"I
kept back nothing that was profitable unto you" (Acts 20:20); "For
I have not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of God "
(Acts 20:27).
Downsizing
has become a major factor in business economics, Major home staples
such as coffee, soap bars, washing powder, napkins, paper towels, frozen
foods, and dozens of other items have been downsized in recent years.
Coffee packages, for instance has been gradually reduced from 16 oz,
to 13.5 oz. to 11 ounces.
Practicing
commercial deception, the manufacturers' packages sometimes still look
as large as they formerly did, but do not contain the same amounts,
having been gradually reduced in content. Despite the volume content
loss, the prices of downsized items have increased rather than declined.
Purchasers are paying more while obtaining less, without clear notification.
On a religious
scale, the same tragic process is occurring today, as the faith once
delivered to the saints (Jude 3) is being downsized by compromising
leaders. Its adherents, however, are not being informed about the unscriptural
cutbacks and deletions.
1. DOWNSIZING
THE SCRIPTURES
In many
professing evangelical and Fundamental Baptist churches, modern translations
are gradually replacing the accurate, reliable KJV. In some churches,
the saints are getting less and less of the KJV and more and more of
the new translations based on the apostate liberal critical text.
The NASV,
NIV, NKJV, ESV, HCSB, RSV, TNIV, TLB, NLB, GW, NEB, TEB, New Century
and the Message are just a few of the versions available to a
gullible religious public today. When placed in a pile together with
all their deletions, a considerable downsizing has taken place.
Yet the average evangelical Christian believes he still possesses the
same content as his former KJV.
Some versions
are more bold and blatant with their deleted alterations and changes,
while other translations are more subtle in their removals. The verbal
preservation of Scripture, the triune God, the deity of Christ, the
blood atonement of Christ, the resurrection of Christ, the old fashioned
doctrine of repentance, and baptism for new converts are representative
of the truths that are being downsized, diminished and deleted. Yet
none of the publishers of these versions will admit to any unbiblical
down-scaling
2. DOWNSIZING
THE SERMONS
Many sermons
today have been downsized with regard to doctrine. Solid Biblical
exposition of Scriptural doctrines is being diminished, neglected and
ignored. A feel-good easy lifestyle Christianity that emphasizes happiness
rather than holiness and that offends no one but the choicest saints,
is replacing sound Bible teaching.
The "elders"
in a rapidly growing "Bible" church in Southeastern Maine
were asked by a newspaper reporter to delineate the reasons for the
swift attendance growth the church was experiencing. Believe it or not,
the elders in this "Bible" church reported that one of the
major reasons was the "de-emphasis upon… doctrine"! Bible
doctrines, however, never go out of date! Neither does Biblical terminology!
In some pastor's ministries, the pastor has merely become a referral
agent as the couch replaces the cross and psychology replaces preaching.
The duration
of services and sermons is being downsized. When the F.D. editor was
a lad, two-week long-three Sunday length revivals twice a year were
the norm. Evangelistic crusades were gradually cut to a week, then a
half week, later to a three day weekend. Now many churches are advertising
"one-day" revivals and the average evangelist's endeavors
have been turned into a pulpit supply ministry.
The norm
for sermons was reduced to one hour, then to 45 minutes, then to 35
minutes, then to 25 minutes. Now in some churches, you have 1½
hours of CCM "worship" entertainment and a 15 minute "talk"
on a "bar stool" with an open shirt. We now have preacherettes,
preaching sermonettes, that are producing Christianettes!
Even the
direction of the sermons has changed. Eternal vows are out, while
temporal values are in; holiness is out, while happiness is in; heavenly
sermons are out, while earthly sentiments are in; Scriptural truths
are out, while sensitivity training is in. Sermons emphasize the here-and-now,
rather than the hereafter. Yet few preachers are willing to acknowledge
that their sermons have been purposely downsized.
3. DOWNSIZING
THE STANDARDS
In many evangelical, conservative, and professing Fundamentalist churches,
church edifices look more like Hollywood theatres and sports arenas
than they do like religious sanctuaries. Standards-or more accurately
the lack of standards-are being dictated by the world rather than by
the Word! Genuine reverence and respect for sacred entities is being
demolished as pastors, key congregation leaders and families come to
church dressed like they are coming into a ball park rather than to
a place of divine worship. Christians look more like they were going
to a place of entertainment than a place of edification.
God given
sexual roles are being gradually reversed via symbolic attachments.
In some churches, feminine jewelry is becoming conspicuous on men, while
masculine apparel is becoming common on women. Tight pants, jeans and
hip huggers are common sights in formerly sacred sanctuaries. Saints
who used to carefully dress up to go to church now carelessly dress
down. Yet few will honestly admit that the standards have been downsized!
Handbooks
in Christian Colleges and Universities have been quietly revised to
accommodate to secular minded students and to attract materialistic
oriented young people. Dress standards, music standards, and dating
standards have been silently lowered without fanfare, while gullible
parents send their children to these institutions naively thinking their
alma maters have not changed.
GOD'S
ANTIDOTE
God's antidote
is not popular! It requires vigorous protest and expose-Gal.2:11-14.
A Return to the Biblical scriptures, Biblical sermons and Biblical separation
is an urgent imperative., Necessary separation, both personal separation-Rom.
12:1-2 and ecclesiastical separation-II Cor. 6:14-18- must be implemented
The believer's aim must always be positive-II Tim. 2:24-26, and purifying-II
Cor. 2:1-11 in purpose, with complete restoration to the old paths-Titus
1:9, as the ultimate goal.
Economic
downsizing may succeed in the business world, but it must never
be utilized in the spiritual realm. The faith once delivered to the
saints has a set of Scriptural dimensions that must never be altered
or changed. Toying with God's unchangeable declarations is dangerous
and diabolic activity-I Tim. 4:1-2, II Tim, 4:3-4. In Acts 20:21 and
20:27, the Apostle Paul plainly declared that he had never downsized
the truth for the sake of temporary gain with the Ephesian believers,
a pattern that all historic Biblical Fundamentalists must emulate
and follow.
Also
in this issue:
Studies
in the School of Prayer
The
Plaguing Compromise of the Conservatives in the Southern Baptist Convention
The
Catholic eucharist Christ is not the Biblical Christ and the eucharist
sacrifice is not the sacrificial atoning blood of Christ