The opinions expressed by authors do not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com. This is especially true with articles that
deal with personal healthcare and prophecy. We encourage the reader to make their own decision in consultation with God, His Word, and others as needed.
This article has been read 1 times < Previous | Next >
Read more articles by or search for other articles by topic below.
This article has been read 1 times < Previous | Next >
Search for articles on: (e.g. creation; holiness etc.)
Read more by clicking on a link:Free Reprints
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
Highly Acclaimed Challenge Articles.
New Release Christian Books for Free for a Simple Review.
NEW - Surprise Me With an Article - Click here for a random URL
God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
LEARN & TRUST JESUS HERE
FaithWriters offers Christian reading material for Christian readers. We offer Christian articles, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction, Christian Bible studies, Christian poems, Christian articles for sale, free use Christian articles, Christian living articles, New Covenant Christian Bible Studies, Christian magazine articles and new Christian articles. We write for Jesus about God, the Bible, salvation, prayer and the word of God.
Steve,
Wow. This is strong stuff. I can appreciate your distaste for a lot of the ritualistic things we do in organized religion, but I fear you go too far when you say we ought to leave the church. We can't leave the church. Believers ARE the church.
I understand your sentiments that perhaps many organizations have gotten very far away from what the early church (ACTS)was like--I can agree with that. However, I am of the belief that the Holy Spirit is at work purifying His Bride--readying us for His return. We WILL become the overcomers that the Word of God says we will become, and we will do it as one body. That is Biblical.
I happen to be a member of a Bible believing, God-fearing, loving bunch of Christ followers that we just happen to call a church. They are my brothers and sisters in Christ. I cannot forsake assembling with them because the Word of God commands me to find my place in His body. Besides that, they are my brothers and sisters. We have one Father and one Savior, and we are all working together to encourage and admonish each other to good works. I am blessed to have a pastor who speaks Truth and who loves the Lord and loves the sheep he has been called to under-shepherd.
I would urge you to seek out a body of believing people. They ARE out there. Perhaps the place you have worshiped has not magnified Christ, and you are right, God is not pleased with that, but that does not mean that we all should leave our churches. How can we do that and still be obedient to the Word of God? How can we do that and be who He's called us to be? Believers are automatically a part of a body. We can't choose NOT to be. To separate yourself from other Believers--well, I just don't know how that's possible. The Bible says that unbelievers will know we are Christians by our love for each other.
About 5 years ago the Lord Jesus began to expose the "church" system to me. It began after my wife and I were placed on staff at a large southern baptist church. You do not really know how uncaring and ungodly the system is until you get to go behind the scenes, and especially if there is financial problems. Long story short after several different "churches" (same old thing in all of them) the Lord finally showed us that in order to follow Him we would have to get out from under the tyranny of "church leaders" that would not allow us to follow Christ through conscience and the Word of God. Thank's to our Lord, we are out of that harlot religious system.
Steve: You are delusional. The church is not dead. The church, as you so easily forget is the Body of Christ and it will always be the future Bride of Christ.
Your pessimism is not well founded.
The church is and will be victorious so your death knell about the church and coming out of it, is far mis-placed. Yes, there are some congregations that are
following a different gospel and are not under the Lordship of Christ but your general critique is without foundation or logic or factual research. Stop spreading your spirit of fear and enlarge your capacity of seeing Jesus high and lifted up!
Steve,
Awesome article...I agree because it bears witness in my spirit. It is what God has been speaking to me for a long time, yet I've struggled with it also..I detached myself from any church affiliation for some time now. Like so many, we've been programmed to believe one way, the church way, and if you dare to disagree, you're labeled rebellious and disobedient. I've attended churches that we so corrupt, they were dismantled by the Lord. By His grace, He removed me before I was in over my head, because I was so disturbed in my spirit and sought His face about it first before listening to the myriad opinions of the flock!
Thank you for a straightforward, uncompromising article. I'm tired of middle of the road Christians who follow the pastor & the crowd, but NEVER shoulder their cross and follow the Lord. I'm far from perfect, but I know it; therefore I desperately desire to know God's unadulterated truth!
God Bless you for telling it like it is. I felt a genuine peace flow over me after reading this particular article, "It's Over." I will read more of your articles too!
Thank you!