The Evangelical Problem, a top ten

[_subgenius]

There is little argument that the modern day evangelical is open to criticism:
Aside from the big glaring fallacies seen in their view of the Trinity and Sola Gratia i believe the following aspects accentuate the ingredients found in a Not True Church.

This list can probably be cherry-picked and applied to anyone's anecdotal evidence, but i consider the list to be consequences of deliberate evangelical church doctrines...not just coincidence with any one person's manner of life.

1. Evangelical churches emphasis audience as opposed to membership.
2. Scriptures being gradually replaced by technology and entertainment (which has lead to an increase in Evangelical Bible illiteracy)
3. Diminished reverence by placating the temporal desire to appear in casual attire.
4. Inability to accept Bible interpretation as provisional or to even comprehend what that means.
5. Inaccurate concept of the character and/or nature of God (in more of a day to day sense)
6. Tangible success equates to spiritual maturity
7. Lack of desire toward ecumenism
8. The idea that Bible inerrancy must certainly equate to infallible.
9. Correct translation of the scriptures (see also Bible illiteracy)
10. no real foundation of ecclesiology

[_ludwigm]

... the following aspects accentuate the ingredients found in a Not True Church
...
7. Lack of desire toward ecumenism

American Heritage Dictionary:con·sis·tent (kən-sĭs'tənt)
1. In agreement; compatible
2. Being in agreement with itself; coherent and uniform

[_bcspace]

Ecumenism is actually a sign of a church that can't possibly be true.

[_ludwigm]

Ecumenism is actually a sign of a church that can't possibly be true.

subgenius says the opposite.
In general, I don't agree subgenius. He is not consistent, see above...

As he seems to be a TBM, please clear the trench between You and him.

by the way there is no such thing as true church, especially only true church.

[_subgenius]

Ecumenism is actually a sign of a church that can't possibly be true.

a desire for unity and cooperation is not contrary to a "true church".
If anything it is arguable that a true church would desire to bring other churches into the fold....one can catch more flies with sugar

[_subgenius]

... the following aspects accentuate the ingredients found in a Not True Church
...
7. Lack of desire toward ecumenism

American Heritage Dictionary:con·sis·tent (kən-sĭs'tənt)
1. In agreement; compatible
2. Being in agreement with itself; coherent and uniform

a desire for unity and cooperation is not contrary to a "true church"..in fact ecumenism strives towards "one true church".
If anything it is arguable that a true church would desire to bring other churches into the fold....one can catch more flies with sugar

nevertheless, the evangelical cake is still well baked without that ingredient if you prefer.

[_Dcharle]

Sub-g, if your interested in doing apologetic's for the church your fighting on the wrong battle front. The born-again's were the fight in the 1980-1990's, today the greatest threat against the church is itself and it's own history. You best stay in that arena, the Evangelicals are the least of the church's concern today.

[_bcspace]

Ecumenism is actually a sign of a church that can't possibly be true.
subgenius says the opposite.

In general, I don't agree subgenius.

He's wrong

by the way there is no such thing as true church, especially only true church.

If God exists and if one accepts a God who is not a liar or a respecter of persons "only true Church" is the only rational and logical conclusion.

If God tells one group of people something about His nature and requirements for salvation and tells a different group something different about those, then God is a liar and a respecter of persons. There is only one true Church or no legitimate church at all.

Since the LDS Church teaches that it is the only true and living Church on the face of the whole (D&C 1:30), one cannot possibly be a TBM if one does not accept this scripture and doctrine.

[_subgenius]

being concerned with ecumenism does not require one to deny the existence of any "true" church.

[_bcspace]

being concerned with ecumenism does not require one to deny the existence of any "true" church.

It does in the traditional sense of the word.

Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice. Within this particular context, the term ecumenism refers to the idea of a Christian unity in the literal meaning: that there should be a single Christian Church.

But if by ecumenism you mean churches working together for some common good like Prop 8, then one is fine to speak of ecumenism that way vis a vis LDS doctrine. Since the common belief among many christians (and some misguided, usually Democrat, Mormons) is that all churches are true, I usually assume the traditional sense is being referred to sans further details.