I was brought up in a strict Lutheran home. I trusted my religion and believed in it with all my heart. However, I rarely read my Bible. I would just ask the Pastor if I had a question. There were so many things I didn't understand but all my life I was told to just have faith. I put my faith in a man not God. I never saw their error because I didn't know Jesus personally.
I faithfully went to church and did all the good things. When you are spiritually blinded you honestly can't see the truth even when someone tells you otherwise. It is only the power of the Holy Spirit that reveals the truth to you. I know, because I would defend infant baptism and the graven images (the crucifix on their altars) and confirmation every time. I often thought why aren't there more Bible verses on babies getting baptized or the practice of Confirmation? I was too proud to realize that I had my faith in a religion with man-made ideas. It didn't occur to me to think that I could be wrong.
The Holy Spirit planted a seed of doubt in my heart one night during a discussion with a visitor in my home. The discussion was on being 'born again'. I was taught that I was 'born again' at my infant baptism. This person proceeded to tell me that I wasn't 'born again' and my infant baptism wasn't even Biblical. Baptism (in Greek- baptizo) means 'to dip, immerse' never 'sprinkle or pour'. Also that baptism by immersion fits beautifully with Romans 6:4 "buried with Him by baptism". It was at that very moment that I felt doubt and I wanted to know the truth. How I praise God for giving me that doubt about my infant baptism as being unbiblical. It was the beginning of my search for my salvation in Christ.
I had to know and as Jesus said, "Seek and ye shall find..." So I searched for truth - I read and read my Bible for the next several months. I developed an incredible hunger for the Word that I'd never had before in my life. I not only realized I wasn't baptized but I wasn't saved either.
I had all this knowledge in my head about Jesus dying on the cross for the forgiveness of sins. I was taught that all I had to do was just believe, it is a free gift, you don't have to ask for it. How twisted! I had never truly repented in my life. I continued to sin because I figured I was forgiven anyway. God showed me that I was lost and taught me exactly what repentance really means. I had to stop doing what was wrong and hate it for what it was, SIN!
I always thought I was in control of my life. I suffered from pride and I was a hypocrite, saying I was a Christian but my works clearly brought shame to God... "Faith without works is dead", James 2:26. When I came to that point, I knelt down and prayed the most important prayer of my life. I knew I was lost and needed a Saviour. I surrendered my life to the Lord Jesus Christ and He set me free. It wasn't hard to change because once I knew Jesus personally everything else fell into place. I was 'born again' a new creature, "old things were passed away and ALL things had become new", 1 Cor. 5:17.
The Bible now seemed to open up to me. I could now understand it. My eyes were truly opened and it was so exciting. When Paul says that minds are blinded who do not know Christ, it is so true; 2 Cor. 3:14. The Bible doesn't say that your infant baptism is when you are born again. A baby doesn't have any knowledge of what's going on. A baby is already God' s child; Mat 19:14.
I had shed many tears in my search for truth. It was a difficult time for me trying to sift out what was right and wrong. It still is a daily walk of growing. No one can do it for me.
As I look back, I can now see how much I have grown closer to Jesus. I trust in Him for everything. If you are in a similar situation to mine ask Jesus to help you see the truth. Read His Word, the King James Bible, not the catechism. Don't fall for Satan's lies; he wants to keep you in a dead or lukewarm church. Jesus has warned us about what he thinks of such churches (Rev 3:14-22). When I confessed my sin to my Lord and asked Him to forgive me and to save me, I knew that Christ's shed blood on the Cross had paid my sin debt in full.
I wanted to be baptized knowing my infant baptism was a lie. I arranged for my baptism for the next available Sunday. This was the most beautiful day of my life. I felt so inwardly clean as I came up out of the water. In the book of Acts, I read there was never any delay in believers wanting to be baptized... Believers were baptized the same day they were converted to Christ. When Phillip was preaching to the Eunuch in Acts 8:26-39 he included baptism as part of his message because the Eunuch asked the moment he saw water if he could be baptized. I personally question if a person's faith is genuine if they don't obey Jesus. It was the first thing he commanded us to do. So if you confess that you are saved and are not baptized I ask you - Why not? There should be no delay! It's unbiblical! Jesus is coming soon. Do you want to stand before the Lord Jesus Christ and give a reason for why you aren't baptized, when you know He commands it? I wanted to be ready for my Lord, don't you? (Vicki, Westmar Qld)
Our family continues to grow and trust in the Lord. We continue to meet together in our homes with Trevor and Julie Coleman every Sunday. This is a special time where we serve our Lord Jesus Christ and worship Him together. We continue to study the Word and pray for all the lost souls who live around us. It is a time of sharing and a blessing to all of us. Our children have grown closer to the Lord especially since we started home schooling using the Christian curriculum from the Australian Christian Academy. (Vicki, Dalby, Qld)
We do have a Bible teaching church. Our minister is a terrific fellow, preaching straight from scripture. He is principal of a Christian school. We praise God for our church for the leadership and for the soundness of preaching... for the use of hymns in our services... Our church is just growing in numbers as well. On the other hand many of the old good Baptist churches have become very charismatic or are on the way to become charismatic. (Muriel - attends Fraser Coast Baptist Church)
We too were in a church filled with false teaching and I was caught up with so much of it until the Lord by His grace "took the scales off my eyes". We ended up having to leave, the Lord guiding us to a fellowship where Jesus Christ is the central focus for all we do. (Ken, Murray Bridge, SA)
I respond to "Isolated" (#58, p. 22)... I suggest you start a home prayer and Bible discussion fellowship group with the interested few and allow the Lord to lead and develop from there. Even if you start with two or three! If you follow the New Testament pattern, gifts will be revealed and developed to satisfy the needs until a church is established. (Reg, Middleton, SA)
Many people do not go to church these days because in many cases the Spirit of God is removed from the midst of the people. What is the use of going to a dead church, or one where there is not the liberty of the Spirit of God. It seems we only have two alternatives most of the time: (1) Legalism or (2) Delusion. In other words, dead and deader. The trouble is the older generation remember what it used to be like with the Word of God preached under the anointing and conviction of the Holy Ghost in reverence and holiness. We just can't take what is dished up today, and no-one wants to listen to what we have to say. (Pam, Katamatite, WA)
Re "Meet Together" (#57, p. 14) ... I wrote in effect to say that all Christians should follow Jesus' teachings and show compassion, caring, and understanding, especially towards those who are ill and disabled and can't actually attend a church... .Jesus is telling us if we are united in His name, where He is the object of our faith, we DON'T need to be in a building to pray to Him and worship Him, we can do it anywhere. (Richard, Christies Beach, SA)
THE MASTER OF THE CHURCH IS RIGHT
It is Christ's Church. He bought it with His own blood. The Church is the Body of Christ.
THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE CHURCH IS RIGHT
Christ said of them, "They follow me." You don't have to beg this crowd to go to Church every Sunday. You don't have to visit, beg, plead, prime, pump these. They love the Church, they Love the Saviour. There is a kindred spirit. I am afraid that we have many members in churches around the world who have never met Christ as their personal Saviour. How about you? Are you just a church member, or are you a member of His Church? There's a vast difference. There are many, many poor lost church members. If you have to be begged, and pleaded with to come to church, perhaps you should ask yourself, "Am I really Born again?" Remember, Born again believers love His Church. Do YOU? " We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren" (the church).
YES, THE MEMBERSHIP IS RIGHT. Not yet perfect, but made Right. Today, many strange doctrines are preached. The winds of doctrines blow. Many today are being deceived... As a pastor, I have had problems with church members, but very few problems with members of The Church. If you happen to be a lost church member, why not, right now, receive the Lord Jesus Christ as your own Personal Saviour, ask Him to come into your heart. He is there, where you are ready to come into your heart at your invitation. " But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name." Your salvation is in Him, not in you church membership.
THE MANDATE OF THE CHURCH IS RIGHT
What is our mandate? Our mission? The MANDATE of the Church is to evangelize the world. We are to preach the Gospel of Christ... Some have gotten side-tracked. Some are trying to reform society. Only when man's heart is changed will the world be changed.
THE MESSAGE OF THE CHURCH IS RIGHT
It is a message of LOOK and LIVE. The message is simple, it is never complicated. It is for all people everywhere, and it always meets the need... He was lifted high upon a cross. We are sinners, we are dying... But, look to the cross and live. That's the MESSAGE. Let's don't complicate it by adding baptisms, joining, and a thousand other things. It is simple. A child can understand.
