12 Evangelism Myths vs.Truth

1. Myth: “Jesus told us to bring people into a church building”. Truth: Jesus said to go in to all the world and preach the gospel.

2. Myth: “Going to church means one is a Christian.” Truth: Being born again from above means one is a Christian.

3. Myth: “It is the pastor’s job to evangelize in the church building.” Truth: It is the job of every born again Christian to evangelize out in the whole world.

4. Myth: “It is the evangelist’s job to do all the evangelism.” Truth: It is every born again Christian’s job to do all the evangelism.

5. Myth: “If I give money to the church/ pastor/ Christian organization, that is obeying Christ’s command to reach the lost.” Truth: Going out and actually telling someone the gospel yourself is obeying Christ’s command to reach the lost.

6. Myth: “Being nice, helping with charitable social work and inviting people to church is spreading the gospel.” Truth: Telling someone about Jesus and the gospel or giving them the gospel & scriptures to read or listen to, is spreading the gospel.

7. Myth: “Going to church, going to Bible studies, going to prayer meetings, going to conferences, going to sports events and Superbowl parties, going to movies, going to merchandise selling parties and going to potlucks is obeying Christ’s commission to reach the lost.” Truth: Going into all the world, sowing the seed of the Word of God and telling someone the gospel is obeying Christ’s commission to reach the lost.

8. Myth: “Jesus told us to build buildings so they will come into our Church”. Truth: Jesus told us to preach the gospel, go make disciples and teach them everything He has commanded, so they would come into His Kingdom.

9. Myth: “A person must be a baptized by a pastor, by appointment, inside a building, after they have agreed to the church membership contract.” Truth: Any believer can baptize anywhere, anytime, immediately, on the spot as the Holy Spirit leads, after they have been born again.

10. Myth: “Jesus told us to pray for the world.” Truth: Jesus told us to be His witnesses and preach the gospel to the world.

11. Myth: “Jesus told us to pray for the lost.” Truth: Jesus told us to preach to the lost. He told us to pray for one another.

12. Myth: “Jesus told us to save the world.” Truth: Jesus told us to go into all the world, preach the gospel, make disciples, and teach them everything He has commanded, for lo, He is with us, even to the end of the world!

The Sinner’s Prayer

Here is a fine article by my friend Larry DuBois, summarizing the issue of unbiblical evangelism practices common in the Evangelical Church. I myself was trained in these practices back in college through Campus Crusade for Christ. I disregarded them later when I got out of college because they troubled me. It was not until years later, on the other side of the world, while working on an outreach with friends who work for CCC, that I was deeply convicted that these practices and traditions are just wrong. Now we can connect the dots of modern Evangelical History when we realize these ideas were pumped out of the seminaries (mainly FULLER) resulting in Church and Para-Church Movements galore containing unbiblical doctrines and practices.

We want to be faithful to the Lord, and pleasing to Him in our service, rather than “successful” and popular, according to the definitions set by man.

Here is The Sinner’s Prayer, by Lawrence DuBois

Some quotes from the article:

As Scripture presents it, men should repent, believe, and be baptized. There is no mention of “altar calls” or “sinner’s prayers” or requesting for Christ to enter one’s heart.

We do not know a person’s heart, therefore we can not deemed them saved based solely on a repeat after me sinner’s prayer.

I give invitations to come to Christ, but it is just that, “come to Jesus Christ” not come to me, or come to a church, or come forward to the altar. Bye the way, there is no altar on the sidewalk or a park where my evangelism takes place.

My question is; who and what are these people accepting by coming forward and praying a prayer? They may very well be accepting a Jesus they have contrived in their mind, but not Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God.

The question is; has the modern day evangelical world become like the Pharisees of old, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men?

The Jesus You Can’t Ignore!

Proclaiming the real Jesus and the true gospel, defending and contending, discerning false gospels; if you desire to be faithful with “Grace and Truth”, you will be encouraged by this interview.

Audio: The Jesus You Can’t Ignore: An Interview with Phil Johnson and John MacArthur

The Gospel is Everything- Pt.3

..even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forebearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Rom.3:22-26

That which is most important.

