Neo-Evangelicalism
Paul stated in his zeal for the salvation of souls the following “I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Cor.9:22). This likewise should be our example to follow (1 Cor.11:1) as we can see all through the book of Acts how Paul carried this out. However this verse has been wrested by those unstable souls who desiring to be conformed to this world while maintaining a form of godliness; they are denying the sanctifying power of the death and resurrection of Christ; the power of the gospel. Paul indeed qualified his statement further saying “To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law”-1 Cor.9:21. In other words when he was trying to save sinners that groped in darkness without any revelatory law of God as given by Moses, he made no reference to the laws of shadows and types such as the Sabbaths, circumcision, new moons, feasts or such like. They certainly had the law of God in their hearts naturally, their conscience also bearing witness (Rom.2:12-15). He taught them not to trust in laws of commandments contained in ordinances which have a show of wisdom in will worship but should perish along with the using of them (Col.2:20-3). As Paul instructed us “touch not taste not and handle not” are referring to meat and drink in neglecting the body with the view that this will satisfy the flesh (2:16, 23). Much like Christ rebuked the Pharisees for trusting in the washing of hands, pots, cups and tables to make them clean before God. (Mark 7:2-8) Paul said that this has a show of wisdom to neglect the body, much the same way he kept under subjection his own body (1 Cor.9:27) and used not liberty as an occasion to the flesh (Gal.5:13). For “meat” Paul argued “commendeth us not to God” (1 Cor.8:8), and “the kingdom of God is not meat and drink” (Rom.14:17). So Paul remained “not without law to God, but under the law to Christ” and under the “law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus”. And his instructions for us to “touch not” (2 Cor.6:17) was related to the world, to not learn the ways and customs of the heathen (Jer.10:2-3) nor be spoiled by their philosophy (Col.2:8). Neither be conformed to their image (Rom.12:2).
Many in the church today being carried about by every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and their cunning craftiness have drunk deeply into the spirit of the world receiving a doctrine of devils which confesses ungodliness and worldly lusts under the guise of evangelism; new or neo-evangelism. These same souls being taught by men who ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward have heaped to themselves teachers who promise large numbers swelling the church if their marketing techniques are followed. Those led by the Spirit know immediately that if men can teach you how to grow your church then it is not the Lord adding to the church such as should be saved. If man can do it then is it not the power of God. But those following the spirit of the world will privately interpret and use the words of Paul spoken above to justify all manner of the imagination of men’s heart. Repeating the mantra ‘the methods must change but the message will stay the same’ until they are conformed into the very image of the world. The methods given by the Lord in the scripture they claim have waxed old and must be laid aside. Preaching and teaching from the scriptures are no longer sufficient, we must mix the imagination of men’s hearts with it to help the power of the gospel.
There is no end to the ideas men craft and invent to help out the gospel; they copy the music the world lusts after and add Christian words to it, they turn the church into a café, a daycare center, a dance studio, a nightclub, a gymnasium, a play acting stage, and any other number of things that can draw a crowd. They copy the amusement theme parks for the children; they provide a carnival atmosphere for the youth and separate the older people from the midst since they don’t fit. They use peer pressure techniques upon the youth and foster a deeper disrespect for the older saints who are not familiar with the constantly changing culture of the world. ‘Since they don’t like get it, dude, like we will give them their traditional service, and we will like move forward with the times…dude’ they proclaim with lightness. Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother (Deut.27:16). “We want your money but not your wisdom”. They split the church up into all types of groups meeting in different places (Eph.4:3, 1 Cor.11:18, 20, 14:23) children, youth, married, older etc. The philosophy that spoils them teaches that whatever it takes to draw a crowd they should use it for the glory of God. And to keep the crowds you must continually allure through the lusts of the flesh through much wantonness. Although the crowds are not coming for the gospel but rather for what was added to it, they charge God with their folly as though only he could perform such wonderful works, forgetting that the world follows its course without any assistance from the church. The marketing is sure because the lusts of men are sure.
These errors will be addressed as they are pointed out and they will be seen to be in darkness by the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. However we need to define our concepts in words which the Holy Ghost teacheth comparing spiritual things with spiritual, and then the error will become manifested.
Let us ask our brethren what is the church? Likewise what is the world? And what does it mean to win the lost world and “reach people for Jesus”? Do they mean draw a crowd with worldly pleasures and lusts of the eyes? Why would Christ call out those to forsake all to follow him?
This new evangelism consists of lowering the standards of holiness so as to not offend the world and the results in the minds of these new evangelists will be that the world will see how appealing the church really is and actually come to like us. How does this comport with the scripture?
