SermonIndex Audio Sermons
SermonIndex - Promoting Revival to this Generation
Give To SermonIndex
Discussion Forum : General Topics : The Modern Gospel 95 thesis

Print Thread (PDF)

PosterThread
warriorofgod
Member



Joined: 2006/2/26
Posts: 193


 The Modern Gospel 95 thesis

October 31st, this will be posted on light poles, billboards, and in mailboxes. Please pass this around to those that preach this gospel and to your christian friends. God Bless and pray that God will restore true biblical preaching.


The Modern Gospel

To all those that preach and hear the Gospel today,

We as preachers are called to a higher calling seeing that we handle the word of God. We as listeners must be diligent to know the truth. There is a sunlight of truth that has been blackened by the smoke of confusion by what is known as the modern gospel. I pray that this thesis will spark a fire in your soul that will cause it to spread to your holy congregation.

1. There are those who say that you must believe in your heart and confess with your mouth in order to be saved. Yet they do not tell you that you must turn from your sin.
2. A man cannot be saved unless repentance, faith, and belief are all present at the time of salvation according to scripture. Men who preach the modern gospel make a formula for salvation that excludes any of these three foundation stones.
3. There are those who tell men that after salvation they must mature in the Lord but never tell them that they must deny all fleshly lusts.
4. There are those that preach the word of God and quote scripture verbatim, but neglect to balance Gods word and neglect to give a full understanding of what they preach.
5. A minister’s condemnation will not be in what they taught but what should’ve been taught. (Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42)
6. There are those that desire to preach a gospel that wish to make men prosperous instead of making men broken over sin.
7. A man’s life does not consist of the abundance of things one possesses and any one that preaches that it does is an enemy of God. (Luke 12:15)
8. There are those that love to tell men that they are saved simply because they came to the altar and prayed. This is tragic since a man is given the assurance of their salvation by the Holy Spirit through His word. (Romans 8:16; Ephesians 1:13)
9. There are those that say that a prayer will not save men, but when someone desires to be saved, the preacher gives them the assurance of their salvation because they came forward and prayed. This is hypocrisy.
10. There are those that have a doctrinal statement that says “all men are sinners,” but they will never preach like they believe it.
11. The modern gospel has made room for general statements such as “all have sinned,” but never bring the understanding as to what “sins” are.
12. There are those that use the word conversion to mean “growing” or “maturing in the Lord.” This is hardly true since the primary definition of the word means salvation.
13. There are those that automatically call someone saved because they can recite a worthy testimony. Yet they are never asked the question of, “How do they know they are saved?”
14. There are those that tell men that they are saved because they can point to a bible verse that gives them the assumption that they are. Pointing to a bible verse and claiming it, without understanding, does not guarantee anyone’s salvation.
15. There are those that teach that you can be Carnal and be a Christian. Carnal means “Dog-like” and Christian mean “Christ –like”, these are contrary to one another.
16. There are those that preach and tell you things that will comfort you all the time and will never tell you things that reveal your sin, lest you should be uncomfortable.
17. There are preachers who tell you to check the bible to see if they are telling the truth but they will never tell you how to do it lest they should be exposed.
18. There are those that tell you that you can’t lose your salvation yet will never show you how you can make sure that you are saved.
19. There are those that say that you can lose your salvation but they will never tell you at what point you do.
20. The bible tells us in 1 John 3 that you are what you practice. If you are practicing sin, you are lost whether or not you think you can lose your salvation.
21. There are preachers that preach seven steps to freedom in Christ so that Christians can be “free,” but Jesus said that if the Son makes you free you shall be free indeed. (John 8:36)
22. There are those that preach that you must always tell people positive things so that they will become what you say. Encouragement is necessary, but it should not replace the wounds of reminding men of their sin so that they can turn from sin to Christ.
23. The modern gospel has brought in the Catholic version of buying your way into heaven by telling the un-saved to give tithes and offerings. We somehow give sinners assurance of their salvation if they give to the church.
24. We no longer preach a gospel that sends the terrifying wrath of Gods justice into the heart of man so that the amazing grace of Christ can be much more amazing.
25. We now preach that Jesus Christ died to make your life better instead of Jesus Christ died for your sin. (John 1:29)
26. The modern gospel preaches about sin but never against it.