In his final talk on Saturday at Legacy (this 7 part video), Washer reviewed “that which is most important”: the heart of the true Gospel, which is Justification and the Atonement.

He stressed that regeneration is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit, and went on to teach why the carnal methods and traditions of Decisionism, Easy-Believism, and manipulation are unbiblical and unnecessary. He deconstructed the modern methods of evangelism, even going through all the common verses (John1:12, Rom.10:9, Rev.3:20) used in tracts to get someone to “repeat this prayer after me”, teaching what the verses really mean.

Washer defined and gave examples of true conversion and exhorted the flock to PREACH like Ezekiel, delivering God’s Word to dead bones; understanding and trusting that only God can make them live. We must understand what conversion actually is.

He also mentioned how we must understand what The CHURCH really is. It is not the institution of “Evangelicalism”. It is not beautiful buildings full of people, many of whom are not converted. The church is the Bride of Christ; the sheep, who love and follow Jesus, and go on in sanctification in Him. He finished by encouraging us to go deep into the Gospel and to cultivate a close love relationship with our Lord and Savior.

Report from Legacy

Here are a few drops from the showers of blessings at the Legacy conference.

There are saints who are preaching the Biblical Gospel, teaching Biblical Theology, edifying the brethren and leading the congregation of God in worship- all using the medium of hip hop. I did not even know this until about a year ago. It was a blessing, and very humbling, to meet many of these brothers and see them being used of God to exalt Christ and minister to Jesus’ church.

I was overjoyed to see and meet hundreds of young people the Lord is raising up to represent and serve Christ in the next generation. The young people I met shared how God saved them called them into various ministries. God is preparing them to be missionaries, evangelists, teachers, street preachers, pastors and worship leaders. They are being trained in the deep things of God as well as being trained how to disciple and “teach others also”; 2Tim.2:2.

One thing I rejoiced in was the fact that this conference had nothing to do with the various unbiblical movements that are currently popular in American Christianity. I’m referring to the Emergent, church growth, and “signs-wonders-I-got- a-word from God” movements which are basically man centered. No, these young believers were studying Biblical Doctrine and Theology and the focus was JESUS: knowing, serving and worshiping Him in Spirit and in Truth. I loved observing all these young urbanites reading “Biblical Theology” books and attending workshops such as, “The Attributes of God”. The core values of this conference consist of the “5 Solas”; this year’s theme was Sola Scriptura.

I chatted with Jerry who told me how God saved him in high school and called him to be a pastor. He is from the Bronx and before he even knew where the rest of his first semester tuition was going to come from, he already had his truck packed and ready to go to Bible college. By the time he arrived, the Lord had provided the last few thousand dollars he needed to start his freshman year. His father is a postman and his mother cleans rooms, and Jerry works in addition to starting Bible school this fall. This young man was on fire with love for Christ and the people of God. He is following Jesus. And there were hundreds more, just like him.

Finally, the most blessed thing at Legacy –besides the fellowship, corporate worship and theological unity — was the call to return to the preaching of the BIBLICAL GOSPEL.

Contend Earnestly

Well friends, I was going to talk with you today about our wonderful salvation in Jesus, but instead, I’m finding it necessary to take this time to remind you of the urgent need to defend truth and contend for the faith. I’ve been thinking about Tony Miano going to proclaim the glorious gospel to the folks waiting to hear Todd Bentley. If I was standing in line for something, and I heard the Law and the Gospel preached, I would be praising God. I love hearing it. Many people at the Todd Bentley event reacted in such anger and hostility, like the unbelievers on Haight St. who did not like hearing the gospel.

I have a dear brother who works in youth ministry. He has seen many youth groups, conferences and Christian youth mega-events. He says he has heard some groups teach a totally different thing, which is not our faith at all, but is carnal, worldly, about self and this world. It is not based on God’s Word. It is a different gospel. Someone came in to these youth groups (with new messages and methods) and changed what would be taught to the youth. The Bible was tossed out, (or twisted out of context and misapplied) and a new thing was introduced.

This reminds me of my college instructor who boldly declared that their goal was to destroy the Old Paradigm based on God’s Word,(they were talking about the Christian faith) and replace it with the The New Paradigm, which is of course, satan’s religion.