THE METHOD OF THE CHURCH IS RIGHT
In (Mt. 28:6-7) the angel said, "Come see... go and tell" It's that simple...tell others what Christ has done for you. Jesus said to the maniac of Gadara after he was healed, "Go home to thy friends and tell..." The disciples went out two by two and told the world about Christ. (Acts 20:20), "...have taught you publicly and from house to house." That's the method. One tells another, then another. If everyone joins in, the job gets done, the whole world will hear the Gospel. The best advertisement is one satisfied customer telling another about their product. That's the METHOD of the Church... It's RIGHT... Get in on it. Tell others about our Lord.
THE MUSIC OF THE CHURCH IS RIGHT
Music reflects the mood of the times. Listen to the music of any society and it will tell you all you need to know. Listen to the music of our time. Have you ever heard anything so hopeless? Listen to Rock and Roll, to Heavy Metal. The beat hypnotizes the mind while the WORDS of the "music" fill the heart. If you want to know what's wrong with our young people, just listen to their music. Today's music glorifies drugs, rebellion, and attacks anything Godly. Listen to the BOOM BOOM, BANG BANG, CRASH, BOP BOP of today's pop music. Hillbilly and country music is not any better. It sings of bar rooms, bed rooms, cheating, sleeping around. Many churches are adopting the BOOM BOOM, BOP BOP beat of some of these rock groups. They have the same sound stage, same lights, same beat. Let's not compromise with the world with our music. EVERY CHURCH SHOULD GUARD ITS MUSICAL PROGRAM.
God's people are a singing people. The Book of Psalms is a Hymn Book. The Church have given to the world the most beautiful music. Read the titles of your hymnal songs. These are songs of comfort, of peace, of assurance, of hope, of faith, of love. The words are beautiful, and the melodies are glorious.
THE MOTIVE OF THE CHURCH IS RIGHT
Actually, there is a two-fold motive of the Church... THAT THE DESTINY OF MEN MAY BE CHANGED. What is man's destiny? Just read passages like Rev. 20:11-15, Luke 16:19-31. Many passages teach clearly that the person who dies without Christ will go to a devil's hell. That's not popular, but it is true. You hear more about hell from the mouth of sinners than from some pulpits today, but the truth is: the unsaved man goes to hell when he dies. Jesus came to this earth and gave His life so that man's destiny may be changed. He made the way, He paid the price. His motive is our motive. We want to see people saved, saved from the penalty and power of sin.
THAT LIVES MAY BE TRANSFORMED. The second motive of the Church is the transforming of lives. Sin abounds everywhere, engulfing, deceiving. Millions of lives are ruined by sin. But in Christ, THERE IS HOPE. The Bible says, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away, and behold all things are become new. The Bible says, "Be not deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners shall inherit the Kingdom of God... and such WERE SOME OF YOU, but you are washed, ye are sanctified, ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus" TRANSFORMED LIVES. Try reforming, stopping, quitting, changing, nothing works like faith in the Lord Jesus. He can do what no one can do. Oh the millions of TRANSFORMED LIVES the world over. The helpless, the hopeless have trusted Christ and found that their lives were TRANSFORMED by the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank God for what He did in my life, and He can do in your life.
THE MANUAL OF THE CHURCH IS RIGHT
Thank God for the Bible (KJV). The Bible is the best Gift of God. It was given as God breathed upon Holy men of old. The Bible is God's HAND-BOOK, or HOW-TO Book. I can recall countless times when I have wasted much time and energy in not consulting the instruction book on a product. I have tried in vain, to put a child's toy together with only a passing glance at the instructions. Finally, in embarrassment, and humiliation, I turned to the instructions. That has happened to me time and time again. The Great Creator of heaven, earth, and man gave us an instruction book, a How-to Book, or Manual. When we follow the MANUAL, the product is right. In America we have tossed out the Manual, and look at the product. Things are not working. It's time to pick up the instructions again. Many churches have laid the MANUAL aside and adopted the world's way. They have painted "GOD" on the world and brought this into the church and things are not working out very good.
The Old Book is not out-dated. It is final, complete, without error or omission. The Bible (KJV) has endured the ages. Don't try to change it, or find fault with it. Just believe it. The Word of God will do the Work of God.
The Church is right. It is not yet perfect, but it will be one day. Christ is coming one day to receive the Church unto Himself. He knows each member by name. He walks among the churches. You can invest yourself, your time, talent, and money in His Church. Give Him your heart and become active in a Bible believing, soul winning Church. (By Pastor George Mills - TheWilderness.org, February 2001 issue)
A reader took offence at mention of this possibility...
Yet many faithful witnesses through history held that the church of Rome is the Babylon of Revelation 17, and the Pope is Antichrist.
These include:
Dr Ian Paisley also lists:
Also:
Let me support you wholeheartedly in your stance for the KJV... The KJV is without error and inerrant, infallible and divinely inspired. (Harley, Mt Ommaney, Qld)
Modern versions remove Lucifer from Isaiah 14:12. They alter Luke 2:33 from "and Joseph and his mother" to "his parents", denying the Virgin Birth and the divinity of Christ. New versions omit 1 John 5:7; which supports the Trinity. These are but three of thousands of alterations in the new versions, despite the words of our Lord Jesus Christ who warned us to "keep" His words... (Based on: Peter, Charters Towers, Qld)
I can't find ANYONE (in a church) who believes the Bible is the Word of God. Believe me I have tried (and cried). They may SAY they believe, but when you press them they at best only believe the REAL Word of God only exists in the "originals". Fifty years ago, everyone read from the ONE book, and EVERYBODY believed it was the Word of God. Today we have such a mish-mash, no-one knows what the truth is. It is very sad. (Pam, Katamatite, WA)
I, for one believe that this nation and a multitude of people within the nation are on the brink of Hell. "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." Psalm 9:17.
We have forgotten God! We have left God out of our thinking: We are too busy with our pleasure, our money seeking, our worldly amusements, our secularism to reckon with God. The picture is blacker than you think. There are eleven liquor outlets to every one church in America (1974 statistics). There are 50 million drinkers of alcoholic beverages.
What has happened to the Lord's Day? We have made it a day of wickedness and sinful indulgence. We have set a bad example to our children by doing everything on the Lord's day except honouring God. On every hand there is corruption --- there is a greed for money, there is adultery, fornication, lasciviousness, drunkenness, unfaithfulness and a dreadful indifference toward a Holy God.
Friend, if you are one who is on the brink of hell, it is high time to wake up. God gave you a never dying soul. He gave you a God-conscienceness. He never meant for you to be in hell.
(Clyde H. Dennis, "Biblical Fundamentalist")
Response to Carl, "Fair Dinkum hits a nerve" (# 56 p. 26): Since you seem disturbed amongst other things by the anti-Catholic sentiments of some contributors to FD, I can only assume that you have little or at worst no knowledge of Roman Catholicism.
I was a practising Roman Catholic for the better part of thirty years, until by the grace of God I trusted Jesus Christ as my Saviour. As a Catholic I prayed to Mary and the Saints. In church I bowed before statues, I worshipped the communion wafer and truly believed that the priest had the power to change the bread and wine into the literal body and blood of Christ (transubstantiation). I believed that the Mass was an ongoing sacrifice. I confessed my sins to a priest and was taught that my good works would eventually get me to heaven, with a probable stopover in purgatory as punishment for my sins.
My dear friend, as a Christian who presumably understands the gospel, you will immediately recognise this as 'another gospel'- the gospel according to Rome, and not the Gospel as revealed to us in the Holy Scriptures. The Catholic Church is an apostate church and instead of leading people to Christ, it is leading them into eternal damnation.
Please do not accept Catholics as brothers and sisters in Christ (this is the great mistake of the current ecumenical movement) - they need to be evangelised in the same way as any other unsaved person. I recommend the following websites: "Good News for Catholics ", "Proclaiming the Gospel Ministry" and "Converted Catholics for Christ-Australia".
From the content of your letter I think it would be fair to say that you are a proponent of the Love, Joy and Peace gospel which emphasises what Jesus can do for you, instead of what Jesus has already done! Have you ever stopped to think why in today's church there is an 80% + falling away rate in those who have made decisions for Christ? I firmly believe it is because the modern church is preaching what we are saved to instead of what we are saved from.