27. We are told that not all are called to be evangelists, but we are never told that we are all called to evangelize. (Mark 16:15)
28. We are told that if we preach about hell and sin we will drive sinners away from Christ, yet doesn’t the bible say that they are all going there already? (John 3:18)
29. The modern gospel teaches us that we must use our lifestyle to witness to people about Jesus, but Lifestyle Evangelism has replaced true evangelism by not preaching the gospel.
30. Our lifestyle, without preaching, is useless unless we speak. Our light shines brighter when we open our mouths for Jesus Christ.
31. The Lifestyle Evangelism method has silenced the mouths of Christians and has paralyzed the tongue of the bride of Christ. We have become cowards instead of conquerors.
32. There are those that assume that your whole congregation is saved simply because they did not raise their hand, during an altar call, to be saved. This could not be farther from the truth. There are now more lost people in church than saved because of the modern gospel.
33. There are those that say that a child is saved simply because he prayed a sinner’s prayer, yet they will never look for fruit to see if the child exemplifies holiness. (Pro. 20:11)
34. A child will usually want salvation not because he understands sin, but because he does not want to go to hell. Nobody wants to go to hell, but not everybody wants to turn from sin.
35. A man cannot truly repent of any sin unless he has been confronted with the enormity of his crimes against a holy God. The modern gospel provides the comfort a sinner does not need.
36. There are ministers that tell you that you must recognize that you are a sinner before you decide to get saved. Yet recognizing does nothing for your understanding of how offensive sin is in the sight of God.
37. There are pastors and elders that preach the gospel in the church building, but have never done any kind of preaching outside the pulpit. This is a tragedy and shows the unfulfilled ministry of being a true preacher. (Mark 16:15)
38. There are those that teach that you must always have joy as a Christian, but yet the bible is written by men who were afflicted. You are never taught that you will suffer in this life. (Acts 14:22)
39. Love, fulfillment, peace, and prosperity are all teachings exalted today in our pulpits which make Jesus Christ a slave to your life instead of the master of your life.
40. Many preachers, under the modern gospel, will not tell you that you should fear the Lord because their fear of men is greater. (Proverbs 29:25; 2 Corinthians 5:11)
41. The modern gospel allows for us to speak things into existence or teach that we can say things and it will come to pass. While our words have power, they cannot usurp Gods power over what will or will not happen in our lives.
42. Though we are created in the image of God, we are not God! There are those that teach a veiled version of us being gods on earth. Claiming bible verses that support our will, demanding that God perform our request in Jesus name, and speaking things into the atmosphere are all damning doctrines that give men and woman the false assurance that they can be like God.
43. There are those that hold music to a higher regard than the actual gospel being preached. They exemplify this by spending more time singing then preaching or by putting a bigger emphasis on music.
44. We are told not to “judge” other professing Christians. This is devastating to all of Christianity! Because then what is the point of preaching, going to church, accountability, church discipline, and fellowship. Men who preach this forget about the doctrine of righteous judgment. (John 7:24)
45. New “on fire” Christians, which are underneath the teaching of the modern gospel, will often be called self righteous or proud; because while they are obeying the Lord’s commandments, everyone around them feels very uncomfortable because they themselves are not.
46. Often pastors or teachers may squelch the fire new Christians have by rebuking them for their lack of maturity or inexperience and will provide no remedy. Rebuke without correction leaves a devastated heart.
47. Today you cannot challenge the pastor or teacher in what he teaches. If you do, you are called divisive or self righteous. Under this kind of leadership growth will be painful, but it will cause the faithful to find the truth of Gods word.
48. There are those that teach that you can be saved and yet be out of fellowship with Christ. This is not a biblical statement seeing that a Christian cannot be saved unless he has fellowship with Christ. (1 John 1:6)
49. Spiritual gifts are not an indicator that you are saved but living a holy lifestyle is. There are many men who will do miracles in the name of Jesus and still end up in hell. (Matthew 7:22-23)
50. Our church vision does not override the vision of the bible. If you are of those that take priority of church vision over what the bible says, then you should be very weary of your salvation seeing that you are raising a cult.
51. We are told that it is very dangerous to call men unsaved but many of us are quicker to call them saved which is far more dangerous. We cannot call men unsaved but we can declare them saved? This is hypocrisy.
52. If a man is born again, calling him unsaved will cause him to look deeper into the bible for assurance from God. If a man is not born again, calling him unsaved will cause him to get angry.
