The Church Needs an Upgrade

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Butterflyyy

Well-known member
Oct 31, 2019
1,615
1,318
113
The Church is a bunch of people and the upgrade needed is the anointing of the Holy Spirit which we are to always be filled with.
Holiness exalts a nation.
Amen
 
G

Gojira

Guest
What would an “Upgrade” of Church be to you?......:unsure::love:(y)
Well, I've church-hopped, and I have seen another problem: Spiritual sickness.

One pastor said that Genesis ought not to be interpreted as it was written. There's no way plant life could be sustained before the sun was created, and we look stupid to the world saying otherwise. I.e., the word of God cannot be His actual word.

In another church, one who's campus looked like a shopping mall, the worship was essentially a rock concert, complete with a fogged sanctuary to highlight the beams of light swinging around the auditorium... the "sermon" was a secular one on mental illness, with about the last 20% of it or so mentioning Jesus.. and 6 or 7 of the women there were dressed -- how shall I put this -- in an immodest fashion. Carnal all day long.

I've seen churches hanging gay pride flags. I've heard pastors defend abortion as a human right. I saw a church website in which a photo of the worship session highlighted a man dressed as a woman.

The problem, as I see it, is Satan being allowed to water us down, taking away our saltiness and our light. Salt was used as a preservative, and without it, the food rots. Well, America's rotting, and it seems that's because another great awakening is needed within the Body of Christ here.
 

HealthAndHappiness

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2022
10,294
4,340
113
Almost Heaven West Virginia
Well, I've church-hopped, and I have seen another problem: Spiritual sickness.

One pastor said that Genesis ought not to be interpreted as it was written. There's no way plant life could be sustained before the sun was created, and we look stupid to the world saying otherwise. I.e., the word of God cannot be His actual word.

In another church, one who's campus looked like a shopping mall, the worship was essentially a rock concert, complete with a fogged sanctuary to highlight the beams of light swinging around the auditorium... the "sermon" was a secular one on mental illness, with about the last 20% of it or so mentioning Jesus.. and 6 or 7 of the women there were dressed -- how shall I put this -- in an immodest fashion. Carnal all day long.

I've seen churches hanging gay pride flags. I've heard pastors defend abortion as a human right. I saw a church website in which a photo of the worship session highlighted a man dressed as a woman.

The problem, as I see it, is Satan being allowed to water us down, taking away our saltiness and our light. Salt was used as a preservative, and without it, the food rots. Well, America's rotting, and it seems that's because another great awakening is needed within the Body of Christ here.
I know what you mean.
Here's a sermon on that subject from a Baptist church in your state. Just let me know if you want any more.

https://www.kjv1611only.com/video/0...Church_Of_Liberalism_The_Libtard_Religion.mp4
 
G

Gojira

Guest

HealthAndHappiness

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2022
10,294
4,340
113
Almost Heaven West Virginia
He doesn't really address the fallenness of the Church. He criticizes its stance on treating the homeless, but its backslidden state he does not address.

Thanks for the link though :)
Sure.
I think it's because he holds to a perspective that there are many individual churches as opposed to "the church." Ie. Revelation 1-3

I see an apostasy all over the world. The vast majority of churches don't even have saved pastors. I led a large singles group that many from othér churches also attended. Most that I had the opportunity to witness to were not saved. An evil tree produces like fruit.
A good tree produces good fruit.
The church who leads others to Christ will grow with those, even though there will be occasional Judas'.

Those assemblies that display Pride and who's pastors don't believe the Bible aren't even believers. I've heard lot's of TV preachers refer to those as part of their collective view of the universal church. Don't trust them. They fill my nearby city and countrysides too. They aren't even in the family of God.

It might take some serious looking, but I'm of the opinion that you will find decent churches in any large city. Just have a list of what constitutes a true Bible believing Church, ask God for direction, seek and you will find. I will pray with you now that you will find a true Gospel preaching church that is not apostate, where you can grow in the Lord.
 
