tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post447512770113075635..comments2023-12-22T08:29:29.230-08:00Comments on WHAT IS TRUTH: An Honest Basic Assessment of Independent Baptists, pt. 6Kent Brandenburghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13419354741455959191noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-64791752276188377342018-03-16T14:15:58.060-07:002018-03-16T14:15:58.060-07:00Pastor Bradenburg,
You mentioned so many imp...Pastor Bradenburg,<br /> <br />You mentioned so many important things in this post that I wholeheartedly agree with.<br /><br />1)The issue of a true or false Gospel is paramount. There are so many IFB’s seeking to fulfill the Great Commission through the proclamation of a false gospel. It is so tragic to think that with all of the emphasis on soul-winning in fundamentalism and IFB circles in the past and today, very little if any of the Great Commission has been fulfilled because of the false gospel that so many tenaciously adhere to and proclaim.<br /><br />2) You are correct in saying that instead of taking on the task of getting the Gospel to everyone, many IFB churches are more focused on getting “bigger”, and many times selling out to the world in the attempt to do so.<br /><br />3) I completely agree with you as to the emphasis being more on “invite” rather than “go.” There are many reasons for that I believe. One is that most IFB church members are fearful to say anything that will convict the lost person that they are witnessing to, even if it means just using scriptures that will convict the heart of the lost person regarding their true condition before God. So, inviting the lost person to church services instead of actually evangelizing them makes both the church member and the lost person much more comfortable. Also, I fear many IFB church members really don’t know how to Biblically present the Gospel to someone, without resorting to the common two minute “Roman’s road” presentation on someone’s doorstep, followed by some psychological manipulation, and capped off with the giving of a false assurance.<br /><br />I am thankful Pastor Bradenburg that you not only have a correct understanding of the Gospel, but just as importantly, you faithfully go to proclaim it to the lost. If those of us who are right on the Gospel would as faithfully go to the lost as those IFB’s do with their false no-repentance gospel, I think a great change would take place in how much of the Great Commission would actually be accomplished. <br /><br />One last thing, the comment from Hemia smeding is so true. As an IFB missionary, the main thing that pastors and church members really want to know about our ministries as missionaries, is how many people we have in our church. So if the missionary tells the pastor that he only has a church membership of twenty-five or thirty, then that missionary is obviously doing something wrong in the eyes of many pastors. The question of “How many are you running in your services” just goes to show that the emphasis in most IFB circles relating to evangelism and the Great Commission is far more focused on quantity than quality. The sad result is that mass professions of faith are seen as more important than converts actually following the Lord in obedient discipleship.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />Jason<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-47515627413469336162015-06-09T12:00:53.704-07:002015-06-09T12:00:53.704-07:00"That's not 'go and tell' evangel..."That's not 'go and tell' evangelism, that's 'come and hear' evangelism."<br /><br />One is in the Bible, one isn't.<br /><br />---<br /><br />Only the first one is biblical evangelism.<br /><br />It is amazing that in most baptist circles, the congregation has special services and is told to bring the lost to a building so that they can hear an "evangelist" preach to them. The most obvious biblical truth that is contrary to this is when Cornelius who is in Ceaserea is shown a vision from God and told to SEND for Peter who is in Joppa (~50 mi distance!).<br /><br />Why did God do this if he already had an EVANGELIST in Ceaserea named Philip?The Preacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00555338497068482867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-47561987204686213302015-06-07T22:43:31.547-07:002015-06-07T22:43:31.547-07:00My wife and I have this conversation we've had...My wife and I have this conversation we've had so many times.<br /><br />"That's not 'go and tell' evangelism, that's 'come and hear' evangelism."<br /><br />One is in the Bible, one isn't.<br /><br />That came to mind on the part about "invite".Jon Gleasonhttp://www.mindrenewers.