How to separate the pretenders from the believers

I don't know if you would separate the "pretenders" from the "believers", but you would definately separate the legalists from the non legalists.

Calling music "entertainment" is your personal opinion only.

 

Hey J.D.... that reminds me of a song:

Clear the Stage
Ross King © 2002 Ross King
(VERSE)
Clear the stage and set the sound a lights ablaze
If that's the measure you must take to crush the idols.
Jerk the pews and all the decorations too until the congregation's few then have revival.
Tell your friends that this is where the party ends,
Until you're broken for your sins you can't be social.
And seek the Lord and wait for what he has in store,
And know that great is your reward so just be hopeful.

(CHORUS)
‘Cause you can sing all you want to, yes, you can sing all you want to.
You can sing all you want to, but don’t get me wrong… worship is more than a song.

(VERSE)
Take a break from all the plans that you have made
And sit at home alone and wait for God to whisper.
Beg and plead Him open up His mouth and speak,
And pray for real upon your knees until they blister.
Shine the light on every corner of your life until the pride and lust and lies are in the open.
Read the Word and put to test the things you've heard
Until your heart and soul are stirred and rocked and broken.

CHORUS

Anything I put before my God is an idol.
Anything I want with all my heart is an idol.
Anything I can't stop thinking of is an idol.
Anything that I give all my love is an idol.
We must not worship something that's not even worth it,
Clear the stage, make some space for the one who deserves it.

(CHORUS 2)
And I can sing all I want to, yes, I can sing all I want to.
I can sing all I want to, and still get it wrong…
‘Cause you can sing all you want to, yes, you can sing all you want to.
You can sing all you want to, but don’t get me wrong… worship is more than a song.

 

It's not about entertainment here... but of course, there's probably no convincing you of that. Good luck with your project. Let me know how it turns out.

 

It is so amazing to me the venom that JD has for teenagers. Last time I checked, Jesus died for them, too.

I will pray for you and your church. I'm sorry you're so unhappy. And frankly, I hope that this thread is deemed too inflammatory to continue.

 

JD, thanks for questioning the salvation of my kids. I'm going to self-edit now.


There. Better.

Glad you know my church. And my kids. Thanks again for your Christian attitude.

 

Only way to separate the pretenders from the true believers is to let God separate the tares from the wheat.

Of course God does that through Bible preaching.

The reason there are so many pretenders this day is because so many churches are geared towards the entertainment factor to bring numbers in.

Now numbers does mean souls, but if what is getting them "in" is the entertainment value, guess what? You have mostly pretenders and those who are only after entertainment.

Now if you really want to pet the cat in the opposite direction, just PREACH! the Bible. Until the pretender gets the cat turned around he will rebutt all Bible preaching except that which is only "love" and that of course according to how he "feels" about it.

Hard preaching never ran me off. Axe grinding preaching makes me angry and then I have to be sure not to sin. Lily-livered preaching makes me wanna preach the paint off the walls. Story telling and joke telling makes me sick, does you too but you might not even know it yet. If you're a pretender you never willuntil you get saved.

Give me the Bible! Preach it to me in any style, just give it to me with my betterment in view and God's Glory in the forefront! The pretenders will either get saved or leave because they don't love God or even know God.

I wonder if my statements will soon be edited and snipped???

 

J.D.'s profile

Dude!!!!! That is epic....I know God is impressed, even if I am not.

J

 

So basically, J.D. we're to do whatever you like in church. How is this different than what you accuse our kids of?

 

aint that the truth!!! not just the youth group but anyone else who walking the line.

See I saw J.D.'s post as those WALING THE LINE not those who weren't saved. those who want their ears tickled and flesh stroked

 

Well, after reading the absurd comment you made, I thought I would check out if you were a Baptist, where you worshiped, etc...thats the whole point of having a public profile. Imagine my joy when I discovered not only had you accepted Jesus...but you were a cut above...you had accepted '5 point calvinsim'!!!!

I was very much relieved to know this becasue that means you have a keen theological mind...You are not only elect...you are elite!

seriously...I just had never seen anybody profess their faith in Calvinism....I thought it was humorous.

As far as liking you???? Dude...I don't know you...this is a message board, not a cafe or fellowship hall...How would I know if I like you or not? I am sure you are a wonderful person...In fact, I would love to hang out with you...you could help me seperate them pretenders from believers...

J

 

And while you are at it, rip out Psalms!
God loves music so much HE put it in the Word of God..

That would be a disgrace to God to go without music.

 

(In an old grumpy mans voice)

Back in my day we didnt have fancy smancy music and all them hi falluten dramas...we sat in old hard wooden pews...we sang nice quiet songs and listened to old boring sermons untill we were ready to beat ourselves to death with our old moldy hymnbooks...AND WE LIKEDIT THAT WAY!!!!!!

Dana Carey...where are you when we need you?

J

 

Why would we want to do that?

Church isn't entertainment. They praise, study, and pray.

Yes, entertainment is thrown into other meetings. On purpose. Youth group meetings, Awana, etc.. We have game night sometimes. It's a way to fellowship with other people and have fun. Why not? Christianity isn't taking all entertainment out of your life. If you choose to have fun going to Awana, or taking the youth group out camping, how is that not ok? I find it much more pleasant to spend time with church members, with the young ones in the church, than to sit at home and watch a movie or whatever.

This "entertainment" stuff you talk about is extra-curricular type stuff that churches do. The church is a family, not something to go to once a week. If the church wants to offer wholesome activities and entertainment, that's great! If they want to have meals and eat with each other after church on Sunday, even better! I love that, spending more time with others who love God too.

Please don't encourage people to get rid of their church programs.

In fact, someone on another thread, just yesterday, said that he invited a waitress to church. I asked why he didn't invite her to his house instead (I believe church is for believers) and he basically said that it would be weird for a man to invite a girl to his house.
But you know what? He doesn't have to. He also doesn't have to invite her into a typical praise and study service on Sunday morning though, where it would be ackward for her as an unbeliever to be in a place of worship towards someone she doesn't believe in.
What better way, in a situation like that, than to invite them to a game night, or movie night, or a dinner at the church? It's outreach. That's good.

We need MORE fellowship with other believers and MORE outreach, not less of it!

And if a church isn't preaching solid messages, that's a reason for EVERYONE to leave.

 

Now thats the issue isnt it?

J