There are many believers who are being influenced by the messages of false prophets and teachers. They need to get back to the truth of God’s Word. There are also many others in the visible church who profess Christ but believe a different gospel, and even have a different Jesus; they are not actually in Christ. They need to hear the true gospel.

This situation is going to escalate and there will be increasing pressure on believers to just “get with the new program”. As New Paradigm Christianity synthesises with the New Spirituality and the world system, we must boldly and humbly declare the true gospel all the more.

This subject is not a distraction from preaching the gospel, it provides even more motivation to keep preaching the gospel.

Also, it is our Christian duty as bondservants of Christ to contend for the faith. The Word commands us to discern false prophets and false teaching. I believe truth is more important than keeping the peace and not making waves. The danger of strife is nothing compared to the importance of biblical truth. The Bible teaches that we are commanded to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

For false Christs (“anointed ones”) and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you in advance. Matt.24:24-25.

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons…1Tim.4:1.

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..2Tim.4:3.

…exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict. Titus 1:9.

…there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master….2Peter 2:1.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1John4:1.

But realize this, that in the last days perilous times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful… But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 2Tim.3:1 & 13.

Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. Jude3.

The Two Christianities

The two Christianities are completely different things, and the visible church is falling on one side of the line, or the other.

The true church, which I’ll call “Biblical Christianity”, is about the objective truth of God’s Word, Jesus, walking the narrow path, repentance, faith, humility, obedience, redemption, the gospel, and evangelism. It has the Holy Spirit. It often involves suffering.

The other church, which I’ll call “Fake Christianity”, is about subjective personal revelation that is not really from God, entertainment, feelings, experiences, popularity, prosperity, success, pride, fake spiritual manifestations, false signs and wonders, spirits and ‘angels’, fake dreams and visions, New Age beliefs and practices, bringing the glory of God down, bringing the Kingdom now etc. It “fakes” the Holy Spirit. It is often about money.

I’m mainly referring here to the Kingdom Now/N.A.R. movement but I also believe included in “Fake Christianity” would be the Emergent movement and in my opinion, the Church Growth movement as well. Eventually everything that denies the truth of God’s Word joins Cultural Christianity, the Roman Catholic Church, the New Agers (New Spirituality), the world religions and the Globalists/Humanists for the “one world religion”. In Rev. 13:11, the false prophet looks like a lamb (like a Christian) but speaks as a dragon (like satan).

Oddly, this group thinks that Biblical Christianity is the “establishment church”: the Pharisees which must be opposed. But in fact, it is this huge group which is forming, which will be the world’s accepted church, established by the world. These will be the ones who will persecute the true church, just like the Pharisees persecuted Jesus. In Matt. 24:10 I believe that the “many” are people in the visible church. Persecution of the true church will come from the “one world religion”.

Meanwhile, we watch the dividing between the “Two Christianities”.

Blog: Bentley Revival-goers are angry when they hear Tony Miano preaching the gospel- they don’t want to hear it.

Let’s Remember Our Message

There are many messages being proclaimed by churches and people professing to represent Jesus, but they are not the message of the gospel. There is the ‘health and wealth’ message, the ‘best life now’ message, the ‘Kingdom now’ message, the ‘listen to the angels’ message, the ‘Psychology’ message, the ‘be successful & get results’ message, and the ‘join with other religions to work for world peace’ message. The false gospel situation is only going to escalate within Popular Christianity, therefore let us commit to faithfully proclaim the true gospel message, and leave the results of that, up to God.

For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.” Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs, and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men…..1Cor.1:18-25.

Article: Let’s Remember Our Message, by Paul Lewis

Pope or Christ

President Bush said he sees God when he looks into Pope Benedict XVl’s eyes. The Pope’s title , “Vicar of Christ” expresses the Pope’s claim to be the appointed representative of Christ Himself, on earth. That means he is claiming to be standing in the place of Christ, as a substitute. Of course antichrist means “in opposition to”(against), and, “in the place of” Christ. Amazing how he is being treated like a prince by US and UN leaders. They call him “Holy Father”. I don’t hear the man preaching the Deity of Christ or salvation only through Him. I only hear talk of world peace, Communitarianism and Interfaith cooperation.

