95 Theses To The Evangelical Church by Greg Gordon

Amen Greg. No doubt, your 95 Theses are spot on and targeted to much of the key problems of the Evangelical movement today. No doubt, these are not likely to be fully celebrated by many even within the Sermon Index community.

95 Amens to your post Greg!

We must start with ourselves before we can rise to the authority to call the rest of our brethren to repentance or rather salvation.

Have we always been a clear and living example of the risen Christ?

My prayer is that this will happen at the 2 conferences ahead.

Amen.

Thesis 3 - We meet for one hour a week and consider that apostolic church. Many evangelicals treat church like any other social club or sports event that they attend.
(Acts 2:46, Hebrews 10:25, Acts 1:14).

I remember once I went to a church conference in South Carolina. In the conference, one of the speakers made a great point. A lot of people think the way we do church doesn't really matter, that the forms we use are entirely neutral.

Then the speaker went ahead and put two cups on a table. One cup was a Dixie up. The other was a fine wine glass. He then took a bottle of wine, opened it, and poured some in the Dixie cup. Then he took the wine and poured it into the wine glass. Form doesn't matter? Tell that to somebody who drinks wine, the speaker said. If you are a wine enthusiast, you would never drink wine from a Dixie cup. In order to maximize the savor of the wine, you would drink it from a wine glass.

His point: The church ought to drink it's wine from a wine glass, and not a Dixie cup.

Thesis 6 – The evangelical church as a whole has lost the concept of their being engrafted into the promises given to Israel.
(Romans 11:17-18,20, Romans 11:25, Romans 11:15).

Without a doubt, likely to be a controversial point with many. For those who have yet to take the time to explore this issue, I would highly commend to you the teachings of Art Katz. His sermons are available on this web site. One of the former elders at the church he founded, Ben Israel, by the name of Reggie Kelly has continued on a great teaching ministry offering further exposition on these great themes.

Thesis 7 - There needs to be a recovery back to teaching through the whole counsel of God expositionally.
(Acts 20:27, 1 Timothy 4:6, 2 Timothy 2:15).

Indeed. Very few preachers ever stand up these days and simply read a passage or two of Scripture, then carefully navigate through that passage so as to show what that passage means in its original historical and grammatical context, and how that applies for us today. Most messages I hear preached today pick a topic or theme to speak on, and then speak on that, merely cherry picking and proof texting whatever Scripture the preacher finds fitting for his sermon.

There is so little of this done today that few even notice the lack of it. There is a famine in the land for expository preaching.

Thesis 13 - The evangelical church spends more money on dog food then missions.
(2 Corinthians 9:6, Luke 21:2, Acts 4:34-35).

God help us!!!

Thesis 15 - There is a lack of true discipleship and making others to be obedient disciples.
(Matthew 28:20, 2 Timothy 2:2, 2 Timothy 2:14).

Sadly, being a disciple is almost considered to be just an option by the theology of some. There is no salvation outside of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. Some might think this speaks contrary to the doctrine of justification by faith, and it being contrary to God's free gift of salvation through grace alone. But by such a statement, such persons show they don't truly understand what saving grace operating through Biblical faith is, and are ignorant of apostolic Christianity.

Thesis 20 - We are living with an epidemic of cheap grace in the Church. Flippant confession, shallow consecration, superficial surrender.
(Luke 14:28-30, Luke 14:26, James 4:8).

So true. One of the greatest things the Lord has shown me is how we have fallen into the trap of works based salvation through things such as "the sinners prayer," and "making a decision for Christ." This is no different than those who insisted on salvation by means of circumcision in the book of Galatians. The new birth is a supernatural act of God on our behalf. It doesn't come by saying a prayer or making a trip to the altar. There are a lot of people confident they are going to heaven today because they once said a prayer at an altar, and meant it sincerely. Yet these people are doomed. For they have yet to realize it's not about what they did, but what Christ has done for them.

Thesis 26 - The elders and pastors of the church, as ministers of the gospel, are charged by Jesus to feed the sheep. But sadly many are fleecing the flock to supply their wants.
(John 10:12-13, 1 Peter 5:2-3, Revelation 2:15).

At every church I have ever gone to, I have always felt the pastor was looking to see what he could use me for, instead of seeing how he could make a difference in my life.

