The Soft Gospel

Much user inclusiveness and seeker friendliness have been meted out to the lost in our efforts to ‘win some at all costs’!

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Much user inclusiveness and seeker friendliness have been meted out to the lost in our efforts to ‘win some at all costs’!

I’m sure it’s done sincerely, but it’s not The Gospel of Spirit-led Truth.  That old warrior Leonard Ravenhill put it thus –

Paul never glamorized The Gospel! It is not success, but sacrifice! It’s not a glamorous gospel, but a bloody gospel, a gory gospel, and a sacrificial gospel! Five minutes inside eternity and we will wish that we had sacrificed more!  Wept more, bled more, grieved more, loved more, prayed more, given more!”

 

He wasn’t the first to sound such a warning.

William Booth of Salvation Army fame also put it similarly –

The chief danger that confronts the coming century will be religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, politics without God, heaven without hell.”

One glance today confirms the fulfillment of both these Words.  Mr. Ravenhill, as ever, short sharp, and very on point — not to mention being spot on!

Yet it’s William Booth’s pinpoint accuracy that saddens me most.

Listen to this litany of error that has taken almost stranglehold of much of the church in this past 30 years.

  • Religion without The Holy Ghost is cessationism — the baptism and gifts of The Holy Spirit were NOT just for the apostles.
    They have not ceased.  They are the weapons of our warfare today.
  • Christianity without Christ, many are denying scripture by saying that He was a good man but not the only way to God.
    Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  He is the ONLY way to God.
  • Forgiveness without repentance, say this prayer — get saved.
    This is one side of hyper-grace, once saved always saved.
    I believe we need to keep short accounts with God.  Confess our sins, receive forgiveness again, and move on.
    I also believe we can ‘give our salvation back’ to God and reject His plan.
  • Salvation without regeneration, no repentance, no turning, no changed life, another aspect of hyper-grace.
  • Politics without God, say no more!
    Politics has long abandoned godly principles in favor of self-interest, profit, and greed.
  • Heaven without hell.  Many in mainstream Churches dismiss this as allegory.
    All I ask is why Jesus spoke about heaven and hell so much?  Why did He preach to those in Hell?

Then there’s replacement theology — the theology that says The Church has replaced Israel as the Apple of God’s eye.  What utter rubbish — an apostate theology.

Finally, don’t even mention prosperity the prosperity gospel — dear Kenneth Hagin must squirm when he sees how certain leaders in the church have completely twisted the Word of Faith Movement!

 

 

The Upper Room Encounter

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About the Author

Chris and Linda Bennett, are founders of The Upper Room - A Place of Encounter. Upper Room has at its heart a great yearning to see revival return to the UK—to Wales in particular. The ministry operates in all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. They currently live in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, but are called to Wales to help usher in revival.