One thing I cannot seem to understand within the Church is the teaching of the modern movement. Modernists will say without reservation that we are saved by a personal relationship and not by a “religion” or a “church.” But this is not honest! They teach that one must “be in fellowship” and that one must be “plugged in” and that one should listen to Christian radio and hang out with Christian friends, etc. If one does not do these things then one’s salvation (one’s instantaneous conversion) is in question. One may have to do it all over again somehow.
My question is: How does the fellowship, the radio, the friends and so forth not constitute a church? It is as if they are deceiving the Christians by teaching Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus (outside the church there is no salvation) without directly saying it. They say that salvation is by something completely invisible yet they follow up with something completely different. They too believe that through the church is the way of salvation but they for some reason want people to think that it is not the way of salvation. I believe they do this in order to paint a more powerful picture of the Holy Spirit, as if the Spirit does not direct through the ordinances of the Church but directs only through His invisible power. The whole thing is covered with lies!
Do you want to be saved? Then give yourself to the Church and begin to experience a radical change in your life. What you do not want to do is submit to some sort of rhetorical message of guilt and false promise that will lead you on a very disappointing path of cult-like entrapment and manipulation.
If God has chosen you, you will be brought by him to the baptismal font and then the communion rail, and from there an entire life of submission of prayer, worship, obedience and a host of spiritual blessings.
Amen.
Right on! As one who has experienced my fair share of pentecostalism, altar calls, raise your hand for salvation(anything but mention baptism), this article is right on.