Offended by Something They Don't Believe In

Interesting that so many people are offended by the mention of hell they say they don't believe in. 

Second Chances?

The "One-Man-Paid-Pastor" System is Disobedience.

The one-man-paid-pastor system has ruined the church and is not at all Biblical.

I love the way Larry Jones puts it in his videos, he called the people in the pew, "pew people" and the people in the pulpit "pulpit people." A sad division between the leadership in the church and those that would be seen as beneath the "pastor."

The pew people think the man in the pulpit knows more because they are not reading their Bibles at home, so about that they are right, but they look at the "pastor" in the pulpit as their mediator between them and God, so they do not question him or correct him.

In fact, I have been chastised by others for correcting those who call themselves "Pastor so and so." This is not Biblical to forbid the people in the gatherings from questioning or even rebuking the one who stands up front. The word "pastor" is a word that denotes a calling not a title or position above others.

This is all totally against what God taught in His Word. If people would learn to meet in small groups in homes as the first-century church did, they would not be able to hide in the pews and leave without someone knowing their life. All of the people even the elders would be accountable to everyone else.

Also, and this is a big also, we are not required to "join" a particular local church. We as born again believers are the church and can meet with anyone, anywhere at any time. When God said not to forsake the gathering together it had nothing to do with darkening the doors of a building in large groups. Meeting together was around the Lord's supper to worship Jesus Christ. There was teaching also to equip the saints to go out into the world to bring the gospel to those in their community. And, if led they would go to other parts of the world.

I see no language in the bible such as "church planting", I do see go into all the world and preach the gospel.

When people become born-again because of the preaching of the gospel God will compel them to meet together according to the Bible. Whether it is in a home, in a park, the wilderness, the back of a dog kennel or in a barn, wherever there is room for them to be together.

Building large buildings to meet in has caused people to believe the building is the church instead of the people. Many people cannot meet anywhere else except that building and even believe they cannot pray unless they are in one of those buildings.

If someone cannot pray and worship at home then chances are they are not praying and worshiping anywhere even in one of those man-made buildings. Following the instructions of others, do this, do that, stand, sit and all the ways the leadership controls the congregation, then we are not worshiping we are being manipulated to pretend to worship.

John 4:23-24 "…23 But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” "

Philippians 3:3

"For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh--"

If we can only worship in those designated buildings, or study with a "pastor" who is ordained by men, then we have a wrong view of God's purpose and calling for all born-again believers.

Our God is more concerned about us being trained and taught by the Holy Spirit than He is about us being part of a human hierarchy or any buildings where we meet.

2 Corinthians 3:17

"Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."

1 Timothy 1:17

"Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen."

May we learn to lean on Christ everywhere all the time with anyone who names the name of Jesus Christ.

Come Quickly Lord Jesus

I find myself not caring anymore about what is going on in the world because it is marching toward the end and the antichrist. There are few people who want to hear the gospel, correction, or any form of instruction that I feel our purpose on earth is almost finished now. Even "Christians" are bored with Biblical truth.

Maranatha, Come quickly Lord Jesus!!!!

The Authentic Gospel Empties Out the Church Gatherings

Regularly I hear "Christians" saying things like "God Bless America" when God has already done that and Americans including Christians do not bless God through obedience.

In fact, discussing with "Christians" the things of God and His Word is sometimes agonizing. Many people are saying such superficial, unbiblical, and ungodly things thinking they are from the Bible when they are not so that correction with Scripture is the only way to come at the remarks.

Since our culture is more into feelings than facts we who love truth are met with angst regularly. When it seems impossible to have a rational discussion with those who attend church gatherings every week, we are inclined to give up speaking to them about the Word of God even though they pretend to be Christians.

Perhaps leaders in the church ought to be preaching the authentic gospel in the gatherings rather than "feel good" sermons that appeal to the flesh.

Paul makes clear the things he has been through to speak the truth of the real gospel to those who have not yet heard.

Sadly most Christians in our culture have heard a false gospel making them impervious to the real gospel.

2 Corinthians 11:25-30 "Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern? If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness."

2 Timothy 4:3

"3 For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires,"

If a man of God speaks the real gospel from a pulpit today he will be run out of the church and asked not to return. Christ's gospel demands repentance and brokenness over our sinful nature to become born again. The only hard part about the gospel is the pride that dwells in most "Christians", they want to say they are a part of the Christian club but they do not want Christ to change them nor do they want to seek His will to obey it. They definitely do not want the ire of the other people around them who would reject them if they became too radical.

The cultural Christian is more concerned about being seen by others as good people than they are about repenting and becoming changed by Christ. They want no change, only the perks that they think God has to offer them. These people find brokenness over a sinful nature repugnant, and worthy of contempt.

Self-reflection through Scripture is nearly non-existent in our day. The suggestion that someone needs to change within themselves is distasteful to most people including the cultural Christian.

Anyone who dares to speak the truth will be seen as negative and someone to be avoided.

What the superficial cultural Christian does not understand is that it is not a negative thing to see someone walking into the fire and another person shouting a warning about where they are going so that they will be saved from the flames. It is a positive and blessed thing to be warned and snatched from the fire.

And salvation is so simple, God says all we have to do is confess our sinfulness and desire to be changed by Christ, believing everything He said in His Word and He will come to live in anyone who does this. It is important to read His Word the way He meant it to be read, prayerfully with a desire to know His heart. Many people superficial self-willed people read the Bible with the intent of making it say what they want it to rather than seeking God for His meaning.

The most frustrating women's bible studies I have been to many years ago were based on "what the scripture passage means to them." When I would say something like; "it doesn't matter what you want the scripture to say, it matters only what God meant by it." My comments were met with total silence, no support, and subsequent avoidance of me.

Pride is the only thing keeping people from trusting in Christ. When He changes us we want Him to do His work in us as we obey Him. We are changed to love His principles, His lessons and His guidance. What is unthinkable to the rebellious heart is the idea of letting go of their own will to trust in God.

I had to believe those who came to the Bible study came to make themselves feel special at having knowledge but the knowledge they went away with was self-oriented and full of error.

Many people want to pretend they have trusted Christ but their words are all we hear, there is no desire to seek Him or obey Him. Appearance is all most people care about as well as to be praised by men.

John 12:43 "43 For they loved praise from men more than praise from God."

When the culture cares more about pleasing people than God they will reject God's principles to remain friends with the world.

1 John 2:15-17

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."

Colossians 3:2

"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."

James 4:4

"You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."

Proverbs 29:25

"The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high."

John 5:44

"How can you believe if you accept glory from one another, yet do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?"

John 7:18

"He who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is a man of truth; in Him there is no falsehood."

We are living in the end times adulterous generation in which many people will claim to be "Christian" but are adding paganistic and worldly thinking to their false religion rather than obeying God. We must test all things as God commanded and be willing to be rejected on a regular basis.

1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 "Do not treat prophecies with contempt, 21but test all things. Hold fast to what is good. 22Abstain from every form of evil."

Romans 12:9

"Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good."