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American Churches - How diverse are they?
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I'm aware of what Jesus said about "a falling away," and I know it will happen............but Jesus saying what will occur and your making the declaration that it has already happened are two different things in my opinion.
The churches I have attended, and worshiped/fellowshipped with have not fallen away and have not become a joke.......
No, I haven't been in the "majority" of church congregations in the US, but then neither have you................which is why I stated you were exaggerating in your conclusion.............
Will there be a falling away? Yes. Jesus said there would be.
The churches I have attended, and worshiped/fellowshipped with have not fallen away and have not become a joke.......
No, I haven't been in the "majority" of church congregations in the US, but then neither have you................which is why I stated you were exaggerating in your conclusion.............
Will there be a falling away? Yes. Jesus said there would be.
K
kennethcadwell
Guest
Yes and this is what I have been trying to convey all along.
Some of these were rooted in truth, but now are being carried away to false teaching.
Telling people all sins are covered, as in past, present, and future so you only have to repent once. But if future sins are covered to, why is there so many warnings in the bible about not turning back to willful sin ?
Then doing like you said making all sins acceptable.
Then the worse thing they are even doing now is tell people that our Lord Jesus is not the only way to heaven.
The new age religion that Oprah is apart of.
Some of these were rooted in truth, but now are being carried away to false teaching.
Telling people all sins are covered, as in past, present, and future so you only have to repent once. But if future sins are covered to, why is there so many warnings in the bible about not turning back to willful sin ?
Then doing like you said making all sins acceptable.
Then the worse thing they are even doing now is tell people that our Lord Jesus is not the only way to heaven.
The new age religion that Oprah is apart of.
Well sorry...you fail to take into account the following....
1. I have relatives in numerous so called Christian religions.
2. I have friends who pastor churches in about 20 states and 10-12 countries around the world.
3. I have numerous friends that attend numerous other so called Christian religions
4. I watch the news and see what so called Christian religions are embracing
5. I read the paper and see what so called Christian religions are doing
and my conclusions are sound.....the word majority does not mean ALL....so again I will say...take the rose colored glasses off Paul.....
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John the Baptist, Jesus and others taught to be CONTINUALLY repenting of sin and this truth is found in the Present Active Indicative Form of the Verb that does not get translated very well in ENGLISH...(ing) is what it means as in....be repent(ing)<--most over look this truth!
K
kennethcadwell
Guest
Yeah I grew up mainly in the 80's when the churches taught two main philosophies:
1) A watered down version of the gospel ( Teaching only mere belief, and not the rest that Jesus said to be saved. )
2) Condemnation gospel ( If you don't do this or that, you go to hell )
When I finally sat down and studied the bible, instead of taking a preachers word for it, I saw through the lies that both sides taught.
There was a major wake up call to the churches back in the early 2000's against these two teaching, and for the truth to be taught. Some churches did wake up and go back to the truth, but now they are falling away again and a very fast pace.
1) A watered down version of the gospel ( Teaching only mere belief, and not the rest that Jesus said to be saved. )
2) Condemnation gospel ( If you don't do this or that, you go to hell )
When I finally sat down and studied the bible, instead of taking a preachers word for it, I saw through the lies that both sides taught.
There was a major wake up call to the churches back in the early 2000's against these two teaching, and for the truth to be taught. Some churches did wake up and go back to the truth, but now they are falling away again and a very fast pace.
I'm sorry, but I'll have to dig up the Beatles and dedicate it to this thread...
"Eleanor Rigby"
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been
Lives in a dream
Waits at the window, wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door
Who is it for?
All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?
Father McKenzie writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear
No one comes near
Look at him working, darning his socks in the night when there's nobody there
What does he care?
All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Eleanor Rigby died in the church and was buried along with her name
Nobody came
Father McKenzie wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave
No one was saved
All the lonely people (Ah, look at all the lonely people)
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people (Ah, look at all the lonely people)
Where do they all belong?
"Eleanor Rigby"
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice in the church where a wedding has been
Lives in a dream
Waits at the window, wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door
Who is it for?
All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?
Father McKenzie writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear
No one comes near
Look at him working, darning his socks in the night when there's nobody there
What does he care?
All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Ah, look at all the lonely people
Eleanor Rigby died in the church and was buried along with her name
Nobody came
Father McKenzie wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave
No one was saved
All the lonely people (Ah, look at all the lonely people)
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people (Ah, look at all the lonely people)
Where do they all belong?
