How far from the first century church has the modern church strayed?
No place in the Word do we see an example of an "altar call."
There is no model of "tithing" in the church, only one command given by Christ.
2 Corinthians 9:7 "Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
No where in the word does God say anything about the government becoming involved in the financial status of the gathering in the form of the 501c3 status to avoid paying property taxes. The business meetings distract believers from the important things of God. They are burdensome and time wasting.
There is no concept in the church of God to allow for a one man pastor. The term "pastor" refers to a gift and not a title or position. There should be more than one man with this gift in any gathering and in the larger gatherings several. When all men are required to be involved, they are more likely to lead their families too, and grow in the Lord. Too many men remain spiritual babies because they sit like lumps every week without responsibility while another man does all the work.
There is also the problem of the one man pastor becoming arrogant and dictatorial. I have actually heard it said that "I am to protect MY pulpit." Wow, the Bible never says this, every preacher or teacher needs to be bathed in the Word and prayer and is subject to correction and even rebuke if he strays from good doctrine.
In the modern church women are forbidden to pray and prophesy as God commanded, and the women are discouraged from covering their heads.
1 Corinthians 11:5 "But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying disgraces her head, for she is one and the same as the woman whose head is shaved."
Some modern churches are violating the mandate that the men be the leaders and are allowing women to be leaders.
Divorce and remarriage is not discouraged, but endorsed, while some of the pastors are divorced and remarried.
No where in the Word does God tell us to buy special building to meet in or that the gathering must have "business meetings." These buildings and meetings have become a distraction from the real purpose of the gathering, which is to worship, equip the saints and to provide for the needs of missions. To make matters worse, many buildings have mortgages, again, which are not necessary when meeting in homes.
If we followed the first century model of the church gathering, we would understand that "the church" is not the building but the born again believers who come together.
If we followed the first century model of the church gathering we would not place rules about tithing, but would trust the Lord to work on the hearts of people as needed.
If we followed the first century model of the church gathering we would not have altar calls but would preach the Word leaving the results to God, never needing to count the numbers that feed our personal pride.
If we followed the first century model of the church gathering we would not indulge in worldly worship leaders. The only worship leader in the church should be the Holy Spirit. I see no value in having young people up on stage showing off to be seen by men, while distracting the congregation from true worship.
If we followed the first century model of the church gathering we would not be having "short term mission trips." When the church sends out missionaries, they should be seasoned believers who have been proven to be witnesses in their home town, having lived a lifestyle sold out to Christ and working for Him all along. These missionaries would not be expected to come home, they would stay on the field with those in their charge until they die. The coming back and forth costs thousands of dollars and produces very little. If a missionary is not strong enough to trust Christ without coming back to their country of origin, then they are not worthy to be missionaries.
If we followed the first century model of the church gathering we would not need nearly as much money as is spent on the buildings that look more like fancy rock music centers than they do a gathering of God's people.
If we followed the first century model of the church gathering we would not be using any books other than the Bible to bring God's message. Men would not be mentioned as authorities from the pulpit. If someone is a writer and has said something Biblical, then God should be quoted not the man.
Our modern church has strayed so far from God that it is no longer blessed by God. Many will think they are blessed because they have a lot of money and many people, unfortunately a truly blessed congregation will be blessed because they are small, walking in the Spirit and staying to the Word of God. Blessings is not material wealth but Spiritual wealth.
Saturday, July 19, 2014
Friday, July 18, 2014
Judicial Forgiveness and Familial Forgiveness
Nick Bevilacqua said this:
" There is a once and for all judicial forgiveness of our sins unto everlasting Salvation. There is also a daily familial forgiveness of sins from our Father by which fellowship is restored upon self judgment and acknowledgment of our sins before our heavenly Father, who otherwise chastises His children whom He loves.(1 Corinthians 11: 31 & 32). (Hebrews 12: 4- 11)."
1 Corinthians 11:31-32
"31 But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world."
Hebrews 12:4-11
A Father’s Discipline
4 You have not yet resisted [a]to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;
5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, Nor faint when you are reproved by Him;
6 For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom He receives.”
7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
9 Furthermore, we had [b]earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of [c]spirits, and live?
10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.
11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness."
" There is a once and for all judicial forgiveness of our sins unto everlasting Salvation. There is also a daily familial forgiveness of sins from our Father by which fellowship is restored upon self judgment and acknowledgment of our sins before our heavenly Father, who otherwise chastises His children whom He loves.(1 Corinthians 11: 31 & 32). (Hebrews 12: 4- 11)."
1 Corinthians 11:31-32
"31 But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world."
