1. Welcome to Baptist Board, a friendly forum to discuss the Baptist Faith in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to all the features that our community has to offer.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

classic crusade and church growth movement

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by nodak, Mar 31, 2008.

Top Posters
  1. nodak

    nodak Active Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2008
    Messages:
    1,269
    Likes Received:
    16
    I thought of the baptistboard and debates over the church growth movement while watching a Billy Graham classic from Madison Square Garden in 1957 this week.

    Paraphrasing, at one point he mentioned that churches and ministries like to send in reports of their high numbers and brag about their high numbers. Then he pointed out that Jesus weeded out the excess when crowds got large by telling them they had to take up their crosses and follow Him.

    I wonder if our mega churches are mega on target, and thus blessed by God, or if they are pandering to itching ears?

    I am sure the answer is probably some of both, depending on the church.

    Interesting thought.
     
    #1 nodak, Mar 31, 2008
  2. JustChristian

    JustChristian New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2007
    Messages:
    3,833
    Likes Received:
    0
    Not many on this board are willing to "take up their crosses and follow Him." It's usually called "works salvation" or "Lordship salvation" and rejected.
     
    #2 JustChristian, Mar 31, 2008
  3. nodak

    nodak Active Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2008
    Messages:
    1,269
    Likes Received:
    16
    Doesn't have to be. Works salvation means working to BE saved. Taking up your cross means working BECAUSE you are saved.
     
    #3 nodak, Apr 2, 2008
  4. nunatak

    nunatak New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2008
    Messages:
    445
    Likes Received:
    0
    I have often wondered how biblical are the methods modern Christianity uses to quantify salvation. For example, if the method one uses to quantify it is baptism, "we baptised x number of new believers," then what does that say about that groups plan of salvation.

    Can salvation be quantified in this sense? What do most churches use? Believers baptism? Accepting Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? Membership in the local church?

    And why the big deal on putting numbers to salvation anyway?
     
    #4 nunatak, Apr 2, 2008
  5. chuck2336

    chuck2336 Member

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2007
    Messages:
    588
    Likes Received:
    2
    I think it is important to look at the "numbers" to check nemerical growth. But other than that they are not a big priority to me. If one or one hundred find Chirst then Heaven throws a party!
     
    #5 chuck2336, Apr 2, 2008
  6. Revmitchell

    Revmitchell Well-Known Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2006
    Messages:
    52,013
    Likes Received:
    3,649
    Faith:
    Baptist
    Mt 7:14 - For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few
     
    #6 Revmitchell, Apr 2, 2008
  7. gb93433

    gb93433 Active Member
    Site Supporter

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2003
    Messages:
    15,549
    Likes Received:
    15
    How does that fit in with the following verses?

    Luke 9:23-25, "And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. "For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?
     
    #7 gb93433, Apr 2, 2008
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Loading...