Doctrinal Decline....Reasons for It....

Found this blog online...if you want to comment on any portion...add scripture to support your idea....or do not tweet...

Why Slender Doctrinal Statements are Seldom Sufficient

“Revivalism began the process of turning people from a thoughtful and theological faith to an experience-oriented belief. Modernism brought new ideas into the churches. Fundamentalism circled the wagons and reduced the faith to a few requisite doctrines. And Dispensationalism swept in to fill the void. In every case, covenantalism was shunted to the side, and Baptists lost their rightful heritage. A beautiful system of faith was exchanged for a novelty.”

Well there you have it. It all started with some well meaning men of God who desired not to “nit-pick” over every point of doctrine, but rather, to earnestly fight for the essentials of the faith in the face of the onslaught of Modernity. However, Christians were not intended by God to live with holes in our theology. The result was that a theological vacuum was created, and what filled that void ended up being a mere trifling novelty. We might look at those Fundamentalists with a bit of sympathy since we are still waging the same bitter war today, but we now have this distinct advantage over them: We know their history and the results of the choices they made. And as has been famously said, “Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.”

I remember visiting a church when I was a brand new baby Calvinist and asking them their position was on Calvinism and Arminianism. They told me that they choose not to take a position on that issue, that they taught neither Calvinism nor Arminianism, and that they just wanted to be biblical. Well, I was young and naive, so I thought that sounded well enough. However, within the first 15 minutes of the first sermon I must had heard the word “free will” at least a dozen times. After a couple of sermons I realized that “free will” was a normal emphasis in their preaching. So they really did have a position on Calvinism and Arminianism after all. They were flaming Arminians.

Conclusion
To summarize, there are at least three reasons why slender doctrinal statements are seldom sufficient.

First, because once a doctrine is removed, it creates a theological vacuum, and some strange doctrine will inevitably fill that void.

Second, because a slender doctrinal statement is simply an unsaid doctrinal statement, which is beneath Christian integrity.

Third, because a slender doctrinal statement is a complete capitulation to the spirit of the age, so as to avoid giving offense to men who offend God daily by their lack of conformity to his revealed truth.

 

So...are suggesting that dis obedience to Psalm 1....could set the groundwork for such a decline?
Psalm 1 King James Version (KJV)
1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

 

Are you thinking of some scripture to support why you believe as you do?
What scripture might support a stand instead of a compromise?

 

Revivalism began the process of turning people from a thoughtful and theological faith to an experience-oriented belief.
eph4
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

 

Third, because a slender doctrinal statement is a complete capitulation to the spirit of the age, so as to avoid giving offense to men who offend God daily by their lack of conformity to his revealed truth.
1tim4
15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

 

"Covenanter,

it could be his wording...

I think he agrees to this.

Epidemic in our day.

I find here...either a church is reformed and doctrinal and basically on the case, or it is non reformed and infantile in understanding.
In the infantile churches ...there are a few,usually a core group who study a bit , enough to do most of the service in the church.
The others need to be fed goat food, jokes, anecdotal illustrations devoid of anything close to a scriptural challenge.

How many have studied it themselves? The seminary guys have done some study...many call themselves Pastor, or reverend who have not studied enough if at all.

more downgrade...

Good post as usual...