Are you just a name?

Are you just a Name?

(Being a True Christian)

In 1 Corinthians 2:2, the Apostle Paul stated:

(1 Corinthians 2:1-5)

"And I, brethren, when i came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For i determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And i was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."

Paul was afraid that if he added his own wisdom or gimmicks to his message, he would detract from the central focus of the gospel, Jesus Christ and His substitutionary atonement. It’s a shame our ministers today don’t have the same passion at heart. I think if Paul were evangelizing today, he wouldn’t be hip enough to draw the young, entertainment loving, concert-going crowd. In New York City, Hillsong Church’s NYC campus is pastored by Carl Lentz. In an article on Yahoo, the first sentence reads, “Carl Lentz is not your typical pastor.” (Online Source) I knew it would only get worse from there. The Hillsong campus in NYC is a megachurch, and their uncoventional pastor looks like every other culturally relevant, hip, expressive young upstart on the street. He has his tattoos, and his really cool ”half-shaved head and slicked-back mohawk.”

**With my own eyes i had seen that the world is evidently in the hearts of many in this so called church, and it all starts with the so called pastor of the church. He has not let go of the world himself, and is leading others to okaying the sins of this world. When i saw the video, and the way that the church was presented, there was no power, all i saw was the world. How is there a change, how is Jesus in the hearts of the people there, if they are still like the world? All they did was put the name 'Jesus' in their gatherings, and think that will be ok. This pastor is worrying too much, on bringing the young people in, and striving to draw them in with the world, that the truth is not being presented. The church itself was in the dark, in the appearance of a night club. God does not except this at all. He doesn't agree with drawing the world, WITH the world. God is Holy and Pure, NOT of the world. We are to be CHANGED, REFORMED, and REBORN. Children of light, no longer in the darkness. **

(John 3:3)

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

(2 Corinthians 4:5-6)

"For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine our of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

(Ephesians 5:3-12)

"But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not covenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremongers, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (for the fruit of the spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and of truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of thsoe things which are done of them in secret."

--People squeeze into whatever space they can find and take notes on iPhones as Lentz marches across the stage, peppering his sermon with Bible verses, jokes, pop music lines and street slang.--

((“If you’re new to our church, we love you,” said the 34-year-old Lentz. “Don’t be alarmed by the craziness you see. One time somebody said, ‘Y’all are crazy in your church,’ and I said, ‘You ever seen you dance drunk? Don’t be judging us up in church.’”))

-- Lentz apes the culture in order to build a culturally relevant church that looks nothing like Christ. How can it look like Christ when it looks JUST LIKE the world? Put plainly, mirroring the culture will not produce godly converts, it will produce worldly, unrepentant sinners.--

** (we were once slaves...) In order to follow Jesus, and be free, we must remove the chains, and walk away from them, not hold them tight, when Jesus gives you the chance to be free from them. These people in this church are looking for a way to still live in their sins, and be more accepting, in a way now, they proclaim that just by believing Jesus Christ, and now going to a so called church, that so call speaks about Him, and sings songs (rock, rap-in a 'Christian genre) that they are now a Christian. It doesn't work that way. Ja rule (a rapper) was speaking in an interview about becoming Changed, and going to 'Hillsong Church' and how when he went, that they had turned a night club into a church. It was dark, and had strobe lights, and disco ball, and the people there were skateboarders, and basically people that come off from the street. All together. He said that he felt 'comfortable' there, and he had made the statement, come as you are. When the preacher came out, he had tattoos on his arms, had jeans, and a t-shirt on. (to look like one that came from the street-an everyday person) **

--According to the article, most attribute the success of the church to its “young, unorthodox leader.” In fact, the church claims to attract a crowd of approximately 5,500 to its Sunday services. That is a lot of warm bodies in one place! So, why all the attention? What does this church offer that others don’t? One simple thing: Lentz has established himself as his own brand. He has more than 67,000 followers on Twitter and 59,000 on Instagram, where you can find pictures of him standing next to Jay-Z and NBA star Kevin Durant.--

-- Justin Bieber posted a picture of himself eating lunch with Lentz, “talking ’bout our savior Jesus Christ.” (Emphasis mine.) Hmmm… how important does one have to be to eat lunch with Justin Bieber! (Not being mean, but unless you’re a 13 year old girl, no one will be much impressed with that.) Should any pastor, who purports to be a minister of the gospel, exalt himself and establish himself as a “brand?” Shouldn’t our desire be to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ and bring glory to Him and Him alone? We can make idols out of anything – even ourselves.—

(1 Corinthians 5:6-13)

"Your glorifying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now i have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have i to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person."

(2 Corinthians 6:14-17)

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye seperate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and i will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

--In closing, let’s take a look at one last point from the article that I believe reveals how Lentz holds up against the really relevant cultural question of the hour – gay marriage.When asked his views on gay marriage, did Lentz take the straight and narrow path and stand on what God’s Word has to say about the issue? No. He declined to discuss the topic because he feels it is a polarizing issue that young evangelicals have said in repeated surveys that they do not want to be a focus of church. What I read that to mean is that Lentz won’t stand up and be counted as standing for the truth of God’s Word because the issue would be polarizing to the point of repelling the culture he strives so hard to attract. You can’t be a brand with no audience to sell it to.--

(Luke 9:26)

"For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father's, and of the holy angels."