Top 10 Reasons our Kids Leave Church

Rarely have I read an article that sounds exactly like the one that was formulating in my head-only better! This is an accurate (and sobering) appraisal of what's going on in many "Evangelical" churches today. (I put Evangelical in quotes because it's a term that has lost any subjective meaning in the USA in the year 2015.) 
Marc5Solas – Top 10 Reasons our Kids Leave Church

Theopneustos Blog: Temptation To Be Like God

This is a GREAT (and short) article that refutes the Bill Johnson/New Apostolic Reformation/Word of Faith heresy: 

Theopneustos Blog: Temptation To Be Like God

What I find is that false teachers like Bill Johnson, are teaching the same old heresy that's been around forever; but they are so good at putting a new spin on it, and making it sound so spiritual... it's really sickening. If you're reading this information for the first time, you're likely thinking, "well, there must be some kind of middle position-all those preachers can't be completely wrong..." Yes, they're completely wrong-get over it. Consensus does not equal truth. God's Word is Truth (no matter what the "Super Pastors" say).

Preaching From Commercials (NOT The Bible)

Wow. You can't make a spoof that's more ridiculous than this actual video from a mega-church:

The Museum of Idolatry: 30 Second Theology...From Commercials NOT The Bible



This is everything that's wrong with the "seeker-friendly" church summed up succinctly in one little promo video. The worst part? When he says "watch what God will do in you and through you!" So if you bring people to this highly-entertaining and flesh-pleasing event, "God" will do "something" and it will be "through you!"

     It's like they've got God waiting backstage, and after He's been kept there (during a speech about TV commercials) He'll make an appearance. I already know when He'll show up: it'll be at the end of the service when the pastor gets all emotional and the praise band starts playing manipulative, soft music. This pattern will be duplicated in "successful" churches all over the country.

Bill Johnson's Scripture Twisting

I'm particularly upset with the arrogant false teaching of Bill Johnson, since I have many friends under his spell (and I left a church where the pastor copied many of his ideas). "Herescope" is one of the blogs that does a very good job of dissecting his confusing and anti-biblical ideas:

Herescope: BILL JOHNSON: Squandering Our Spiritual Inheritance

Here's another excellent and scholarly article about Johnson's terribly unbiblical book "When Heaven Invades Earth:"

http://www.cicministry.org/commentary/issue124.htm

Faith Actually: The Convenient Christ

GREAT article:

Faith Actually: The Convenient Christ

Books!!

I haven't had time to write a new post (although I've got plenty of ideas!) but just for fun here's a stack of the books I've purchased and have been reading over the past 6 months or so:

"The Dangers of the Cosmic Christ"

Critical Issues Commentary: The Dangers of the Cosmic Christ: A Review of "The Coming of the Cosmic Christ"

"The Rubber Sword of Toothless Truth"

The Rubber Sword of Toothless Truth - Stand Up For The Truth

The House That Mysticism Built

"The Gospel For Those Broken By The Church"

Here's a wonderful and liberating talk from a tremendous teacher, Rod Rosenbladt:

The Gospel For Those Broken By The Church - 1517 The Legacy Project

"The Church Growth Movement: Innovating like it’s 1894" from Discern.org

GREAT article!!  Please read this:

The Church Growth Movement: innovating like it’s 1894 | discern.org

On a side note: as a former (very committed) "praise band/worship team" member, I would like these mega-churches to stop using musicians as props to lure people in; and I would like Christian musicians to think more carefully about how they might be simply "entertaining the crowds" at church, all the while thinking that they are doing God some great service. If our main goal is simply to "get people in the door" than we're Messed Up, indeed.

Super Pastor Perry Noble departs Christian orthodoxy, announces he’s staying put ← Pajama Pages

This is an amazing example of the state of affairs in the "seeker friendly" church. If a super pastor preaches false doctrine (which is what this guy does) we are all supposed to ignore it and "move on, because we've got people to reach for Jesus..." 

Noble departs Christian orthodoxy, announces he’s staying put ← Pajama Pages

Is Your Church Worship More Pagan than Christian? by Todd Pruitt – Worship

Very good (and short) article on this very important topic:

Is Your Church Worship More Pagan than Christian? by Todd Pruitt – Worship

Btw, I stopped playing in a modern worship band at a large Charismatic church because of many of the issues brought up by this author.