QUOTED:
Well sorry...you fail to take into account the following....
1. I have relatives in numerous so called Christian religions.
2. I have friends who pastor churches in about 20 states and 10-12 countries around the world.
3. I have numerous friends that attend numerous other so called Christian religions
4. I watch the news and see what so called Christian religions are embracing
5. I read the paper and see what so called Christian religions are doing
and my conclusions are sound.....the word majority does not mean ALL....so again I will say...take the rose colored glasses off Paul.....
END QUOTATION.......
Is this Rose colored? Hmmmm.......This may be too reddish........what about this? Nah, too dark......sigh......
Please give me a detailed list to verify your conclusive study of "so called Christian churches." Thanks.......
Actual numbers...........There are thousands of churches in the State of Alabama alone........to say majority would mean you have conclusive knowledge of over half of those....... Good luck............
And none of this concerns what Jesus said.........surely there will be a "falling away," But if folks believe it WILL ONLY be those who are part of a congregation, then they are sorely mistaken.........more than likely, those who do not fellowship with other believers are in the most danger of falling away in my opinion.......no, wait, as long as we are running with rampant speculation, let me assert......
The majority of folks who isolate themselves from congregational worship will be the first to fall away into damnation.
can't figure out if this is more peach or rose........sigh........
Well sorry...you fail to take into account the following....
1. I have relatives in numerous so called Christian religions.
2. I have friends who pastor churches in about 20 states and 10-12 countries around the world.
3. I have numerous friends that attend numerous other so called Christian religions
4. I watch the news and see what so called Christian religions are embracing
5. I read the paper and see what so called Christian religions are doing
and my conclusions are sound.....the word majority does not mean ALL....so again I will say...take the rose colored glasses off Paul.....
END QUOTATION.......
Is this Rose colored? Hmmmm.......This may be too reddish........what about this? Nah, too dark......sigh......
Please give me a detailed list to verify your conclusive study of "so called Christian churches." Thanks.......
Actual numbers...........There are thousands of churches in the State of Alabama alone........to say majority would mean you have conclusive knowledge of over half of those....... Good luck............
And none of this concerns what Jesus said.........surely there will be a "falling away," But if folks believe it WILL ONLY be those who are part of a congregation, then they are sorely mistaken.........more than likely, those who do not fellowship with other believers are in the most danger of falling away in my opinion.......no, wait, as long as we are running with rampant speculation, let me assert......
The majority of folks who isolate themselves from congregational worship will be the first to fall away into damnation.
can't figure out if this is more peach or rose........sigh........
DC, I'm starting to love you my friend. Only a blind man would fail to see the depraved condition of the local ekklesia. A mantle is over the hearts of many, blinding them to NT truths. Servant hood folks. Humility and humbleness. Dinosaurs they are, lost in the compost of twisted church history. Today it's all about 'king of the mountain'. Who can climb that self interest ministry ladder the fastest.
Nehemiah 9:29-30 'and testified against them, that thou might bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt PROUDLY and heartened NOT unto thy commandments.......yet many years did thou forbear them, and testified against them by thy Spirit in thy prophets: yet they would NOT give ear: therefore gave thou them into the hands of the people of the lands.....'
In other words even unto today, the church will not heed sound doctrine or the cry of a few against the lies and falsehoods that are propagated by FALSE Teachers, prophets, apostles, and shepherds(pastors).
God has turned the deceived over to the influences of an evil world system. Mixture is now accepted. The worlds power grabs and arrogance now rule the church system. Corporations with highly paid CEO'S ......welcome to the church. The wolves have raided the hen house and the hens are snoring away. Obliviousness has left the ekklesia with untrimmed wicks and a half level of oil.
Jesus stands at the door knocking away while the pews are full of sound asleep saints who hear nothing. The bridegroom is about to return and catch away a remnant. The despised and rejected. Those who have been booted out of the church house for water and oil cannot mix. Light and darkness cannot walk hand in hand.
Accept two agree how can they walk together? Can't.
How can the humble abide with the self exalted? Can't.
How can the servant work with those that would be kings? Can't.
How can the saint that follows His precepts live with those that follow pagan precepts? Can't.
How can the puffed up accept the lowly? Can't.
How can the greedy mammon lovers not despise those that hate filthy lucre? Can't.