Hebrews 12:4-11
A Father’s Discipline
4 You have not yet resisted [a]to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;
5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, Nor faint when you are reproved by Him;
6 For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom He receives.”
7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
9 Furthermore, we had [b]earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of [c]spirits, and live?
10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.
11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness."
When We Endorse Sin We Are Part of the Problem
When we endorse sin, through legislation, we cause an avalanche.
"A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough." Galatians 5:9
1 Timothy 1:9 "realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers"
When we remove the societal restraints by legalizing sin, we unleash the lawless on our culture, it is like a growing cancer. Even those who would never have considered these sins before will be indulging in them. Either doing them themselves or approving of those who do them.
Weak minded people become confused when the restraints are removed. They may even be against the sins that become legal, but lose their fervor against them, when they become accustomed to their proliferation.
Far too many people base their moral compass on the culture rather than God's Word. The reason we have so many who are not able to wrap their mind around the principle that remarriage is adultery, is because they have seen it for so long, that they cannot imagine living without it.
Abortion is also one of these sins that has been accepted by many who would never have done it themselves.
When we base our principles on emotion, personal difficulty and cultural acceptance, we are not stopping to consider God in any of it.
When God says something is sin then it is sin, and no argument can come against it, no emotion can justify it and no forgiveness is available to those who will not repent from it.
The excuse that "God will forgive me", is patently wrong, God does not forgive someone who claims to be sorry but remains in their sin.
Romans 6:1-2
Believers Are Dead to Sin, Alive to God
"6 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?"
Proverbs 28:13 "He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion."
Psalm 119:1-8
119 How blessed are those whose way is [a]blameless,
Who walk in the law of the Lord.
2 How blessed are those who observe His testimonies,
Who seek Him with all their heart.
3 They also do no unrighteousness;
They walk in His ways.
4 You have [b]ordained Your precepts,
[c]That we should keep them diligently.
5 Oh that my ways may be established
To keep Your statutes!
6 Then I shall not be ashamed
When I look [d]upon all Your commandments.
7 I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart,
When I learn Your righteous judgments.
8 I shall keep Your statutes;
Do not forsake me utterly!"
Those who love the Lord, will not want to defy Him or His principles. They are ashamed when they sin and want to be cleansed from it.
"A little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough." Galatians 5:9
1 Timothy 1:9 "realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers"
When we remove the societal restraints by legalizing sin, we unleash the lawless on our culture, it is like a growing cancer. Even those who would never have considered these sins before will be indulging in them. Either doing them themselves or approving of those who do them.
Weak minded people become confused when the restraints are removed. They may even be against the sins that become legal, but lose their fervor against them, when they become accustomed to their proliferation.
Far too many people base their moral compass on the culture rather than God's Word. The reason we have so many who are not able to wrap their mind around the principle that remarriage is adultery, is because they have seen it for so long, that they cannot imagine living without it.
Abortion is also one of these sins that has been accepted by many who would never have done it themselves.
When we base our principles on emotion, personal difficulty and cultural acceptance, we are not stopping to consider God in any of it.
When God says something is sin then it is sin, and no argument can come against it, no emotion can justify it and no forgiveness is available to those who will not repent from it.
The excuse that "God will forgive me", is patently wrong, God does not forgive someone who claims to be sorry but remains in their sin.
Romans 6:1-2
Believers Are Dead to Sin, Alive to God
"6 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?"
Proverbs 28:13 "He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion."
Psalm 119:1-8
119 How blessed are those whose way is [a]blameless,
Who walk in the law of the Lord.
2 How blessed are those who observe His testimonies,
Who seek Him with all their heart.
3 They also do no unrighteousness;
They walk in His ways.
4 You have [b]ordained Your precepts,
[c]That we should keep them diligently.
5 Oh that my ways may be established
To keep Your statutes!
6 Then I shall not be ashamed
When I look [d]upon all Your commandments.
7 I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart,
When I learn Your righteous judgments.
8 I shall keep Your statutes;
Do not forsake me utterly!"
Those who love the Lord, will not want to defy Him or His principles. They are ashamed when they sin and want to be cleansed from it.
Legalizing Sin Only Makes It Grow
"The squeaky wheel gets the grease", unfortunately these groups use manipulation by accusation to intimidate those who would call them to account.
The advocates of divorce and remarriage
Same sex marriage
Abortion
Mind altering drug advocates
And, many other things God hates are being justified with every silly excuse imaginable, to defy the principles of God.
Our culture was safer and more enjoyable at a time when all these things were known to be evil. Now that they have become acceptable through legislation, they have destroyed families, our economy and our sense of safety.
