Featured Are We Playing Church?

Yes....stick a fork in it.....find a bible believing church

 

My church recently added to its Constitution that marriage is only between a man and a woman. We were advised to do so to prevent possible legal challenges in the future if we declined to marry two people of the same gender.

 

Hamel,

Be glad that you were counted as such, and not pressed into the worlds mold, Romans 12:1ff. Unfortunately it sounds as if your church is, and that perhaps a hireling is in charge if in fact he fears what others will think if he makes a biblical stand.

Our constitution defends against this, but that doesn't mean the government cannot label us holding to hate crimes in the future. One person visited our church and became angry that the word 'homosexuals' was read from the Scriptures. The visitor didn't balk when idolaters, adulterers or drunkards were part of the same group and passage. She picked up her marbles and went home, there are plenty of other churches in town that will accommodate her version of god and 'truth'.

 

For the sake of your blood pressure find like minded believers who reverence God and His word. if need be...travel a bit to find faithful persons, or at least those willing to obey Jesus as Lord.

 

Hamel,

It can become depressing when one considers what is going on. But keep in mind God reserves to Himself those who will not bow the knee to the baals of the times. You are also aware, as an older man, the power of prayer, and know God answers. He will answer yours in this in His way. Maybe He will move you as you look? There are good churches out there that stand for truth.

 

I visited a church today where many of the members are older...seasoned saints...
They do not buy in on all these compromised churchs popping up, but rather lament the sinful condition....remember Lot's wife!

 

Sounds like you and the Pastor need to have a talk.

This seems to be somewhat of an unfair assessment in which you may have allowed the enemy to whisper fuel onto a fire that wasn't blazing. You went on the defensive. I suggest pushing the pause button and approaching this from another perspective.

I get your consternation. But I'm envisioning the enemy pushing you into the wrong direction on this. And the following somewhat, pardon me, "gossipy" accounts tell me that you may want to put on the brakes here.

I think that needs to remain the focus that you address with the pastor and not what you've perceived as an insult and managed to talk yourself up about as being an insult.

That's why the truth offends. It will always offend that which is against it.

So is the issue that he's not preaching the FULL Gospel or that he refuses to address the same-sex marriage issue?

Perhaps. But make sure you take that before God's throne in prayer.

You're giving him a toe hold.

 

But does not such a church need to be pulling in Saints of all ages if it is to survive and grow and still be in existence to do the work of the Saints?

As they shouldn't. But are they also making disciples who can stand firm against the compromise by reproducing others who too stand against the compromise? Or are they just within their "safe- spaces" complaining about the deteriorating condition?

 

Zaac

This is the correct question brother!
My wife and I have visited about 15 churches in the past year....This church needs some help, some work..... There are three or four others that believe more in line with what I believe, but they are a distance away.
So the struggle is travel and blend in, or stay very local and take on the challenge. This is a country kind of church...some faithful brethren...some spacy young people...not a mega church for sure....

this is my concern or caution...as an outsider with somewhat different doctrine, can I be effective if I cannot gain the trust of some of the born and raised set there.

 

What town do you live by? sermonaudio has a church finder on the site....you can listen before you visit.....just enter your zip code

 

Yes, better than 98% of the membership are playing Church and will go to Hell until the last rapture and the Great White Throne Judgement. Then they will reside in the Abyss, a.k.a. the Lake of Fire for Eternity. Jesus will tell them He never knew them.

For a long time I was a member of the BibleForums.org but they put on a queer San Franciso Fire Chaplin as moderator and he convinced the Canadian Admin to ban me for being mean to the Homosexual Community of San Fran.

If we got rid of the sexual sins inside the Church, as we are taught to do, the pews would be empty because they will not repent.

 

It's a tricky thing Icon, and one that I think will always require deep prayer about where God wants you.

It will definitely require trust. Because unless you're going in with a few allies, it would probably be easier or more beneficial to just start a new church.

 

Recently we have been studying the 7 churches of Revelation.

RE: The church at Ephesus:
They were commended by Jesus for their stand against evil folk and false apostles who were found to be liars (Jesus always speaks His mind).
However He was also as strong in His rebuke "you have left your first love".

Why does this happen? Well, reading 1 Corinthians 13 :
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

In another place:
1 Corinthians 8:1 Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.

Personally I believe there must be a balance between truth and love (agape).

If we are strong in the truth we must also be strong in agape else we become legalistic, pharisaical.
On the other hand we cannot yield to the world - e.g. approve or perform a same gender marriage even if it is legal. Murder of the unborn is also legal.

Here is another reason they might have left their first love:

Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

We certainly have that problem today.

So what should that balance be?

We cannot adopt the sinful philosophies of the world today, so we must gently as possible let our position be known.

2 Timothy 2
24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Then pray and leave it in God's hands.

Will we suffer the legal consequence here in America for our position and/or refusing to perform a legal function?

The answer ranges somewhere in between - possibly to probably.

Then we will be more like the church at Smyrna (the suffering church).
... be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

That's not "fear mongering" but simply "facing reality".

HankD

 

If there are only 10 in membership in a church...well, there ain't even a whole person therein saved, lolzzzzzzz!