Cultural Christianity is Without Christ

We have been engaged in a "cultural Christianity" in the United States for generations now. Following the rules became more important than following Christ, AND many of the rules were not even Biblical, they were man made to keep people under the control of the leaders. It was not Christ Who was leading individuals, but man oppressing other men.

No where in the Bible will you see anything resembling leaders forcing, intimidating or using covertly oppressive tricks to keep people under their thumbs. Husbands are not to act this way either.

1 Peter 5:2-4 "…2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but because it is God’s will; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.…"

Because the church has implemented man's rules rather than God's principles, they have gone so far off the mark that it is a corrupted gathering in most cases.