The Cost Of Contending

Jan Markell

Jan has been in ministry since 1977 focusing on news from a biblical perspective.  She has written eight books and writes for many periodicals and Web sites.

The Cost of Contending

What has happened in the last 20 years is like the frog in the kettle. Wolves in sheep's clothing have slowly crept into the church. Bad theology worsened but little by little. Because it didn't happen overnight, many did not notice. Soon, they adjusted to the "new ways of doing church," be it "seeker-sensitive," Emergent, etc.

Church leaders "widened the door." In other words, they furthered the issue with weak preaching and targeting the unsaved rather than feeding true believers eager to grow.

Church members began to speak up but what happened? I have heard of the many who were lectured, asked to leave, called troublemakers and divisive. Unity has become all-important. But how can true believers be united around false or weak preaching and teaching? Solid Christians are being told that they must be tolerant for the sake of unity.

Yes, the Bible told us a day was coming when people would not give heed to sound doctrine (II Timothy 2:3, 4). People would want their ears tickled. New ways of doing church today do just that. But following the biblical example, Paul still told Timothy to "preach the Word," and not "tickle the ears."
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