I have seen many threads pointing to the church as dysfunctional, rude, and unscriptural. If we can see it what do you think the onlookers see?
We need to be bold in the faith willing to be rebuked for our convictions. Judgement begins in the house of the Lord.
If our hearts are true to the Lord then what have we to fear?
Bold yet humble in our asking of why is this or that. If we should stand corrected then praise God for we have gained more understanding of the truth.
If we are heard by the leadership and they stand corrected and repent then we know that that body truly wants God's will to be done.
If they give no sound doctrine or scriptures to your claim in question ........then pray the Lord for discernment.
But what it takes and will always take is a bold stand for the Lord.
Nobody likes confrontation but God hates a murmurer.
Outstanding post. I could actually get somewhere in this world if we were working together. But one man on his own in the middle of a church, as a guest . . . now that get's interesting.
On one occasion, I made it known that I didn't appreciate how teenage girls that were dressed exactly like strippers (yes, I once frequented them), were showing their flesh in the skimpiest of summer clothing, as they served the bread and juice for communion! It was shocking how attractive they were . . . a man's dream!
After the service, when I first suggested this issue to a member, he thought I was being funny. But, he soon noticed that he was the only one smiling. I repeated myself, which was that perhaps everyone was so engrossed with the half-naked girls, perhaps explaining why I stood in his church for twenty minutes before he (the first and only person) recognized me and decided to say hello. Again, I was a first-time guest.
He took two short steps, got about four inches away from my face, put his fingers in my chest and began to quietly let me have it (as he looked up at me). Very quietly, I told him, "You need to back up." He said, "What?" I said, "You need to take your fingers out of my chest and back up right now."
Years ago I stated that I may very well be killed by said "christians" in today's modern "system." I'm still willing to do just that for the simple name of Jesus. Oddly, no one has ever wanted to join me.
Our church is in a very deep, deep sleep . . . and they don't even know it. The "church" system THINKS it knows what it's doing. They THINK they they're awake and making their own logical decisions and conclusions . . . but they're in a deep, deep sleep.
And while the below passages are meant for the Jews, these passages 100% apply to the "modern-day" church exactly as it is.
Romans 11:7-11 NLT - "So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly. A few have--the ones God has chosen--but the hearts of the rest were hardened. As the Scriptures say, "God has put them into a deep sleep. To this day he has shut their eyes so they do not see, and closed their ears so they do not hear." Likewise, David said, "Let their bountiful table become a snare, a trap that makes them think all is well. Let their blessings cause them to stumble, and let them get what they deserve. Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see, and let their backs be bent forever." Did God's people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves."
Is anyone willing to die tonight, right now, for Christ and His name? I am 100% ready.