A new link containing all 7 posts on the churches Jesus wrote to in Revelation.
Ephesus
Smyrna
Pergamos
Thyatira
Sardis
Philadelphia
Laodicea
Showing posts with label Pergamos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pergamos. Show all posts
12 February 2008
11 January 2008
No prayin' on the dance floor
Phil Johnson (Pyromaniacs) has a very compelling post about why the church should not be compromising with the world, and holding stupid events like "poker night" or "Elvis night" or any other such nonsense.
Qutb went back to Egypt seething with outrage and contempt against the West's unbridled materialistic selfism, and he began to produce a body of writings that became the manifestos and chief handbooks for today's Islamofascism. Qutb was chief mentor to Ayman al-Zawahiri, who in turn mentored Osama bin Laden. One of bin Laden's closest friends reported that bin Laden read Qutb's works intently and considered him the most important influence in the rise of radical Islamism in the current generation. (See Dinesh D'Souza on Sayyid Qutb.)
Anyway, before someone accuses me of being sympathetic with Qutb's values, let me just say I'm advocating no such thing. I'm not suggesting his perspective of Americans or Christians in general was fair and accurate. It clearly wasn't, and Qutb belongs in a hall of shame alongside Hitler, Stalin, Idi Amin, and Pol Pot as some of the twentieth century's most demented megalomaniacs.
Also, I'm not suggesting (as some of our more zealous fundamentalist brethren might want to) that the club atmosphere in that one Colorado church is directly to blame for the fall of the World Trade Center towers.
But the Greeley church dance episode certainly does illustrate that not all the world is charmed by worldly religion, and the apologetic value of "Disco Night in the Sanctuary" is by no means a given. In short, taking pains to demonstrate how hip and liberated we can be in our places of worship might not always be the finest "missional" strategy.
19 December 2007
The Seven Churches--part 3: Pergamos, the corrupt church
Revelation 2:12-17--
12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write,
"These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:
13 'I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
17 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.'"
There are many in America who claim the title, "Christian." They go to church on Sundays, they may sit around and talk about God once in a while, they may even have some "Christian" books lying around the house. But here's the problem: They have this all-too-ecumenical view of religion. They say, "Well, I know Muslims believe differently than we do. But they're God's children too, and we should embrace them as brothers." Or, they will say something like, "Oh, you're just some kind of legalistic doctrine police! We should just get along with each other! Don’t you know doctrine divides?"
These are the ones Jesus was writing about. These churches that just flung open the doors, and let anybody who and any kind of beliefs, wrong or right, in their church. this is why 2nd John 9-11 says, Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. If someone tries bringing a heretical doctrine into your house of worship, you are to meet them at the door and bar them from coming in. Yes, it sounds harsh. Yes, it sounds cold. And it may not seem too loving. But this is what God demands, that His house be a house of worship for Him, the One True God.
So, if you are one of these "seeker-friendly", or "Purpose Driven" churches who feel the need to cozy up to every false doctrine that comes along, and help to grow organizations opposed to the One True God despite the clear warnings of Jesus Christ Himself, I would strongly urge you to repent, lest He come quickly and fight against you with the sword of His mouth.
12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write,
"These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:
13 'I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. 14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 15 Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
17 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.'"
There are many in America who claim the title, "Christian." They go to church on Sundays, they may sit around and talk about God once in a while, they may even have some "Christian" books lying around the house. But here's the problem: They have this all-too-ecumenical view of religion. They say, "Well, I know Muslims believe differently than we do. But they're God's children too, and we should embrace them as brothers." Or, they will say something like, "Oh, you're just some kind of legalistic doctrine police! We should just get along with each other! Don’t you know doctrine divides?"
These are the ones Jesus was writing about. These churches that just flung open the doors, and let anybody who and any kind of beliefs, wrong or right, in their church. this is why 2nd John 9-11 says, Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. If someone tries bringing a heretical doctrine into your house of worship, you are to meet them at the door and bar them from coming in. Yes, it sounds harsh. Yes, it sounds cold. And it may not seem too loving. But this is what God demands, that His house be a house of worship for Him, the One True God.
So, if you are one of these "seeker-friendly", or "Purpose Driven" churches who feel the need to cozy up to every false doctrine that comes along, and help to grow organizations opposed to the One True God despite the clear warnings of Jesus Christ Himself, I would strongly urge you to repent, lest He come quickly and fight against you with the sword of His mouth.
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