I think we need to go back to the bible for this answer. The answer I find is that there were no preachers, Jesus was a teacher and so were the disciples and apostles. If we look at text the disciples call Jesus "teacher" and when you read the books and letters they talk about teaching about the CHRIST and who he was and what he did. In no part does it talk about preaching just teaching. Taking a verse from the bible and preaching about it instead of using the whole part is the problem,to do so dilutes and changes the whole. Jesus taught in whole using parables we should not take one verse from a parable and preach, we should use the whole to teach as he did. If we use the whole then tolerence and what is correct will over come being PC and actually bring more people to Jesus instead of making them run away or water it down to feel good for what they are doing. Jesus is here for the masses not just the few who tell you what Jesus is about or how to worship him.

I think the Apostle Paul said it best when he said if I or anyone else preach to you a gospel other than what you originally received let them be accursed.

I live in Egypt and dont have much choice as to which church to join. I was born into the coptic orthodox church which is not very likely to become 'tolerant' to new doctrines yet I'm not really comfortable there; I believe in the sacraments especially communion, baptism and marriage yet I'm uncomfortable with what I perceive as legalism (e.g. if you dont fast every wed and fri youre not allowed to communion) I'm also uncomfortable with all the talking to deceased saints and asking for their prayers and visiting their relics. This doesnt mean the post modern ideology hasnt penetrated the egyptian church; I was actually handed norman vincent peele by a priest, only I didnt finish reading it because for some reason it didnt feel right. The same happened with the 'purpose driven life'. I need guidance I'm far from being a mature christian and I cant trust myself to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit within me. I'm not even sure if christianity.com is with or against postmodernism.

How does that old adage go?
"If you don't stand for something, You will fall for anything"
I believe that is where a lot of the "Church" has found itself, It has ceased to stand for the Truth as set forward by God in the Scriptures and it has fallen for an extremely tolerant and Liberal view of the Bible.
If you even make a stand for Truth, you are declared a closed minded, bigoted fundementalist.
Well if the shoe fit's so be it.

AMEN. Good word. We need good preaching of sound doctrine. Not preaching about how we must believe in gold dust and angels but that we must believe on Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit to convict us to turn from our wicked ways. The evangelical church needs to get their collective head out of the clouds and back into their Bibles. Read it and see what it says to you. Does it tell you that salvation hinges upon seeking and finding mystical, magical, supernatural experiences or does it tell you that your salvation hinges upon your faith in and willingness to share with others the grace that Jesus Christ provides?

Great Article. For more on this topic everyone should listen to Ken Ham's "The Collapse of Christian America". http://www.answersingenesis.org/events/state-of-the-nation It was amazing how he could exactly describe the churches in our area. We have to drive 20 miles to go to a church that teaches the Bible without compromise. It is amazing how many churches try to put man's word into the Bible and say that "Trusting in Jesus" is all that matters. I pray that Jesus gives me the strength to stand up to this in my community. I am going to start teaching a Biblical apologetics class and offer it to the youth groups at our local church. Of course they will have to agree to me teaching the Bible as God's true word and since most don't seem to believe it I am not sure how well it will go. Who would have ever thought that we would have to make a stand against our fellow Christians!

I agree completely. How did the church fall so far from God's word unless too many of the members and leaders were already living more for the world then for God? I mean, even when I wasn't living right myself, I knew when I heard and saw something that would offend God when it pertained to His church and how they were supposed to be. The heart speaks just as the Bible says, out of the mouth the hearts speaks. I was clueless to how I was fouling up my relationship with God, but when I heard some people speak...man, I would have never found my way through the wilderness if God were like man and He was actually using them. Hearts full of greed, materialism, tithing for personal gain and not to provide for the church, the poor and those in need. Selfishness in relationships--what are you bringing to the table, materially, because that is/was the main thing. These things are wrong, but a way of life for many it seemed in the church. It was like they got their doctrine from Oprah.

I very much appreciate this article. We all need a reminder in these days to keep up our guard against false teachers. An overabundance of "tolerance" is likely to send more and more unbelievers into a Christless eternity. The church is not called to "fit in" to the mood of society. We are to be different, and often we are hated for that difference. As much as our unbelieving friends do not believe things are "black and white" in this Post-modern world, God makes the rules, and to Him there are black and white issues. He has told us so through the Bible, and through His Propets. Finally He sent us His Son. If we do not accept the sacrifice of Christ, we will be separated from God forever. That is the reality, and discussing things as if unbelievers "truth" is equal to God's is a slippery slope that can affect the eternal destiny of many, and make the Church ineffective.

I must say, I agree with the premise of this article; that postmodernism and relativistic tolerance has become a scourge upon the church.

However, the article's would-be defense of 'preaching' is as threatening as a toothless tiger. Preaching, were the pastor listens to himself talk for 30 minutes before closing up shop, isn't biblical at all.

Jesus' sermons invited people to think through use of parables, and he encouraged questions. In today's church, however, if you question the pastor, your considered a heretic or worse.

It's a false dichotomy between two extremes. One where questioning is frowned upon, and another where standing for truth is hated.

Jim731, it sounds to me like you are just regurgitating the stuff you hear from emergent church pastors. You gave us nothing of substance to refute what John says. Just a garbage pail full of insults about his degree and doctrine being the traditions of men. Why would I take you seriously at all if you do not offer an argument based on scripture why John is off base? I know you only have a 1000 characters to do it in the feedback, but come on, you can do better than insults can’t you? Where is the tolerance for different ideas that emergent church pastors teach? Oh yea, it is only for people who think like they do. John does not have tolerance for the teachings and ideas of emergent church pastors and neither do I. Do you know why? Read Jude and 1st & 2nd Timothy to find out where we are coming from. Jim731, please understand I can not see you face to face so you can see that I am saying these things respectfully and with a friendly face.

This article could have been written about me. I have recently been verbally attacted and ridiculed at my Congregational, UCC, church for standing firm on the belief that the Bible is true and should be followed. If the Bible lists a issue as a sin, we should believe that God still considers it a sin todya. Thank you for this insightful and encouraging article. I may just post it on the wall at church. Please keep reminding people that at some point we will be judged by God and how we stand up for Jesus and the Bible will count! The lukewarm approach is not the answer.

And which "truth" would Mr. MacArthur demand be told? Why his of course.

Like all "traditional" pastors Mr. MacArthur assumes that only his doctrine (and in his case it is Calvinism) is correct and so he will not allow anyone to question him. That is why he is so adamantly against any so-called "emergent" pastors even suggesting that others be allowed to speak or question him during his "preaching." An average person without the high level of theological training (or is it brainwashing) that Mr. MacArthur has just couldn't KNOW God better than he does, could they? At least that's what he thinks.

Sorry, Mr. MacArthur, your Doctorate of Divinity (what an oxymoron) means nothing. You successfully regurgitated what was taught to you at some seminary and they gave you a piece of paper that proves it. But sadly, all you spout are the "traditions of men." The "truth" of which you try to speak has yet to be revealed to you. But don't worry, He has promised that it will.