I do not believe that we should be preaching "a word that touches the soul and challenges the heart". The gospel is not an experience. It is something that must be understood by the mind. The unsaved person's heart must be prepared to receive the gospel (see the parable of the sower) by showing the person the nature and character of God and that they are helpless and hopeless sinners standing in the presence of a just and Holy God! Then and only then will they truly accept the good news of Jesus Christ's death, burial and resurrection for their sins. And from this acceptance will love, joy and peace flow. This was precisely the method used by preachers of old such as Luther, Wesley, Finney, Whitefield and Spurgeon.
The apostate one world church is slowly gathering momentum and sadly it is people like you who are promoting its establishment by your lack of doctrine and 'easy believism' gospel. May the Lord lead you to study the Scriptures more diligently. (Bogdan, Kings Langley, NSW)
I saw a woman lying on a stair,
Head down, flies crawling on her face and hair,
While lodgers came and went, none looked at all.
She was a masterpiece of Alcohol.
I saw an old man lying on a bed,
Helpless for life, his weary old wife said,
"His hip was broken in a needless fall---
Achievement credited to Alcohol.
I saw a man in death's stark whiteness lie,
A bullet through his heart. I heard the cry
Of wife and children sensing hunger's thrall
Work of the all-efficient Alcohol!
I saw a lovely girl, clean-faced and fine,
But foolish, plied by men with gin and wine.
Till self-respect had tottered to its fall,
Another Magdalene. Hail, Alcohol!
I saw these things--you may have seen them too.
The world is saturated with them through and through.
And there are there are those who claim it has a place--
A drug that does that to the human race.
Clarence Edwin Flynn
In his letter "Sharing the wrong spirit" (Daily Telegraph, December 27), Peter Hobson says that "Australians are being challenged to choose between Christ and the anti-Christ serpent, life or death".
The truth is that Australia has already chosen to follow the serpent; we have already rejected the gospel. We see things like the exaltation of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, often with acceptance from churches.
Some years ago, in July 1994, Australia's so-called Christian churches held the inaugural service in the ACT for the new National Council of Churches in Australia. The spirits worshipped by the Aborigines were called upon to help at the commencement of the service; the serpent spirit was at work there too. During the service each church pledged all allegiance to the Council, with even Rome being one of the founding members.
Thus we see that the church in Australia has chosen the anti-Christ spirit, but the city of Sydney leads the country in turning away from truth and rejection of the Lord. (Richard Merrell, Wentworth Falls, Letter in Daily Telegraph 28/12/2001)
How many offended Christians do you know? People that no longer fellowship at any church because they are "hurt" or "bruised"? ...I believe that this is the most offended generation of Christians the church has ever seen... Let me leave you with some statistics on the reasons people leave churches: 10-12% leave because they prefer another church - music, friends etc. 10 - 12% leave through necessity, they move or relocate. 10-12 die, become sick etc. But 60 - 65% of Christians leave because of offence!
Two thirds of all people that leave the church do so because they have taken offence at the pastors or someone in leadership in that church. A conflict, which in most cases, is never solved. Jesus warned us in Matt 18:7: "For offences must come..." Many Christians take a hold of an offence and refuse to let it go. (Based on extract from Take Your Hand Out Of The Cage- Monkey! by Col Stringer)
The church Christ is coming to take out of this world, will be "a glorious church without spot or wrinkle" (Ephesians 5:27). Jesus said, "not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).
Look at the church today. There is so much homosexuality. The Church winks at adultery. There is so much drug addiction and much of the Church now condones social drinking. We have become so immersed with filth we think nothing of going to the theatre anymore. The Word of God declares, "if I regard iniquity in my heart, God will not hear me" (Psalm 68:18).
A new look at THE FALL OF TROY, I believe, will help bring home some really important truth. The Athenians had laid siege to Troy. For ten long years they tried and failed to break its defenses. They build ladders in an attempt to scale the walls. Yet, every effort was turned back. They tried to burn the city. They made slings of trees to hurl large stones over the wall. The people of Troy resisted every effort. For ten long years they refused to give in or give up.
Eventually, the Greeks saw the futility of an open warfare against Troy, so they changed tactics. They built a beautiful wooden horse and during the night, pulled the horse up to the main gate of Troy and left it. The Greek army then returned to the ships. In those days, leaving such a gift meant that you had given up. So the Greeks left this wooden horse, better known as "THE TROJAN HORSE", outside the gate of Troy to signal that they had given up. Unbeknown to the people of Troy, Greek soldiers were hiding in the belly of that wooden horse.
For a while the citizens of Troy looked at the horse with curiosity. After a few days, with no Greek soldiers to be seen, the Trojans decided the war was truly over and brought the horse inside. Believing that the war was over, the citizens of Troy began to celebrate. That night, while the city was caught up in a drunken state, the Greek soldiers slipped out of the belly of the horse and opened the gates of the city. The Greeks poured in. The people were slaughtered. Some legends say only ten people escaped to tell the horrors of that last night in Troy.
We refused to open our doors to idolatry, to unholiness and to worldliness. We were mocked, persecuted and ostracized, but we refused to give an inch to that which we recognized was not of God. It's different today... these charismatics tell us. The Church today has no enemies because she has no Gospel.
For years the enemy stormed the walls and was driven back again and again. Everyone knew we had very high standards. We didn't go to the places the world went to. We didn't smoke their cigarettes or drink their liquor. We walked their streets as men and women of God...
In 1956 the world saw the first meeting of the Charismatic movement. That was the day the horse came to our gate. We woke up one morning and everything was quiet... IT SOUNDED AS IF THE WAR WAS OVER. Out of curiosity we peeped over the wall and lo and behold - standing at our gate was a beautiful horse left there by the religious of the world. We just opened the gate and the horse came in quietly... It was beautiful to behold - we were rocked to sleep. Everything of the world, the flesh and the devil came in with the horse. What we had once believed, we believed no more.
Are there preachers out there that are sick and tired of the hypocrisy and deceit that has come into the Church? I have a close pastor friend that has just led his congregation out of the largest Pentecostal denomination on the planet. Why? Because of the very things I am talking to you about. He and his church - of 700 - can't take it anymore and they have voted unanimously to withdraw. I tip my hat to this man of God - a man of conviction and courage. There must be others that will turn and run like a race horse AWAY from THE TROJAN HORSE and return to the God of our fathers. (Jerry, Burbank, California)
The rock band struts the stage, ear-piercing notes throbbing from electric guitars. Teenagers and generation X-ers, dressed in jeans and skate shoes, lurch to the songs and mouth the words. But this is not a rock concert and these music fans are not in a stadium mosh pit. This is a religious service and the band is part of a contemporary worship style favoured by a new wave of churches.
PowerPoint presentations, self-improvement seminars and coffee bar Christianity are just some of the things offered by alternative churches around Melbourne... And worshippers are impressed. While mainstream churches have suffered a drop in support over the past decade, there has been an overwhelming increase in the number of Australians turning to alternative Christian denominations. Figures show New Age churches (Ed's note: interesting term!), united under the banner of the Australian Christian Churches, have grown 167 per cent in the past 10 years compared to minuscule increases in the number of followers for the three major churches. The 1996 census showed the percentage of the population who identified themselves as Catholic increased by only 0.3 per cent from 1991. The percentage of Anglican followers increased by 1.9 per cent, while the Uniting Church saw a rise of 0.7 per cent over the five years.
The national director of the ACC, Pat Mesiti, said increasing numbers were turning to new wave churches because they offered spiritual teachings people could relate to and short, relevant services they enjoyed. "Unfortunately the mainstream churches are more interested in maintaining old religious traditions than they are in making the Gospels relevant to people's lives now," Mr Mesiti said. "With things like PowerPoint presentations, seminars and current music, we are contemporary and different."
