The Hype With The New Age Church

What Jian Han Shared tonight really reminded me of some thoughts i've posted online after attending United Live Concert at the Singapore Expo hosted by NCC. If we get caught up by all these hype too, then as JH says, we might be missing the whole point altogether.

Firstly, what's with certain churches trying so hard to please the youths of this generation that they have practically watered down the entire message of the Gospel? I'm sure that in order to preach the Gospel one does not need to don the Urim or the linen pod used to inquire of The Lord of all the past times. So most pastors nowadays would dress themselves accordingly to suit the congregation they are reaching out to, that's fine. That's dressing, that's being in context of the world, being in touch with the reality of today.

BUT, the last straw is when they start to water down the Gospel to make it more "applicable" to the youths of this generation. Good intentions, disasterous results. This isn't what the Bible exhorts us to do i'm sure. We are in the World, though not of this world. The context of our existence have changed. But the message of the Gospel will always remain the same, no question about that.

I strongly believe that if the Gospel is to be preached, it must be preached in its totality, and not to keep emphasizing on the 'nice to hear, easy to accept' aspects of the Gospel. Easy Salvations, easy Christians. Then when they start to learn more and realise that they've got more than what they've bargained for, what do they do? Either they'll feel that facts have been misrepresented to them, or perhaps worse, leave and shake the dust of their sandals at us Christians. Not a very good first impression to make with them is it?

Well, at least we know now how not to evangelize.. Such stuff, like the totality of the Gospel message, is dogma, and not doctrine. Hence, whatever preached should be kept as close as possible to the whole truth. This is my conviction, what's yours? Any thoughts?

Jared