None's on the rise, not on the run

[hotcoffee]

Stonethrower.... Please get a copy of the Bible that you can read and understand.... then pray for understanding.... then read the Bible cover to cover.

I know you mean well. I know you are trying your utmost to be a blessed person. I know you spend hours and hours and hours working in your church, reading and listening to sermons and discussions.

IMHO, it's difficult for you to see the whole picture.

People don't just walk into a church or for that matter click on a forum called Religion. In the beginning there is a small voice inside them is saying "what's this about". It's a seed....

I know you mean to help the seeds grow.... but only God knows the right soil, amount of water, air, and light that will be optimum for even the seeds planted on a stone. Sometimes even that seed planted on stone creates other seeds and the wind carries them to good soil.... Let God do the work....
For a variety of reasons the church has somehow pushed the people interviewed in that article away... maybe the soil is not so good where the church is planted.... maybe it's in the shade of distorted teaching.... maybe it's just too young.... maybe its roots are not strong enough.... maybe its roots have been cut off....

In my humble opinion, Stonethrower, the church needs to change.... The church needs to get back to the scriptures... not snippets... the whole scripture and only the scripture....

Love ya buddy....

[PsyOps (Premo)]

Originally Posted by StoneThrower

You cant worship God if you dont know Him.

You know God?

[StoneThrower]

Originally Posted by PsyOps

You know God?

Yes personally

[StoneThrower]

Originally Posted by hotcoffee

Stonethrower.... Please get a copy of the Bible that you can read and understand.... then pray for understanding.... then read the Bible cover to cover.

I know you mean well. I know you are trying your utmost to be a blessed person. I know you spend hours and hours and hours working in your church, reading and listening to sermons and discussions.

IMHO, it's difficult for you to see the whole picture.

People don't just walk into a church or for that matter click on a forum called Religion. In the beginning there is a small voice inside them is saying "what's this about". It's a seed....

I know you mean to help the seeds grow.... but only God knows the right soil, amount of water, air, and light that will be optimum for even the seeds planted on a stone. Sometimes even that seed planted on stone creates other seeds and the wind carries them to good soil.... Let God do the work....
For a variety of reasons the church has somehow pushed the people interviewed in that article away... maybe the soil is not so good where the church is planted.... maybe it's in the shade of distorted teaching.... maybe it's just too young.... maybe its roots are not strong enough.... maybe its roots have been cut off....

In my humble opinion, Stonethrower, the church needs to change.... The church needs to get back to the scriptures... not snippets... the whole scripture and only the scripture....

Love ya buddy....

The church doesn’t need to change; we just need to get some, as few exist.
How many churches in the area practice church discipline?
When was the last time you saw a church set someone out for an unrepentant a sin issue or bring it before the congregation for prayer and accountability?

Does it bother you that there are people here fattally decieved about their salvation and clinging to a false assurance? I have no problem trying to shake them out of their stupor.

What’s really offensive though, are so called Christians that are disobedient to the word of God, that think they know something about it because they read it once or twice, but don’t obey it, or Christ, and then feel a need to come and try to explain it to us.

"Why do you keep calling me 'Lord, Lord,' but don't do what I tell you?

I wonder about these so called Spirit lead Christians what spirit is really leading them, if it allows them to be disobedient to the word of God.

We have self professed Christians here that don’t attend church because of a variety excuse. None of which are valid except a spouse forbidding it, which I have yet to hear.

This sermon is a Biblical test of whether you are in the faith or not. He goes line by line in the text of 1 John that explains how you can tell if you are in the faith. I would suggest that every believer listen to this sermon. It is very encouraging to the believer to not be deceived.

"Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith; prove your own selves. Know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, unless you are counterfeits?"

http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/m....php?lid=12829

Perhaps, its time for some to start listening, rather than pontificating.
Personally I dont put much stock in those that talk the talk, but dont walk the walk.

[hotcoffee]

I don't attend church because I don't feel comfortable in church.... I've visited a few since I left Southern Calvert.... I'm just not comfortable...

I stay in the word and in prayer....

I guess you are now saying I'm not a christian.... well judge not buddy....

[PsyOps (Premo)]

Originally Posted by StoneThrower

Yes personally

You obviously didn't understand my question.