Rob Buckingham, pastor at Bayside Community Church, agreed many Australians were disillusioned with traditional churches and were looking for a more relevant and fun way to worship. "They are facing big problems with losing their congregation because most of their followers are quite old," Mr Buckingham said. "The churches that are going to make it into the next generation are the ones which recognise the times in which we live and adjust their style." And his cosy Cheltenham house of worship, in a converted printing factory, certainly does Christianity 2001-style. Last week's Good Friday ceremony featured a rock band, acapella gospel choir, short religious message and a relaxed atmosphere, with followers sitting around tables rather than in uncomfortable pews. The 300-strong congregation, which ranged in age from newborns to those in their 80s, were served cafe lattes and cappuccinos, along with a catered buffet of felafels and souvlakis. (Peta Hellard, reporter, Sun Herald, 16 April 2001)
Some in and out of the church are saying that "we cannot reach modern man with the traditional style of worship". the problem with that idea is that it is not the purpose of worship to "reach modern man". We are to reach modern man with the Gospel! We are trying to reach GOD with our worship! I believe that it is noteworthy that the New Testament nowhere indicates that the purpose of worship assemblies were or are for the purpose of attracting unbelievers. The focus of acceptable worship is not the unbeliever but the Lord God Himself... As we deal with worship styles and related matters, it is very important that we remember the purpose of worship and who is to please whom in worship. (Byron Nichols)
Response to Carl, "Fair Dinkum hits a nerve" (# 56 p. 26): The purpose of Christian music/hymns is to give praise and glory to God and to edify the saints, not to lead people to Christ. As far as I am aware no where in the Bible is music or singing used to lead people unto salvation. Christian music must be God centered and not man centered, unfortunately many 'Christian' rock groups glorify themselves and so do their listeners. I suggest you have a look at the roots of secular rock and then ask yourself whether God really approves of such music in the church or elsewhere for that matter. Before putting on an earring and listening to 'Christian' rock why don't you meditate on God's word: (2 Cor 5:17) 'Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new' (Rom 12:2) 'And do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God' (1 John 2:15) Do not love the world or the things in the world - If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him'. (Bogdan, Kings Langley, NSW)
I am concerned about the repetitiveness of many modern choruses... but I am more concerned about the theology of hymnology than whether a hymn or chorus is old or new... Actually many of the hymns we sing come from worse roots than the charismatic ones. For example, "Be thou my vision" was written by a liberal and most people don't know it. "What a friend we have in Jesus" is erroneous for the Bible never brings itself to call Jesus my friend. "Jesus the very thought of thee" is a great hymn but was written by a Catholic who encouraged the Crusades.
Some modern choruses are not biblical as they are too sentimental and actually end up being "romantic" -- "let me hold you close", etc. We need to sit down and examine each chorus or hymn and see to what degree they are faithful to Scripture. Some songs teach a-millennialism -- "for the darkness shall turn to dawning and the dawning to noon day bright and Christ's great kingdom shall come to earth". That is not biblical and yet it is often sung in fundamental churches.
Some of the old hymnology is very subjective and centered in us rather than God. "I'm so happy and here's the reason why" is not truly biblical. The idea that "and now I am happy all the day" is certainly not true nor is it biblical. So we need a good dose of theology as we do our singing. (Bob, Parafield Gardens, SA)
Many Bible-believing churches which are strongly opposed to charismatic DOCTRINE AND PRACTICE are being influenced by charismatic MUSIC... The charismatic world has given us "Christian" jazz, "Christian" rock, "Christian" rap, even "Christian" heavy-metal. The jazzy church music can be found almost everywhere today ...many churches have traded in their traditional hymn books for praise songs accompanied by guitars and drums... Billy Graham crusades, once noted for the heart-warming traditional Christian music of George Beverly Shea, now feature hard rock music and charismatic-style "praise" choruses.
God calls His people out of the end-time apostasy. We, therefore, reject the charismatic movement AND ITS MUSIC... We reject the philosophy which suggests that the music which stirs up lust and wickedness at a rock concert or in a bar room or a jazz hall can be sanctified for the Lord's use. We believe worldly music produces worldliness, sensual music produces sensuality. Most Contemporary Christian Music does not produce holiness of life and separation from the world.
We would urge our readers to avoid the worldly Contemporary Christian Music which incorporates the same rhythms one can hear in a bar room. Worldly music will produce worldliness (Galatians 6:7-8, 1 John 2:15-17). Be not deceived (1 Cor. 15:33). The church which gravitates toward ecumenical charismatic music will be moved away from a strong Bible stand. There is a spiritual power behind the Contemporary Christian Music.
Brownsville Assembly of God music director Lindell Cooley noted that he could sing some of the "revival songs" to a wife or a girlfriend. It is a sensual music for people who are seeking experiences and who are living a sensuous type of Christian life... .Songs appear to help drive the Pensacola impartations... "The River Is Here"... this song is New Age to the core. It is void of truth, treats God in a generic fashion, and suggests that God's grace and glory flows from a river. Notice the term, 'And all who touch it can be revived.' Standing in the Brownsville church, I watched almost everyone dance, jump, jerk, shake, or swoon to this song. It captured the crowd, but it absolutely was not the Holy Spirit.
Rock music cannot be sanctified for the Lord's use because it is fleshly and does not minister to the spirit. I am not speaking merely of the words; I am speaking of the rhythms. Rock music fits a wicked lifestyle. Rock music perfectly fits the bar, the dance hall, the night club, the pool hall, the house of prostitution. Rock music fits the tavern but it does not fit the Lord's house. It was created by rebels who brazenly love those things which God's Word says are evil.
After I was saved I desired God to purify and use my life, and one of the first things He dealt with was my music. I knew that I had a choice: I could love the world or I could love the Lord. God's Word tells me that I cannot serve two masters. I cannot say I love the Lord when I love those things which the Lord's hates. "Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God" (James 4:4). It was a real struggle with the flesh to give up rock music, because I absolutely loved it and I had listened to it practically every waking moment for many years. I found that when I did turn my back on rock music and stop listening to it for personal pleasure, I learned to love wholesome music. It took a little time, but my perverted taste in music was transformed. (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, 1701 Harns Rd., Oak Harbor, WA 98277. Brief extracts only, from a detailed article.)
Though I may not see it or hear,
Perhaps by a friend far distant,
Perhaps by a stranger near,
Perhaps by a spoken message,
Perhaps by the printed word;
In ways that I know and know not,
I have the help of the Lord.
He's keeping me now--this moment,
However I need Him most,
Perhaps by a single angel,
Perhaps by a mighty host,
Perhaps by the chain that frets me,
Or the walls that shut me in;
In ways that I know and know not,
He keeps me from harm and sin.
He's guiding me now--this moment,
In pathways easy or hard,
Perhaps by a door wide open,
Perhaps by a door fast barred,
Perhaps by a joy withholden,
Perhaps by a gladness given;
In ways that I know and know not,
He's leading me up to heaven.
He's using me now--this moment,
And whether I go or stand,
Perhaps by a plan accomplished,
Perhaps when He stays my hand,
Perhaps by a word in season,
Perhaps by a silent prayer;
In ways that I know and know not,
His labour of love I share.
(Annie Johnson Flint)
George Muller (1805-1898) was a man of God and a man of prayer. Thousands of Christians throughout the years have been inspired by his example of faith and persistent prayer. He once outlined the general method he used to discern God's will. This is good counsel for Christians today in seeking to know God's will when making decisions.
1. I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in a given matter. When you're ready to do the Lord's will, whatever it may be, nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome.
2. Having done this, I don't leave the result to feeling or simply impression. If I do so, I leave myself liable to great delusion.
3. I seek the Will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions also. If the Holy Ghost guides us at all, He will do it according to the Scriptures and never contrary to them.
4. Next I take into account providential circumstances. These often plainly indicate God's will in connection with His Word and Spirit.
5. I ask God in prayer to reveal His will to me aright.
6. Thus, through prayer, the study of the Word, and reflection, I come to a deliberate judgment, according to the best of my ability and knowledge. If my mind is thus at peace, and continues so after two or three more petitions, I proceed accordingly. I have found this method always effective in trivial or important issues.
From: http://www.prayertower.net/GeoMueller.php
The YOUNG - to learn how to live
The OLD - to learn how to die
The IGNORANT - for knowledge
The LEARNED - for Humility
The RICH - for compassion
The POOR - for comfort
The DREAMER - for wisdom
The PRACTICAL - for counsel
The WEAK- for strength
The STRONG - for direction
The HAUGHTY - for warning
The HUMBLE - for encouragement
The TROUBLED - for peace
The WEARY- for rest
The DOUBTER - for assurance
The SINNER - for salvation
ALL CHRISTIANS - for guidance
Looking at the world situation at the moment with all the tension in so many countries, with war within and conflicts without, we can understand why world leaders are wrestling with an extremely difficult problem. But what is the main cause of such strife I suggest that you will find their roots in religious tensions! Attempts have been underway for some time now to find a solution. The concept of a One World Religion is high on the agenda... and scripture warns us that this will happen in the world system!
