A businessman is advancing the idea of putting a McDonald’s franchise in a place of worship. The McMass Project wants to raise $1 million on the crowdfunding website, IndieGoGo, to achieve this goal. As of November 28 they had raised $104. McMass is the brainchild of Paul Di Lucca, a creative director at the church branding agency Lux Dei Design.” “Christianity is unable to capture modern audiences,” Di Lucca told NBC News. “There’s a lack of innovation and lack of design thinking in Church communities” (foxnews.com). “It’s time for churches to engage with entrepreneurship,” writes the group. “By combining a church and a McDonald's we can create a self-sustaining, community-engaged, popular church, and an unparalleled McDonald's restaurant” (“A McDonald’s in a church? McMass wants one”, news.com.au). The McMass group is looking for a church with which it partner. Sooner or later they will find one.

Most members of churches of Christ are properly horrified by such a concept. Yet, it is just one more example of adapting to the will of the people – something that not a few churches of Christ already do. The social gospel is alive and well in many churches of Christ. For example:

1) Many churches of Christ already have “McPotlucks”. They have convinced themselves that spiritual edification and fellowship is achieved by feeding the stomach. So, these churches have their “multi-purpose” rooms for their “potluck fellowship” gatherings. The Bible is clear that feeding the body is the role of the family, not the local church (1 Cor. 11:22, 34). Why do the “McPotluck” churches recoil at McMass? They just are not that far down the road of digression yet. Don’t worry; the next generation (or two) will go there.

2) Many churches of Christ already have “McMedical Missions”. They think by healing the body they get a foot in the door to heal souls with the gospel. The work of local churches of Christ is to sound forth the word of the Lord, not to bait and switch people with free vaccinations, medical clinics and dental exams (1 Ths. 1:8; Acts 8:4; 1 Cor. 2:1-2). What is the difference between McMass luring people with burgers and fries, and medical missions luring people with medical aid? There is no difference. But someone asks, why shouldn’t a church operate a hospital or other medical mission? Because general benevolence is not authorized by the New Testament as a work of local churches (Col. 3:17).

3) Many churches of Christ already have “McSports”. They organize softball teams, basketball teams and more. They call it “fellowship”, but it is recreation, not fellowship with Christ (1 Cor. 1:9). If churches can arrange sports, why not arrange a restaurant, too?

We urge brethren who are offended by McMass to be equally offended by similar unscriptural innovations they have already accepted. 

You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS

1. Are you struggling with the guilt of sin? If so, you are not alone. There is a remedy that removes guilt.
2. We each bear the guilt of our own sin, Rom. 3:9-12, 23; 5:12; 6:23; Ezek. 18:20.
3. Some allow sin's guilt to immobilize them, to become overwhelmed by its guilt to the point that they believe themselves compromised beyond repair, incapable of renewal and revival. This is Satan's ploy.
4. Acknowledging one's guilt of sin is essential for redemption.

I. THE GUILT OF SIN SHOULD ALERT US TO DANGER WHEN SIN IS COMMITTED.

  A. When We have been Trained by the Truth, cf. 1 Tim. 4:1-2.
  B. The Example of David, Psa. 38:3-14.

II. THE GUILT OF SIN LEADS TO BEING CONVICTED OF OUR SIN.

  A. This is the Spirit's Work through the Gospel, Jno. 16:8-9. Acts 2:22, 36-37; 24:25; Heb. 8:10-12; Psa. 119:11, 36

III. T HE GUILT OF SIN IS REMOVED BY CONVERSION, Acts 3:19.

  A. Seasons of Refreshing, cf. Isa. 35:3-7.
  B. Become a Christian to be Forgiven, Acts 2:38-41.
  C. Repent of Every Sin that has Plunged you Back into its Guilt and  Shame, Acts 8:22-24; 2 Cor. 7:9-10.

Conclusion
1. The answer to sin's guilt is divine forgiveness, Psa. 32:1-5.
2. Faith is the means by which God will forgive sin, removing guilt and replacing it with blessed joy, Rom. 4:6-8.

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The Fantasy of Faithlessness
Joe R. Price

An atheist group has targeted southern cities with billboards urging children to reject God as fantasy. Their sign shows a girl writing a letter to Santa that says, “Dear Santa, All I want for Christmas is to skip church! I’m too old for fairy tales” ("Atheists' Christmas Billboard Campaign Targets Bible Belt", Carrie Dedrick, christianheadlines.com). Billboards will be placed close to church locations and residential areas. "Even children know churches spew absurdity, which is why they don't want to attend services. Enjoy the time with your family and friends instead," said American Atheists President David Silverman. "Today's adults have no obligation to pretend to believe the lies their parents believed. It's OK to admit that your parents were wrong about God, and it's definitely OK to tell your children the truth." ("American Atheists' Billboard Campaign in Bible Belt: 'Skip Church' This Christmas and Stop Listening to 'Fairy Tales'", Stoyan Zaimov, christianpost.com).

The absurdity being spewed out is the lie that there is no God. It is foolish to blind oneself to the evidence this world presents that God is real, having divine nature and possessing eternal power (Psa. 14:1; Rom. 1:20-22). Jesus really lived, died and was raised from the dead (1 Cor. 15:1-8). The words and works of Jesus testify that he is "the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matt. 16:16; Jno. 9:1-4).

God is not childhood fantasy. Atheism is the real fairy tale - the sheep in wolves' clothing that denies God and personal accountability to Him. Atheism devours faith and strangles hope.

Yes indeed, we must be teaching our children the truth: The truth that God is real; The truth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God; And the truth that denying God only produces despair and eternal death. Your obligation to God is not due to your parents. It is due to God Himself, the Almighty and True.

"For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty" (2 Pet. 1:16). 

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Created by Chuck Sibbing, last updated.  12/08/2014