A Church in which Evil is Justified

Apr 21, 2019 • Jeff Crippen • 1 Comment

Rom 6:1-2  What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?  (2)  By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

My good friend Phoebe who grew up in our church and who is a genuine Christian is a student at Portland State University (she is studying to be a physical therapist). She visited a “church” in Portland yesterday mostly just because a fellow student invited her to go.  She gave me this report last night.  This is very, very typical in these false churches today and I thank Phoebe for her analysis and discernment. By the way, this “church” is Bridgetown Church in Portland.

Can’t believe what I just heard –

“Stage theory is a step by step walk with Jesus”.  (I’m sorry but I don’t think stage theory is in the Bible).

Also the preacher (?) made a lot of jokes, some of which were very inappropriate.

There was a band that just sang the same words over and over again, one of which was “God’s love is reckless” which I disagree with. God knows exactly who he loves and he loves them perfectly. Also the band acted like it was putting on a show (which it kind of was)

Everyone was super emotional and I don’t know why because we never actually talked about God

I was shocked by how disrespectful and silly everyone was. The preacher kept going on and on about how we can just take our time and go baby step by baby step and if we aren’t ready for something we can just stop and that’s ok because God will wait for us.
Ugh it was awful
Great job spotting evil, Phoebe. This stuff is a plague and it is everywhere today. The “pastors” equivocate (that means they use what sound like equivalent words as traditional language, but in fact they mean something entirely different and often heretical). This is the very kind of environment that provides fertile soil for sin and wickedness to flourish in. Sin is justified. After all, God is so loving you know.
Another friend responded to Phoebe’s report with these words –
There’s a lack of holiness and the message of the high cost of our salvation through the cross in churches these days. It makes null and void the blood of Jesus. It’s all focused on how much He will do anything to have a relationship with us.
[But] He’s already done everything on the cross!!! ‘It is finished.’
And that is the message that is diminished. The cross. Now our “relationship” with God has to do with who we are in and of ourselves and how God just loves us soooo much because of who we are in and of ourselves. This is of course a false gospel and those who preach it are given God’s pronouncement of woe three times over.
But hey, that’s ok, right? I mean, God will wait for us to repent and obey Him when we finally feel like it…..Not!
Heb 3:12-15  Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.  (13)  But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.  (14)  For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.  (15)  As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

One thought on “A Church in which Evil is Justified”

  1. I attend this church and agree wholeheartedly with your friend’s assessment. While I have seen a lot of things coming, it has been in the last months that I have had clear confirmation of where the church is now and where it’s headed. I guess I could say that I’ve known, but have hoped that I was overreacting or over thinking it. Now I know that’s not the case. It’s much deeper than what your friend witnessed and unbiblical. I have spent today reading about the sermon she referenced and am so sad that so many people are being led astray. I’m hoping that I might be able to be a light to someone while I’m there, and praying that I won’t have to be there much longer.

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