For Christians, the concept of a common politically inspired religion, is NOT what Our LORD has in mind for His children. Being a fundamentalist Christian will mean being out of step... just like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. There will be persecution directed towards all true believers for rejecting the dictates of this New World Order, but as those three, young, GOD-fearing lads soon discovered, our GOD is greater than any Babylonian or New World Empire and our LORD will rescue us as He did them. (Luke 21:25-28)
(Ron & Anna, Coffs Harbour, NSW)
Even if you're a klutz at do-it-yourself projects, you'll be able to accomplish this, though don't expect to produce heathen kids overnight. If you can raise your child as a heathen for the first twelve years or so, you'll probably have achieved your goal. Just follow these ten simple steps:
1. Remove prayer from your home. The schools have taken the lead here, so your kids won't expect prayer at meals or at times of family crisis. Just make sure that you never pray in front of your children. If they see you bowing to a higher power it might make them feel somehow weak, inferior--as if they did not control their own destinies.
2. Keep a Bible around. Now this may surprise you. While you must ban prayer, don't ban the Bible. Keep a copy on the shelf--a high shelf. This is how you can appear open-minded while preserving the Bible as a closed book. To keep your kids heathen, however, you must never read to them from the Bible. "Seen not heard," is the safest rule. Bible story books--especially ones with attractive pictures--are dangerous, too. There's a chance your child might pick one up by accident and ask you to read stories out of it. Don't allow one in the house.
3. Plan family events for Sunday mornings. This way your children won't have any excuse for going to church with their friends. Don't let your children hear the phrase "The Lord's Day." Instead, say something like, "Sunday is my only day off," or "Sunday is the only day I get to sleep in," or "Sunday is the only day our family can do things together." Before you know it, your child will be permanently trained to think selfishly about Sunday mornings, and will be very unlikely to be found in church.
4. Try to have your child attend a wedding held in a church. That way your child can never say, "I never went to church when I was a child," like so many children say these days. But be careful. There's a chance he might hear prayers and become confused. It might be better to arrange for him to come to the reception only.
5. Spice up your family vocabulary with occasional references to God damning someone. That'll help the children think God is angry at people and only wants to condemn them. Some families have found it helpful to say "hell" when they're angry so the child will associate it with swearing instead of a real place. Using "Jesus!" and "Christ!" and "God!" as expletives is also quite effective in inoculating your child against the Christian faith.
6. Block Christian broadcasting from your television by reprogramming your VCR's scanning menu or insisting that the cable company doesn't transmit those kinds of stations to your home. Be extra careful, though, to monitor your child's viewing so she doesn't accidentally watch an evangelistic crusade or something equally dangerous. A good substitute might be "The Simpsons," or some other character-building cartoons.
7. Don't invite grandparents or other relatives to your home without first making sure they won't talk about Jesus or God. Tell them that all families have rules, and your home is designed to be "religious values neutral." It would also be a big mistake to let your children stay with their grandparents if they are known to engage in any of the above taboo activities. Perhaps the children could meet with Christian grandparents for a supervised visit in a park. But letting your children visit for a day or more is just too risky.
8. Separate moral instruction from religion. It's all right to tell your children the difference between right and wrong, just so long as you don't tell them that God is against stealing or killing or lying. That way it will be easier for them to adopt an "everything is relative" belief system which won't inhibit their lifestyle as teenagers and adults.
9. If your child asks to attend church, tell her proudly that when she is eighteen she can make her own decisions, but while she is in her impressionable years you don't want to expose her to any pressure for or against God. Tell her that you are a politically correct parent. That you believe in separation of church and state, and that you only want what's best for her.
10. Train your child to say "Protestant" when asked his religion. Don't bother to explain it. "Agnostic" or "atheist" or "heathen" might be more accurate, but people could consider you a bad parent. And it's best to avoid using the term "Christian" because it includes the name of Christ in a non-swearing context, which might raise questions in your child's mind.
If you do these things, you can almost be guaranteed a heathen child. You'll have the satisfaction of knowing that when she's in trouble, your daughter won't know how to pray. And she won't have adopted those narrow Christian values either. She won't even have a clue to what "sin" is. She will be able to do almost anything without feeling guilty, so she is likely to be healthy psychologically. And, even if she catches the mildest dose of Christian values, it is certain that she won't be able to transmit the Christian faith to her children. Enjoy. Utterly heathen grandchildren will be a cinch.
You'll notice that nearly anybody can raise a heathen child, almost without trying. Some vigilance is required, however. If you just can't resist your child pestering you to let him go to church, absolutely refuse to go with him. Drop him off at the door if need be, but don't go in yourself. It is vital that he sees church as something for children only, and that intelligent adults like his parents don't need religion as a "crutch." Be aware, however, that even letting your child in a church could ruin the entire heathen training program. A child who learns about Jesus could become a joyful, happy, values-indoctrinated Christian. He might infect brothers or sisters, as well. Letting your child attend church, even by himself, is much frowned upon by enlightened parents these days. Now score yourself. Give yourself 10 points for each of the steps you have under pretty good control. If you've racked up at least 40 points, pat yourself on the back. You're well on your way to rearing a darling heathen child.
One stormy night in 1921, an elderly couple entered the lobby of a small hotel in Philadelphia and asked for a room. The clerk, George Boldt, explained that because there were three conventions in town, the hotel was filled. "But I can't send a nice couple like you out in the rain at 1 o'clock in the morning," he said. "Would you be willing to sleep in my room?" The couple hesitated, but the clerk insisted.
The next morning when the man paid his bill, he said, "You're the kind of manager who should be the boss of the best hotel in the United States. Maybe someday I'll build one for you." The clerk smiled not thinking much about the remark. Two years later, Boldt received a letter from the elderly man, recalling that stormy night, and asking him to come to New York. When he arrived, his host took him to the corner of 5th Avenue and 34th Street, where stood a magnificent new 683-room hotel. "That," explained the man, "is the hotel I have just built for you to manage." "Who -- who are you?" stammered Boldt. "My name is William Waldor Astor." That hotel was the original Waldorf- Astoria.
We are called to faithfully serve the Lord and when we do, He will give us a greater area of responsibility. Are you faithfully serving Christ? Today in prayer, thank the Lord for the tasks He has given you and pray that you will be faithful in serving Him.
"The measure of a man is not how many servants he has, but how many men he serves." - D.L. Moody
(GCN Daily Devotional - 4/30/2001)
TV'S ADDICTIVE POWER
Is there any greater time thief in the world than television? Its dramatic offerings are increasingly unsavory. Its news coverage is blatantly biased, yet numbers of Christian women succumb to its addictive powers. TV's influence is progressive. The more you watch, the more you want to watch. The more you want to watch, the more you tolerate. The more you tolerate, the more you imitate. Ultimately, TV takes much more than time. (Beneth Jones, Canadian Revivalist)
MORE MUSLIM VIOLENCE, INDONESIA
Christian families in Indonesia's Maluku islands are forced at gunpoint to convert to Islam in rituals that include genital mutilation for females and dull-bladed circumcision for males (4/23 CT). Those refusing to convert are killed by jihad warriors who later display the severed heads of some as a warning to others. Indonesia is 83 percent Muslim.
GATES GIVES MILLIONS TO PLANNED PARENTHOOD
The International Planned Parenthood Federation says it has received, spread over five years, an $8.8 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (3/30 Sword of the Lord). These funds will help the British-based IPPF promote abortion and "family planning."
To love someone more dearly every day
To help a wandering child to find his way
To ponder o'er a noble thought and pray
And smile when evening falls
This is my task
To follow truth as blind men long for light
To do my best from dawn of day till night
To keep my heart fixed in His holy sight
To answer when He calls
This is my task
And then my Savior, by and by, to meet
When faith hath made her task on earth complete
And lay my homage at the Master's feet
Within the jasper walls
This crowns my task
Re the article (#58, p. 17)... Some Christians have very strong opinions on contraceptives and different forms of birth control. Some are totally against it but some like myself have no problems with it. Ms Christensen said in her thesis that the pill raises hormone levels in the body which can lead to self aborting of the foetus. That is true, oestrogen levels do rise, but it is only a tiny amount higher than what woman's body naturally produces. But when a woman is pregnant, oestrogen levels soar. Why doesn't the baby die then?
The pill is designed to stop ovulation and it mostly does. The hormone levels are just enough to keep the eggs safe in the ovaries. If ovulation happens to occur, pregnancy can happen and the pill can't control that. I believe the pill is a brilliant invention. It has given couples a choice on when they wish to start a family. They can prepare themselves financially and emotionally for their new arrival. In a day and age when we need two incomes to survive and to pay off the mortgage, I believe that children should come when a couple feels they are financially ready to be able to support it... The pill allows couples to be spontaneous in their love making rather than cautious and frightened that the wife may fall pregnant. The pill is convenient and harmless. May I suggest to Christians that oppose the pill, that you keep your opinions to yourself and don't try and force them on couples that are not ready to have a family. If couples are not sure, RESEARCH for themselves. Pray and ask God what he wants them to do. (Sis L)
WARNING - This article is very graphic - some details may offend. I researched it and wrote it weeping....
