Did that say “are” or “will be”?   John clarifies this later in 1 John 3:9-10  “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.  This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.” Seems we need to validate our repentance with deeds according to Acts 26:20b “I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.”    Maybe we need to become “fruit inspectors”?

Worship simply consists of singing songs.  True worship includes blessing the Lord with all your soul. “Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!”  Psalm 103:1 NKJV   And Jesus told us the difference in red letters in Mark 7:6-7 "'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.” NIV

Is Repentance as simple as crying at the altar?  The word "repentance" has to do with a mindset change, a change of behavior, more than an emotional experience.  It sounds to me that real change needs to take place.

We are taught to “Say Prayers”, but the Bible emphasizes we should seek Him “at all times”!  “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”  Eph. 6:18

We can satisfy God by simply tithing.  Sometimes it sounds like God only wants 10% to prove our faithfulness!  Don’t we realize it is all His!?  How did Jesus answer the rich man?  “Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Luke 18:22 

Do we go to church?  Or do we belong to a church?  1 Cor. 3:16 says “Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple…”  The building merely houses the body of Christ for corporate activities.

Ministers are the ordained people in the church?  Aren’t we ALL called to minister with God-given gifts?

Eternal life begins when we die.  But “whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 says it starts when we first believe!  Or do we already have eternal life?  Where will we spend it?

Christians no longer need to confess their sins.  You hear that expression in “Hyper-Grace” circles!  Then why does John tell us to confess?  “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9-10   And James tell us “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” James 5:16 

Points to ponder

Is it true that the influence of a church depends on its size?

Are these the only un-Scriptural beliefs you hear?  i.e. “God helps those who…”; etc.

How did so many twisted beliefs sneak into the “beliefs” of “Believers”?
Do they read the Bibles they carry to church?  …or the one on their phone apps?

Am I saying all this with tongue in cheek?   Or only half in my cheek?

I love y’all

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                   April 2, 2019  

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”     “insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com”

Source – Charisma, 10 Common Unbiblical Beliefs in the Contemporary Church  by Dr. Joseph Mattera, 1/17/2019