Thesis 27 - The qualities most in demand in today's pastorate are frequently foreign to the qualities which are made most important in Scripture.
(1 Timothy 3:2-3, 1 Timothy 3:5, 1 Timothy 1:5-7).

Most of these demands are not even considered today. Sadly, there are web sites out there dedicated to being a job placement board for churches looking for a pastor. Seldom are any Scriptural requirements set forward as to the qualifications of a pastor. Most of them want to know if the pastor has a DVD of him preaching with a PowerPoint presentation, and how well he understands the purpose-driven model.

Thesis 28 - The professionalization of the pastorate is a sin and needs to be repented of.
(2 Corinthians 11:13, Galatians 3:1, Galatians 2:6).

It's interesting to see how "staff" has become a regular feature on many church web sites.

Thesis 31 - Modern day prophets are being stoned by criticism and neglect.
(2 Timothy 4:3-4, Galatians 1:10, Jeremiah 1:7-8).

Institutions have very little room for prophets. Interestingly enough, the largest classical Pentecostal denominations in the world, who supposedly believe in the modern day gift of prophecy and office of prophet, have no polity structure to indicate that they believe such is true. Indeed, denominational meetings are organized around Roberts Rules of Order. Under Roberts Rules of Order, there is no place for the gift of prophecy to operate.

Thesis 32 - God’s prophets are ill treated and shunned by most evangelicals and considered too extreme or harsh.
(Jeremiah 6:10, Isaiah 6:9-10, Galatians 4:16).

Wherever such prophets exist in evangelical circles, most are greatly marginalized, even in the very churches that acknowledge their calling. Such brethren are sometimes made examples of by their pastors who recognize the prophet as a threat to the status quo. It's an odd thing to see the tight rope being walked, as many attempt to "triangulate" a congregation when such a person is in their midst.

Very good.

But you missed one point: a keen sense of the definition of sin although #72 comes close to it. Or, maybe that is what you mean? Anyhow, I won't split hairs over it....

Blessings,
ginnyrose

Thesis 35 - There is an epidemic of a sort of “mock” salvation being preached from many pulpits today. It is a gospel message that is not authentic. It is correct in doctrine but false in reality.
(2 Corinthians 3:6, 1 John 5:11-12, Romans 8:9).

My heart grows heavy and pounds within me as I further make my way through your 95 Thesis brother Greg. I have heard so many stand up to preach, who say many things that are very much right. But you can tell there is a great disconnect between them and the message they preach. They believe it, but are like individuals trying to climb a wet rope. They just don't quite have a grip on what it is they are saying. They've truly yet to have a revelation of the subject manner they are even preaching on.

You can tell when such happens, as some preachers may preach on a certain theme multiple times, but fail to make the main thing the main thing in their preaching. Indeed, because they've yet to grasp the truth they preach by personal revelation, they sometimes might forget what the heart of the message is they are supposed to be preaching on, because sadly, they just don't get it.

I remember once pastor I was listening to once who decided to preach on the essential elements of the gospel message. He preached on a number of things that were quite right. But sadly, he forgot the main thing. The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. His sermon was pretty much flat as a result of his failure to make the main thing the main thing. Afterwards I gently confronted this pastor, and say, "Pastor, I can't help but notice you forgot to mention the resurrection of Jesus Christ in your sermon on the essential elements of the gospel. You might want to pencil that in your notes when you preach this same message again during the second morning service." He slapped himself on the head, thanked me, and penned it into his notes for round two of his sermon.

God help us!!!

Thesis 37 - No other evangelical phraseology has caused more damage to true gospel preaching then this simple coined phrase: “we are all just sinners saved by grace.”
(Ephesians 1:1, Hebrews 6:11-12, Hebrews 10:26-27).

As my pastor has regularly said, "None of the apostles ever wrote a letter to the sinners of the church of x, y, z." Though theological true, that we are all just sinners saved by grace, most people's knowledge of theology is shallow enough that this bumper sticker saying is an awful pill of poison instead.

Thesis 47 - Run from churches where you’re comfortable in your sin.
(1 Corinthians 14:25, Hebrews 10:30-31, Hebrews 4:13).