53. If a man is not born again, a man calling him saved will satisfy him. If a man is born again, a man calling him saved will not satisfy him.
54. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment and yet there are many who do not preach in accordance with the Holy Spirit. (John 16:8)
55. There are some that preach that a Christian can be saved and yet not grow. This is an insult to a God who starts a good work in you and will finish it. (Philippians 1:6; John 15:16)
56. There are some that teach that if you are Christian and continue sinning, that God will kill you and take you to heaven because of your life of continual sin. This makes room for men who call themselves saved to live how ever they want. Continual sin shows that you are not saved. (1 John 3:7-8)
57. We are taught that you must look like the crowd you are preaching to because you must become all things to all men so that you can save some. How you dress does not save men! The gospel message saves men! I very rarely see a preacher going out in Goth clothing because he felt he needed to reach a Satanist.
58. The modern Gospel has removed the greatest weapon to win the souls of lost men, the Ten Commandments. We have become so afraid to be called legalistic and/or judgmental that we can no longer call a man what he is according to Gods law.
59. The Modern gospel preachers tell us that there are other ways to win sinners other than using the Ten Commandments. This is partly true. Though we use many methods to attract sinners, all methods must funnel through the understanding of sin. Unless a man understands his sin to be exceedingly sinful, he cannot repent and be saved.
60. When preachers refuse to use Gods law to bring the knowledge of sin, they are withholding the schoolmaster that will lead a sinner to Christ. (Galatians 3:24-25)
61. Most covetous preachers will not use the law of God because their own love for money will be made manifest by the tenth commandment. (Luke 16:14)
62. Building self esteem in our children through flattery will not help their Christian walk. We must be shown our unworthiness before a holy God so that we can depend upon the Holy Spirit for esteem.
63. There are some that preach in a way that exalts themselves rather than Christ. They show this by having themselves sit in a place of honor and by constantly emphasizing authority. (Matthew 23:2-7; Luke 22:25-26)
64. The altar of the modern gospel has become a place where men can confess their sins and go away unchanged. Men come to the altar to psychologically dump the guilt of what’s been preached to them instead of letting men soak in the womb of conviction.
65. No where in the bible will you see any formula that is remotely close to what we see as the”altar call”. The altar call is not a biblical formula! It is a tradition of man that is shortcutting repentance and is giving many men the false assurance of salvation.
66. The modern Gospel no longer makes room for the Judgment of hell. There are many men who love to preach the love of God but never touch on the justice of God.
67. God’s goodness is not Him turning a blind eye to sin. The goodness of God leads to repentance because it shows that God is not quick to inflict His wrath upon sinners. This is an attractive quality of God but one day that quality will run dry. (Romans 2:4)
68. There are many that preach that by Gods loving-kindness He draws men to him, but they will never say why it draws men. It is because God is angry with the wicked every day and his loving-kindness is what prevents Him from giving immediate judgment. But judgment will come to all those that do not repent. This is rarely preached in the modern gospel. (Psalm 7:11; Jeremiah 9:24)
69. There are those in the modern gospel that say you should not put God in a box, but they forget that Gods “box” is His word (the bible); He will not do anything contrary to it.
70. All those that claim that God is doing a new thing for the new generation never read in the bible, where Solomon says, that there is nothing new under the sun. Anything new that does not line up with the word is satanic. (Ecclesiastes 1:9)
71. The modern gospel allows for men to indulge in movies or TV programs that are immoral because what is preached does not go against what they watch. Therefore, there is no guilt for watching filth because the modern gospel allows it.
72. The modern gospel has traded the joy of the Holy Ghost with entertainment. We have to go to amusement parks or have a fun night of bowling to have joy in our Christian walk.
73. No longer is the bible exalted as the joy of our lives because we have replaced it with study’s that finds its foundation in movies which the Lord himself would not approve of.
74. The modern gospel has changed the message of Jesus to be more appealing to those that are lost. Men do not enjoy intolerant messages of sin and consequences, so modern preachers have provided a friendlier version of the gospel in their preaching.
75. The modern Gospel no longer challenges men about their salvation. We can no longer tell a man, who is living in blatant sin, that he is lost. We will be called judgmental and un-loving. God forbid this man realizes he is lost and gets saved.
