Seven Dirty Words you can't say in church "doctrine"

This month’s dirty word is “doctrine”. Originally I wanted to start with this word because it is the root problem to all the false “doctrines” being spread under the guise of the gospel. Since the church has decided to reject doctrine, we now have all sorts of New Age Occultism and Pop Psychology being called the gospel. If we did hold fast to doctrine, then our congregations would see the errors and call them for what they are. Doctrine is simply put, teachings. This is how it is usually translated and discussed. There was a time when churches held fast to sound teachings. Today, man’s dogma has usurped authority and doctrine has been deemed unwanted and even viewed as a hindrance. Paul warned of this and we shouldn’t be surprised we have an epidemic of false doctrines spreading like a wildfire.

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2. Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having Itching ears; 4. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”
2 Timothy 4:1-5 KJV

So, as you can see, Paul knew that through-out the ages there were going to be these teachers that would sooth itching ears rather than preach sound doctrine. Why we’d make this such a dirty word is really beyond common wisdom. Nevertheless, Jesus, Paul, and the Apostles have had their teachings moved to second-rate status in the name of church growth and sensitivity to seekers. As I have said many times, this is pastoral malpractice and these preachers of feel good, cotton candy will have their place if they fail to repent. For many will say Lord, Lord.
Now I want to respond to those who have written asking why I am calling out these false doctrines and preachers. People are getting saved in these ministries so shouldn’t we overlook their errant teachings if people are saved? No! I cannot keep silent while the Gospel of Christ is lowered to a motivational speech. The Blood of Christ bought and paid for the church, and to lower that message to psychology and to man’s wisdom is blasphemy. We as ministers of that scared Gospel must stand up and say no more. His sheep deserve better than we are giving.
"I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.“ “I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own shelves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert (watch), remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears." Acts 20:26-31 (italics mine)

Seven Dirty words you can't say in church "hell"

Long ago a vulgar comedian had a bit about seven dirty words you cannot say on radio. As of late, I have felt like the Lord has been telling me through the Holy Sprint that in today’s church we have invented our own little list seven dirty words you cannot say in church. Popular preachers and writers are proclaiming on secular television that the Fundamentalist who push these seven dirty words are destroying the church. I believe this is a grave error. Not to boldly proclaim these seven words is malpractice for the pastor of that church. You, sir or mam are leading your sheep straight to the slaughter with such a watered down, cotton candy approach to God’s Word. Your gospel lacks the authority and power to do anything for the sinner. Here are the seven dirty words you cannot say in the American church.
Hell- H E double hockey stick, Hades, Sheol, the grave, the place of weeping and gnashing of teeth, eternal torment, lake of fire. No matter what term you use, we must use it in the church today. Popular teachers say the use of Hell damages the persons self-esteem and causes them to reject the church. Others just say they do not believe in a literal Hell, as Joel Osteen did on Larry King Live:
KING: But you are not fire and brimstone, right? You aren’t pound the decks and hell and damnation?
Osteen: No. That's not me. It's never been me. I've always been an encourager at heart. And when I took over from my father he came from the Southern Baptist background and back 40, 50 years ago there was a lot more of that. But, you know, I just -- I don't believe in that. I don't believe -- maybe it was for a time. But I don't have it in my heart to condemn people. I'm there to encourage them. I see myself more as a coach, as a motivator to help them experience the life God has for us. (emphasis mine)

If Hell is not real, then what Jesus did for us on the cross was in vain. With this line of belief, there is no alternative to Heaven. How dare we say such a dirty word in our churches. Heaven forbid if we preach like Jesus. News flash! Jesus preached more on Hell then he ever did on Heaven. It’s in the Bible, you just got to read it. The Texas preacher calls himself a coach or a motivational speaker, maybe then he should stop claiming to be a minister and pay taxes on his enormous empire. I guess peddling Jesus has its rewards. Oh, to return to 40 years ago when we preached the truth!

This article is an adaptation of the authors forthcoming book Seven Dirty Words You Can’t Say in Church, For more info email at actstwofour@hotmail.com

Seven Word's you never hear in church "sin"

This month’s word is sin. Why don’t we call sin, sin anymore? We try to make it out as if God does not care if we transgress His laws. Preachers are quick to preach on God’s love, His money, His plans for our lives, yet they forget to preach on His key attribute and that is, righteous judge. If we live like sin is not sin, we deny his holiness and are no different than the unbeliever. John, in his letters, even said we were never children of God if we do that. So, why do these powerful TV preachers and pastors in pulpits around America not preach sin? Here is more from Osteen’s interview with Larry King. This time we see what he thinks about sin. The last part is how popular author and Pastor Rick Warren views sin. With these men peddling Christ and not leading others to proclaim the real gospel, it is no wonder we never hear the word sin in church anymore.
KING: How about issues that the church has feelings about? Abortion? Same- sex marriages?
OSTEEN: Yeah. You know what, Larry? I don't go there. I just ...
KING: You have thoughts, though.
OSTEEN: I have thoughts. I just, you know, I don't think that a same-sex marriage is the way God intended it to be. I don't think abortion is the best. I think there are other, you know, a better way to live your life. But I'm not going to condemn those people. I tell them all the time our church is open for everybody.
KING: You don't call them sinners?
OSTEEN: I don't.
KING: Is that a word you don't use?
OSTEEN: I don't use it. I never thought about it. But I probably don't. But most people already know what they're doing wrong. When I get them to church I want to tell them that you can change. There can be a difference in your life. So I don't go down the road of condemning.
Mr. Osteen, we know there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus, but we have to get them to Christ first. In sin, there is condemnation and the devil is the first to point that out. Did you know the word "sin" occurs in the King James Bible over 830 times alone Mr. Osteen !? Jesus used it, what makes you any different?
Rick Warren, another popular preacher, does not like this idea of sin either. In fact, he downgrades it and says that the root of all sin is simply self-centeredness and “not giving God the glory” (pp. 54-55 Purpose Driven Life). Warren does not use words like evil, wickedness, unrighteousness, or disobedience to God in his book; which are the Biblical definitions of sin. Warren talks of it as merely mistakes, stumbling, lack of maturity, hurting the community, etc. Not calling sin, sin, is destructive and misleading to the body of Christ. Throughout Warren’s book, it is all about God’s love, but it never speaks of God’s holiness. To separate the God of Love from the God who is judge is hermeneutical suicide and pastoral malpractice. We must fear God as much as we love Him. This has been my One Man’s Opinion.