The Cain Method

I have previously written about the dangers inherent in the Seeker-sensitive types of churches. Rick Warren's Purpose-Driven Life book is an example of this type of ministry.

Please understand that I am not saying that his highly successful book isn't valuable. It is. When I started reading it and saw that there was very little in it about the cross of Christ and the need for repentance, I assumed that it was a good book for those who are already born-again.

But, even from the first day I attended a leaders meeting for conducting a Bible study based on the book, something in my spirit told me that the gospel message in it was incomplete. The "alarm bells" went off in my mind and I questioned the lack of adherence to the need for repentance before accepting Christ as Lord and Savior.

Unfortunately, the reaction that I got on that day from the assistant pastors who were conducting the training session was basically a shrug of the shoulders and a "yeah, we will look into it" reply. I was immediately concerned (as were several other women at that meeting).

Our church is welcoming to all and the congregation is a diverse group of people from different races and backgrounds. The two women who spoke up with me happened to be African American. They were really upset, too. We spoke afterwards about it and in our discussion, we all pledged to not use Rick Warren's "prayer of salvation" (that was presented on the video) and, instead, present what our pastor usually does at church each week.

This "seeker-sensitive" method being used by some churches today is part of, and also called, The Emergent church movement. There are several branches of this movement, as well as "copy-cat" movements out there (the gay christian theology movement, for example) that appear to share the love of Christ without any emphasis on the need to share God's condemnation against sin. Without repentance (which means realizing that we all have broken God's laws [a.k.a. "sin"] and need to confess and turn from those sins of the past) and the shedding of blood, the Bible says that there is no remission of sin.

Hbr 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (KJV)

Perhaps, by this point, you may be wondering what all of this has to do with the title of my post. I'm getting to that.

A commenter by the name of Sothenes who often posts at my Talkwisdom message board, brought the following to my attention this morning:

I was listening to Skip Heitzig today and got some ideas...

Cain and Abel... Which method of evangelism does the Purpose Driven Life demonstrate to you? Cain's method or Abel's method?

Cain was the prototype of the first religious Christian that was a hypocrite and fell away. He tried to come to God on his own terms just like "finding your own purpose" is going your own way.

Jude 1:11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

I believe that most people's "purpose" have no room for a blood sacrifice... Remember that Abel brought a blood sacrifice and Cain brought a grain or fruit offering..

Gen 4:4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

Gen 4:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

I have often run across people who asked why was Cain's offering not accepted? The above brief quote by Sothenes offers the reason why.

Sothenes later added:

You might get some heat (hate) for this one because I went through it before.

There is going to be a falling away and the emergent Church (PDL movement) is a departure from the word of God in my mind. What you have to remember is that this generation doesn't like the Bible or doesn't believe in the Bible. The Bible says in Romans that faith comes by hearing and the PDL people are coming by comfort (not faith):

Mat 22:11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

Mat 22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

Mat 22:13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast [him] into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Hbr 11:6 But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Rom 10:17 So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Those who do not have the wedding garment of faith on by the hearing of the word of God cannot come by PDL that doesn't have scripture because faith comes by hearing the word of God. Those "Christians" who come along without faith cannot please God and they will be bound and cast into outer darkness.

Mat 22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

Another thing is that they are leaving components out of the formula. Everyone should write the formula of Ephesians 2:8-9 in their Bible because church growth experts say that you have to have a country club in the church to grow the church. It says in the book of Acts that the Lord added daily. You have to ask the question , "who is doing the adding?"...today?

Mat 22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

Note the warning at the beginning of this second quote.

Sothenes is absolutely correct in his analysis. The seeker-sensitive movement, as well as the gay christian theology movement are both based on the "Cain method." It is clear as day to me now. It certainly fits with the arguments that "seeker sensitive" believers often give to Bible-based Christian believers (who take the Word of God as absolute, unchanging, truth); rather than the words, actions, opinions, and moral relativism of the "Cain method" adherants.

The use of the word "hate" is often the mantra used by gay christian advocates against those who hold to God's Word, the Law and the Prophets, and the need for repentance within the gospel of Christ. Rather than see what we share as a rescue type of message for them, they use the word "hate" indiscriminately to injure those who are attempting to steer them back on the correct path. It's really sad, but it's the truth.

HT: Sothenes at Talkwisdom message board

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Update from Sothenes at message board:

Mat 7:14 Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

We're really not narrow minded but closed minded because there is only one way.

Pro 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.

I was listening to Pastor Mike Fabarez of Focal Point radio today (Message "Internal Conflict" on 7-13-2007, FM 90.3, Hopefm.net). He mentioned these two verses, I think:

Mat 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

I can't quote him verbatim but what I got was if you don't have this "internal conflict" then you are not a Christian and that if you want to follow Jesus then everything He's going to teach you is going to go against your flesh.

Then we have these two different verses which made me think:

Luk 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have [sufficient] to finish [it]?

Mat 11:30 For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.


Though we are saved by grace through faith and not of works then why should we think that following Jesus isn't supposed to cost anything and should we just be allowed to do anything that we want to do? Shouldn't we allow other people to sin just to get them into the Church? And what do we do about having country clubs in church?