76. The modern Gospel tells us that we are “defeated Christians” when we walk around depressed. Yet the bible tells us in Ecclesiastes that the wise live in the house of mourning. We can be happy and read the bible, but the bible is best read when we are afflicted. (Ecclesiastes 7:4)
77. There are those that say a person does not have to change the way they talk, walk, and look when they get saved. But a person who is genuinely saved will be concerned about these matters.
78. There are preachers who say we should not to be specific in our preaching, because we are not the Holy Spirit to be convicting men of sin. But preachers act like the Holy Spirit when they pronounce men saved when they are not.
79. Christians, under the preaching of the modern gospel, which desire to show other men their convictions, will be labeled as self righteous and are told not to push their convictions upon others.
80. The modern gospel is breeding women who are proud and do not permit their husbands to be the leader of the household, because the modern gospel allows for the women to lead.
81. There are preachers who will not rebuke today’s Christian woman for their love of shopping and materialism for fear that they will drag their husbands out of church.
82. The modern gospel has made room for many church programs that consume our time rather than concentrating on soul winning and discipleship. We no longer intensely involve ourselves with the salvation of men or the teaching of new Christians.
83. The modern gospel calls all those that do nothing for Christ “Carnal Christians”, but the bible makes no room for such a statement. If these kinds of people are apart of your church, they are dead members, and not apart of the body of Christ.
84. Preachers that preach the modern gospel will be harsh toward those who continually question what they believe; because most of what they believe is based off a man centered gospel and not a Christ centered one. They have built their doctrines on wood, hay, and stubble rather than silver, gold, and precious stones. (1 Corinthians 3:12)
85. The modern gospel has made room for practicing homosexuals as well as woman in the office of Pastor, Elder, or Bishop. Since we are not supposed to be judgmental, we can now compromise the scriptures and allow anyone to have authority.
86. There are those that preach inspirational messages but do not have the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit does not preach messages that build self esteem or teach you how to “live your best life now.”
87. A man that is baptized with Gods spirit may not necessarily manifest any “spiritual gift.” True baptism of Gods spirit is always manifested when that man lives a holy life according to the bible.
88. The Romans Road does not adequately explain sin and your need for salvation until we proficiently expound on its meaning. We must preach the way John the Baptist did and compel men with Gods law so that it can make way for the Lord Jesus Christ.
89. The modern gospel is something that God hates with a passion because it is sending more men to hell than winning them to Christ.
90. Again, anyone who preaches this modern gospel is accursed according to scripture because they preach a gospel that does not line up with the way it is supposed to be preached. (Galatians 1:8-9)
91. Again, anyone who tolerates this modern gospel to be preached in their area need to speak up and reason with the thinking of these preachers so that they can see how many men are going to hell because of it.
92. Again, the modern gospel is very popular; I understand that it can be very intimidating to speak against it. But we must plead to our leaders about this teaching that is killing the bride of Christ. The more we allow this kind of preaching to go on, the more endangered souls will be on the Day of Judgment.
93. If you are very offended by this thesis, unless you can prove scripturally that what I am saying is wrong, then you must turn away from preaching this modern gospel.
94. The gospel of Jesus Christ commands all of us to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith. The modern gospel will never exhort you to do this. If you have preached this modern gospel message or have been “saved” underneath this kind of preaching, I am pleading with you that you double check to see if you are really saved.
(2 Corinthians 13:5)
95. Finally, all those that preach the modern gospel will look at this thesis and will try their hardest to defend that gospel because they have been revealed. If any man disagrees with this letter in any point, it may be that a portion of his teaching has been poisoned with the modern gospel. Run for your lives and run to the gospel of Jesus Christ that tells you that you are guilty of sinning against God. Run to the true Jesus that will change you inside and out and not allow you to be a “Carnal Christian”. Run to the true Jesus that is more concerned with spiritual blessing rather then natural. Run to the Jesus that tells you that you must die to your sin and die to all that you want in this life. Run to the Jesus that saves you not because you prayed a sinner’s prayer, but because you truly repented of your sin. Run to the Jesus that will not allow all those that practice sin to enter into heaven. Run to the true Jesus that will judge all those that are preaching this gospel that is sending the mankind He died for into hell.

