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| Go to Church or Not To Go To Church |
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I have been to churches that insist that being there everytime the door is open, the powers that be expect the members to be there.I submit to you kind reader"spreading the Gospel"is more important than that! While going to a church that is"teaching" someone to be a disciple and"teaching" us how to make disciples is really what it "should" be about,a lot of churches AREN"T!!! They have become self serving.They minister to the members instead of serving the community.Hiding our"lamp"under a basket is not what Jesus said we were to do.While belonging to a church shows us "we"belong to something significant,our most important function as a believer is to spread the good news!! We should show the"world"Jesus' love for us.We should be"acting"out 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:17.What could be more significant than that???....Going to church IS important.However if you are a Jesus believer you ought to be "acting"like Jesus.Encouragement and fortification of it's members is what belonging to the"Body" is about.I submit we think about where our focus is today.Bible teaching is key.However application of God's Word is the difference.... |
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| To add a comment to "Go to Church or Not To Go To Church" |
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| September 07, 2009 |
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This is what I'm talking about. Every time I hear of a 'fund raiser' a church is doing, it's always for themselves. Sending this group here, or that group there. How about doing for those Not in your church? Oh, wait....they don't 'tithe. |
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| September 07, 2009 |
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Yep!! Please realize that I am not saying we shouldn't belong,only what is the importance of belonging....Does that make sense???
Tithing is a sore subject with a lot of people.If I have a fundraiser it is for a function in the communitry that is short of"funds".Not to send my kids to a concert... |
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| September 07, 2009 |
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This is a good blog Jimmie. Your message is true. I see an enigma in how we percieve "church". Truth is that upon salvation, you become "the church",... your body,... particularly, your heart, becomes the temple and dwelling place. At that moment, all church buildings are reduced to expensive gathering places, fellowship buildings,... if-you-will. We are not to forsake gathering for many biblical reasons, but thinking that "thats-the-church" over there,... or "let's go paint the church",... well, I don't need painted! Amen? hehe. You are right, the church is alive, never closed, moving out all over the world. I don't want to make a big issue of this, but I don't know why people are waiting for the abomination of desacration to happen in a literal church building either. I believe the second occurance of this event will take place inside the "true church",... now there is a good bible study,... hehe. I love ya, Man Of God! |
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| September 07, 2009 |
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| Good "deep" stuff as usual Preston!!This is the desecration that is spoke of in the Bible. |
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| September 07, 2009 |
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We left our church of 5 years in February, and have been at a new church, since. I like that they do encourage involvement, but you see they have all sorts of ministries reaching those outside the church. We are even intimately linked with the Baptist church next to us, and do outreaches together. Heck, our pastors even pulpit swapped here a few weeks ago! I think it's awesome to get involved with your church, sharing your giftings, encouraging and helping other believers, and YES, reach the lost!!! But it is emphasized several times in the NT how they will know us by our love we have for each other, and to do good ESPECIALLY to those who are in the faith, so we gotta look after our own, but if we don't have a heart for the lost, we gotta press into God more, b/c to be Christ-like is to wanna win souls. |
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| September 07, 2009 |
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The church is not a building - or anything else for that matter building-wise; its the people in it that make up the church. And as for tithing. As to what purpose? To boost up their own ego? And lastly. Once people tithe into something, do they know where its going? Could the answer possibly be to the second question to do with ego or something similar to it? By the way, good message Jimmie. :o) |
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| September 07, 2009 |
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| I suppose it depends on who's supposed to be serving whom. |
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| September 07, 2009 |
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 [star!]The two churches we've spent the most time in (Central Presbyterian Church, Calvary Community Church) are BOTH outreach oriented, although CPC spent a LOT of money to expand their campus. However, they consider their campus to be a springboard to serving OUTSIDE the church. I'm proud to say that neither church was inward focused. The Spirit is at work in many churches, though often we overlook this fact. The Holy Spirit often works slowly and subtly, like in my kids for example. Churches can be the same way. Patience works wonders! Nevertheless, good blog Jimmie. I appreciate your heart for believer and unbeliever! |
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| September 07, 2009 |
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[Star!]
Hey Jimmie, I already gave you a star for this blog,... this one is for Lara,... for the point about "love",... hehe. Awesome. |
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| September 07, 2009 |
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| [star!] |
Good Blog Jimmie! |
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| September 07, 2009 |
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Jimmie, this star is for Me being the first one one here! Me me me me me me.....wait a minute. I'm starting to sound like 'them'. Could it be I am in the mix when pointing a finger at 'them' to do something?
By the way, Lara's comments can overshadow your blog. Mike's too. I have found that out for myself. :o) psssst...it's still our blog (hee haw) |
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| September 07, 2009 |
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| I'm long winded. I confess. lol |
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| September 07, 2009 |
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| This week's SHOW will be on this subject.It irks me to see the waste of resources.We go and warm the pew for an hour or so and think we've done something.Maturity in this area is sorely lacking.Why should a person "waste"their time to learn something that they will never use?????.Serving,showing compassion,giving and ultimately showing Jesus love is so important.However,we are such a needy society we need to be the center of the"attention".If we as the "body" would focus a small amount of our precious energy on OTHERS Jesus would be well served!!..Listen to the Show here Religion Stinks |
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| September 07, 2009 |
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| Good stuff Lara.To address your comment.We are supposed to go to church to"build"each other up(edify)encourage.The point I make here is if you go tomchurch and don't use what you are taught!!..Hey Mule get your own blog...LOL |
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| September 07, 2009 |
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That is messed up.Try this again..what are you going to church for?? |
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| September 08, 2009 |
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[Star!]
