Does impact always happen outside your comfort zone?

Once you have rejected the Bible as the infallible, unchangeable, inerrant and holy Word of God your journey/pilgrimage will inevitably lead you deeper and deeper into the emergent labyrinths of uncertainty and apostasy. What’s more, you will be inclined to wager your life’s journey on your own insights in stead of the Bible. I intend to comment in greater detail on some of the sermons Dr. Johan Geyser (one of the pastors at the Mosaïek Church in Fairlands, Johannesburg) has delivered recently on how to read the Bible. Believe me, his sermons are real humdingers; they will change your mind (enhance your metanoic experience) at the speed of light. As for now I would like to comment on one of Stephan Joubert’s recent posts, “Impact always happens outside my spiritual comfort zone” on their e-church website which compliments Dr. Johan Geryser’s view of the Bible.

Whenever you are persecuted for the sake of Jesus Christ and his Word you are a natural impact maker. Just think of the impact the first martyr, Stephan, [no, not Stephan Joubert who lives in the Emergent Church’s comfort zone of total ecumenical inclusiveness, so much so that other religions are deemed as truthful as the Christian religion] had made when he delivered his sermon of reproof to the Jews. The life of one man who had stood by and at whose feet the murderers lay down their clothes was changed forever. His name was Saul who later became Paul and who wrote about two thirds of the New Testament. Wow! what an impact.

This was the man who later wrote:

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:12-17)

But let as now first look at what Stephan Joubert means by IMPACT. He wrote:

Spiritual growth shows particularly on the playground of the church – there you can, and need to, practice and share your knowledge, gifts and testimonies on familiar territory amongst other believers. But only when you encounter and start living in the territories of other kingdoms and will your impact amongst non-believers, seekers and those who think differently increase. Indeed, Jesus teaches in Matthew 5 that salt is only needed where there is no salt, and that light is only visible in darkness. That is why you need to risk it in the dark if you want to advance with God. You were not designed to only hang out in safe harbors all the time – there you will merely grow spiritually.

Jesus never taught that salt is only needed where there is no salt and light where there is darkness. He said that his disciples “are the salt of the world” and they “are the light of the world,” suggesting of course that the entire world is without salt and light. But that was not why He said it; the main thrust of his salt and light metaphors was to warn his disciples against “saltlessness” and “lightlessness” and judging by the rapid decline in respect for God’s Word amongst the Emergent fraternity it becomes alarmingly evident that salt and light are needed more in the church than in the world. How on earth can you be salt and light when you reject the Bible as God’s infallible and inerrant Word? Isn’t his Word supposed to be a light unto your path (journey, pilgrimage)? (Psalm 119:105).

Stephan Joubert speaks highly of the need for spiritual knowledge, gifts and testimonies on familiar territory amongst believers but does not see it as an imperative amongst unbelievers. Indeed, it is a well-known fact that witnessing for the Truth amongst unbelievers (being the salt and light of the world according to Jesus) is not one of Stephan Joubert’s specialties. He says:

It [the Emergent Church] involves people who have a passion to say [that] the world and its culture in our generation need to be won back to Christ. And therefore I am not going to criticize their culture but I’m going to engage it. Therefore, I’m not going to take on their spirituality and postulate my truths. I’m going to listen to what they have to say because I can prove [to them] the truth ad infinitum as I did in the 1960’s, and I can debate with a Buddhist or a Hindu and sit there with them and say ‘here is my truth, here are my stuff.’ But now as an Emerging Church guy I will say [to them], let us listen . . . I’m not going to try and change you but you also have the right to hear how I feel and I’m not going to make any excuses for who I am. I’m not going to force my religion down your throat.

Could it be that Stephan Joubert heard these exact words spoken by Jesus of Nazareth to his disciples when He sent them out to preach the Gospel? He said:

But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: but you must never take on their spirituality and never postulate My Truth. Rather listen to what the unbelievers have to say because you can try to prove to them the truth ad infinitum as I have done in the past but it won’t work; it just won’t work. Put them at ease by telling them it is not your intention to force your religion down their throat and to try and change them. (Act 1:8).

Stephan Joubert contends that the church, and I presume their church as well, is a safe haven and a comfort zone where you are loved and cherished by fellow-believers. Really! The internet is replete with former emergent church members who were asked to leave (evicted) by their pastors and the church hierarchy because they did not go along with everything that was said and done. I found the following 15 signs that appear when a church begins to emerge into the Emergent paradigm. Read here.

15 Warning Signs that the Emergent Church is Emerging into Your Church:

1. Scripture is no longer the ultimate authority as the basis for the Christian Faith.

2. The centrality of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is being replaced by humanistic methods promoting Church Growth and a Social Gospel.

3. More and more emphasis is being placed on building the Kingdom of God now and less and less on the Warnings of Scripture about the imminent Return of Jesus Christ and a Coming Judgment in the Future.

4. The Teaching that Jesus Christ will rule and reign in a literal millennial period is considered unbiblical and heretical.

5. The Teaching that the church has taken the place of Israel and Israel has No Prophetic significance is often embraced.

6. The Teaching that the Book of Revelation does not refer to the Future, but instead has been already fulfilled in the past

7. An experiential Mystical form of Christianity begins to be promoted as a method to reach the Postmodern Generation.

8. Ideas are promoted teaching that Christianity needs to be reinvented in order to provide meaning for this generation.

9. The Pastor may implement an idea called “ancient-future” or “vintage Christianity” claiming that in order to take the church forward, we need to go back in church history and find out what experiences were effective to get people to embrace Christianity.

10. While the authority of the Word of God is undermined, images and sensual experiences are promoted as the key to experiencing and knowing God.

11. These experiences include icons, candles, incense, liturgy, labyrinths, prayer stations, contemplative prayer, experiencing the sacraments, particularly the sacrament of the Eucharist.

12. There seems to be a strong emphasis on ecumenism indicating that a bridge is being established that leads in the direction of unity with the Roman Catholic Church.

13. Some evangelical Protestant leaders are saying that the Reformation went too far. They are reexamining the claims of the “church fathers” saying that communion is more than a symbol and that Jesus actually becomes present in the wafer at communion.

14. There will be a growing trend towards an ecumenical unity for the cause of world peace claiming the validity of other religions and that there are many ways to God.

15. Members of Churches who Question or Resist the new changes that the Pastor is implementing are reprimanded and usually asked to leave.

 

The Emergent Church seems to be a comfort zone only for those who blindly follow their pastors and church leaders. No wonder Jesus once said that your own home and your own family will become your enemies. What kind of comfort zone is that?

And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. (Matthew 10:36).

So Stephan, as you can see, you don’t need to move out into other kingdoms amongst unbelievers to experience persecution, hardship, rejection and the likes. You only need to speak out against the blasphemous practices in the Emergent Church to experience persecution, discomfort and rejection. You should try it some time. Begin to expose the heresies in the Emergent Church and see how much longer you are going to remain in your comfort zone.