[email protected]
George Alvarado

 2007/10/15 15:38Profile
psalm1
Member



Joined: 2007/1/30
Posts: 1230


 Re: The Modern Gospel 95 thesis

Warrior, # 25 is definately wrong both scriptural and commonsenssical.
I skimmed over the list and some of this 95
is problematic.
We are all learning and none have 'arrived'..I apprecite your zeal but you need to submit this list to authority because you are about to cause undu confusion with this list.
2 items of concern is the spooky 'curse' you put on#95 and the fact you know who is saved and who is not.
You also leave out the work of the Holy Spirit in conversion in this regard...[I can botch the sinners prayer or any prayer I am praying] and still be 100% on target after the modification of the Holy Spirit.

Remember Love and Mercy will carry you a million miles past the judgemental crowd.

Dont try to have 95.....An annointed 20 or 30 would be better.


May God richly bless yourr endeavers,..David

 2007/10/26 11:16Profile
warriorofgod
Member



Joined: 2006/2/26
Posts: 193


 Re:

How is number #25 unscriptural? It was an explanation of preaching in most of the pulpits today. You will go to many churches that show this kind of preaching. Is it unscriptural that Jesus died for sin? Please help me with you understanding.

Please me help to understand, what did you mean by curse? Point #95 has no curse implied. It was an admonishment for all those that read the thesis to examine their preaching if they have been offended at any point during the thesis. Also, please help me to understand how the Holy Spirit was left out? Why would you assume that I was implying who was saved and who was not?

Last point, have you heard of Martin Luther? That’s why I picked 95.

God Bless and I hope that you being offended is not in vain. I appreciate the critique, and everything you said was taken seriously.




 2007/10/27 3:45Profile
roadsign
Member



Joined: 2005/5/2
Posts: 3777


 Re: Luther: 95 Theses

According to the dictionary a thesis is: a proposition stated or put forward for consideration, esp. one to be discussed and proved or to be maintained against objections

I am posting Luther’s 95 Theses. Perhaps a comparison will spark some discussion. I notice that some of Luther's points are universal truths, and some have close parallels in modern (evangelical) religion.