G

Gojira

Guest
Sure.
I think it's because he holds to a perspective that there are many individual churches as opposed to "the church." Ie. Revelation 1-3

I see an apostasy all over the world. The vast majority of churches don't even have saved pastors. I led a large singles group that many from othér churches also attended. Most that I had the opportunity to witness to were not saved. An evil tree produces like fruit.
A good tree produces good fruit.
The church who leads others to Christ will grow with those, even though there will be occasional Judas'.

Those assemblies that display Pride and who's pastors don't believe the Bible aren't even believers. I've heard lot's of TV preachers refer to those as part of their collective view of the universal church. Don't trust them. They fill my nearby city and countrysides too. They aren't even in the family of God.

It might take some serious looking, but I'm of the opinion that you will find decent churches in any large city. Just have a list of what constitutes a true Bible believing Church, ask God for direction, seek and you will find. I will pray with you now that you will find a true Gospel preaching church that is not apostate, where you can grow in the Lord.
Well, right now I'm attending one that seems to have it together. I'm going to give it a shot for a while and see what happens. I already like the head pastor.

Re: Unsaved pastors, I used to work for one. Well, in my opinion he was (is?) not saved. The report about his character from his wife before she died was not good, and in working under him I saw someone who was less than honest with a tyrannical streak.
 
G

Gojira

Guest

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
60,291
29,560
113
One pastor said that Genesis ought not to be interpreted as it was written. There's no way plant life could be sustained before
the sun was created, and we look stupid to the world saying otherwise. I.e., the word of God cannot be His actual word.
That's like saying God is powerless to sustain His creation unless He subjects Him Self to the laws He created :censored:
 

HealthAndHappiness

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2022
10,294
4,340
113
Almost Heaven West Virginia
And, by the way, I like animals :D A lot. I don't think they have no value. I do however agree that they have less value than humans, and I don't worship at the altar of nature. But, that doesn't completely negate animals' value.
I'm glad you found a good church. Pastors shouldn't mind questions. I would not hesitate to ask him if you have any.

About the animals comment...
You're probably referring to the 18 minute +/- mark about Able's sacrifice. In my perspective, there's a broad view about animals than how he put it. There are important differences behind Cain and Abel's sacrifices. I'm happy to explain why God wouldn't accept one , but the other if you want.
Animals were certainly meant for many reasons.
Sacrifices were one. That was never meant to be a sanitized gentle thing since it pointed to what our Savior went through in shedding His blood in our place for sins. However, they weren't commanded to torture them on a cross. They're death showed the covering and substitution for sins. They cost a lot and so much more was the cost of Jesus'life. The sacrifices were a serious matter and not an empty ritual. I think that was demonstrated too.

There are many other reasons why animals were created Food, clothing, shelter, medicine, tools, pets/ companionship, labor, beauty, protection, education, Bible illustrations, transportation and probably more. I'm reminded of the Proverb,

"A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel."

God does want us to treat our animals properly and humanely.
 
G

Gojira

Guest
That's like saying God is powerless to sustain His creation unless He subjects Him Self to the laws He created :censored:
Among a whoooollle lot of other things. Who does this guy think he is? I feel like quoting Job... Were you there when God laid the foundations of the earth?!?
 
G

Gojira

Guest
I'm glad you found a good church. Pastors shouldn't mind questions. I would not hesitate to ask him if you have any.

About the animals comment...
You're probably referring to the 18 minute +/- mark about Able's sacrifice. In my perspective, there's a broad view about animals than how he put it. There are important differences behind Cain and Abel's sacrifices. I'm happy to explain why God wouldn't accept one , but the other if you want.
Animals were certainly meant for many reasons.
Sacrifices were one. That was never meant to be a sanitized gentle thing since it pointed to what our Savior went through in shedding His blood in our place for sins. However, they weren't commanded to torture them on a cross. They're death showed the covering and substitution for sins. They cost a lot and so much more was the cost of Jesus'life. The sacrifices were a serious matter and not an empty ritual. I think that was demonstrated too.

There are many other reasons why animals were created Food, clothing, shelter, medicine, tools, pets/ companionship, labor, beauty, protection, education, Bible illustrations, transportation and probably more. I'm reminded of the Proverb,

"A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel."