How can the false hierarchy allow the Holy Spirit anointed servant to use his gift? Can't.
So if you tell me 'you really need to go to church Devon'. My simple answer. 'Cant'. Wake me up when you get there!
Nehemiah 9:29-30 'and testified against them, that thou might bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt PROUDLY and heartened NOT unto thy commandments.......yet many years did thou forbear them, and testified against them by thy Spirit in thy prophets: yet they would NOT give ear: therefore gave thou them into the hands of the people of the lands.....'
In other words even unto today, the church will not heed sound doctrine or the cry of a few against the lies and falsehoods that are propagated by FALSE Teachers, prophets, apostles, and shepherds(pastors).
God has turned the deceived over to the influences of an evil world system. Mixture is now accepted. The worlds power grabs and arrogance now rule the church system. Corporations with highly paid CEO'S ......welcome to the church. The wolves have raided the hen house and the hens are snoring away. Obliviousness has left the ekklesia with untrimmed wicks and a half level of oil.
Jesus stands at the door knocking away while the pews are full of sound asleep saints who hear nothing. The bridegroom is about to return and catch away a remnant. The despised and rejected. Those who have been booted out of the church house for water and oil cannot mix. Light and darkness cannot walk hand in hand.
Accept two agree how can they walk together? Can't.
How can the humble abide with the self exalted? Can't.
How can the servant work with those that would be kings? Can't.
How can the saint that follows His precepts live with those that follow pagan precepts? Can't.
How can the puffed up accept the lowly? Can't.
How can the greedy mammon lovers not despise those that hate filthy lucre? Can't.
How can the false hierarchy allow the Holy Spirit anointed servant to use his gift? Can't.
So if you tell me 'you really need to go to church Devon'. My simple answer. 'Cant'. Wake me up when you get there!
QUOTED:
Well sorry...you fail to take into account the following....
1. I have relatives in numerous so called Christian religions.
2. I have friends who pastor churches in about 20 states and 10-12 countries around the world.
3. I have numerous friends that attend numerous other so called Christian religions
4. I watch the news and see what so called Christian religions are embracing
5. I read the paper and see what so called Christian religions are doing
and my conclusions are sound.....the word majority does not mean ALL....so again I will say...take the rose colored glasses off Paul.....
END QUOTATION.......
Is this Rose colored? Hmmmm.......This may be too reddish........what about this? Nah, too dark......sigh......
Please give me a detailed list to verify your conclusive study of "so called Christian churches." Thanks.......
Actual numbers...........There are thousands of churches in the State of Alabama alone........to say majority would mean you have conclusive knowledge of over half of those....... Good luck............
And none of this concerns what Jesus said.........surely there will be a "falling away," But if folks believe it WILL ONLY be those who are part of a congregation, then they are sorely mistaken.........more than likely, those who do not fellowship with other believers are in the most danger of falling away in my opinion.......no, wait, as long as we are running with rampant speculation, let me assert......
The majority of folks who isolate themselves from congregational worship will be the first to fall away into damnation.
can't figure out if this is more peach or rose........sigh........
No doubt and the majority of those churches follow a set doctrinal statement that has been given by said religions.....Your out of your mind if you think that the majority of so called churches are biblical and or are not falling away en masse brother!
I will pull a (Paul) on this one and go with what the bible predicts about the Lord's churches during the last days...they WILL and ARE falling away from the truth as we speak and if you choose to reject the truth and what is happening all over the world then go for it.....
A GREAT APOSTASY is predicted by the inspired PAUL and I will go with his words over the non-inspired Paul!
Yes the rose color is about right
What blows my mind is the simple truths that are rejected like the following...
1. The Lord's churches will be TURNED unto LIES and FABLES
2. The Lord's churches will APOSTATE from the truth
3. The Lord's churches will HIRE men who WILL Preach WHAT they want to HEAR...not what should be preached
Lets do the list again...
1. Substitution of the WORD with fun, games, and GIVE THE DOG A BONE MINISTRIES
2. Ordination of Gays and those not qualified to PASTOR
3. Chunking the truth in favor of a wishy washy love that denies truth to accept ecumenical co-habitation/association
4. The rejection of biblical truths for Johnny come lately heretical doctrines
5. Religious religion in favor of faith and biblical practices
5. The rejection of truth in favor of men's opinions and traditions
6. Win the lost AT ANY COST theologies
7. The commercialization of the Gospel and Jesus
8. The practice of Babylonian holy days that have been Christianized
etc. etc....
