Sometimes the Church Needs Walls
A slogan thrown around in churches today that want to exalt their passion for God is "a church without walls." Churches sporting this might want to emphasis evangelism or even an ecumenical spirit, or perhaps both.
I hate what cultural fundamentalism has done to American churches. It likes being divisive. It likes being offensive. In doing so, it creates unbiblical boundaries that should be ripped down by those who love God more than their subculture and tradition.
Yet, we can easily forget that division is sometimes helpful (1 Cor 11:19). We are commanded to avoid being unequally yoked with unbelievers (2 Cor 6:14). There is even a joke that Matthew 10:34-39 should be inside a Christmas card with the word "Peace" on the front flap.
Walls erect themselves as we commit ourselves to God's Word. We shouldn't like it, but the answer is to persuade those on the other side of the wall, not to tear down a wall that exists for the sake of Christ.
Unfortunately, many Evangelical Christians favored Glenn Beck's ecumenical call this past weekend. Beck said that this event was not a Christian thing, but a God thing. He called people "of faith" (note the lack of the definite article). He wanted this rally to be a religious event. Yet, he is a Mormon.
Listen to this helpful discussion between "Wretched"'s Todd Friel and Phil Johnson of Grace to You and TeamPyro. It is the edited 17 podcast, but it will help get your mind moving in the right direction.
I hate what cultural fundamentalism has done to American churches. It likes being divisive. It likes being offensive. In doing so, it creates unbiblical boundaries that should be ripped down by those who love God more than their subculture and tradition.
Yet, we can easily forget that division is sometimes helpful (1 Cor 11:19). We are commanded to avoid being unequally yoked with unbelievers (2 Cor 6:14). There is even a joke that Matthew 10:34-39 should be inside a Christmas card with the word "Peace" on the front flap.
Walls erect themselves as we commit ourselves to God's Word. We shouldn't like it, but the answer is to persuade those on the other side of the wall, not to tear down a wall that exists for the sake of Christ.
Unfortunately, many Evangelical Christians favored Glenn Beck's ecumenical call this past weekend. Beck said that this event was not a Christian thing, but a God thing. He called people "of faith" (note the lack of the definite article). He wanted this rally to be a religious event. Yet, he is a Mormon.
Listen to this helpful discussion between "Wretched"'s Todd Friel and Phil Johnson of Grace to You and TeamPyro. It is the edited 17 podcast, but it will help get your mind moving in the right direction.
