Authority Week at PPT
Susan and I looked at each other this morning as this week has totally sunk into our brains. This is the week that our research has culminated into the undeniable conclusion that the American church is saturated with the belief that salvation is in church membership. Being “in Christ” is synonymous with being “in” a church as a member.
This isn’t anything that should have surprised me as I have seen this mentality throughout my Christian life, I just didn’t understand where it came from and frankly, I was in denial to boot. So, I sat there looking at Susan in bewilderment as we were talking about it, which brought the reply, “Dear, didn’t you listen to my presentation on Augustine this year? It came from him.” My reply was, “Well, what are we going to do? Are we going for this?” Her reply:
“No way!”
paul
Paul's Passing Thoughts 
Reblogged this on Clearcreek Chapel Watch.
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Paul, Your profoundly wise wife, Susan, is so right. You have a fortune greater than gold. You have much to be thankful for.
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Speaking of authority. Interesting article from a former pastor, who just didn’t see the job of “pastor” in the NT anywhere.
http://theglasspastor.wordpress.com/2013/08/09/casting-off-the-task-masters/
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AM
Susan and I have become convinced that the makeup of the American church is the direct result of salvation by membership. The New Calvinists are merely being more direct about it. This is a deeply ingrained Protestant tradition that came from Augustine’s Catholicism.
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http://5ptsalt.com/2011/09/28/top-ten-reasons-not-to-join-a-reformed-baptist-church/
See #9 “You’re asked to attend services regularly,” — by regularly, read every time the doors are open or a “Reformed” elder will be visiting your house.
“…to support your elders in prayer” — how do they know what I’m praying?
“…and give sacrificially to the advance of the Gospel.” Sacrificially? What that means?
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And #10 is creepy. “You will experience conviction of sin with regularity.” Despite not sinning with regularity. Its magic. This is why they push church attendance so much. How can they convince those who don’t sin with regularity that they do sin with regularity? Only by making them attend often enough to brainwash them.
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Joel needs a light bulb moment. He continues to remain loyal to the very theology that persecutes him. Very sad. Is he a celebrity wanna be? He hangs with the Defending Contending, Baucham group.
Paul at least you’ve figured it out. The longer the denial, the harder the fall.
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AM,
Joel is a good guy, we actually started an organization together; The Coalition Against New Calvinism, but you are spot on. Joel is living a contradiction. NC is not the problem, Calvin is the problem. My discovery that it was the same thing broke up the organization.
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Al Mohler making the college rounds? Check out his tweets.
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Reading history helps understand why Calvin is the real problem. Thing is, many of us know mainline Calvinists who are NOTHING like the YRR/NC so we are confused and think this NC is totally different. Not true. The YRR are just acting on it in ways they can control because true Calvinism is illegal. Like Calvin did, like the Puritans did, Boers, etc, etc.
History shows that this system ebbs and flows then dies out or goes somewhat liberal focusing on social things instead. . (See split in PCAUSA/PCA) The first part of history is after Augustine’s writings (in Latin as he did not know Greek) were so prolific and spread in the West, we see the Dark Ages descend upon mankind. Ever wonder about that?
Luther was against the indulgences (read the theses) and corrupt church but wanted to “reform” it. He also wanted to throw out the book of James (works) and was a virulent anti Semitic. Luther wanted preaching and the preacher front and center and not the sacraments.
Calvin took Augustine and systematized him.
What happened to the Puritans? Many of their descendants became Unitarians! The reprobate Aaron Burr is Jonathan Edwards’ grandson! I thought they had “covenant” families?
All of it is based upon human authority and it is a bloody evil nasty mess and has nothing to do with Christ. When people talk church tradition, I want to throw up.
The YRR are purer Calvinists than what we have traditionally seen because it does so much damage in it’s pure form, it cannot last. You always get some Roger Williams guy who is willing to go for freedom and brings others along.
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If you want to see a whole website devoted to what you just wrote look at “Wicked Shepherd’s.” I think this is one of the best sites on the web. It has lots of articles on pastor worship, churchianity, abusive elders, brainwashing, etc.
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http://www.wickedshepherds.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wicked-Shepherds/309931300051
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