"My first contention is that providing amusement for the people is nowhere spoken of in the Scriptures as a function of the Church. If it is a Christian work, why did not Christ speak of it? 'Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.' (Mark 16:15). That is clear enough. So it would have been if He had added, 'and provide amusement for those who do not relish the Gospel.' No such words, however, are to be found. It did not seem to occur to Him.
Providing amusement is in direct antagonism to the teaching and life of Christ and all His apostles. What was the attitude of the Church to the world? 'Ye are the salt,' (Matthew 5:13) not the sugar-candy - something the world will spit out, not swallow. Short and sharp was the utterance, 'Let the dead bury their dead.' (Matthew 8:22). He was in awful earnestness."
http://www.equip.org/articles/the-faulty-foundation-of-the-five-fold-ministry/
Education.
"Ye are the salt"
NOT
the sugar-candy!
With this stark warning in mind, we will now have a look at a certain initiative of the Towy Community Church in Carmarthen, 'PROJECT XCEL'
The Lottery is, of course, promoted as a "fun" thing to do. Like Ten-Pin Bowling is a "fun" thing to do. Amusement. Assuredly not feeding the sheep, but certainly amusing the Gospel-rejecting goats!
Sugar-candy pseudo-Christianity. Being a great friend to the world. Giving the world what the world wants. Conforming to the world's expectations. What does the Bible say about such things?
So 'PROJECT XCEL' cannot be in the will of God. In fact, bearing in mind the church's partners in this wholly unholy enterprise, His Word baldly states:
XCEL BOWL's shameful logo: a CROSS with a BOWLING BALL at its centre!
What is 'PROJECT XCEL' exactly? Well, it is a SECULAR business plan, for the conversion of an old cheese-packing plant at Johnstown near Carmarthen into a 'community' complex, which has at its heart a TEN-PIN BOWLING ALLEY! It is the Towy Community Church's proud boast that it is the first church in the UK to open and run such a venture.
It is described as "a unique partnership between the County Council and Towy Community Church and other agencies." No agency the church has partnered with to finance this project is Christian in nature. In fact, what is particularly disturbing is the fact that the great bulk of the necessary capital has come from the Community Asset Transfer Fund, to the tune of no less than £798,202. This is LOTTERY MONEY, distributed via the Welsh Assembly Government! In plain English, 'PROJECT XCEL' has been launched by the unashamed acceptance and use of the proceeds of GAMBLING!!! And with this incredible compromise comes the condition that a recipient of such funding has to publicly acknowledge the source. So you now find the Towy Community Church actively encouraging GAMBLING by displaying its National Lottery affiliations for all to see!
It is described as "a unique partnership between the County Council and Towy Community Church and other agencies." No agency the church has partnered with to finance this project is Christian in nature. In fact, what is particularly disturbing is the fact that the great bulk of the necessary capital has come from the Community Asset Transfer Fund, to the tune of no less than £798,202. This is LOTTERY MONEY, distributed via the Welsh Assembly Government! In plain English, 'PROJECT XCEL' has been launched by the unashamed acceptance and use of the proceeds of GAMBLING!!! And with this incredible compromise comes the condition that a recipient of such funding has to publicly acknowledge the source. So you now find the Towy Community Church actively encouraging GAMBLING by displaying its National Lottery affiliations for all to see!
Sugar-candy pseudo-Christianity. Being a great friend to the world. Giving the world what the world wants. Conforming to the world's expectations. What does the Bible say about such things?
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
(Romans 12:2)
"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
And what concord hath Christ with Belial?
or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."
(2 Corinthians 6:14-16)
Error breeds error. Towy Community Church believes in the restoration of the "Five-Fold Ministry" which is intrinsically linked to the principles of what has become known as the New Apostolic Reformation or the Third Wave movement, with its attendant emphasis on (false) Signs & Wonders and Dominionism (whereby the world is won politically, religiously and socially for Christ PRIOR to His return). Elitist, hierarchical, completely unscriptural and utterly in accord with the great Falling Away of the Last Days!
As the Christian Research Institute astutely observes:
"The teachers of the 'Five-Fold ministry,' in seeking to 'restore' a foundation which has never been moved, are actually laying a false foundation which will not support the building up of the body of Christ."
The full text of this article can be found at:
http://www.equip.org/articles/the-faulty-foundation-of-the-five-fold-ministry/
Just why the Towy Community Church has gone down the unrighteous route it has, can perhaps be explained - but in no way excused - by a key New Apostolic Reformation principle called 'theocracy,' which is essentially the working out of Dominionism in practice: having 'kingdom-minded people' in ALL AREAS OF SOCIETY. Seven areas of society are specifically identified:
Family.
Religion.
Government.
Media.
Arts and Entertainment.
Business.
'PROJECT XCEL' fits exactly into this New Apostolic Reformation model.
'PROJECT XCEL' fits exactly into this New Apostolic Reformation model.
A model which goes completely against what the Word of God teaches:
"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."
(James 4:4)
The apostate notion of partnering with the world is very much on the rise in "Christian" circles. Rick Warren, for example, believes that world peace can be achieved by a partnership of faith (ANY faith!), politics and commerce. One has to wonder what Bible he reads. It must be one that has been hugely edited and re-written! Suffice to say that the true Christian position is that we are IN the world, but we are not OF the world! Befriending and emulating the world and the things of the world brings not closeness, but ENMITY with the Creator! He wants the sheep fed, not the goats amused!
Most regrettably, this whole sad saga of flesh-pleasing, sugar-candy Carmarthenshire "Christianity"does not end there. XCEL unashamedly applied for a licence to SELL ALCOHOL! Opposed by a former Police officer who lives nearby, concerned that it would be putting children in harm's way by having a bar on the premises, his objection was overruled and a licence was duly granted for XCEL to serve alcohol from 10 a.m. to 9.30 p.m. The Local Authority granting the licence is, of course, one of Towy Community Church's prized partners in 'PROJECT XCEL!' No surprise there, then!
Let's face facts. Alcohol is one of the greatest and most insidious "socially acceptable" evils of our time, with an incredibly negative effect on so many of this country's young people. Yet here is a CHURCH, rather than making a stand against this destructive tide, actively DESIRING to participate in - and make the tills ring from - the sale and consumption of alcohol! In a supposedly family-friendly environment at that! One might ask, is their beer as watered down as their Gospel is?
Didn't Jesus teach:
"He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."
(Matthew 11:15)
Most regrettably, this whole sad saga of flesh-pleasing, sugar-candy Carmarthenshire "Christianity"does not end there. XCEL unashamedly applied for a licence to SELL ALCOHOL! Opposed by a former Police officer who lives nearby, concerned that it would be putting children in harm's way by having a bar on the premises, his objection was overruled and a licence was duly granted for XCEL to serve alcohol from 10 a.m. to 9.30 p.m. The Local Authority granting the licence is, of course, one of Towy Community Church's prized partners in 'PROJECT XCEL!' No surprise there, then!
Let's face facts. Alcohol is one of the greatest and most insidious "socially acceptable" evils of our time, with an incredibly negative effect on so many of this country's young people. Yet here is a CHURCH, rather than making a stand against this destructive tide, actively DESIRING to participate in - and make the tills ring from - the sale and consumption of alcohol! In a supposedly family-friendly environment at that! One might ask, is their beer as watered down as their Gospel is?
Didn't Jesus teach:
"And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."
(Mark 8:34)
Take up his cross.
Not his bottle of booze!
Take up his cross.
Not his bowling ball!
"He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."
(Matthew 11:15)
"Ye are the salt"
NOT
the sugar-candy!
