Church architecture varies. Every church building communicates some kind of nonverbal message. In the past, the Gothic cathedral was designed to focus attention on God’s transcendence. The use of high ceilings, vaulted space, towers, and spires all served to communicate that in this building, people met with the holy. While some contemporary church buildings still use spires and vaulted ceilings to suggest God’s awesome holiness, other church buildings have been designed to create a fellowship facility. These churches can look more like town meeting halls or even theaters. In some of these churches, the sanctuary becomes a stage, and the congregation becomes an audience. The trend may be seen as a profanation of sacred space to remove any discomfort suggested by the presence and the terror of our holy God. In these settings people are comfortable with other people as they enjoy fellowship with one another. What is often lost in these functional church designs is the profound sense of threshold. A threshold is a place of transition. It signals a change from one realm to another.
R.C. Sproul, The Holiness of God, pg.212
8 comments:
Speaking of the “the terror of our holy God”, our church does have a high inverted “V” peaked ceiling and roof, and an even higher cross outside on the main patio. But they still are into singing Bethel Church Redding songs. You write often about lyrics of modern praise songs.what I found strange is something as simple as why wouldn’t they of just said “I’m no longer a slave to “SIN” and inserted fear instead? If one googles Bethel Church discernment, one can see all sorts of issues with them and the NAR. As for their music I would prefer to avoid any associated support to them, but our elders don’t see it that way.
The song itself does have more than the average doctrinal points I could agree with in other stanzas, but the Chorus seems to miss the point.
Romans 6:20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Psalms 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
"No Longer Slaves" Bethel Music...
You unravel me with a melody
You surround me with a song
Of deliverance from my enemies
'Til all my fears are gone
[2x]
I'm no longer a slave to fear
I am a child of God
I've actually posted quite a bit about Bethel and their apostasy, even abject heresy. One post I did two years ago was JUST regarding Bethel: https://watchmansbagpipes.blogspot.com/2016/09/due-to-need-for-continuous-reference-to.html
Since that time I continue to address their false teachings in my "Random Aberrations, Apostasies, and Heresies" posts, and later in my "Good, Bad, and Ugly" posts.
I wrote an open letter to pastors regarding using music from Bethel (and others); that we shouldn't use any regardless of whether the lyrics my be satisfactory:
https://watchmansbagpipes.blogspot.com/2016/09/open-letter-to-worship-leaders.html
Your observations fit right in with my warnings.
This may be off topic but Sproul was dangerous because of what ELSE he did and believed.
R.C. Sproul – (Deceased) Calvinist - Revered theologian who taught some sound doctrine, but his other side was perplexing. He spoke on New Ager Robert Schuller's pulpit in 1984, and 1986. (Reported in the 1988 Calvary Contender.) Was a speaker with false teacher Rick Warren at John Piper’s “Desiring God’ conference 2010. Endorsed dangerous Emergent Bill Hybels, (1990 book: “Honest to God”) and pro-Catholic ecumenicalist James Dobson. He also fully endorsed the dangerous Larry Crabb, who derives his counseling models after Freud. (Sproul's 1988 “Tabletalk interview with Dr. Crabb.”)
He endorsed Hugh Ross's book, “Creation and Time”, which promoted progressive creationism / theistic evolution, and a denial of orthodox Christianity's literal / factual / historical interpretation of the first eleven chapters of the Book of Genesis. This Nav-Press published book also attacks the Creation movement and the major people involved (2/26/96, Christian News).”
Sproul declared that Thomas Aquinas and Augustine were two of his favored 'theologians'. He declared himself an 'Augustinian' despite the fact that Augustine believed Baptism was necessary for salvation, the presence of Christ is in the eucharist, apostolic succession, falling from grace, Mary a perpetual virgin, saintly intercession, the Lord's supper for salvation, the sacrament of penance and the authority of the Catholic church.
Augustine - http://www.willcoxson.net/faith/augprot.htm
https://www.catholicfidelity.com/st-augustine-and-catholic-beliefs/
Sproul was a post-millennial partial-preterest which denies the physical resurrection of the body. His view on hell: “The wicked's problem in hell will not be separation from God, it will be the presence of God (in hell) that will torment them.” Sproul believed that the “The Church owes catholic mystic C.S. Lewis an enormous debt...” Sproul: “Aslan, the lion in The Chronicles of Narnia, so captures the character and personality of Jesus; it is nothing short of amazing.” www.verticalliving.com (The same “Jesus” who was pleased when the children did white, deep and dark magic.)
Sproul, in his later years was a big promoter of the false “self-esteem, love ourselves” gospel and he mixed with pro-catholics and ecumenicalists who believed this. He believed that the Bible commands us to love ourselves...”because we are the image of God, to love ourselves is to love God.” Sproul also promoted Bible teacher Kay Arthur who promoted charismatic theology.
https://verticallivingministries.com/2012/05/15/r-c-sproul-on-thomas-aquinas-was-he-the-most-brilliant-of-all-the-theologians/
http://www.blessedquietness.com/journal/resource/rcsproul.htm https://verticallivingministries.com/2012/05/15/r-c-sproul-on-thomas-aquinas-was-he-the-most-brilliant-of-all-the-theologians/
Roger,
I'm quite familiar with R.C. Sproul's problems. Essentially, you can just not that he was a hard-line 5-point TULIP Calvinist, which includes most of what you noted.
However, he did have some good observations, such as those I'm citing from his book.
I didn't say he was a hard line five point Calvinist Shouldve made that clear But I just tend to stay away from men like this who teach truth and then, the antithesis of it. (which actually is a sign of a New Calvinist/ New Evangelical) They contradict themselves doctrinally.
But this is why the church is eroding from within. The degree of separation from Christians who teach false doctrine and / or promote false teachers is painfully small. Quoting Christians that have questionable alliances gives a mixed message. Its a thumbs up to the listener, instead of exposing their dangerous side. Its not just Christians disagreeing on theology, rather, its the other side of Christians that gets swept under the rug so the Church continues to follow them. I know Sproul had good things to say but again, his alliances and conflicting doctrinal beliefs should send up a red flag. Thank you.
Roger,
It was ME who made the statement about Sproul being a hard-line TULIP. I was making the point that most of what you noted about problems with Sproul is endemic to the Calvinist belief system.
Sproul was not part of the New Calvinism; he was a leading figure in the old Calvinism. However, most solid Calvinists are normally good teachers otherwise.
Sproul is recognized by many as a solid teacher. I think some quotations from his book "The Holiness of God" are excellent thought-provokers. Sproul may have been deceived in many ways, but he was a brother in the Lord.
Dude, you need to be getting your quotes from the BIBLE. Stop quoting uninspired men. Stop learning doctrine from other sources. Let the Spirit teach you.
Cowardly anonymous,
DUDE you need to get a grip. No where in Scripture does it ever even hint that we can't cite wise sayings. What I posted here isn't doctrine, and you'd know that if you used common sense instead of trolling.
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