John 3:20
For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
John 7:7
The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
John 15:18-19
If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. [19] If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
John 15:23
He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
1 John 3:13
Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
John 17:14
I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
These facts do not change the minds of the neo-evangelists. For although the gospel call in light of these facts would extend to all that is within the unbeliever, to his whole body, soul and spirit, the call to the world would be to forsake all that they desire and come to Christ, the neo-evangelists seek to “reach” the world by finding things that they desire which are not outwardly and blatantly evil (normative principle in worship), then offer these things to entice the sinner and when he has laid down his arms against the church and is now friendly towards her she can convince the sinner that it is fun to be a Christian and maybe he will ‘join the club’. The neo-evangelist will begin to dress like the sinner, talk like the sinner, listen to the sinners music present the gospel (those who can actually remember what the gospel is- 1 Cor.15:1-4) in such a way that it looks like he will not be sacrificing anything in this world only changing titles- modern discipleship. His music can be the same he only has to change the words; his attire can stay the same he only will need to put Christian logos with Jesus face on it, or some vapid or trite statement about Christianity. He can watch the same movies, TV shows, have the same goal in life only modify them slightly so that they do not include vulgarity. But the scriptures reveal the world as the enemy of the God (James 4:4) stating that we “all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others” (Eph.2:3). For all that is in the world the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world and the whole world lieth in wickedness (1 Jn.2:16, 5:19). Christ came to save us from our sins, from our flesh and from the world. In the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, the world is crucified unto us and we are crucified unto the world (Gal.6:14). He saves us from this present evil world (Gal.1:4) from the corruption that is in the world through lust (2 Pet.1:4) and chose us out of the world therefore the world hates us (John.15:19). Christ says to those who would be his disciples:
John 12:25
He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
Matt.10:34-9
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Luke 14:26-33 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
However the neo-evangelicals goal is to draw in a crowd by appealing to his worldly lusts. And it is supposed then that the gospel can be preached or taught to those who gather and they might be saved. We must ask however if this is deceitful to offer one thing they desire with their lusts to gather them, with the intention of calling them to forsake worldly lusts by Gods grace (Tit.2:12). There is a curse upon those who do the work of the LORD deceitfully (Jer.48:10) Consider Paul’s example- “But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.”(2 Cor.4:2) When those whom Jesus called did not respond to his call he did not lower his standards and tailor his invitation in order to cater to their demands. Rather he proclaimed basically they were not fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:57-62). The neo-evangelist would decry such an assessment.
And so the neo-evangelical teaches otherwise and consents not to wholesome words even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, because he is proud knowing nothing who supposes that gain is godliness (1 Tim.6:3-5). He supposes that multitudes of people and programs and money are the blessing of God. Although Jesus did not commit himself to the multitudes who sought him for carnal blessings (Jn.2:22-5, 6:26-7, 64-7) these modernists use carnal appeals to “draw multitudes to Jesus”. They reason pragmatically ‘If God blesses us we will have all these things, we can produce these things with marketing methods therefore God is blessing us’. This is to affirm the consequent, to say ‘If I gave this to you, you will have it, you do have it therefore I gave it to you’ or again ‘if I am in this church I am in the city, I am in the city therefore I am in this church’. These are illogical and wrong, and this is how the neo-evangelical thinks. He is creating disciples with a form of godliness but denying the power thereof. He asks the sinner what he would like the church to be and then tries to form the church into his desired image. He is offering to the sinner the ability to stipulate how he will come to God, what sacrifices he will or will not make. These are turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness (Jude 4). But they that Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts (Gal.5:24).
The church is the bride of Christ and he gave himself for it that he might cleanse it from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, with the washing of water by the word that he might present it to himself a glorious church not having spot nor wrinkle nor any such thing; but be holy and without blemish. (Eph.5:25-7) The church is a building of God not made with hands that groweth into an holy temple in the Lord. The Most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands, therefore assemblies called together by the works and strategies of marketers will not be habitations of God through the Spirit. Those whose faith is in the works of the hands of the craftsmen shall be like unto them, an image with no breath of life (Psalm 115:4-8, Jer.10:14-5) a form of godliness and no saving power (2 Tim.3:5). And if we lift up our tool upon it we have polluted it (Exod.20:25). The carnal mind however is enmity against God for it is not subject unto the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God (Rom.8:7-8). Neither should we expect the unbeliever to feel at ease in our assemblies, rather we should pray that he will be convicted of his sins and worship God (1 Cor.14:23-4). We should likewise seek to purge out the leaven of wickedness in our churches not give it place to leaven the whole lump (1 Cor.5:6-13). Let us be holy as he likewise is holy, without holiness no man shall see the Lord (Heb.12:14).
