Teens Party All Night at Megachurch New Year's Bash

Garito »

Sun Jan 13, 2008 10:02 pm Agree: 2   Disagree: 2

This is a great example of how the priority of the Church has been turned upside down.
The article states:
“We have all kinds of plans with what will happen with the kids over the next couple of months [after the New Year’s Eve party],” said Sutherland. “We are getting ready to re-shift and go towards another goal so we can keep our kids constantly targeted towards Christ’s mission of reaching the poor.”

While I don’t go as far as some in shunning the social gospel, it is none the less true that many forces are trying to invert the priorities of the church and the direct commands of Christ. The priorities should be:

1. Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 2. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Matthew 22:37-39 What is the greatest need of every person on this earth including every neighbor? It is to hear the gospel and have the opportunity to accept the free gift of eternal life that God has provided through His son Jesus Christ. This is the “Gospel”, this is the “Good News”, this is the primary job of the church. "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. " I John 5:11-12 This is why proclaiming the Gospel must be the primary call of the Church. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Rom. 1:16 Yes, it (the Gospel) is the power of God unto salvation. Again, the primary job of the Church is to proclaim this Gospel.

3. After seeing sins forgiven, the next priority is make disciples. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:19-20 4. Now if you have been diligently pushing forward with 1, 2 and 3 above, I can’t find anything in scripture that says you need to abandon all effort to encourage social justice on the earth. There are many great injustices to fight against such as: Abortion, genocide, religious persecution, helping those who have been hit by natural disasters, oppression by governments, hunger in the world, inadequate housing, terrorism, healthcare, raising money for AIDS research and relief for those afflicted. etc., etc., etc.

However, it is in the reverse priorities that the greatest danger to the church and mankind lies. When “rethink” predominates and #4 becomes #1 then it is time for true Bible believers to not cower back but take a stand and proclaim truth to all who will listen.