I have been emailing Cxjonz and through our conversation he has suggested we open the discussion publicly and that I begin with my own words. Here they are.
I have traveled to nearly all 50 states. I have lived in 7 of them, literally east to west, north to south. Jesus has always been my guide. Anyone who knows any bit of my testimony should see that. I have been to more churches than I can count. I never pass up a chance to speak to anyone about Jesus, I love it when mormons and Jehovah's witnesses knock on my door, I will put coffee on. On a Sunday depending where I am I will attend ANY church that professes Jesus. Even if their teachings are wrong I will do so just for the people who are there genuinely seeking Christ even if they are mislead. Even when I haven't detected any, there are still children playing among the chairs, it's still an enjoyable Sunday. Then the morning carries on.
In all of my journeys I have been disappointed by the ceremonies, the teachings and the clergy nearly every single time. I know that churches aren't perfect and I'm not going around trying to judge, however nearly every time it seems that God puts me their at their worst. Here are just 3 examples.
In Dallas I was in a church and half way through the sermon the pastor say's "And nobody REALLY knows if God exists." I nearly jumped from my seat and assured the congregation with bewildered eyes, but I retained composure and I raised my hand immediately. The pastors face flushed and he spoke harshly "QUESTIONS CAN WAIT TIL AFTER THE SERVICE SIR!" i rose immediately and walked out, reading my bible on some stairs waiting for the friends who brought me.
Here in Austin, I attended a church for the first time with a very dear friend of mine and we drove around ready for any random church. We went in and listened to an hour of very long explanations and examples like " if you order a latte at mcdonalds with extra sugar and they add cream they messed up your order. Because you asked precisely for one thing. After an hour he said "I told you all of that so you would understand why we don't use instruments to worship God." I looked at my friend "want to leave?" He said "yes" and we rose up and left.
(how many first time church goers might have been there that day, seeking to find the truth and heard that blabber?)
Bastrop, Texas, I went into a church with my friends, at this point nearly all of my friends and their families went there. I was surprised. There were so many different families of people I knew seated in different areas that I just stood against the wall in the back, not knowing who to sit with and also curious about the church. There were ushers standing and of course people coming in and out. Nobody had a problem with me leaning against the wall. After about 45 minutes a woman approached me "sir at this point in the service the pastor asks that everyone is seated." She was very stern and wouldn't accept no for an answer so I walked about 15 feet away where there were portable steps for the stage against the wall. I sat down and she just stood there glaring at me. The pastors demeanor changed, he suddenly for the first time had great energy in the Holy Spirit. He started getting hyped and hyping up the crowd. Huge amounts of energy and faith and the crowd began roaring. I saw it for what it was. I thought "don't do it, don't you dare do this and then ask for money.) he did. I felt a heat growing in my chest and sure enough he played the crowd like an instrument and at the pinnacle of his performance the ushers materialized on the ends of the rows and envelopes were passed out. He then had everyone raise their envelopes over their heads and pray that their money would go where God wanted it. I was disgusted.
But churches truly led by God DO EXIST and this is one of the few examples of that.
I was in Longview, Washington and I went wandering for a church, I found only a Mormon church so I went in. There were some lovely people there, the room was boring and they didn't speak with any zeal bout Jesus, it was very officelike, but there were kids playing among the chairs and I got my fill of pleasant. After the service they branched in to classrooms and I just left. I wandered down the road and then I heard music floating over the rooftops and I began walking that way. A couple miles away was a small lake in the middle of the urban area and there was a little festival happening. There was a stage along the water and a man speaking to the crowd about Jesus he said "I don't want you to hear me, if I do my job correctly I will disappear and there will only be Jesus' words. He spoke with love and passion and I stood there for 30-45 minutes loving his service. People who had been buying scones were attracted by the crowd and at the end 3 thugs, all tatted up in ganster clothing were saying the salvation prayer in front of the stage YELLING THE WORDS TO THE SKY!! AMEN!!
That, however is a SUPER RARE story, here is the real world we live in.
The television preachers. Pastor Peter Popoff, "buy some Holy water!", Joel O'steen "I say wear your blessings well." Christians are condoning homosexuality like it's not a sin. I don't pass judgement God does, but His Word is His Word, we WILL be held responsible if we tell someone it's okay to do something that will lead to their eternal destruction.
Needless to say it is a narrow road that leads to salvation and a wide road that leads to destruction. As Cxjonz said "there is a church on every corner" Clearly the majority of "churches" are being deceived. Again, that is just from the Bible, my travels and what is made public.
I do believe that there are churches out there that are led by Jesus. Let me rephrase that "I KNOW" there are churches out there of which Jesus is the head and doing a work in."
Here is a call to the church by a real preacher.