Ok,... This star is for Mule, just cause we love him,... Amen? hehe Jimmie, this raises some great discussion. I would love to quit my church where I am a member, mostly cause they ran my son off when they draped an american flag over the Cross during a veterans day celebration,... I would love to join another church because they let me teach my love series, but they speak in tongues alot. But the truth is I am not FREE to make decisions like that, am I? I feel the Lord keeping me at the church where I am a member because I honestly think he wants me to support and nurture one lowly sundayschool teacher there whom loves the Lord. He is my sundayschool teacher and I see the Lord using me to encourage this one person. Maybe that's odd, but Gods' ways are not our ways. On the other hand, I am thankful that (even though I think the age for speaking in tongues has passed), God has allowed me to share His teachings about Love at another church,... Again, odd, but God's ways,... You see what I mean.
When do we become so spiritual to decide all by ourselves to join here or no,... over there? I'm just generating questions,... Not picking on anything said or picking on churches either, really. What do you's say bout dat? hehe |
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| September 08, 2009 |
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| Great comment Preston! I too have a few reasons to leave my current church. It isn't perfect after all!!! But I have a deep sense that the Holy Spirit is keeping us there for some reason. (Well, I know many of the reasons, but will keep this short.) You're right Preston, it ain't my decision! |
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| September 08, 2009 |
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| Mike and Preston,I too have had the difficulty of staying where I am.If everyone ran away from the church they currently belong to,there would be no one to steer the"ship"back in the right direction.I struggle sometimes.I also believe the Holy Spirit is involved with my staying.I want to make clear I am a man and I am subject to not having"it"right all the time.The issues I mention in this blog are for discussion and debate.I do with all of my heart want Jesus to be served and ultimately Glorified. In all I do as well as the church as a whole! "it" should be our goal!! |
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| September 08, 2009 |
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| That Preston is a good question.13 and 1/2 years ago I was struggling.I was really in a bad place in life.I started praying Lord,I want to go back to church.I want a bible teaching church.Lord I don't want to lead out in to left field some where. Acouple of weeks went by as I continued to pray this prayer.I was then introduced to the Pastor who is my Pastor today.I feel and believe that because God answered me that I need to stay until He moves me.I honestly haven't felt that yet.I in my mind have tried to come up with some justified reasons to leave.The devil has had some fun with that.However the Lord hasn't Moved. |
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| September 10, 2009 |
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[Star!]
Oh, Jimmie,... That's some good church, right there in your own heart! I feel it. You keep to that in your heart and God will build on that. Personally, when The Lord moves me from one place to another, "usually" it goes against "my reasoning",... And it won't go away, and I have to get real close, quiet and alone with Him and then just Trust Him. I know you do! Love ya, my friend! |
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| September 10, 2009 |
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It is very hard to find a true church in this country. The great (or horable) apostasy has made God's Word void. Religion makes God's Word void. What I speak of is "traditions of men' Most people do not take the time to understand God's Word. They read the NIV translation because thhey are too lazy to study.
Paul said in Corinthians l 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisons among you; but in the same mind and in the same judgement (opinion)
Now, before some putts comes along and asures you what I say isn't so. Because they want you to brlieve in them. Not Jesus Christ. Beware of many who would have you believe wrong. Christainaity is NOT a religion. it is reality.
If they truly believed, they would admit that. But confusion is their game.
And making money from it. |
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| September 11, 2009 |
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I love you guys, too! Preston, I know where you are coming from. My church believes in tongues also. Not that it didn't happen but if we could read the original text, it just might supprise some folks.
Lara can make one comment, just one, and make more sense that a half page blog. That's why I try to keep mine short. Gives me an excuse that I just didn't get to those points.
Mike can tell things in a way even I understand it. Great job.
Hey, this isn't my blog??? What am I doing on here, then?
Jimmie, this week my paster was sick. He needed someone to fill in for him Wednesday night. He called me. I was honored. It went perticularly well. I had my laptop and some great notes, scripture, you name it. Ready, just read the stuff, man! Didn't even get to it. Never got the thing on. Holy Ghost had one of His moments. People were touched and the way their eyes were glued, I didn't have to search for words. They just flowed out, with tears, laughter, responses, incredible! At the end, people made more joyous noise in praise than they ever have in almost 3 years since I've been there. Now they know why I am the way I am about Him. Amen?! |
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| September 11, 2009 |
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| Oh, I mean to say let Mike, Preston, Lara, Ronnie (you know, the smart people) make all the great comments and analogies....it's still on our blogs...not just this one. I really did forget you wrote this Jimmy!! You can come over to one of my blogs and take it over. I'll just start it and go play golf. ( lol ) Ever see a 300+ person play golf? Can't even see it, just swinging away 'til I hear something hit. |
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| September 11, 2009 |
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| Man....I don't mean to sound like I am saying you ain't smart, Jimmie, I .....I'll just hush. |
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| September 11, 2009 |
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These are the days huh? In this country it has taken $1,556,466 in offerings per person saved (compare Mozambique @ $1,366). In our churches here, 98% have not led anyone to Christ and 89% have not given out a tract. With 0.7% of church funds out of trillions going to outreach in '95 (and currently getting leess) members are going to churches where 45% of pastors are struggling from brunout and 37% are strugling with porn.
It's time to live the bible, besides outreach, we need power for deliverance , healing and mmiracles to save the lost and suffering.
Good post |
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| September 11, 2009 |
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9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few.
Jeffery the stats you mention are very sad.Being what Jesus called us to do would make an impact that would be amazing."Pray for laborers"... |
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