Before most women know they are pregnant (between 14-24 days after conception) the baby's heart begins beating and by day 30 every organ has started to form. By 43 days his brainwaves can be recorded. The undeniable fact remains that life begins at conception and any abortion, no matter how early kills a living human being.
Tragically millions of women choose to have what is called a 'termination'... Yes, millions of women have shed innocent blood by choosing to not give their babies the chance to live. It's a tragedy of horrific proportions! The appalling thing is, that most people condone it.
Brenda Pratt, a registered nurse, explains what she witnessed at an abortion clinic: "I could see the baby, I could hear the heartbeat... the baby's body was moving, his little fingers were clasping together. He was kicking his little feet. The doctor then took a pair of scissors and jammed them in the back of the baby's neck. The baby jerked out in a startled reflex, and then he was real rigid. The doctor then opened the scissors to make a hole. He took a high powered machine with a catheter and stuck it in that hole and suctioned the baby's brains out. And the baby went completely limp." Is this not premeditated cold-blooded murder? (I am sobbing as I type this.)
Another article I read recounts this horrific killing: While hurrying out of a patients room to dispose of the 'tissue' after a saline abortion Linda felt a movement. Startled she looked straight into the eyes of a live baby. "She looked right at me." she recalled. "I stood by and watched that baby die without doing a thing."
Kathleen Malloy, registered nurse, explains what happened one night. "I saw a bassinet outside the nursery. There was a baby girl in this bassinet - a crying perfectly formed - but there was a difference in this child. She had been scalded. She was the child of a saline abortion. This little girl looked as if she had been put in a pot of boiling water. No doctor, no nurse, no parent to comfort this hurt burned child. She was left alone to die in pain."
In 1995 a NZ survey revealed that 85% of the people who participated approved that an abortion should be carried out if the mother's health was at risk. A year prior to that I was misdiagnosed as having a tubal pregnancy. I was told that I could die and must have immediate surgery to remove the 'group of cells'. Had I followed the doctors advice I would not have our darling seven year old daughter, Gloria. I have heard of many other cases where the medical profession have misdiagnosed a life-threatening condition and the baby and the mother have been perfectly fine. True - there are some difficult cases which are very hard to understand - but do they justify the murder of an innocent child?
C. Everett Koop, M.D., US Surgeon general, stated "Protection of the life of the mother as an excuse for an abortion is a smoke screen. In my 36 years of paediatric surgery, I have never known of one instance where the child had to be aborted to save the mothers' life." We hear so much about 'women's rights' - but what about the rights of those little darlings that feel every agonising part of the cruel abortion procedure? Do they not have equal rights to life as you and I have? The only difference with them is they can not defend themselves when the murderer invades what is designed to be a safe haven.
Pregnancy resulting from a rape is very rare, but it does happen. To kill an innocent child for the crime of its father is a perverted form of justice - don't you think? Two wrongs do not make a right! One violent act should not condone another. A woman from Bundaberg shared her first few moments after giving birth to a child who was conceived after a rape "My son was born and I felt a rush of love as he lay with me and cried for that very first feed. I praise God every time I touch my son and I count my blessings." God can turn something ugly into something beautiful. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live (Deuteronomy 30:19).
Here is an exert from an ABOVE RUBIES magazine written by a lady who signs herself 'forgiven': "I must admit, when I hear the word abortion I still feel a twinge," wrote a lady who had aborted two of her children, "but I know that my sins are in the sea of God's forgetfulness and I praise God for it. I know there is nothing He does not see, but if we confess our sins, He will forgive totally. How wonderful to be clean again, to be forgiven and to look forward to meeting my dear children and to know that they too have forgiven me." I John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
As Christians we esteem life as something sacred, which is why so many of us are strongly opposed to abortion and euthanasia. Some of us also believe our fertility is sacred, something that ought to be determined by God and God alone. I believe that conception begins long before the act of lovemaking. Conception begins in the heart of Almighty God. Long before He created the heavens and the earth He knew that you and I would be born. He also knew those who would never be given the opportunity of live because the parents thought they knew best. I write on behalf of the voices that can not be heard... please choose life. (Delwyn)
I have attended mainline churches and have attended others that are often described in FD as 'entertainment' churches. In some of the mainline ones I have counted the bricks in the wall, the panes in the windows, how many people are there, and have sat almost willing the clock to move a little quicker. The front five or six rows are last to be used for seating and a lot of them attend because they have done so all their life.
In the so called 'entertainment' ones - I prefer to use the term 'Spirit Filled', (and yes we are full of the joy of the Lord!), I have been too interested to count the bricks, windows and the people - and time flies! The congregation hurry in from their parked cars and the front row seats are occupied first. People take notes of the sermons and have noticed positive changes in their lives and growth in their Christian walk. The children eagerly run to Children's Church, the Youth make up a third of our large congregation, they have enthusiastic meetings - and yes some of them have green or purple hair, baggy shorts and ear piercings. Doesn't the Lord look at the heart? Isn't it better that they are attending Church with great enthusiasm than out on the streets doing drugs? They worship the Lord with great passion, are quick to pray for one another and are wonderful kids.
I have heard that you can tell the health of a Church by the enthusiasm of the children. As for loud music read Psalm 150. I am not criticising the mainline Churches - it is all a matter of preference. No church is perfect, nor will we ever find the 'perfect church' - because church isn't a building but the people that make up the church - and people are never perfect. (Joan, Perth, WA)
Ed's comment: A church can be alive, vibrant, evangelistic, and an exciting place to meet together with God's people and worship God together, without resorting to worldy methods, as this following article shows...
Comments on 'Bill Hybels & Rick Warren' (# 58, p. 33): Well, I take up the challenge! I know of many churches utterly opposed to the Hybels/Warren church growth methods that are vibrant and growing churches!
Many of the Hybels/Warren fans will not look at the divisions and high turnovers rates in such churches. They will not look at the lowering view of doctrine/sound preaching/sin. The church I am involved in has grown from a handful of divided people about six years ago to well over 200 people. The numbers in fact doubled each year.
We are now looking at other church plants and ministering to other churches and sharing what we believe is real Biblical 'church growth'. We are still regularly seeing people saved, discipled and kept. Morning services are often over 150 and we are stretched to the limit in discipling newcomers. The preaching is exegetical with a sprinkling of topical and we may spend several months in one book.
We do not doorknock and would not be considered overly 'evangelistic'. Yet many of us are reaching out to our unsaved friends in various ways. God is simply adding souls to this church as the Word is faithfully preached and the saints are sharing the Word in them.
The music is a balanced mixture of hymns and choruses with an emphasis on reverence and giving glory to God. We are not Pentecostal/Charismatic or any other doctrine or flavour, but Biblical. We are not into programmes for programmes sake. However, there is an emphasis on discipleship and most who come into the church are involved in a discipleship programme one on one with a mature Christian.
There are numerous study groups operating several nights each week. Most are growing. At least two groups have had to be divided to cater for the numbers in homes. The eldership is prepared to defend the faith once delivered to the saints. We are not frightened to teach on issues in defence of the faith.
Put simply, we don't need the modern church growth methods with their psychological and market driven garbage taken straight from the world. We don't need entertainment that gets unsaved onto seats and tickles their ears. We don't need numbers for numbers sake. We preach and teach the Word, we disciple those carefully who the Lord brings in, we witness to the unsaved at every opportunity. We are here to glorify the king and to minister to the saints and to edify one another and not ourselves.
There are other churches in our area and in Australia that have the same philosophy of ministry and seeing Godly results. Too many churches are catering for the unsaved instead of growing and building up the 'ekklesia' - the called out ones. (Terry Arnold, TA Ministries)
Note: FD highly recommends the ministry of Terry Arnold and Diakrisis, PO Box 1499, Hervey Bay, Qld 4655. Excellent materials exposing errors in modern day Christendom.
I saw him in the church building for the first time last Wednesday. He was in his mid 70's with silver hair and a neat brown suit. Many times in the past I had invited him to come. Several friends had talked to him about the Lord and had tried to share the Good News with him. He was a well-respected, honest man with so many characteristics a Christian should have, but he had never put on Christ.
I had asked him a few years ago, "Have you ever been to a church service in your life?" We had just finished a pleasant day of visiting and talking. He hesitated, then with a bitter smile he told me of a childhood experience some sixty years ago.
