Belive It Or Not A Worship Song

                                                

 

Here in Cheyenne we have a church that is a bit STRANGE. It is called Element Church. Though it is a plant church that issues out of an extreme Wesleyan Holiness background, this plant is steeped in the cult heritage that is now all the rave and typically named Emergent. If you go to Element’s worship page you will find a list of favorite books which include new age and Emergent author’s (Velvet Elvis- Rob Bell; Waking the Dead- John Eldredge). Then it makes sense, doesn’t it, that AC/DC would contextualize the sermon?

If you missed it there is a fine conversation on contextualization that has just ended at Pyromaniacs. There seems to be some confusion about just when we are and are not supposed to wield the sword, but Scripture seems to indicate that it is to be in and out of season. We have a job to do, and it is not always pretty. In fact it is pure hell we are beating down the gates of, taking the Kingdom as we are with violence.

“We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ…

The be all and end all of extending the kingdom is that we win the argument. Honestly! Some would have us to believe that it is just a conversation we’re having here so there is no need for harsh talk and name calling (labeling in pomospeak). But, winning the argument isn’t the end, it is just the beginning.

You see, it depends on what you mean. Paul seemed to think that the winning of the argument was the purpose he was sent. Funny how this chapter begins with:

“Now I, Paul, myself urge you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ –I who am meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent!”

What fools to think that it was mere words, a mere argument of a mortal. So they thought it all about words, words, words, when in reality, it was about the Word of Truth.

kathaireo: to pull down, demolish
the subtle reasonings (of opponents) likened to a fortress, i.e. to refute, to destroy

logismos: a reasoning such as is hostile to the Christian faith

gnosis ho theos: the perfect knowledge of God.

Tying it together: We are pulling down and demolishing the subtle reasonings of the opponents of the perfect knowledge of God and the Christian faith, destroying completely their fortresses by thoroughly refuting them with reasoning. We are to take those thoughts that are enemies of God captive and force them to be obedient to Christ, leaving no survivors.

Aye, then sound the trumpet in Zion, rouse the troops for war, for the end of the argument is our God.

While it is true there is a time for silence, there is also a time to speak. Or, have you not heard what this uncircumcised Philistine is saying about God? The sole purpose is to win the argument with a shot right between the eyes. But, there is more to it than that. It is the Name under whose banner we march that makes the difference.

The be all and end all is putting an end to all arguments that exalt themselves above the knowledge of God. If that is the end of all, the glory of God, then let there be blood…

You see what Element Church is doing is deceptive and in many ways blatantly blasphemous. Just like so many Emergent Style Church God’s word is ground underfoot for the convenience of appeal and to accomodate the culture in an effort to increase attendance without the slightest concern about what is really at stake. It is fair then to let them be anathema, is it not, as well as those who are connected to, approving of, and promoting the dragging of Christ’s name though dog’s vomit?

(pomospeak: the language type used by postmoderns; the typical language of emergers)