Here are some double standards I'm aware of from my corner of conservative evangelicalism:
* When we preach "Come to Christ and you won't have such a lousy eternity" it's "God-centred."
* When they preach "Come to Christ and you won't have such a lousy life" it's "man-centred"
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* When our preachers go outside the text for 6 historical witnesses to support its truth it's because we value the word.
* When their preachers go outside the text for 6 inspiring stories to support its truth it's because they don't value the word.
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* When we run a toddler group for the community it's gospel ministry.
* When they offer DIY around the local housing estate it's a social gospel.
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Others???
When we don't give a specific invitation to come to Christ, it's pre-evangelism.
When they don't give a specific invitation to come to Christ, they don't care if the lost go to hell.
Have fun and stay busy - Luke 19:13
-The Orange Mailman
This just goes to show "there is no dogma in ministry"... only in theology. Very often two identical actions can be born out of antithetical theological motives and frameworks. When so many of these antithetical positions originally set out from the same 'stable', you often need to step back, or just wait, to see the real motivation, power and fruit in due course.
When the gospel is rightly preached then God is the One who creates faith.
An invitation turns the gospel into just another law...something that 'you need to do' (make the decision for Christ).
When we play stirring, God-centred music it is rightly responding to the knowledge of God
When they play stirring, God-centred music it is man-glorifying, emotional manipulation
Darn it! Tom beat me to it! that'll teach me to not press post...
Mine was going to be
We pursue excellence in music because it glorifies and pleases God...
Their professional music smacks of entertainment...
Hey Toddy, yours was well worth the post - it certainly made me chuckle.
Good ones guys!
OldAdam, you've inspired another one:
When we invite Christ to be received it's because we graciously offer Him
When they invite Christ to be received it's a works-driven penance.
;-)
The gospel will be received (or not) because of the work of the Holy Spirit.
The invitation is IN the preaching of it. The person will either hear it (really hear it)...or not.
Acts 2:37-38 (OldAdam's Version)
"Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" And Peter said to them, "What? Didn't you get it? The invitation was right there. You obviously didn't really hear the gospel as I was speaking, you faithless generation".
I'm sorry, but in reading Acts there are occasions where there is a commanded response to the gospel from the Apostles. Yes, I know that altar calls are not very Reformed, but the Apostles did it, and if they did it, I would think carefully before rubbishing every theology of 'invitation'.
St. Paul tells us that "faith comes by hearing."
And Jesus said, "You did not choose me, but I chose you."
And the gospel of John tells us that "we are born not of will of man, but od God."
Jesus' conversation to Niccodemus ought confirm that and St. Paul's conversion story, also.
Anyway, I do think we make decisions about God, but only after He has grabbed hold of us by His Spirit.
Thanks!
On that we agree, OldAdam.