God does want us to treat our animals properly and humanely.
No... you see, my problem was when he said that animals have no value or do not count. He said something to that effect more than once. So I feel like asking him, "So, there'd be no moral dilemma for me to take 6-week old puppy and throw it into the street in front of oncoming traffic, correct? After all, he doesn't count."

Look... if we, being sinners, can love animals, how much more does God care about them? He even mentioned them when He was about to wipe out Nineveh.
 

Lafftur

Senior Member
Apr 18, 2017
6,895
3,634
113
No murmuring or complaining allowed in the wilderness….

We need lots of God’s looove and lots of God’s Word and lots of God’s Holy Spirit….
a total God Tsunami for the Church on the Earth right now!


REVIVAL!!! Lord of The Harvest, send REVIVAL to every continent, every Nation, every State, every City, every Province, every Tribe, Kindred, Tongue and all people all over the Earth, in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ, amen!
 
G

Gojira

Guest
No murmuring or complaining allowed in the wilderness….

We need lots of God’s looove and lots of God’s Word and lots of God’s Holy Spirit….
a total God Tsunami for the Church on the Earth right now!


REVIVAL!!! Lord of The Harvest, send REVIVAL to every continent, every Nation, every State, every City, every Province, every Tribe, Kindred, Tongue and all people all over the Earth, in the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ, amen!
I complained and I'll do it again! And, you can't stop me! :p
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
27,403
9,396
113
I know what you mean.
Here's a sermon on that subject from a Baptist church in your state. Just let me know if you want any more.

https://www.kjv1611only.com/video/0...Church_Of_Liberalism_The_Libtard_Religion.mp4
He lost me at "Libtard." I'm not even close to being a liberal, but if someone can't make his point without using frivolous insults I'm not going to listen to his point. If he has a good point to make it should be able to stand on its own without "Libtard."
 
Mar 4, 2020
8,614
3,691
113
God said let there be light. Couldn’t that source of light been enough for the plants?
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
27,403
9,396
113
God said let there be light. Couldn’t that source of light been enough for the plants?
"I'm so old that when God said let there be light, I was there to flip the switch."
 

HealthAndHappiness

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2022
10,294
4,340
113
Almost Heaven West Virginia
He lost me at "Libtard." I'm not even close to being a liberal, but if someone can't make his point without using frivolous insults I'm not going to listen to his point. If he has a good point to make it should be able to stand on its own without "Libtard."
I know it's not for everyone. It happened to address a question that Zilla had and point he made.

Sure it was an insult Lynx. How is it "frivolous?"
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that a good case was made for insulting liberal preachers to an assembly of believers.
The first sentence is , "the title of my message is the church of liberalism or the liberal religion.". What's the problem?
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
27,403
9,396
113
I know it's not for everyone. It happened to address a question that Zilla had and point he made.

Sure it was an insult Lynx. How is it "frivolous?"
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think that a good case was made for insulting liberal preachers to an assembly of believers.
The first sentence is , "the title of my message is the church of liberalism or the liberal religion.". What's the problem?
I'm accustomed to hearing "Libtard" come from certain people (not you) on an internet forum, not from a pulpit. It's like calling some people "ragheads" because they wear turbans and you don't like them buying up businesses in your neighborhood... which I have heard people say, and for that reason.

Besides it's a lazy insult. It's something you grab when you want to disparage a group but don't want to think too much about it. If he wanted to put down liberals he could at least have used a better insult.

Brian Sack was on a TV show one time back when McCain was running for president and referred to mindless followers of McCain as "McCainicles." Now THAT was an intelligent insult. They mechanically followed McCain's every statement.
 

HealthAndHappiness

Well-known member
Jul 7, 2022
10,294
4,340
113
Almost Heaven West Virginia
I don't like that term either, but it was what someone posted as the title address on a website with a collection of his sermons. The real title was announced in the first 5 seconds of the sermon that I quoted.
 

Lynx

Folksy yet erudite
Aug 13, 2014
27,403
9,396
113
I ignored it when I saw it posted in the link. He lost me when he used the word in his sermon.