Is it Liberal?

Liberal tolerant; not narrow in one’s views and ideas; broadminded: b. not strict; not rigorous: “favoring or permitting freedom of action” “open-minded or tolerant” “not strict or rigorous; free; not literal:”

Conservative inclined to keep things as they are; opposed to change A person who is opposed by nature or on principle to innovation and change: tending or disposed to maintain existing views, conditions, or institutions : TRADITIONAL

Practices in Common Church buildings Meet on the first day of the week Sing songs of praise Partake of the Lord’s Supper Give as they have prospered Preach Bible studies

Practices in Common Going from two Sunday services to one “Oh, they are going liberal!” But are they?? A congregation has just as much right to choose to meet once on Sunday as to meet twice on Sunday.

Practices in Common Having Lectures or special services Is there anything wrong with this? The problem with many “liberal” congregations is the manner in which they go about this. Congregations need to be doing more in providing opportunities to study the word of God and grow for all age groups.

Practices in Common Shouldn’t we be making better use of the materials purchased with the Lord’s money? Why shouldn’t we have lectures for the young adults? Why shouldn’t we have a series of lessons for the singles of the church? Why shouldn’t we have a week of studies for parents?

Fellowship Halls “Life Centers” I believe all churches should have a “fellowship hall” A “Spiritual” fellowship hall, just like the one we are in right now.

Fellowship Koinonia Koinonos contribution, fellowship, participation, sharing Koinonos partnership, participation, or social intercourse, to communicate, fellowship.

Fellowship Companionship, company 2a: community of interest, activity, feeling, or experience. 3. a company of equals or friends: association Friendly relationship; companionship; community of interest, feeling; an association of persons having similar tastes, interests

Fellowship At no time do we see that the church sponsored or provided meals When we find Christians taking meals together it is in one another’s homes 1 Corinthians 11:17-22

“Be hospitable to one another without complaint.” Fellowship Hospitality One of the qualifications of an elder is to be “hospitable” (1 Timothy 3:2). Tabitha - Act 9:36-39 Spiritual & Physical Fellowship Acts 2:42-47 1 Peter 4:9 “Be hospitable to one another without complaint.”

(Frank Chesser, The Spirit of Liberalism, pg. 110-111) Youth Ministers “God has His youth ministers, and they are called parents. There are exceptions to the rule, but speaking generally, youth ministers are symbols of parental neglect. If parents were functioning according to God’s design for the home, there would be no need for an employee of the church to minister to the youth. Elders have hired youth ministers to do the work that God has ordained for the home.” (Frank Chesser, The Spirit of Liberalism, pg. 110-111) Why then do we not have “youth” ministers? But wait … we do have “youth” ministers! Who ministered to Timothy as a youth? His mother and grandmother 2 Timothy 1:5 2 Timothy 3:15 “and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 1:5 “For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.”

Evangelism Zeal Unfortunately it is a wasted zeal because they use unscriptural methods in evangelism Misguided zeal Matthew 23:15 Matthew 23:13 “"But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people; for you do not enter in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.” Matthew 23:15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.”

Evangelism Zeal 2 Corinthians 5:10-11a We could learn from their zeal But we must be careful that we go about it in a scriptural manner. May we increase in our zeal and efforts in evangelism 2 Corinthians 5:10-11a 2 Corinthians 5:10-11a “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men…”

“I robbed other churches by taking wages from them to serve you;” Evangelism Philippians 4:15,18 “You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; … 18 But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.” Zeal The church has no authority for missionary societies or additional organizations to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Congregations supported individuals as they went out preaching the Gospel in various places. 2 Corinthians 11:8; Philippians 4:15,18 2 Corinthians 11:8 “I robbed other churches by taking wages from them to serve you;”