There is a church in my area that frequently advertises at a local movie theater that they are ok with you wearing jeans to church. I forget the exact catch phrase they use. And while I definitely have no problem with people wearing jeans to church (I do myself), there is a culture of comfort amongst such churches that want to make people as comfortable as possible, and never leave them feeling discomforted, convicted, or terrified after visiting their church. People should be comfortable to associate with the church because we are a loving and caring group. But that same love should be enough to terrify them to the core.

Thesis 49 - Run from those who preach division between races and cultures.
(James 2:4, Galatians 3:28, Revelation 5:9).

Amen. The church in America is still the most segregated gathering on a Sunday morning.

Thesis 56 - God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life has caused much confusion in evangelism to the lost.
(Romans 3:19, Acts 26:18, Philippians 3:18-21).

This is yet another true message that we have turned on it's head. God does love us and has a wonderful plan for our life. But that plan centers around His ultimate purposes for what He wants to accomplish through the church, and ultimately, establish with His kingdom into all eternity. We are to understand what our purpose for being is. But, how many people understand what their God ordained purpose is for their lives apart from what God's ordained purpose for the church universal is? We have a purpose-driven church that centers around people and their need for self-fulfillment, and the gratification they receive from that fulfillment. A church that is truly purpose-driven is one that has a clear insight into God's ultimate eschatological purposes for history, and what their role is in that.

Thesis 62 - The doctrine of hell and eternal suffering is something little grasped by most evangelicals.
(Matthew 13:42, James 5:1, Psalms 9:17).

The eternal fate of the wicked has been a great source of inspiration for individuals like K.P. Yohannan, who founded Gospel for Asia. He once said, "If we truly believed the things we confess with our lips, it would revolutionize our lives." One day scores of men and women will be resurrected from the dead, in physical corporal bodies, only to be tossed into a place that burns them forever and ever, and fails to ever consume them as they burn. :-(

Thesis 64 - The second coming of Jesus Christ needs to be re-instated as the general thrust and burden of the church.
(1 John 3:2-3, Colossians 3:4-6, 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17).

Eschatological thinking, and seeing things in light of eternity is not becoming to us as Westerners, especially as Americans. To hear much preaching today, you would think God has founded America as a nation that is to endure forever and ever. Yet the prophecies of Daniel make it clear that a rock has been formed that will bring a collapse to all nations, as the image the king of Babylon saw in his dream will ultimately one day be destroyed. That gets in the way of me having a 401(k).

Thesis 66 - The church has left evangelism to a few trained professionals rather than simply obeying the Scriptures call to personally evangelize themselves.
(Acts 8:1,4, Acts 4:29, Romans 10:14).

And even the professional evangelists have little to do with actually evangelizing anybody. One of my friends from college was the secretary to one of five "international evangelists" within the denomination my church is affiliated with. He's quite an amazing preacher from what I hear. He almost always speaks to thousands of people at a time, and makes at least 2 grand for each appearance. When I asked my friend if her boss, the international evangelist, if he would be willing to come with me on a day when he's in town not preaching, to conduct an open-air meeting at UNC Charlotte, the idea was laughed at, and I was told "no."

Thesis 68 - The Lordship of Jesus Christ is something that is not imposed on sinners initially and creates half-saved people who have a Saviour but not a Lord.
(Acts 2:36, 1 Corinthians 12:3, Romans 6:18).

I remember when I was stunned to learn there is a school of thought out there that sees Lordship salvation as being heresy. Romans 10 makes it very clear, unless we confess Jesus as Lord, and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead, we cannot be saved. Jesus Christ is a person. He is not somebody that will only be what you want Him to be. Indeed, what many fail to see is that Jesus can only be Savior because Jesus is Lord. Unless He was Lord, and demonstrated that Lordship by triumphing over sin, death, and hell by means of the resurrection from the dead, He could not be our savior. But because He is victorious as Lord, He can be our Savior. Or as Moses put it, "It was with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm" that God delivered (saved) Israel from the land of bondage (Egypt).

Thesis 69 - We are not open to correction, discipline or rebuke. And most would rather just move to another evangelical church somewhere down the road.
(1 Corinthians 5:5, 1 Corinthians 11:31-32, Hebrews 12:7-9).

