Bible Discussion Thread

What is happening to the church nowadays? Many are not teaching the entire Gospel, and many are leading their flock down the wrong path, I am so sad. Is it the 501c3 that God hates? Being involved with that pastors are limited in what they say, and lately, you say anything that hurts society's "feelings" and they go crazy, I say, get out of the 501c3 and MAKE Jesus the head of the church, not the government, rant over, God Bless all.

Hi Jeannie. I'm not so sure that it is the 501(c)(3) affording Tax Exemption status/charitable gifts deductions that is entirely to be blamed for limiting what pastors can preach. Some Church leaders might be conscious of that, but the requirements to be met to attain that Status, do not include what is said or preached in the Church, rather the way the Church is organized & the defined purposes that are to be achieved.

Rather, for not preaching "the entire Gospel", & we can include, reticence to preach boldly against abortion, homosexuality, drug use & other issues that have been divisive between the religious & secular, might be something that requires examination. There are probably a host of reasons why certain subjects are avoided or watered down, even the Gospel preached being lukewarm; and some of these would include a certain amount of conforming to societal thinking & acceptance, & the fact that in 'traditional' Fellowships (i.e. not of the cults), there are folk who hold to all manner of beliefs about what is acceptable & correct even when comparing Scripture to living in the world. So, if some are going to be offended by what is preached, there might be a backlash, whether by a departure of people, irregular attendance, less money in the offering plate, admonition to the pastor, or even going to the media. And to avoid all that, some leaders might recoil, giving out what people want to hear, & preaching a Gospel that is watered down & of no use to anyone, making many greater candidates for hell.

As much as I have no regard to the cults & their teaching, I do have to give them a plus point: their people are taught to believe what is given, to accept & practise it, & to share that 'truth' with others without fear. Now if only the evangelical Church could preach with such conviction, not fearing what people think, say, or do, both within & without the Church. And if the Tax Exemption be lost, so be it, if to remain true to the Lord & His Word.