We are reaping what we have sown, now we are losing our government while our freedoms have been systematically stripped from us.
We are like the Israelites in the Wilderness, they whined about the perfect food God sent, because they missed their quail and leeks. God gave them the quail when He became weary of their whining and they got sick on it. They vomited it out and no longer enjoyed it.
God is giving us everything we want as a nation, and it is ruining us. We thought we knew better than God does, we shook our fist at Him, and now we get to live in the slime that we have created as a nation.
May many people stop seeking their own desires and repent, admitting that we have made a mess and have dishonored Christ.
The advocates of divorce and remarriage
Same sex marriage
Abortion
Mind altering drug advocates
And, many other things God hates are being justified with every silly excuse imaginable, to defy the principles of God.
Our culture was safer and more enjoyable at a time when all these things were known to be evil. Now that they have become acceptable through legislation, they have destroyed families, our economy and our sense of safety.
We are reaping what we have sown, now we are losing our government while our freedoms have been systematically stripped from us.
We are like the Israelites in the Wilderness, they whined about the perfect food God sent, because they missed their quail and leeks. God gave them the quail when He became weary of their whining and they got sick on it. They vomited it out and no longer enjoyed it.
God is giving us everything we want as a nation, and it is ruining us. We thought we knew better than God does, we shook our fist at Him, and now we get to live in the slime that we have created as a nation.
May many people stop seeking their own desires and repent, admitting that we have made a mess and have dishonored Christ.
Ignoring God is Dangerous
Anyone who thinks they can live as they please, ignore correction and instruction from men and women of God, and still be safe, needs to read what God wrote. Ignoring those who bring God's Word is dangerous and foolish.
Isaiah 66:2-5
2 “For My hand made all these things,
Thus all these things came into being,” declares the Lord.
“But to this one I will look,
To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.
Hypocrisy Rebuked
3 “But he who kills an ox is like one who slays a man;
He who sacrifices a lamb is like the one who breaks a dog’s neck;
He who offers a grain offering is like one who offers swine’s blood;
He who [a]burns incense is like the one who blesses an idol.
As they have chosen their own ways,
And their soul delights in their abominations,
4 So I will choose their [b]punishments
And will bring on them what they dread.
Because I called, but no one answered;
I spoke, but they did not listen.
And they did evil in My sight
And chose that in which I did not delight.”
5 Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at His word:
“Your brothers who hate you, who exclude you for My name’s sake,
Have said, ‘Let the Lord be glorified, that we may see your joy.’
But they will be put to shame.
Isaiah 66:2-5
2 “For My hand made all these things,
Thus all these things came into being,” declares the Lord.
“But to this one I will look,
To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.
Hypocrisy Rebuked
3 “But he who kills an ox is like one who slays a man;
He who sacrifices a lamb is like the one who breaks a dog’s neck;
He who offers a grain offering is like one who offers swine’s blood;
He who [a]burns incense is like the one who blesses an idol.
As they have chosen their own ways,
And their soul delights in their abominations,
4 So I will choose their [b]punishments
And will bring on them what they dread.
Because I called, but no one answered;
I spoke, but they did not listen.
And they did evil in My sight
And chose that in which I did not delight.”
5 Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at His word:
“Your brothers who hate you, who exclude you for My name’s sake,
Have said, ‘Let the Lord be glorified, that we may see your joy.’
But they will be put to shame.
Social Pressure Has No Effect
Proverbs 28:1 "The wicked flee when no man pursues: but the righteous are bold as a lion."
One of the tactics of satan is to attempt to force others through social pressure to accept sin.
When we are strong in the Lord, the pressures of the world have little effect. We can boldly stand alone if we have to, Christ Who lives in us is our strength.
Psalm 28:7 "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him."
One of the tactics of satan is to attempt to force others through social pressure to accept sin.
When we are strong in the Lord, the pressures of the world have little effect. We can boldly stand alone if we have to, Christ Who lives in us is our strength.
Psalm 28:7 "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him."
Legalizing Sins Does Not Make Them Acceptable To God
If it is a sin according to God's Word it remains a sin even if the government legalizes it.
Divorce and remarriage, abortion, living together outside marriage, same sex marriage and mind altering drugs are legal in our country, but they are still sins against God.
God's laws do not change just because a culture makes them acceptable.
Go to the bible, the words of God to find your answers, not to the government and not to the culture.
Divorce and remarriage, abortion, living together outside marriage, same sex marriage and mind altering drugs are legal in our country, but they are still sins against God.
God's laws do not change just because a culture makes them acceptable.
Go to the bible, the words of God to find your answers, not to the government and not to the culture.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)