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is the crash of Christendom a good thing?

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by nodak, Feb 25, 2014.

  1. nodak

    nodak Active Member
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    I was reading a flyer or letter sent from John MacArthur today that basically rejoices in the crash of Christendom. If I read it correctly, the idea is that while immorality is never a good thing, neither is morality without salvation. In a culture where common morality is high it may convince many they are saved when they are only decent. In an area where immorality is prevalent, the difference between the saved and the unsaved will really show, which may lead more to Christ.

    What do you think? Do you think the open sinning of today may be the prelude to another great awakening?
     
  2. ShagNappy

    ShagNappy Member

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    The greatest periods of growth in the history of the church, even today in many places outside the US, are during persecution. The worst things to ever happen to Christianity have been the Holy Roman Empire and America.

    I will let the haters fight to the bitter end over how best to define growth to indicate America is the end all be all of Christianity, even though it has been a curse from the beginning.
     
  3. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    [FONT=&quot]In ways, yes I agree with MacArthur. Christendom was always an unbiblical notion. [/FONT]
     
  4. thisnumbersdisconnected

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    The "notion of Christendom" is the notion of a worldwide body of believers, the body of Christ, which most certainly exists, and I've heard nothing of it "crashing" or being on the verge of "crashing." JMac thinks it's "crash" (whatever that means) is a "good thing"? I tried Googling this subject and get nothing but this thread, so I need to know more. That's off the wall, if he actually said it.
     
    #4 thisnumbersdisconnected, Feb 25, 2014
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  5. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    If you refer to Christendom as the Body of Christ, then I agree with you. I took it that the statement was what Johnny Mac said and that he was using a just as common – perhaps more common - usage (as the political and cultural Christian world). An example would be the studies that examine the Church in Post-Christendom (they are not speaking of “Post-Body of Christ,” but of post- cultural Christianity). Normally I have seen the term as referring to a Christian government and culture (union of Church and State - secular Christianity). This was a major objection of the Anabaptists (they rejected Christendom in favor of the Church being the Body of Christ – the church was not comprised of non-believers while an actual personal faith is not relevant to Christendom). This was a huge objection. In other words, one could be legitimately baptized as an infant into Christendom but not the Body of Christ.

    Perhaps I did jump the gun by assuming that this was the Christendom of which MacArthur (and the OP) was referring. Given the context, I do believe my assumption was correct – but I’d like to see the statement in context.
     
    #5 JonC, Feb 25, 2014
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  6. nodak

    nodak Active Member
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    Yes--the whole gist of the mail out was that there was a time when society adhered more to Christian morals, when Christians had more of an influence on that society than is occurring now. And that it may be a good thing. We can tend, when people are behaving the way we think they should, to think somehow that means Christ rules. Now society is not adhering to Christian morality, which makes the church shine more as a lamp on a hill.

    I liked the tenor of the letter, although I did not send for the cd being offered. But I do agree that sometimes the church makes more headway in a strongly and even knowingly wicked society than it can it a polite, surface level only "Christian" society.
     
  7. Yeshua1

    Yeshua1 Well-Known Member
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    I took it as him saying here that finally we are getting to the point where we can see thatthe religion of 'christiandom", the one that denies the cross of chrsit, his resurection, living in and by the Holy Spirit was failing to change herats and chnge moral/culture!

    Sure hope its NOT Him restarting up again his ole "Lordship salvation is correct', while all others ways wrong though!
     
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