Because there is no sense of community within a church, and a church is simply looked at as a local club we can join and put our children in, when correction comes, flight often comes with it. You can only correct those who are committed to one another in a community. Correction can only be received when a genuine relationship exists. Otherwise, that relationship is at stake, and will just blow away. My parents can correct me because there is a relationship there. Likewise, I can speak into the lives of my siblings and bring correction to them, because there is a relationship. The same goes with those who are my friends. The inability of any of us to bring correction into the lives of others shows we have no relationship. And those who we have no relationship with we tell to "mind their own business" when they attempt to speak into our lives.

We are in such need of genuine community in the church. It's rather ironic that "...Community Church" has come to adorn the name of many churches today. Yet, amongst these there is seldom any actual community.

Thesis 70 - There is a great deal of preaching that amounts to a mere believing of the different theories about salvation, instead of persuading men to come to Christ and be saved.
(John 5:40, Colossians 1:28, 2 Corinthians 4:5).

Indeed. I knew one reformed individual who thought all of the gospel was the five solas + TULIP. That was the gospel to them, and when I suggested they were dead wrong, they became violently upset. Unless somebody thinks I'm simply picking on reformed preachers, the same can also be said about those who hold to an arminian view of things.

Preaching the plan and "formula" of salvation is not the same thing as preaching the good news of Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God. Explaining the mechanics of how a car drives will never get you anywhere. You must get in the car and drive in order to get where you are going.

The kingdom of heaven, and the gospel is like that.

Thesis 71 - There has been a loss of the fullness and majesty of the gospel.
(1 Timothy 1:11, Jude 25, Romans 15:29).

The apostle Peter reminds us that we are called to proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. There has been a loss of this very thing, because the brilliant majesty of our King has been lost, and is not seen by the eyes of many.

Thesis 73 - Covetousness, consumerism, and coddling the world’s goods is something that does not appear wrong to evangelicals.
(Jeremiah 22:17, 1 John 2:15-16, 1 Timothy 3:3).

I live every day, and will likely do so for the next 3 or 4 years, with the result of my appetites for the things in this world. Until my debts are paid off from my reckless spending, spending that I did while in Bible college and shortly thereafter, I will not truly be able to do for the Lord the things I desire to do, because I am the slave of man until those debts are paid in full. And because I was an utter fool, I am always a paycheck away from total disaster.

Thesis 74 - Little is made of the resurrection of Jesus Christ in churches or in evangelism. Yet it was one of the major themes and glories of the apostolic church.
(1 Corinthians 15:14-15, Acts 4:10, Acts 4:33).

God raised a dead man named Jesus from the grave, and He lives forever more. If we would ever truly grasp this message, I'm utterly convinced we can never be the same people again. A dead man was brought back to life! He really woke up three days after being crucified and dying!

I could shout this from the roof tops all day, and few would ever give it a thought. Indeed, I have gone to places like UNC Charlotte and preached all day long on nothing but the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and people simply went *shrug* I've done the same in the church, and don't get much of a different result.

The greatest need we have as a church today is to experience a revival of the doctrine of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I know I have spoken with brother Greg and a few others on Sermon Index on this point many many times over the years. There are few messages that so burn through my Spirit as the doctrine of the risen Lord.

"Because He lives, I can face tomorrow," is more than just a cute hymn that we should sing with a detached comprehension. It is our everything. Even in regard to revival. I was once asked, "Where is your sermon on revival?" My reply is the resurrection of Jesus Christ is my sermon on revival. It stands today as the greatest revival in all of history. Indeed, all of history centers around this revival. A dead man named Jesus was brought back to life. And the good news is, God doesn't want to stop there! Jesus said the hour is now, and is also coming when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and they will arise.

In an age when the church grasps for a "relevant message" to preach, I can think of nothing more relevant than preaching Jesus Christ as alive from the grave. Because He lives forever more, I can have joy forever more. Why should any Christian ever need seven steps to joy? I don't need seven steps to joy, I just need to believe that Jesus Christ is alive. That is where I get my joy. I get my joy from participating in the life He has right now, and that resurrection life is available to me right now! Why? Because He lives!!!

Thesis 80 - We need to have the gifts of the Spirit restored again to the Church. The one gift we need the most is the gift of prophecy.
(2 Timothy 4:2, 1 Corinthians 14:39, 1 Corinthians 12:31).