Diane

----------------------------------------------------------
THE 95 THESES
by Martin Luther
1. When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, "Repent" (Mt 4:17), he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance
2. This word cannot be understood as referring to the sacrament of penance, that is, confession and satisfaction, as administered by the clergy.
3. Yet it does not mean solely inner repentance; such inner repentance is worthless unless it produces various outward mortification of the flesh.
4. The penalty of sin remains as long as the hatred of self (that is, true inner repentance), namely till our entrance into the kingdom of heaven.
5. The pope neither desires nor is able to remit any penalties except those imposed by his own authority or that of the canons.
6. The pope cannot remit any guilt, except by declaring and showing that it has been remitted by God; or, to be sure, by remitting guilt in cases reserved to his judgment. If his right to grant remission in these cases were disregarded, the guilt would certainly remain unforgiven.
7. God remits guilt to no one unless at the same time he humbles him in all things and makes him submissive to the vicar, the priest.
8. The penitential canons are imposed only on the living, and, according to the canons themselves, nothing should be imposed on the dying.
9. Therefore the Holy Spirit through the pope is kind to us insofar as the pope in his decrees always makes exception of the article of death and of necessity.
10. Those priests act ignorantly and wickedly who, in the case of the dying, reserve canonical penalties for purgatory.
11. Those tares of changing the canonical penalty to the penalty of purgatory were evidently sown while the bishops slept (Mt 13:25).
12. In former times canonical penalties were imposed, not after, but before absolution, as tests of true contrition.
13. The dying are freed by death from all penalties, are already dead as far as the canon laws are concerned, and have a right to be released from them.
14. Imperfect piety or love on the part of the dying person necessarily brings with it great fear; and the smaller the love, the greater the fear.
15. This fear or horror is sufficient in itself, to say nothing of other things, to constitute the penalty of purgatory, since it is very near to the horror of despair.
16. Hell, purgatory, and heaven seem to differ the same as despair, fear, and assurance of salvation.
17. It seems as though for the souls in purgatory fear should necessarily decrease and love increase.
18. Furthermore, it does not seem proved, either by reason or by Scripture, that souls in purgatory are outside the state of merit, that is, unable to grow in love.
19. Nor does it seem proved that souls in purgatory, at least not all of them, are certain and assured of their own salvation, even if we ourselves may be entirely certain of it.
20. Therefore the pope, when he uses the words "plenary remission of all penalties," does not actually mean "all penalties," but only those imposed by himself.
21. Thus those indulgence preachers are in error who say that a man is absolved from every penalty and saved by papal indulgences.
22. As a matter of fact, the pope remits to souls in purgatory no penalty which, according to canon law, they should have paid in this life.
23. If remission of all penalties whatsoever could be granted to anyone at all, certainly it would be granted only to the most perfect, that is, to very few.
24. For this reason most people are necessarily deceived by that indiscriminate and high-sounding promise of release from penalty.
25. That power which the pope has in general over purgatory corresponds to the power which any bishop or curate has in a particular way in his own diocese and parish.
26. The pope does very well when he grants remission to souls in purgatory, not by the power of the keys, which he does not have, but by way of intercession for them.
27. They preach only human doctrines who say that as soon as the money clinks into the money chest, the soul flies out of purgatory.
28. It is certain that when money clinks in the money chest, greed and avarice can be increased; but when the church intercedes, the result is in the hands of God alone.
29. Who knows whether all souls in purgatory wish to be redeemed, since we have exceptions in St. Severinus and St. Paschal, as related in a legend.
30. No one is sure of the integrity of his own contrition, much less of having received plenary remission.
31. The man who actually buys indulgences is as rare as he who is really penitent; indeed, he is exceedingly rare.
32. Those who believe that they can be certain of their salvation because they have indulgence letters will be eternally damned, together with their teachers.
33. Men must especially be on guard against those who say that the pope's pardons are that inestimable gift of God by which man is reconciled to him.
34. For the graces of indulgences are concerned only with the penalties of sacramental satisfaction established by man.
35. They who teach that contrition is not necessary on the part of those who intend to buy souls out of purgatory or to buy confessional privileges preach unchristian doctrine.
36. Any truly repentant Christian has a right to full remission of penalty and guilt, even without indulgence letters.
37. Any true Christian, whether living or dead, participates in all the blessings of Christ and the church; and this is granted him by God, even without indulgence letters.
38. Nevertheless, papal remission and blessing are by no means to be disregarded, for they are, as I have said (Thesis 6), the proclamation of the divine remission.
39. It is very difficult, even for the most learned theologians, at one and the same time to commend to the people the bounty of indulgences and the need of true contrition.
40. A Christian who is truly contrite seeks and loves to pay penalties for his sins; the bounty of indulgences, however, relaxes penalties and causes men to hate them -- at least it furnishes occasion for hating them.
41. Papal indulgences must be preached with caution, lest people erroneously think that they are preferable to other good works of love.
42. Christians are to be taught that the pope does not intend that the buying of indulgences should in any way be compared with works of mercy.
43. Christians are to be taught that he who gives to the poor or lends to the needy does a better deed than he who buys indulgences.
44. Because love grows by works of love, man thereby becomes better. Man does not, however, become better by means of indulgences but is merely freed from penalties.
45. Christians are to be taught that he who sees a needy man and passes him by, yet gives his money for indulgences, does not buy papal indulgences but God's wrath.
46. Christians are to be taught that, unless they have more than they need, they must reserve enough for their family needs and by no means squander it on indulgences.
47. Christians are to be taught that they buying of indulgences is a matter of free choice, not commanded.
48 Christians are to be taught that the pope, in granting indulgences, needs and thus desires their devout prayer more than their money.