[PsyOps (Premo)]

Originally Posted by StoneThrower

What’s really offensive though, are so called Christians that are disobedient to the word of God, that think they know something about it because they read it once or twice, but don’t obey it, or Christ, and then feel a need to come and try to explain it to us.

And you would know who these people are if you met them? You can see inside someone's heart? You have the gall to talk about what offends you, in that same sentence offend others for claiming you know the status of their salvation.

Originally Posted by StoneThrower

"Why do you keep calling me 'Lord, Lord,' but don't do what I tell you?

Let’s put it to the test:

Have you sold all your wealth, given it to the poor and followed Jesus?

Are you going out in the world preaching the Gospel every day?

When was the last time you went to inner-city DC, found a homeless person and brought them into your home?

Do you not judge lest you be judged?

[ladyhawk]

In the eyes of others regardless of religious denomination, I may not be saved but deep down in my heart and soul, I know I am...

That pretty much is all that matters.

I'm sure someone will see it as a false sense of salvation, and that would be their interpretation of it...

June

[hotcoffee]

Originally Posted by StoneThrower

The church doesn’t need to change; we just need to get some, as few exist.
How many churches in the area practice church discipline?
When was the last time you saw a church set someone out for an unrepentant a sin issue or bring it before the congregation for prayer and accountability?

The church does need to change if the gospel is getting lost. The Calvert Recorder has reported that the number of people who are not being "fed" by the church is growing. This article would have never run in the 50's let alone the 70's.... It's apparent that the establishment is not doing what it should be doing to increase the Love of Christ.

I tell you today that if the church will not feed the sheep, the wolf in sheep's clothing that preaches all can go to heaven under the guiese of tolerance will pick up the uninformed and uneducated.... and steal their sole. That will be on the church....

Originally Posted by StoneThrower

Does it bother you that there are people here fattally decieved about their salvation and clinging to a false assurance? I have no problem trying to shake them out of their stupor.

I have a problem with you shaking them out so the fall into an dark whole.

Originally Posted by StoneThrower

What’s really offensive though, are so called Christians that are disobedient to the word of God, that think they know something about it because they read it once or twice, but don’t obey it, or Christ, and then feel a need to come and try to explain it to us.

I feel it's equally offensive for someone who may have a log in his eye, telling me to take the log out of my eye.

Originally Posted by StoneThrower

I wonder about these so called Spirit lead Christians what spirit is really leading them, if it allows them to be disobedient to the word of God.

I don't understand what disobedient act you are accusing me of?

Originally Posted by StoneThrower

We have self professed Christians here that don’t attend church because of a variety excuse. None of which are valid except a spouse forbidding it, which I have yet to hear.

Like I said.... I don't go to church because I don't feel comfortable in the churches I have visited over the past few years. I am more comfortable in this forum.... after prayer and time in the word....

Originally Posted by StoneThrower

This sermon is a Biblical test of whether you are in the faith or not. He goes line by line in the text of 1 John that explains how you can tell if you are in the faith. I would suggest that every believer listen to this sermon. It is very encouraging to the believer to not be deceived.

I told you.... stop listening to the sermons and open the Word. Don't depend on what someone else has told you.... read it for yourself. As the Holy Spirit to help you understand it.

Originally Posted by StoneThrower

"Examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith; prove your own selves. Know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, unless you are counterfeits?"Perhaps, its time for some to start listening, rather than pontificating.

Personally I dont put much stock in those that talk the talk, but dont walk the walk.

A bit dog....

[hotcoffee]

My apologies to everyone reading this thread....

I've continued to say the church needs to change.... but I haven't said how it needs to change....

I've said I'm not comfortable in the churches I've visited over the past few years but I haven't said why I might feel uncomfortable....

I get the impression, when I walk into a church, that people are not genuinely happy to meet a new sister or brother in Christ. It's like people are wondering why I'm there. I feel like I'm invading. There are greeters at every church. I've been in churches all my life and I know some people are assigned the task. It's a rotating schedule generally.... not necessarily based on a talent or gift.

The last time I was genuinely greeted with a warm, welcome, smile was when Jeannie greeted me my first time at Southern Calvert. She really made me feel welcome. I could see it in her eyes and feel it in her hand she offered that she was happy I had joined her there.