God has chosen to manifest his word through preaching. God chose the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe (Titus 1:3, 1 Cor.1:21). The gospel of Jesus Christ is a series of abstract thoughts which can only be expressed through words. Christ “opened his mouth and taught...” (Matt.5:2) and they wondered at the “gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth” (Lk.4:22). Phillip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus (Acts 8:35). Saul spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 9:29). Peter opened his mouth and spake words to Cornelius and all his house (Acts 10:34, 36, 44). Paul said the gospel was heard and was preached to the Colossians (1:23) and requested prayer in Ephesians 6:19 that “utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel”; and again in Colossians 4:3 that God would open a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ. The scripture itself preaches (Gal.3:8). All through the book of Acts the disciples and apostles reasoned, preached and taught from the scriptures by opening their mouths speaking the word of the truth of the gospel. Yet today we have those robed in Babylonish garments who have a form of godliness but deny the power of the gospel of Christ claiming by the wisdom of this world that “dramatic play acting” is a new method of preaching; that the ‘gospel movie’ is effective evangelism. The fact that God was manifested in a body of flesh and became a man born of a virgin is not anything that can be seen in a movie or drama; words will need to be expressed. It cannot be understood that Jesus Christ is the Son of God by watching play actors on a stage. Christ manifested in the body of his flesh being conceived by the Holy Ghost is not a visible revelation of images or pictures. And yet Christ stated that ‘if ye believe not that I am he ye shall die in your sins’ Jn.8:24. The knowledge of Christ Jesus the Lord, the Son of the Living God is revealed by the Father in words upon which Christ built the church (Matt.16:15-18). Christ was himself the Word made flesh. God gave us scripture, written words on paper. Woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel (1 Cor.9:16). But, some will contend, we use modern methods like cars, microphones, speakers so using play acting for example, is the same thing. There is a difference (not analogous) between the hearers, what machines the hearers use to get to where the gospel is preached and hear what is being spoken and the action of speaking. These cannot be jumbled together as if they were the same, this is like thinking a DVD player is the same thing as the movie on the DVD. Or a guitar is the same thing as music. What is being asserted here is the action of speaking is the method God commanded to minister his word.
God said that he chose preaching to manifest his word and explained in detail why in 1 Corinthians 1. He said that it confounded what both the Greeks and Jews were seeking (v21-3). God countered their desires and demonstrated his disinterest in seeker friendly methods. The Jews require a sign, the Greeks seek after wisdom but God gave them his revelation contrary to what they desired. Paul said “but we preach Christ crucified” (v23). In our day we would observe that secular America seeks amusement “but we preach Christ crucified”. We proclaim to secular America that the world is crucified, and all that is in the world; the lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, and we are crucified unto the world (Gal.6:14, 1 Jn.2:16). The gospel call is to forsake your sins, repent of your sins, be ashamed and sorrowful for your sins and hope in the power of the resurrection of Christ to deliver you from every evil work. You don’t stipulate the terms upon which you come to God, you are crucified with Christ. He called his disciples to forsake all, take up the cross, deny yourself and follow him (Luke 14:26-7, 33). Why does God prescribe this method? He answers this in verses 25-29, God hath chosen the foolish things of the world that no flesh should glory in his presence. God is glorified more by the foolishness of preaching than the wisdom of men. Men do not trust the preaching of Jesus Christ and him crucified, rather they seek to mingle mans wisdom with it and risk rendering it “of none effect” (v17). Woe unto that man (1 Cor.9:16). Do not frustrate the grace of God (Gal.2:21). The flesh is crucified with Christ that the body of sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin. (Gal.2:20, Rom.6:6)
Likewise Christ’s death upon the cross while being possible to imitate with play actors, cannot be understood to be for the remission of our sins without words. Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, was buried and rose again for our justification according to the scriptures. Christ will judge the secrets of men according to the gospel, all of these things can only be delivered in words. Words are all that are necessary to deliver this revelation which saves a soul from death and hides a multitude of sin. If therefore this is true no pictures or dramatics are necessary. Perhaps it should be pointed out as obvious that God gave us words in a book to reveal his gospel and the depth of his nature in his love toward us. God did not give us his revelation in play acting he gave us words “And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice.”-Deut.4:12. If pictures were necessary God would have instructed us (Did he say at any time…? Heb1:5,13). Those who oppose these things should bring forth strong reasons. Has God added to his word since the faith was once delivered, and the gospel was preached? God only needs his word. Isa.55:11- So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Psa.19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and the tongue can no man tame. With men it is impossible but with God all things are possible. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh, thus God changes men’s heart upon regeneration and the scriptures state ‘with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” And again “The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Rom.10:8-10) This is the biblical pattern, ‘How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? (Romans 10:14-5) Let us follow the pattern shewed to us in the mount (Heb.8:5), the mount of transfiguration. They saw no image or similitude of God, but they heard his voice (Matt.17:5-8). The voice told them ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” Why hear him? Because he had the words of eternal life (Jn.6:68). God spake unto us in these last days by his Son (Heb.1:2). Paul on the Damascus road also heard a voice, but saw no man (Acts 9:3-7). God is not in a spatial form or an image by nature of his being or person. Space and time are his creations and to the degree he manifests himself in them he limits himself so that he can reveal himself to us in our limitations. Psalm 113:6 Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth! And so God was manifested in the flesh (1 Tim.3:16), the likeness of sinful flesh (Rom.8:3) and took on him the seed of Abraham (Heb.2:16). This must be seeing “the heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain him” (2Chr.2:6). Images are dimensional and limited and God is Spirit and immaterial (Isa.31:3) and unlimited. Images are created and God will not be likened unto any image or similitude: “Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire: Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female, The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air, The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth: And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.”-Deut.4:16-19 “Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee.”-Deut.4:23 “If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness; And my heart hath been secretly enticed, or my mouth hath kissed my hand:”- Job 31:26-7 “And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man”- Rom.1:23
Most who snare themselves breaching this command will seek to justify themselves and cover their sin in a garb of sophistry claiming that they do not actually worship any image. Following their example one could make an image and bow down before it and kiss it yet claim they do not worship the image only what it represents. But secretly and mostly without their knowledge they adore their images deceiving themselves in their denial. They will adore or venerate in their hearts by secret enticement if ever so slightly, images that are supposed to represent God. They will attach reverence and respect to these images that they find pleasing to the eyes, which is why God admonished us to take good heed unto ourselves, and keep our hearts with all diligence. If one were to deface or abuse their image in a disrespectful way they will certainly feel animosity swelling in their hearts. (This may very well be part of the reason God does not instruct us to use imagery in worship, the propensity and ease with which men can change the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man.) Were we to ask them if we would disrespect Jesus by defacing an image of him, they may contend ‘yes, but not because we think it is Jesus but because it represents him’. Who, we ask, attached respect belonging to the Lord alone to an image they made to represent him? What deception their hearts fail to see is that they are requiring respect to a similitude of Jesus, respect belonging to the Lord only and not to images. The image gains access into their heart through the lust of the eyes, the light of the body; and once in their heart it holds a pleasant and favorable position upheld with adornment and respect. And these are affections that belong to the Lord alone. This is by definition idolatry in their heart. “these men have set up their idols in their heart” Ezek.14:3 “she increased her whoredoms: for when she saw men pourtrayed upon the wall, the images of the Chaldeans…And as soon as she saw them with her eyes, she doted upon them” Ezek.23:14-16 “hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery?” Ezek.8:12
Some will now say ‘Well God revealed himself in an image, the form of God Jesus Christ, and so therefore we can make images which represent him.’ God does many things that we cannot do and are expressly forbidden to do. And since he said the above contradicting this conclusion, we cannot make the word of God of none effect by a tradition of men. Paul also counseled us no longer to expect to see Christ until his appearing; “though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more” 2 Cor.5:16. Peter said of the Lord “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice…”1 Pet.1:8. And Jesus said “blessed are they that have not seen and, and yet have believed” –Jn. 20:29. We fear however that the neo-evangelical changing the glory of the uncorruptible into an image made like to corruptible man. They describe Jesus as ‘radical, cool, the original hippie’; they address him as ‘JC, the big man, boss’. This does not sound like the Lord of glory in the bible rather it sounds like a celestial gang leader or a glorified punk. These bound by youthful lusts cannot speak according to the word (Isa.8:20) and speak of Jesus in the slang terms they learned living according to the flesh, whose God is their belly whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things (Phil.3:19). They likewise want Gods word to sound like their own speech. Beloved let us remember that we shall appear before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account of the things done in our bodies. Therefore be reasonable and present our bodies a living sacrifice to him and take up our cross humbly submitting to him and not seeking to exalt ourselves our opinions and our ideas against his revelation in scripture. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord let us persuade men. (2 Cor.5:10-11).
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