49. Christians are to be taught that papal indulgences are useful only if they do not put their trust in them, but very harmful if they lose their fear of God because of them.
50. Christians are to be taught that if the pope knew the exactions of the indulgence preachers, he would rather that the basilica of St. Peter were burned to ashes than built up with the skin, flesh, and bones of his sheep.
51. Christians are to be taught that the pope would and should wish to give of his own money, even though he had to sell the basilica of St. Peter, to many of those from whom certain hawkers of indulgences cajole money.
52. It is vain to trust in salvation by indulgence letters, even though the indulgence commissary, or even the pope, were to offer his soul as security.
53. They are the enemies of Christ and the pope who forbid altogether the preaching of the Word of God in some churches in order that indulgences may be preached in others.
54. Injury is done to the Word of God when, in the same sermon, an equal or larger amount of time is devoted to indulgences than to the Word.
55. It is certainly the pope's sentiment that if indulgences, which are a very insignificant thing, are celebrated with one bell, one procession, and one ceremony, then the gospel, which is the very greatest thing, should be preached with a hundred bells, a hundred processions, a hundred ceremonies.
56. The true treasures of the church, out of which the pope distributes indulgences, are not sufficiently discussed or known among the people of Christ.
57. That indulgences are not temporal treasures is certainly clear, for many indulgence sellers do not distribute them freely but only gather them.
58. Nor are they the merits of Christ and the saints, for, even without the pope, the latter always work grace for the inner man, and the cross, death, and hell for the outer man.
59. St. Lawrence said that the poor of the church were the treasures of the church, but he spoke according to the usage of the word in his own time.
60. Without want of consideration we say that the keys of the church, given by the merits of Christ, are that treasure.
61. For it is clear that the pope's power is of itself sufficient for the remission of penalties and cases reserved by himself.
62. The true treasure of the church is the most holy gospel of the glory and grace of God.
63. But this treasure is naturally most odious, for it makes the first to be last (Mt. 20:16).
64. On the other hand, the treasure of indulgences is naturally most acceptable, for it makes the last to be first.
65. Therefore the treasures of the gospel are nets with which one formerly fished for men of wealth.
66. The treasures of indulgences are nets with which one now fishes for the wealth of men.
67. The indulgences which the demagogues acclaim as the greatest graces are actually understood to be such only insofar as they promote gain.
68. They are nevertheless in truth the most insignificant graces when compared with the grace of God and the piety of the cross.
69. Bishops and curates are bound to admit the commissaries of papal indulgences with all reverence.
70. But they are much more bound to strain their eyes and ears lest these men preach their own dreams instead of what the pope has commissioned.
71. Let him who speaks against the truth concerning papal indulgences be anathema and accursed.
72. But let him who guards against the lust and license of the indulgence preachers be blessed.
73. Just as the pope justly thunders against those who by any means whatever contrive harm to the sale of indulgences.
74. Much more does he intend to thunder against those who use indulgences as a pretext to contrive harm to holy love and truth.
75. To consider papal indulgences so great that they could absolve a man even if he had done the impossible and had violated the mother of God is madness.
76. We say on the contrary that papal indulgences cannot remove the very least of venial sins as far as guilt is concerned.
77. To say that even St. Peter if he were now pope, could not grant greater graces is blasphemy against St. Peter and the pope.
78. We say on the contrary that even the present pope, or any pope whatsoever, has greater graces at his disposal, that is, the gospel, spiritual powers, gifts of healing, etc., as it is written, 1 Co 12[:28].
79. To say that the cross emblazoned with the papal coat of arms, and set up by the indulgence preachers is equal in worth to the cross of Christ is blasphemy.
80. The bishops, curates, and theologians who permit such talk to be spread among the people will have to answer for this.
81. This unbridled preaching of indulgences makes it difficult even for learned men to rescue the reverence which is due the pope from slander or from the shrewd questions of the laity.
82. Such as: "Why does not the pope empty purgatory for the sake of holy love and the dire need of the souls that are there if he redeems an infinite number of souls for the sake of miserable money with which to build a church? The former reason would be most just; the latter is most trivial.
83. Again, "Why are funeral and anniversary masses for the dead continued and why does he not return or permit the withdrawal of the endowments founded for them, since it is wrong to pray for the redeemed?"
84. Again, "What is this new piety of God and the pope that for a consideration of money they permit a man who is impious and their enemy to buy out of purgatory the pious soul of a friend of God and do not rather, because of the need of that pious and beloved soul, free it for pure love's sake?"
85. Again, "Why are the penitential canons, long since abrogated and dead in actual fact and through disuse, now satisfied by the granting of indulgences as though they were still alive and in force?"
86. Again, "Why does not the pope, whose wealth is today greater than the wealth of the richest Crassus, build this one basilica of St. Peter with his own money rather than with the money of poor believers?"
87. Again, "What does the pope remit or grant to those who by perfect contrition already have a right to full remission and blessings?"
88. Again, "What greater blessing could come to the church than if the pope were to bestow these remissions and blessings on every believer a hundred times a day, as he now does but once?"
89. "Since the pope seeks the salvation of souls rather than money by his indulgences, why does he suspend the indulgences and pardons previously granted when they have equal efficacy?"
90. To repress these very sharp arguments of the laity by force alone, and not to resolve them by giving reasons, is to expose the church and the pope to the ridicule of their enemies and to make Christians unhappy.
91. If, therefore, indulgences were preached according to the spirit and intention of the pope, all these doubts would be readily resolved. Indeed, they would not exist.
92. Away, then, with all those prophets who say to the people of Christ, "Peace, peace," and there is no peace! (Jer 6:14)
93. Blessed be all those prophets who say to the people of Christ, "Cross, cross," and there is no cross!
94. Christians should be exhorted to be diligent in following Christ, their Head, through penalties, death and hell.
95. And thus be confident of entering into heaven through many tribulations rather than through the false security of peace (Acts 14:22).