He was one of many children in a large impoverished family. His parents had struggled to provide food, with little left for housing and clothing. When he was about ten, some neighbors invited him to worship with them. The Bible class had been very exciting. He had never heard such songs and stories before. He had never heard anyone read from the Bible before.
After class was over, the teacher took him aside and said, "Son, please don't come again dressed as you are now. We want to look our best when we come worship the Lord." He stood in his ragged, unpatched overalls, looked at his bare, dirty feet and said, "No ma'am, I won't ever!" And he never did.
There must have been other factors to have hardened him so, but this experience formed a significant part of the bitterness in his heart. I'm sure the Bible teacher meant well, but what if she had studied and accepted the teachings found in the second chapter of James? What if she had put her arms around that dirty, ragged little boy and said, "Son, I'm so glad you are here, and I hope you will come every chance you get to hear more about Jesus!"
I pray that I might ever be open to the tenderness of a child's heart, and that I might never fail to see beyond the appearance and behavior of a child to the eternal possibilities within.
Yes, I saw him in the church house for the first time last Wednesday. As I looked at that immaculately dressed old gentleman lying in his casket, I thought of the little boy of long ago. I could almost hear him saying, "No ma'am, I won't ever!" .... and I wept. (Author Unknown)
You wrote, "Some people, it seems to me, carry ancient hurts, or plead the wimpiest of excuses (such as: I'm too tired, too busy, too, spiritual, too old, etc). Some are "holier- than-thou", or, just aren't teachable. YOU NEED TO BE IN CHURCH!! NO EXCUSES!!....." (#55, p. 34) You wrote that Craig, "NO EXCUSES!!" I thought at the time, that statement is unfeeling and uncaring and was written with little thought for those who genuinely can't get to church.
Since then you have written, "Ed's Comments", (#56, p. 31), "I'm talking about the slack, whingey, whiney, wimpy Christians, who should know better. They sit back and pick fault. They aren't in the game, on the field - just not in the race. They are fault finders. They opt out. They'd rather sit in front of the idiot box. "Couch potato" Christians. Idle, neglectful, pre-occupied." And so on and so on. Everything in those statements is unchristian, judgmental and unfounded. Would the Lord Jesus have said things like that? Would the Lord Jesus have been so judgmental, so unfeeling, so uncaring? (Rik, Christies Beach, SA)
Hi Rik! In answer... I still stand by everything I wrote. People don't understand the heart ache and heart break of seeking to pastor people into a local church. It is hard yakka. Yet, so many idle ones would rather sit with their TV set than with God's people. Some would rather loll in bed than sing God's praises with God's people. Some would rather make some pathetic excuse why they weren't meeting with the church. This is the point I am making. Some would rather theologise away their responsibility to be an active, and useful part of a local church. I believe these people will be "ashamed before Him at His coming", whilst the overworked few will be crowned and rewarded for their faithful service.
To laugh... is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep... is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out... is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings... is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd... is to risk rejection.
To love... is to risk not being loved in return.
To live... is to risk dying.
To hope... is to risk despair.
To try... is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
Those who risk nothing.
They may avoid sufferings and sorrow,
But they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, or love.
Chained by their certitude, they are slaves; they have forfeited their freedom.
Only one who risks is free.
(Anonymous author)
As a Port Missionary I take the gospel of Jesus Christ to some 50 nationalities of seafaring men and women from all over the world. I proclaim the gospel in the best way I can; teaching that Jesus Christ came to save sinners and that He died on the cross for our sins according to the scriptures; was buried and rose again three days later according to the scriptures (1 Cor 15:1-4) and that if a man or woman will put their faith and trust in Him, (Jn 3:16), they will be saved.
I often deal with seafarers who do not understand a word of English: Chinese, Korean, Japanese, etc., and while this might seem a problem it is not so hard because through the work of others I have tracts in many languages. These tracts are soaked with Scripture and are extremely challenging; so much so that I have met Christians who hesitate to use them simply because they are very strong in doctrine and the Word. This is disappointing because it is apparent that they think the proclamation of the Word depends on them and their own work of presentation in order for it to be understood. This is not only very sad but very unscriptural.
Salvation has nothing to do with the power of man nor in his words. You see, it doesn't matter how eloquent one is when proclaiming the gospel. What matters is that the gospel is presented faithfully and in truth, and that is all God requires of us. Nothing else! The next move is His.
Who is the Author and Finisher of our faith? That's right, it is Jesus Christ. He, alone, is the author or commencer or starter - He initiates our faith by way of the Holy Spirit; but first we have to hear the Word - the gospel. How else can faith come? "Faith cometh by hearing ... the word of God" (Rom 10:17). Faith cannot come any other way.
Certainly not by saying, "Repeat these words after me. Now if you really, really, believed with all your heart, you are saved." I would encourage all new or would be evangelists to study the Word of God (2 Tim 2:15) to see how He alone opens hearts.
For example, He opened the heart of Saul on the road to Damascus in Acts 9:6; and Lydia, the seller of purple in Acts 16:14; Cornelius and his household in Acts 10:44; in fact every person who was ever saved...
"Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God" (Rom 10:17) and not by repeating the words of someone else! Unfortunately, a lot of people do not understand these very important truths; they think that they have to do the work of leading someone to conversion through the "sinners prayer", as it is called. If only they realised that Salvation is all of God (Eph 2:8,9).
Read 1 Cor 15:1-4 for the full and complete gospel. Then read Acts for its application and see what the early Christians did. They certainly did not nor would they have left the so-called "Jesus Video"; a video that breaks the 2nd commandment. I believe the "Jesus Video" is promoted by people who have trouble believing in the sufficiency of Scripture and in the saving work of the Holy Spirit who alone brings men, women, boys and girls to God. It is God alone Who saves, "Salvation is of the LORD," (Jonah 2:9), and He does it because, "It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." 1 Cor 1:21.
Just preach the Word remembering that "it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." (Rom 1:16). Hope this helps all would be proclaimers of the gospel. Note: A few useful verses: Matt 1:21; John 3:3,7,16; John 14:6; Rom 3:23; Mk 2:7; Mk 5:36; 1 Tim 2:5; 1 Jn 1:9; Heb 4:14,16; Eph 2:8,9. (Jay Dunning)
I wish to comment on a specific item: "Why I'm Not a Charismatic" (# 58, p. 12) "Compromised doctrine and standards, the foolishness that goes on under the pretense that it is the moving of the Spirit, ignorance of separation from worldliness, ecumenism that yokes believers and unbelievers, reluctance to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints..."
The trouble is, Andrew, that some very doctrinally-sound churches can give the impression that ALL charismatics are bad news, because they have ALL been deceived by the devil. This was so with a certain, specific, independent fundamentalist fellowship I was a member of for years. We were encouraged to break off friendships with charismatics, in case we got "contaminated". I refused to do this, because I had had good friendships with three charismatic ladies... godly women, who sincerely loved and served the Lord.
Yes, there are extremes in the charismatic movement. These dishonour the Lord, and turn people away from Him. But, with hindsight I can see that were also extremes with the fundamentalist fellowship I was involved with. This also dishonours the Lord, and turn people away from Him. They were extremely short of the display of Christ's love, compassion and mercy...
I am reminded of Mark 9:38-40 "...we saw someone who does not follow us... Do not forbid him... he who is not against us is on our side." On one occasion I said to an elder in that church: "The oversight are very quick to tell us what NOT to believe about the Holy Spirit. Could they please tell us what it is alright to believe about the Holy Spirit?"
Shortly after I was very pleased to see that the Scripture for the following Sunday would be Ephesians 5:18 "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;" I looked forward to hearing this message. How disappointed I was! It ended up being a message on temperance! I am not saying for one moment that I believe that all fundamentalist churches are like this one. But conversely, I don't consider that they had the right to paint ALL charismatics as "fanatics", "way-out", "under Satan's influence" etc.
I am also thinking of Acts 5:34-39, "... Gamaliel... said to them: "...keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it; lest you even be found to fight against God." My charismatic friends have much more zeal for the Lord, much more love for the Lord, a far greater understanding of the grace of the Lord, than my fundamentalist, extremely legalistic friends.
And I have found that the excesses of justifying the Bible by their experiences, as opposed to justifying their experiences by the Bible, only apply to the fringes of the charismatic movement. And I now see certain fundamentalist churches as being part of the "fringe" of conservative Christianity. I have learned more about the love, mercy, compassion and grace of God from certain charismatic friends than ever I did from my fundamentalist friends. Nor is this because my charismatic friends excuse sin. They don't!
