A "Church" That Doesn't Want to Rescue Individuals from Hell

The mission page from St. Mark's Presbyterian "church" in Newport Beach, California states:

"Our emphasis is not on converting souls to Jesus so that individuals will be rescued from hell. Our emphasis is on partnership with Jesus Christ"

Umm...since Jesus Christ said that He came to seek and save the lost. (Luke 19:10) then how on Earth can this church be in partnership with Jesus? Jesus' agenda and mission is different than theirs.

Comments

[DJackson]

whoa! Their mission statement is a slap in the face at the cross. The whole purpose of Christ being crucified and risen - overcoming death itself was to "Seek and save the lost" from hell - from God's wrath. This mission statement say's otherwise.

This is a church that seems to rip out the parts of the Bible they don't like, and keep the "good" parts in.

I also notice on their site: http://www.stmarkpresbyterian.org/AboutUs/OurMission/TheologicalMissionStatement/tabid/81/Default.aspx

that they say "St. Mark is an inclusive community with open arms and open minds."

But where in the Bible does it say to keep our minds open? That's new age thinking. Where do they draw the line? They already removed the wrath of God from their mission statement.

Very sad

[Trent Kastman]

Jesus preached on Hell. He died on the cross and rose again to prevent people from going there.

[Shma]

A look into the future of mainline churches. Run as far as you can from them!

[Mrs. Pilgrim]

"Open minds." For those not familiar, that's generally a political-liberal code-phrase for "refusing to condemn actual sin--but all too happy to call you evil or an idiot for disagreeing with them."

Just a little perspective.

[Gayla]

I also noticed that their theologicial mission statement was sorely lacking in any theology at all.

[Dale Gehris]

That's like telling the guy who is about to plunge to his death while hanging over the side of a cliff with one hand, "Can we be friends?"
"AAAaaaaagggggghhhhh...!"

[fourpointer]

Now, now. Be careful what you say about this. Some people may rebuke us for "condemning" these people, instead of just loving them and being more accepting of other opinions. (/sarcasm)

[Mike Baker]

Rationalism at its worst.

"...and our challenge as followers of Jesus is to live our lives his way- believing in what he believed, loving what he loved, opposing what he opposed."

Question: Do they oppose their own works-righteous church?

This church almost made my head explode. If I was St. Mark, I'd be pretty ticked off that these chowderheads are using my name for this kind of foolishness. Will someone please contact them and find out what the heck is going on?!?

I would do it myself, but I cannot be trusted on this one.

At least the church is Green. From their website:

"In addition to use of recyclable paper products, recycling Sunday bulletins and other products, numerous environmental actions have been taken to ensure that St. Mark is as eco-friendly as possible, including:

• Use of native plants to reduce water consumption, eliminate pesticides, and protect a diversity of wildlife.
• Maintenance and replanting where needed of the coastal sage gnatcatcher habitat.
• Certification from the National Wildlife Federation that the wildlife access corridor in the canyon has been retained.
• State-of-the-art irrigation by a porous tubing system that prevents runoff from the church site.
• A water capture system to remove oil runoff from the church parking lot.
• Use of plant material filtration to clean drainage and runoff water that flow through the site.
• Flow control to regulate the amount of water that returns to the nearby Big Canyon stream.
• Use of local and regional manufactured materials.
• Daylight and views in 90 percent of building spaces to reduce lighting needs.
• Limited use of air conditioning.
• Waterless urinals.
• Very low floor area ratio of buildings to land.
• Planting of 530 trees throughout the property."

I guess Jesus was carbon-neutral.

[Rhea]

I can't believe that they say:

"Our emphasis is not on converting souls to Jesus so that individuals will be rescued from hell."

This seems to imply to me that they simply don't care if people go to hell...doesn't seem much like a church to me...

[Aaron Dyck]

Hey guys,

great blog, btw. First time here.

Just a thought: While salvation does absolutely result in "rescue from hell" do you really think that was Jesus' primary motivation? It seems clear that Jesus came to atone for our sin so that we could be in relationship with God. Jesus cannot be reduced to "fire insurance." Nor is salvation so trivial as to simply pay for our wrongs so we get a pass to heaven. Rather, Jesus clearly came in the flesh in part so that we may KNOW Him. The Holy Spirit is deposited for both the conviction of sin, and relationship (Comfort). Jesus urges and urges people to get to know the Father through Him.

I know nothing of St. Mark's, so I'm not sticking up for them. But I am defending a relational God, who's primary interest is not in making our afterlife good, but is in establishing a love relationship with a lost and broken people now. Maybe St. Mark's is wrong on a lot of things, I have no idea. But they aren't wrong in making it a mission to help people meet Jesus.

If we spent more time as a Church getting people into active relationship with Jesus, I'm pretty sure Jesus is capable of the salvation from Hell part. We should spend less time worrying about whether someone is gonna burn, and spend more time trying to get people in touch with a very living, very speaking, very loving, very relational God who is able to take care of their theology.

my two bits

Aaron Dyck

[Jfreak13]

There's the issue. God saves some for His own glory. He condemns others/gives them over to their sin for His own glory. He's interested in His glory. He's not about relationships with humans. He's not all that interested in being 'our friend'. He is God. The Creator. Holy Holy Holy. Worthy of all worship. The whole picture of salvation entirely glorifies God. The whole picture of hell and judgment entirely glorifies God. This church is not involved/interested in glorifying God. They'll still glorify Him one day in hell, if they don't repent.

[Christy]

Even people that want to take a "more relational" approach to evangelism need to make rescuing souls from hell the emphasis. Jesus said He came to seek and to save what was lost. What good does the church do anyone by making sure everybody feels good and nobody knows that their sin is sending them to hell? If we truly love people, then we won't sit idly by and make small talk with them all their lives, knowing that they're headed to ETERNAL torment if they don't surrender to Christ.