_________________
Diane

 2007/10/27 8:43Profile
psalm1
Member



Joined: 2007/1/30
Posts: 1230


 Re: The Modern Gospel 95 thesis

Warrior, I believe you basically did a good job and if you are satisfied with it then i would say go for it!
My little issue is implication.
Who is the modern gospel?
Jn 1;29 is ....the changing of the priesthood not what he accomplished on the cross.
Take away sin is Only one thing that the cross accomplished.
Also by implication you are saying that Jesus doesnt want us to have a better life.
I can totally botch the sinners prayer and the person can still get saved.
Look we all know we have a huge problem with the modern gospel and i do think you did a good job. I dont want to dampen your zeal.
I prob. should have kept my mouth shut because like you, i long for change.
I also would say I am i an extreme minority in S.I. and i dissagree to a lot of the thinking here.They demonise the whole group when they come across error.
I see alot of error in the bretheren here and i am sure I have my share of error.

But for sure we are all learning and i will say again GO FOR IT BRO.!!!!

,,....David

 2007/10/27 12:26Profile
warriorofgod
Member



Joined: 2006/2/26
Posts: 193


 Re:

Psalm1,

God Bless You brother. That was very encouraging. I just hope that this thesis will change things.

Thank you for all clarifications.

 2007/10/27 15:00Profile





©2002-2024 SermonIndex.net
Promoting Revival to this Generation.
Privacy Policy