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-64993953014481199772015-06-07T05:28:54.616-07:002015-06-07T05:28:54.616-07:00There is really nothing in the bible about "d...There is really nothing in the bible about "door knocking" (closest is Acts 5:42), but the evidence suggests that the public testimony resulted in opportunities to go to those homes, either by invitation or "door knocking". Acts 2:46, 20:20 does not directly deal with evangelism. There is clear evidence in the bible about openly preaching and teaching the gospel in areas (especially the temple square and synagogues) or cities where men congregate (Matthew 11:1, 26:55; Mark 1:4, 14, 38, 4:1, 6:12, Luke 23:5, Acts 8:5, 25, 40, 9:27, 11:20, 13:5, 42, 14:21 to name a few).<br /><br />It is always amazing how this always "slips past the cracks" when mentioning evangelism and is always the exception rather than the rule when preaching the gospel.The Preacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00555338497068482867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-79951360988067068542015-06-06T08:48:47.241-07:002015-06-06T08:48:47.241-07:00"I've written a lot about this, but peopl..."I've written a lot about this, but people have made their commission, "invite," instead of "go." They think that the commission is inviting unsaved people to church. It isn't. It is going and preaching."<br /><br />This is a good observation. As we were starting our work, we really considered this and how we would evangelize. When we knock on doors, we just introduce ourselves as neighbors, and ask it we can talk to them about Jesus.<br /><br />This is harder than inviting. When you go to give them Christ and not invite them to a church, you are personally addressing this person. It is you telling them they have a need, not the organization that sent you. That is uncomfortable. When you go to invite, you are asking them to come see this organization. It is less personal and more comfortable. They are not rejecting you, just that organization.<br /><br />This is a good article, and your example is an encouragement. Keep it up.<br />Farmer Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09637851494862726991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-76006272887207003912015-06-03T21:05:18.319-07:002015-06-03T21:05:18.319-07:00I agree that a lot of present day methodology has ...I agree that a lot of present day methodology has little to do with the Great Commission. As a missionary friend stated "that as long as you can send a report with pictures of people in a church building your support will keep coming in." <br />I do have a question. Can you say for sure that not all nations have been reached through the Great Commission in the last 2000 years? I know that there are people groups presently without a gospel witness. But have they never heard? Did nobody come to their door or border the last 2000 years? Was there no other Eunuch that travelled somewhere who on the way home met an evangelist? I realize these questions maybe in the realm of speculation and history might not be able go give us all the answers. Hemia Smedingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-73036741447555922462015-06-03T19:59:55.207-07:002015-06-03T19:59:55.207-07:00Excellent article. Really appreciated the part abo...Excellent article. Really appreciated the part about sacrificing the goal, to reach their goal. Great read for any one interested in great commission work. Which should be every church member.James Wyatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06852764984839182373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-50761771889289112222015-06-02T19:10:04.823-07:002015-06-02T19:10:04.823-07:00Hi Joshua,
Thanks for commenting. I haven't ...Hi Joshua,<br /><br />Thanks for commenting. I haven't posted about the age of children being baptized. Maybe I'll write about that some time. To give you the cliffs notes, the Bible doesn't say anything about it. However, we are very careful with children's conversion. I have an in depth philosophy or belief about that. If a child gets through that, then he would be ready to be baptized, but that doesn't tend toward a child being very young.<br /><br />It's true that generally I want related comments and this sort of relates, because that is the Great Commission. :-D However, everyone, I don't want to go into a discussion on this, because I actually want people commenting on what I wrote.<br /><br />I would think that several agree and several disagree on this assessment.Kent Brandenburghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13419354741455959191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20213892.post-69531927522315404532015-06-02T13:10:58.642-07:002015-06-02T13:10:58.642-07:00I am enjoying reading your different blogposts. I ...I am enjoying reading your different blogposts. I know this doesn't pertain to this post, but I am wondering if you will or have ever posted about the age believing children should be baptised? Interested in your thoughts. If you don't want to publish this, please email me at roberts2wales@gmail.com Josh Roberts Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14875190127831976059noreply@blogger.com