David Wilkerson - Anguish - YouTube
Cxjons- the discussion continues.
I have traveled to nearly all 50 states. I have lived in 7 of them, literally east to west, north to south. Jesus has always been my guide. Anyone who knows any bit of my testimony should see that. I have been to more churches than I can count. I never pass up a chance to speak to anyone about Jesus, I love it when mormons and Jehovah's witnesses knock on my door, I will put coffee on. On a Sunday depending where I am I will attend ANY church that professes Jesus. Even if their teachings are wrong I will do so just for the people who are there genuinely seeking Christ even if they are mislead. Even when I haven't detected any, there are still children playing among the chairs, it's still an enjoyable Sunday. Then the morning carries on.
In all of my journeys I have been disappointed by the ceremonies, the teachings and the clergy nearly every single time. I know that churches aren't perfect and I'm not going around trying to judge, however nearly every time it seems that God puts me their at their worst. Here are just 3 examples.
In Dallas I was in a church and half way through the sermon the pastor say's "And nobody REALLY knows if God exists." I nearly jumped from my seat and assured the congregation with bewildered eyes, but I retained composure and I raised my hand immediately. The pastors face flushed and he spoke harshly "QUESTIONS CAN WAIT TIL AFTER THE SERVICE SIR!" i rose immediately and walked out, reading my bible on some stairs waiting for the friends who brought me.
Here in Austin, I attended a church for the first time with a very dear friend of mine and we drove around ready for any random church. We went in and listened to an hour of very long explanations and examples like " if you order a latte at mcdonalds with extra sugar and they add cream they messed up your order. Because you asked precisely for one thing. After an hour he said "I told you all of that so you would understand why we don't use instruments to worship God." I looked at my friend "want to leave?" He said "yes" and we rose up and left.
(how many first time church goers might have been there that day, seeking to find the truth and heard that blabber?)
Bastrop, Texas, I went into a church with my friends, at this point nearly all of my friends and their families went there. I was surprised. There were so many different families of people I knew seated in different areas that I just stood against the wall in the back, not knowing who to sit with and also curious about the church. There were ushers standing and of course people coming in and out. Nobody had a problem with me leaning against the wall. After about 45 minutes a woman approached me "sir at this point in the service the pastor asks that everyone is seated." She was very stern and wouldn't accept no for an answer so I walked about 15 feet away where there were portable steps for the stage against the wall. I sat down and she just stood there glaring at me. The pastors demeanor changed, he suddenly for the first time had great energy in the Holy Spirit. He started getting hyped and hyping up the crowd. Huge amounts of energy and faith and the crowd began roaring. I saw it for what it was. I thought "don't do it, don't you dare do this and then ask for money.) he did. I felt a heat growing in my chest and sure enough he played the crowd like an instrument and at the pinnacle of his performance the ushers materialized on the ends of the rows and envelopes were passed out. He then had everyone raise their envelopes over their heads and pray that their money would go where God wanted it. I was disgusted.
But churches truly led by God DO EXIST and this is one of the few examples of that.
I was in Longview, Washington and I went wandering for a church, I found only a Mormon church so I went in. There were some lovely people there, the room was boring and they didn't speak with any zeal bout Jesus, it was very officelike, but there were kids playing among the chairs and I got my fill of pleasant. After the service they branched in to classrooms and I just left. I wandered down the road and then I heard music floating over the rooftops and I began walking that way. A couple miles away was a small lake in the middle of the urban area and there was a little festival happening. There was a stage along the water and a man speaking to the crowd about Jesus he said "I don't want you to hear me, if I do my job correctly I will disappear and there will only be Jesus' words. He spoke with love and passion and I stood there for 30-45 minutes loving his service. People who had been buying scones were attracted by the crowd and at the end 3 thugs, all tatted up in ganster clothing were saying the salvation prayer in front of the stage YELLING THE WORDS TO THE SKY!! AMEN!!
That, however is a SUPER RARE story, here is the real world we live in.
The television preachers. Pastor Peter Popoff, "buy some Holy water!", Joel O'steen "I say wear your blessings well." Christians are condoning homosexuality like it's not a sin. I don't pass judgement God does, but His Word is His Word, we WILL be held responsible if we tell someone it's okay to do something that will lead to their eternal destruction.
Needless to say it is a narrow road that leads to salvation and a wide road that leads to destruction. As Cxjonz said "there is a church on every corner" Clearly the majority of "churches" are being deceived. Again, that is just from the Bible, my travels and what is made public.
I do believe that there are churches out there that are led by Jesus. Let me rephrase that "I KNOW" there are churches out there of which Jesus is the head and doing a work in."
Here is a call to the church by a real preacher.
David Wilkerson - Anguish - YouTube
Cxjons- the discussion continues.
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