S
StoneThrower
Guest
Welcome back my friends to the show that nevers ends We're so glad you could attend Come inside! Come inside!
I guess this is what you do when the word of God isnt enough
[video=youtube;8jbBWs5RbjA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jbBWs5RbjA[/video]
S
StoneThrower
Guest
One of the many churches doing this on a Sunday morning I am sure God was higly exalted.
You should of heard the sermon that went with it!
[video=youtube;2vUt4pJgHZQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vUt4pJgHZQ[/video]
You should of heard the sermon that went with it!
[video=youtube;2vUt4pJgHZQ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vUt4pJgHZQ[/video]
What blows my mind is the simple truths that are rejected like the following...
1. The Lord's churches will be TURNED unto LIES and FABLES
2. The Lord's churches will APOSTATE from the truth
3. The Lord's churches will HIRE men who WILL Preach WHAT they want to HEAR...not what should be preached
Not for nothing Bro.......but IF you got THAT GUY "loving ya,"...........well..............'nuff said.........goodness
Originally Posted by Yet
DC, I'm starting to love you my friend.
BTW..................FYI.............GOD HAS ONLY ONE CHURCH........HIS CHURCH........
1. The Lord's churches will be TURNED unto LIES and FABLES
2. The Lord's churches will APOSTATE from the truth
3. The Lord's churches will HIRE men who WILL Preach WHAT they want to HEAR...not what should be preached
Not for nothing Bro.......but IF you got THAT GUY "loving ya,"...........well..............'nuff said.........goodness
Originally Posted by Yet
DC, I'm starting to love you my friend. BTW..................FYI.............GOD HAS ONLY ONE CHURCH........HIS CHURCH........
Appropriate accompanying song originally sung by Step-in-Wolf. (Born to be Wild).
I think the wolf stepped in alright.
Point of Clarification From Scripture:
Matthew 24:4) And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 .) For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6 .) And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 .) For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 .) All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 .) Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
10 .) And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 .) And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 .) And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13 .) But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
2[SUP]nd[/SUP] Thessalonians 2:1) Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 .) That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 .) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
JESUS SAID "many." He did not say "most" or "the majority." That is a significant point for me..........
PAUL said "except there come a falling away." No numerical reference in his Scripture.....That is a significant point for me.
God bless.........(ALL of ya)
Matthew 24:4) And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 .) For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6 .) And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 .) For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 .) All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 .) Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
10 .) And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 .) And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 .) And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13 .) But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
2[SUP]nd[/SUP] Thessalonians 2:1) Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 .) That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 .) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
JESUS SAID "many." He did not say "most" or "the majority." That is a significant point for me..........
PAUL said "except there come a falling away." No numerical reference in his Scripture.....That is a significant point for me.
God bless.........(ALL of ya)
Point of Clarification From Scripture:
Matthew 24:4) And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 .) For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6 .) And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 .) For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 .) All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 .) Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
10 .) And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 .) And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 .) And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13 .) But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
2[SUP]nd[/SUP] Thessalonians 2:1) Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 .) That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 .) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
JESUS SAID "many." He did not say "most" or "the majority." That is a significant point for me..........
PAUL said "except there come a falling away." No numerical reference in his Scripture.....That is a significant point for me.
God bless.........(ALL of ya)
man·y
ˈmenē/
determiner, pronoun, & adjective
1.
a large number of.
"many people agreed with her"
synonyms: numerous, a great/good deal of, a lot of, plenty of, countless, innumerable, scores of, crowds of, droves of, an army of, a horde of, a multitude of, a multiplicity of, multitudinous, multiple, untold; several, various, sundry, diverse, assorted, multifarious; copious, abundant, profuse, an abundance of, a profusion of; informallots of, umpteen, loads of, masses of, stacks of, scads of, heaps of, piles of, bags of, tons of, oodles of, dozens of, hundreds of, thousands of, millions of, billions of, zillions of, gazillions of, bajillions of, a slew of, a boatload of, more —— than one can shake a stick at; literarymyriad, divers
"many animals were killed"
Don't let one visit to one church discourage you. There are many that are very welcoming. I do attend a conservative congregation, and we are welcoming. My congregation is also predominantly white, and we welcome people of all types.