I was talking to a pastor at a seeker-friendly church not long ago about his idea that prospective Christians needed to “feel welcome” and “accepted” before anything else: no “threats,” no “judgmental baggage.”
I asked, “If you had a person living in sin come to your church, would you confront him?”
He furrowed his brow and shook his head diapprovingly. “Oh, no! We’d want him to feel loved and welcome.”
My eyes widened. “How long would it be before you would actually say something about that?”
“Maybe a year and a half, two years,” he said, smiling. “Because then he would really feel a part of things.”
That was shocking to me. Is there some virtue in leaving a man in his sin for the sake of feeling accepted? “Well, that’s the difference between your church and our church,” I said finally. “Openly practicing sinners come to our church, and they either get saved or they don’t come back.”
- John MacArthur, Hard to Believe p.162
 Give Me Christ, Or Else I Die“He gave his only begotten Son.”—John 3. 16 Gracious Lord, incline thy ear; My requests vouchsafe to hear; Hear my never-ceasing cry; Give me Christ, or else I die. Wealth and honour I disdain, Earthly comforts, Lord, are vain; These can never satisfy; Give me Christ, or else I die. Lord, deny me what thou wilt, Only ease me of my guilt. Suppliant at thy feet I lie; Give me Christ, or else I die. All unholy and unclean, I am nothing else but sin; On thy mercy I rely; Give ... February 28, 2011
One Comment
 What Can 21,000 Gospel Tracts Do?I haven't posted anything on the blog for the past two weeks. Here is the reason why. In the span of 10 days, Christ’s Glory Church, in partnership with Hope Christian Church, 21,000 Gospel tracts has been spread abroad in Metro Manila, Philippines. What can 21,000 Gospel tracts do? In the hands of men and in the power of men, nothing. Absolutely nothing. A useless endeavor. Pointless. Pathetic. Irrational. Illogical. A waste of money, energy and time. But in the ... February 15, 2011
No comments
 May My Cry Be Always, Only Jesus! Only Jesus!O God, I bless thee for the happy moment when I first saw thy law fulfilled in Christ, wrath appeased, death destroyed, sin forgiven, my soul saved. Ever since, thou hast been faithful to me: daily have I proved the power of Jesus’ blood, daily have I known the strength of the Spirit, my teacher, director, sanctifier. I want no other rock to build upon than that I have, desire no other hope than that of gospel truth, need no other look than that which gazes ... January 26, 2011
One Comment
|
 3 CommentsLeave a Reply |
I confront the person if he opens up and I hear the story from him/her.
If it's openly practiced sin, and the person is a supposed member of the church, church discipline must be exercised by the pastorate. And yes, we as lay-people and fellow members in the body of Christ should and must confront them ourselves too for the sanctity of the Word and Gospel.
The dividing line is here though, there are those who confront but not in the basis of truth, but in the basis of preference. Yet there are those too who confront, masquerading themselves as defender of truth and Gospel yet putting the person in question in damning despair and despondency.
Confrontation of sin must be rooted from the Word and the Gospel of free grace, through the Spirit of God, only there can true repentance and reconciliation can be achieved.
If it's openly practiced sin, and the person is a supposed member of the church, church discipline must be exercised by the pastorate. And yes, we as lay-people and fellow members in the body of Christ should and must confront them ourselves too for the sanctity of the Word and Gospel.
The dividing line is here though, there are those who confront but not in the basis of truth, but in the basis of preference. Yet there are those too who confront, masquerading themselves as defender of truth and Gospel yet putting the person in question in damning despair and despondency.
Confrontation of sin must be rooted from the Word and the Gospel of free grace, through the Spirit of God, only there can true repentance and reconciliation can be achieved.