http://www.modernpulpit.com/2009/01/10/why-i-have-embraced-reformed-theology/ The modern pulpit from a reforming layman's perspective Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:56:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://www.modernpulpit.com/2009/01/10/why-i-have-embraced-reformed-theology/#comment-41 Anonymous Sun, 11 Jan 2009 23:59:43 +0000 http://www.thlibo.com/2009/01/10/why-i-have-embraced-reformed-theology/#comment-41 The Paul Washer video really sums up why I am frustrated about my church and why I have a hard time attending there right now. They do "decisional" altar calls. Yes, people do get saved, but I think it also deceives believers (me included) about the nature of salvation. Also, the Sunday messages are all geared towards an emotional altar call to the unsaved, yet I don't get much that challenges believers. I really do think that this is a disservice to everyone when the altar call is used to "get new believers" out of an emotional response. I also need to ask myself what percentage of myself I have given to God, because the altar calls and appeals certainly aren't challenging me to give more. Since we started going to this church again, this has been bothering me, but I haven't been able to understand the problem very deeply until viewing the Paul Washer video. I just knew that I wasn't being challenged on a personal level to walk closer with Christ. And this all ties in to assurance of salvation as well. I'm really tired of watered-down Christianity for the masses. The Paul Washer video really sums up why I am frustrated about my church and why I have a hard time attending there right now. They do “decisional” altar calls. Yes, people do get saved, but I think it also deceives believers (me included) about the nature of salvation. Also, the Sunday messages are all geared towards an emotional altar call to the unsaved, yet I don’t get much that challenges believers. I really do think that this is a disservice to everyone when the altar call is used to “get new believers” out of an emotional response. I also need to ask myself what percentage of myself I have given to God, because the altar calls and appeals certainly aren’t challenging me to give more. Since we started going to this church again, this has been bothering me, but I haven’t been able to understand the problem very deeply until viewing the Paul Washer video. I just knew that I wasn’t being challenged on a personal level to walk closer with Christ. And this all ties in to assurance of salvation as well. I’m really tired of watered-down Christianity for the masses.

]]> http://www.modernpulpit.com/2009/01/10/why-i-have-embraced-reformed-theology/#comment-40 Daniel Robbins Sun, 11 Jan 2009 22:12:40 +0000 http://www.thlibo.com/2009/01/10/why-i-have-embraced-reformed-theology/#comment-40 What personally showed you the importance of reformed theology? No need to go into extreme detail (like sharing information about specific events, etc.) but it would be nice to understand what led you to view reformed theology as being so necessary for the modern church. If everyone had perfect theology, then there wouldn't be a need for an emphasis on reformed theology or any other theological movement, so you must be seeing things in today's church that you feel needs to be addressed. Would be cool to hear your opinion on this and how you feel that a refocusing on reformed theology could help correct this. What personally showed you the importance of reformed theology? No need to go into extreme detail (like sharing information about specific events, etc.) but it would be nice to understand what led you to view reformed theology as being so necessary for the modern church. If everyone had perfect theology, then there wouldn’t be a need for an emphasis on reformed theology or any other theological movement, so you must be seeing things in today’s church that you feel needs to be addressed. Would be cool to hear your opinion on this and how you feel that a refocusing on reformed theology could help correct this.

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