I remember when Pope John Paul l died, when I was in junior high school. We Catholics mourned his death as if he were our father. I remember feeling incredible loyalty and devotion to Pope John Paul ll, my priests and The Church. My faith was in the Roman Catholic Church, works and sacraments.

Watching the funeral of JPll 20 years after the Lord brought me out of the Catholic Church and into the Kingdom of God, I was amazed to see the near worship of the man, with political dignitaries kneeling before his coffin.

Also in 2005 I got to see the cathedral Duomo in Milan. It was one of the most pagan things I’ve ever seen. As the priest offered up the host in Latin, I observed from the tourist area the huge image of “Mother(goddess) and Child”, the hundreds of prayer candles, the statues of saints which looked like ancient Roman gods, and the focal point: above the altar, a huge stained glass image of the sun, with all it’s rays beaming out. You know, like in Babylonian religion. Roman-Babylonian paganism was blended with Christianity to make a deceiving and attractive mix.

Here is a short comparison list for those who may be unfamiliar with Catholic doctrine. Catholics need to hear the gospel from us. We are Christ’s ambassadors to bring the good news of freedom from the bondage of (pagan) religion and works-righteousness. Right after I was “confirmed”, God used one of His ambassadors to send me a Bible, and through reading the gospel, He opened my eyes so I could see Jesus. God is still saving His lost sheep by His grace.

• Salvation through God vs Salvation through Roman Catholic Church.
• Salvation through Jesus vs salvation through Pope.
• Mediator is Jesus vs Mediator is priest.
• Intercessor is Jesus vs Intercessor is priest.
• Jesus was offered up as sacrifice once, vs Eucharistic Christ offered up as a sacrifice often- every time the Mass occurs.
• Authority is Scripture vs Authority is tradition.
• Salvation through Grace and Faith vs salvation through works.
• Salvation through repentance and faith in Jesus vs salvation through Eucharist, confession to priests, confirmation and other sacraments, not to mention Mary, rosaries, holy water, candles, statues, scapulars, and more.
• Discipleship in the Word vs being a good Catholic.
• Discipleship by teachers and preachers of the Word, vs Mary and the Saints.
• Devotion to Jesus Christ vs devotion to the Roman Catholic Church.

... that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light… 1 Pe.2:9.

New Spirituality is Hot

New Spirituality is hot right now with Oprah featuring A Course in Miracles lessons on her satellite radio show as well as teaching Ekhart Tolle’s A New Earth on her web class. Then there’s Pope Benedict XVl in the country hosting yet another interfaith conference where he will continue the work of joining Roman Catholicism together with Islam and the rest of the world’s religions, based on “common ground”. We also have the Dalai Lama here with thousands going to him for spiritual enlightenment. Public schools are busing children in to hear him promote the “compassion movement”.

And then we have “from within Christianity”, Rob Bell at the Interspiritual Seeds of Compassion conference referring to the Dalai Lama as “His Holiness”, and redefining death and resurrection for a universalist-friendly crowd. He could have used this incredible opportunity to speak of the true God, sin, righteousness, judgment, the Deity and Lordship of Christ, the cross, the love and grace of God, repentance and faith, but he did not. He blended. Why? New Spirituality is hot! It is “New Paradigm” (even though it has really been around since Genesis). Faith in Jesus as the only way is “Old Paradigm”. The world seeks to evolve to the next level of consciousness: the idea that we are all “one”. The Shift; the global transformation, is rapidly coming to completion. This is the idea that we are all one because we are all god. This is the “Christ consciousness.”

So, are you ready to be different? (Are you different already?) Are you ready to not sign up with the one world religion? Are you ready to endure when you see people who call themselves “Christians” join also? Are you ready to be left out? Are you ready for the pressure to conform? Are you ready for what’s next? The world will bow to the enemy’s New Spirituality; the worship of self as god.

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Eph.6:13.

Audio: Here’s Jan Markell and Warren Smith discussing New Age & Christian leaders promoting the New Spirituality.