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This thread will emphasize some points I have made in my other threads, and my observations of what state the church is in today....Not to blanket ALL churches but to direct this thread to the churches who are in apostasy.
1) Many churches are preaching a false gospel(wont emphasize it here in this thread, already have one that speaks of the gospel and one of what repentance means)
2)Many churches preach to their congregation about how they need to give more money to the church. It's become more of a business meeting.
3)Many churches do not EMPHASIZE soul-winning. Instead they prop up their church like entertainment and spend millions of dollars on the latest technology to bring lost sinners in. But they dare not offend them, and preach a watered down gospel without the law.(Galatians 3:24)
"But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:" Matthew 6:20
As a personal testimony, I have had a very hard time connecting to local churches when I was in the States because their messages were mostly about giving money to the church, and feel-good sermons about how I should prosper in life(ie:material wealth and happiness)...I've gone to churches where their WHOLE service was reading the budget report for bigger buildings YET one half the pews were empty! Any person with some sense would say, "go reach the lost in the neighborhood and fill up those pews first, then talk about expanding, if you are to expand at all").
Where are the churches today that preach boldly against sin? Too afraid to offend the community around them, they would rather dress up all churchy, go to their services then go back out into their community and not reach anyone for Christ. What was the Great Commission again?(see Matthew 28:18-20). We were commanded to preach the gospel and to make disciples!
"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15
"How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" Romans 10:14
"For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" 1 Corinthians 9:16
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ." 1 Peter 3:15-16
The Word clearly asks the very logical question, "how shall they believe in him of whom they HAVE NOT heard"? "How shall they hear without a preacher?"....These questions ought to be addressed by the Christian church today. I hear a lot of preaching about wealth and material goods, and not much on WISDOM and things of ETERNAL value. You can have ALL the knowledge of the Bible and still be unwise. Keeping it all inside is exactly what the devil loves.....But here is what wisdom produces:
"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise." Proverbs 11:30
Instead of a church spending millions of dollars for a fancy stage, lighting, and a bigger building, they could use that money to equip believers for evangelism, care for the needs of the poor, allocate resources to believers(ie:Bibles, tracts, courses, etc) to reach the lost.
To those churches who preach a false gospel, have no business preaching at all......Until they get spiritually right with the Lord. To those churches who have a sound doctrine of salvation and yet do not make it a point to share it, should seriously reconsider what they are doing for the kingdom of God! May this be an encouragement to believers, that we may wake up and reach souls for Christ. Even if YOUR church doesn't do it, you can be the one to initiate it! God bless, I do pray for CC that we would be a shining light to the world(Matthew 5:13-16) and that we would be united in TRUTH and not in worldly philosophy/error(Ephesians 5:11, 2 John 9-11, Romans 12:9, Romans 16:17).
1) Many churches are preaching a false gospel(wont emphasize it here in this thread, already have one that speaks of the gospel and one of what repentance means)
2)Many churches preach to their congregation about how they need to give more money to the church. It's become more of a business meeting.
3)Many churches do not EMPHASIZE soul-winning. Instead they prop up their church like entertainment and spend millions of dollars on the latest technology to bring lost sinners in. But they dare not offend them, and preach a watered down gospel without the law.(Galatians 3:24)
"But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:" Matthew 6:20
As a personal testimony, I have had a very hard time connecting to local churches when I was in the States because their messages were mostly about giving money to the church, and feel-good sermons about how I should prosper in life(ie:material wealth and happiness)...I've gone to churches where their WHOLE service was reading the budget report for bigger buildings YET one half the pews were empty! Any person with some sense would say, "go reach the lost in the neighborhood and fill up those pews first, then talk about expanding, if you are to expand at all").
Where are the churches today that preach boldly against sin? Too afraid to offend the community around them, they would rather dress up all churchy, go to their services then go back out into their community and not reach anyone for Christ. What was the Great Commission again?(see Matthew 28:18-20). We were commanded to preach the gospel and to make disciples!
"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15
"How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" Romans 10:14
"For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" 1 Corinthians 9:16
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ." 1 Peter 3:15-16
The Word clearly asks the very logical question, "how shall they believe in him of whom they HAVE NOT heard"? "How shall they hear without a preacher?"....These questions ought to be addressed by the Christian church today. I hear a lot of preaching about wealth and material goods, and not much on WISDOM and things of ETERNAL value. You can have ALL the knowledge of the Bible and still be unwise. Keeping it all inside is exactly what the devil loves.....But here is what wisdom produces:
"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise." Proverbs 11:30
Instead of a church spending millions of dollars for a fancy stage, lighting, and a bigger building, they could use that money to equip believers for evangelism, care for the needs of the poor, allocate resources to believers(ie:Bibles, tracts, courses, etc) to reach the lost.
To those churches who preach a false gospel, have no business preaching at all......Until they get spiritually right with the Lord. To those churches who have a sound doctrine of salvation and yet do not make it a point to share it, should seriously reconsider what they are doing for the kingdom of God! May this be an encouragement to believers, that we may wake up and reach souls for Christ. Even if YOUR church doesn't do it, you can be the one to initiate it! God bless, I do pray for CC that we would be a shining light to the world(Matthew 5:13-16) and that we would be united in TRUTH and not in worldly philosophy/error(Ephesians 5:11, 2 John 9-11, Romans 12:9, Romans 16:17).
