Reply To: Evangelism and Follow Up Group Discussion 1

[Florence Oribhabor]

PRACTICES IN OUR CHURCHES TODAY THAT DO NOT ALLIGN WITH TRUE EVANGELISM.

TRUE EVANGELISM.
True Evangelism is the spreading of the Christian gospel by preaching or personal witness about Jesus’ death and resurrection, which is the good news.
False evangelism
False gospel comes in disguised in christians – surrounding language,but they are built on false doctrines rather than true realities outline in the scriptures
The false gospel, which emphasis is on the success,happiness, comfort, and fulfilment of lust
There are so many practises in contemporary churches. These practices are not in consonance with what Christ preached and stood for.Some of these practices to mention, but a few include:

I) materialism
II) the craze for prophecies and miracles
III) church commercialisation.
MATERIALISM
The above has taken centre stage in most churches today. Wealth and wealthy people are glorified ,idolized, and deified, while the rest of the congregation are encouraged to tap from their wealth anointing. New cars, new jobs , new political appointments, and all sorts of earthly desires are now the focal points of the sermons of many pastors. The gospel of the death and resurrection of Christ through which we are set free from
[05/11, 15:54] De – Flosun Enterprise: desires of the flesh and all forms of sin no longer mean much to them as they have all had it swept under the carpet. People now see going to church as a mere Sunday ritual. They go, and they come back spiritually the same as no sermon of any spiritual impact and significance is preached. Zero transformational and soul winning messages.The true gospel emphasises the need for genuine repentance while the false gospel sees repentance as merely changing of one’s mind. Matthew 3:8
Therefore, bear fruits worthy of repentance, giving a mental accent to the fact that God sees you as pure.

CRAZE FOR PROPHESIES AND MIRACLES
Many so-called pastors and prophets superintending over churches now go the extra mile to acquire powers so as to perform miracles to hoodwink their gullible followers. Some native doctors have modernised their shrines , naming them ministries so it can sound appealing to the unsuspecting worshipers. So many have been deceived, ripped off, and victimized by these fraudsters. Any pastor that does not lay emphasis on Christ and the kingdom of God is far from evangelism and is only being used as a tool in the hand of the devil to send people to hell.
The true gospel leads the believers to ask what can I do for God? Not what God will do for me
Colossians 3:1-3
If then you were raised with Christ, by seeking those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the
[05/11, 15:56] De – Flosun Enterprise: right hand of God
[2]Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
[3]For you died, and your life is hidden in Christ in God.
CHURCH COMMERCIALISATION
The above refers to the manipulation of the church,its services (spiritual and emotional), with the implied intentions to exploit members for economic and financial gain. Many contemporary churches are guilty of this. I know of a neighbour who stopped going to church because of the emotional black mail he experienced from the pastor of the church. The enterpreneurs have devised many crafty and ungodly ways of hoodwinking their members. Jesus frowned at all these bizarre practices when he was on earth. The true gospel focuses on the resurrection, whereas the false gospel emphasises the success,happiness, comfort, and fulfilment of lust.
1 Corinthians 2:2
For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.