Amen. There is much counterfeit in this arena. Which is why we are also in need of true "men" of God, so that the counterfeits and imitators do not have any place to gain ground. If we had more Art Katz's than C. Peter Wagner's, there would be much less ground taken. But because of the immature status of many Evangelicals in regard to these things, when anybody with candy comes along and offers it to us, we are so willing to look to them as a father of the faith, when they are little different than a pimp or drug dealer.

Thesis 82 - The evangelical church at large has forgotten how to pray.
(1 John 3:22, Acts 6:4, 1 Thessalonians 5:17).

God help me!!!

Thesis 86 - Sinners are not saved to sin but rather saved to holiness and good works.
(Romans 6:13, Ephesians 2:10, 2 Peter 3:14).

Amen, absolutely. We didn't get save to sin less and less. We got saved to bear fruit for God. We aren't supposed to sin at all, and indeed, Paul reminds us in Romans 8 we are no longer debtors to the flesh to fulfill its corrupt desires and longings. Instead of living as sinners, Paul says we need to live as those who have been raised from the dead, even as Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead. Again, this gets back to our desperate need of a revival of the doctrine of the resurrection, and it's practical application for our lives.

Thesis 90 - Little or no emphasis is put in evangelical churches on the plan of God to make us like Jesus Christ, conforming us to His image.
(1 Peter 1:14-16, 1 John 2:6, 1 Peter 4:1).

Indeed, Romans 8 teaches that we were PREDESTINED to be conformed to the image of God's son. Say what you might about predestination, but, Romans 8 clearly teaches our purpose for being is to make us more and more like Jesus. Indeed, Ephesians 4 makes it clear that God created the church and gave it ministries so that it might bring itself to a corporate maturity, to the fullness of the stature of Christ.

Might I be so bold as to say I believe God will do this very thing? He wants to bring about a corporate maturity, so that we might bear the witness we need to bear. But because we have lost this insight, we talk about some lukewarm Laodecian church being raptured. I'm sorry, but, Paul's theology of the church and God's eternal purposes for it lay no foundation whatsoever for a pre-tribulational rapture. I know many well meaning saints here believe this doctrine, but might I kindly suggest you learn about what the eternal purposes of God are for the church before you propose an imminent any-moment rapture theory?

Indeed, when I survey the corporate immaturity we possess as a church, I can be dogmatically certain that the Lord Jesus Christ is not catching us up anytime soon. Indeed, it makes me realize what a labor we have before us. Corporate maturity. Can you imagine such a thing? Many can't. But that is what Paul's vision for the church was. A church what was without spot or wrinkle, a church that had grown up and become what God needs it to become. Until that happens, the end cannot come. Indeed, the end will not come until it does.

But I get excited, as I survey with the little insight I do have, the mighty work God is doing in our very own generation to bring this eternal purpose of God for the church to pass. I'm believing it for my own life time. And if not within my own life time, within but a few generations of me.

Well, I have said a lot tonight, that I originally had no intention whatsoever on saying. But, I really meditated on these 95 thesis earlier today, and they really spoke to me. Please do not be offended if I said a lot. I have no intention of burying Greg's original post. I have only sought to offer edifying comments for the benefit of others, as the Lord spoke through Greg to me on certain points. May we truly grasp these things. I feel so stirred.

greg,
i fully believe that the Lord is using you. may He be glorified. i am grateful for this.

Good stuff, Greg. I appreciate the wisdom contained in this list...and the remarks made by others.

Thanks!

We look forward to seeing these books, Greg. :)

Is it legit to make suggestions to these 95 Theses?

Hi Greg...

sermonindex wrote:
Just so you brothers and sisters know I have been working on a book for these 95 theses now for a few months. God willing it will be published in 2-3 months from now.

We are also looking to see some very high quality edition ones being made by the request of a brother who hand-binds books the old fashion way.

:-)

I believe God will use this elaboration Greg. It is so good to get clear on these (sharp focus in laizer light).

Thesis 49 - Run from those who preach division between races and cultures.
(James 2:4, Galatians 3:28, Revelation 5:9).

I have not read all the posts on this thread. Thesis 49 might be the place to put the division of both youth and adults and old ways/new ways: Run from those who preach division between races and cultures [b][color=FF0000]and generations[/color][/b].

There are several similar theses. I look forward to reading your elaborations which will make the differences clearer.

If you read these 95 theses, you'd probably never be invited to preach again. :-)