tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706370502716265832.post996484075098700828..comments2023-07-17T08:34:08.931-07:00Comments on Life Under the Sun: Beware the church of the taresStephen Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07041412126012825720noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706370502716265832.post-56705383487340714822008-03-10T11:56:00.000-07:002008-03-10T11:56:00.000-07:00David, thanks for your comments. These are strong ...David, thanks for your comments. These are strong words to be sure, but I believe they are a fitting reminder. If a church is truly comprised of tares, then the Enemy is the one behind it (Mt 13:25). But as you said, we must be careful of labeling a specific church as a 'church of tares', or a person as a 'tare'. Jesus' whole point was that the wheat and tares are sometimes hard to distinguish on a surface level. <br><br>But I think MacArthur's point is that we should not be deliberately filling our churches with unregenerate 'tares' or quick baptisms and thinking that we have somehow succeeded in church growth. MacArthur goes on later to show that 5 out of the 7 churches of Revelation were in seriously bad shape, and were condemned by Christ:<br><br> * Ephesus: no love for Christ<br> * Pergamus: tolerating error/heresy<br> * Thyatira: comfortable with sin<br> * Sardis: programs and no life<br> * Laodicea: the church at room temperature, upsets nobody. Lukewarm. Popular with everyone.<br><br>Some of these were dangerously close, if not already guilty, of becoming a 'church of the tares.'Stephen Joneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07041412126012825720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706370502716265832.post-29645923417336253792008-03-10T11:25:00.000-07:002008-03-10T11:25:00.000-07:00mac: "There are many ways to build the “first...mac: "There are many ways to build the “first church of the tares,” behind which Satan is the real power."<br><br>I think we should be careful not to accuse something that might be from God as actually being from Satan. To accuse the Bride of being in line with the enemy is a serious charge. I wish he had backed that up more, because it carries serious consequences.<br><br>Mark 3:23-29David Squyreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16632008924923459612noreply@blogger.com