I get the impression that I have to be invited to be in a particular click. Sure, when you go to church you are going to see friends and family.... you will want to be with them... but if everyone is crowded around in a circle.... it leaves no real opening for anyone else. I don't get the feeling of love and friendship in these clicks of people either.... it's almost a high school hierarchy... the populars... know what I mean?

Then there's the one in every church that is talking down to everyone else. No I don't mean the preacher.... I mean the one that is assigned the gospel talk or the scripture... or the announcements.... or the call to worship.... It's that person who seems to tell everyone that He/She is proud.... it's self centered....

Then there's the preaching.... I don't know how long it's been since I heard a pastor [preacher] who didn't take a verse out of the Bible and talk about it for 30 - 40 minutes.... setting up the context of the verse [or verses] first....

It's really easy to loose the context if you are picking one verse here and one verse there. I've heard people [myself included] who rate the pastor by the number of times we had to look up a verse in the Bible during his sermon. If I'm in the word then he must be preaching the truth right? No... not necessarily.... If you use one verse out of context or twenty out of context... it's still a sermon pointed to a particular point [or points] that is totally off base.

Now... when I was at Southern Calvert... I have to say Pastor Rick and Pastor David were really good at setting the context for the verses.... I'll give them a really good mark for that.... I loved the sermons at that church.... but alas.. both have gone on to other churches away from Lusby....

Music is something that bothers some.... The old hymns may be boring to the regular members and their particular click that may or may not be musically inclined do their best to make the morning music easy to sing.... but let's think back to King David... who when he was bringing the ARC back into Israel.... sang and danced with abandonment.... He was happy... He was singing and dancing in celebration.... Stand Up Stand Up for Jesus sung as a dead durge is not a celebration.... sure you may sing off key... but sing loud and happy off key and the visitors will feel good about singing off key with you.

Oh... and if you are going to sing songs that are not in the hymnal... give EVERYONE the words.... and please... let's not do the chorus 50 times so we have time to wave our hands in the air.... if the spirit leads us to linger on the chorus... the congregation will let you know.... It's not how good you sound... it's how joyous the celebration is....

If a gay person wants to join me in church... yes even in drag if that's what makes them comfortable.... I am happy to bring them.... don't stare at them... welcome them... just like you would anyone else.... if they are in a church [for crying out loud] they might have a heart for Jesus.... it's not our place to judge.

I'm as homophobic as the next girl but it's not my job to judge who Jesus wants to sit next to me. I know a man in Baltimore who is gay.... he was searching for Jesus... really searching in his heart and out loud... and a few years ago, decades after I met him... I called him on a whim, asked him how he was doing and he told me that he finally found a church that would accept him.

Smell a little booze on that stranger next to you? Who cares.... who is to say they didn't see the light the night before. It's not up to you to judge.... they are in church.... One of the best pastors I ever met the Lord on the deck of an aircraft carrier when he was drunk as a skunk.... His testimony is amazing.... what if someone had snubbed him and sent him on his way?

Churches don't need to lie to get people in the door..... The only way to Heaven is through Jesus Christ..... that's the truth... stick with it....

Yes June, I'm talking to you.... you can get back to nature all you want to ... and I totally understand how close to God you feel when you are in nature... but unless you accept Jesus Christ into your heart... you will never see Heaven...

If you have accepted Him in your heart... then yes you are right... you can enjoy that personal relationship with Christ in private.... but if you have not accepted Him ...you will never see Heaven... and

Heaven is so much better than anything here on earth that you enjoy so much..... In the words of the appraisers on Antiques Roadshow.... this beauty on earth is a cheap knock off compared to Heaven....

Which of these churches really describes your church?

(1) Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7) - the church that had forsaken its first love (2:4).

(2) Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11) - the church that would suffer persecution (2:10).

(3) Pergamum (Revelation 2:12-17) - the church that needed to repent (2:16).

(4) Thyatira (Revelation 2:18-29) - the church that had a false prophetess (2:20).

(5) Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6) - the church that had fallen asleep (3:2).

(6) Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13) - the church that had endured patiently (3:10).

(7) Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22) - the church with the lukewarm faith (3:16).