I am no longer vehemently opposed to the charismatic movement as a whole. But the Bible is till my sole rule of faith and practice. And that Bible says in Matthew 7:20 "Therefore by their fruits you will know them."
I have seen the fruits of my own fundamentalist fellowship; dogmatism, legalism, judgmentalism, dictatorship. I have seen the fruits of some of my charismatic friends; a fearless love and zeal for the Lord; an earnest desire to see people won to the Lord, (as distinct from being won to their particular flavour of Christendom, a willingness to show compassion and understanding to struggling Christians, while not for a moment condoning sin.
I speak as I find. And I know which group I prefer. But neither side has the right to label ALL fundamentalists or ALL charismatics as being in the wrong. I still belong to a middle-of-the-road fellowship. We acknowledge the current existence of all the gifts of the Spirit, although being wary of manifestations of the "sign" gifts. We encourage and help all believers to identify their specific gift(s) of the Spirit, and to serve the local church with these. Women are treated as being equal with men in Christ's eyes. They are permitted, indeed encouraged, to join in vocally during times of open worship.
We do not believe in having a woman as pastor. We do have one lady who is charismatic in practice, but she respects our elders' wishes not to exercise the gift of tongues in open fellowship. And we all acknowledge her genuine love and zeal for the Lord.
In the specific fundamentalist church to which I belonged, women were decidedly second-class citizens. At the Wednesday evening prayer meeting we were separated from the men. Is this the way Christ treated women?
To sum up: I believe we do Christ a severe disservice when one section of Christendom considers another section of Christendom, as being almost totally in the wrong. (Helen, Blacktown, NSW)
Works don't save but God's workmanship will always do the works they were created in Christ Jesus to do... Paul taught that God's grace empowers us for obedience.
God's terms for salvation have always been repentance and faith (Acts 17:30, 26:20). Repentance from sin and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and his shed blood are necessary
The phrase, "faith alone" used in so many doctrinal statements of fundamental churches, doesn't appear in the Bible. The closest verse I could find with the words "faith" and "alone" is James 2:17: Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. The Bible flatly denies the statement in so many churches' statements of faith!
James was explaining that his works were a demonstration of his faith, and that if there was no demonstration of faith by resulting works, then one is not really "God's workmanship, created unto good works" which Paul wrote that one saved by grace through faith becomes.
The preaching of faith alone with no repentance (repentance is turning from sin unto God) denies the teaching of being God's workmanship unto good works. Nobody can serve God while still serving sin, and no salvation can be genuine without understanding that turning TO God necessitates turning FROM sin. No person can turn from sin to God without His drawing them unto Christ, so to teach the Bible truth of turning from sin unto Christ is no less glorifying to God - SALVATION IS OF THE LORD and is much more so, because it is the true gospel rather than the false gospel that lures many to join churches and attend weekly in utter complacency, resting in their profession of faith alone while not turning from sin in their daily walk and lifestyle and walking in newness of life thinking this is unnecessary and contradictory to their understanding of "faith alone."
Works after true salvation (done by walking in the Spirit) bear no resemblance to works (law of Moses) that one does to try to attain it. Let's not let Satan's half-truths here confuse us away from true salvation. (Lisa, Massachusetts)
The Catholic church considers herself the only true church. The Book of Revelation Chapter 17-18 shows that John saw into the future, a woman riding a beast. She had a golden cup in her hand. She is a city on seven hills. She is dressed in purple and scarlet and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. The woman was drunk with the blood of the saints. She is the mother of harlots. By her magic spell all the nations were led astray.
The Catholic Encyclopedia states: 'It is within the city of Rome, called the city of seven hills, that the entire area of Vatican State proper is now confined... The colour for Bishops... is purple, for cardinals scarlet... The Catholic Encyclopedia declares of the chalice: it is the most important of the sacred vessels... The Roman Catholic Church possesses many thousands of solid gold chalices..."
Over the centuries the Roman Church has murdered many millions of Christians (saints). In Spain alone the number of condemned exceeded 3 million, with about 300,000 burned at the stake. Much of the wealth of the Roman Catholic Church was acquired through the confiscation of the property of the pitiful victims of the Inquisitions... Most of Rome 's wealth has been acquired through the sale of salvation. Untold billions of dollars...
Popes had mistresses of fifteen years, were guilty of incest and sexual perversions of every sort, were murdered in the very act of adultery.... All down through history not only priests... but Popes as well had their mistresses and visited prostitutes. Many were homosexuals. No member of the clergy was ever excommunicated for having sex, but thousands have been put out of the priesthood for the scandal of getting married... More than one Pope was the illegitimate son of a previous and supposedly celibate Pope.
In the Bible, John heard a voice from heaven say "Come out of her my people... so that you will not receive any of her plagues" (Rev. 18:4). (Based on A Woman rides the Beast, by Dave Hunt)
Satan labors with all his strength by false teachers, which are his messengers and ambassadors, to deceive, delude and forever destroy the precious souls of men (Matthew 7:15). These evil men... cry, "Peace, Peace" until souls fall into everlasting flames (see Proverbs 7). Now the best way to deliver poor souls from being deluded and destroyed by these messengers of Satan is to display them in their true colours, so that being known poor souls may shun them, and flee from them as hell itself. Now you may know a false teacher by the following distinguishing marks.
They are men-pleasers. They preach more to please the ear than to profit the heart. lsaiah 30:10, Jer. 5.30, 31. These men handle the holy things rather with wit and entertainment than with godly fear and reverence. Such smooth teachers are sweet soul-poisoners (Jeremiah 23:16,17).
They spew out the devices and visions of their own heads and hearts Jeremiah 14:14, 23:16. Are there not multitudes in this nation whose visions are but golden delusions, lying vanities, brainsick fantasies?
They easily pass over the great and weighty things both out of the law and the gospel, and dwell mostly upon these things that are of the least importance and concern to the souls of men. I Timothy 1:5-7, Matthew 23:23. False teachers are meticulous in the lesser things of the law, and quite negligent in the greatest! I Timothy 6:3-5.
They cleverly disguise their dangerous principles and soul-deceiving notions with very attractive speeches and golden expressions. Many in these days are bewitched and deceived by the magnificent words, lofty strains- and stately terms of deceivers. They know that sugared poison goes down sweetly: they wrap up their pernicious, soul-killing pills in gold.
They strive more earnestly to win men over to their opinions, than to improve their behaviour. Matthew 23:15. They busy themselves, most about men's heads. Their work is not to better men's hearts and mend their lives.
They exploit their followers through covetousness. The Apostle Peter, nearing his own death (see 2 Peter 1:12-15), warned his followers: "...there shall be false teachers among you... And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you..." (2 Peter 2:1-3). They eye your goods more than your good; and care more for serving themselves, than the saving of your souls. So long as they have your possessions, they care not that Satan possess your souls (Revelation 18:11-13). False teachers are the great worshippers of the golden calf (Jer. 6:13). False teachers care not who they drown, so long as they may have their money.
Now by these distinguishing marks you may know false teachers, shun them and so deliver your souls out of their dangerous snares. (Thomas Brooks, 1608-1680) (Ed's note: was Ken Copeland and Benny Hinn and churches that support them alive in the 1600's?)
How do we know who is Christian and who is not? Well, we must first decide what constitutes the gospel we are to follow for salvation. The gospel of Jesus Christ is set out very clearly in 1 Cor 15:1-4 where it states: "Moreover brethren, I declare unto you the gospel . . by which also ye are saved . . unless ye have believed in vain . . for I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures."
There you have the true gospel; the gospel that saves, if a person will believe it. If we go to Galatians 1, we will read of "another gospel" (v. 6).
True Christians believe the simple gospel of faith alone in Christ alone and nothing else. Roman Catholics (and this includes Coptic and Orthodox churches as well as every other cult that "adds" to the gospel) have had centuries of "adding" to the gospel, e.g., traditions of the church; the pope "in place of Jesus Christ" on earth which is in fact the job of the Holy Spirit; prayers to Mary; Mary as co-mediatrix with our Lord Jesus; prayers to the dead; penance for sins; forgiveness of sins by a priest; worship of relics, dead saints, icons; the rosary; baptismal regeneration; introduction of purgatory; etc., etc., etc., all added to the gospel and so making it "another gospel".
Can you now see that very grave warning given by Paul in Galatians 1? And can you now see how Roman Catholicism cannot be the Christian church but is a false church of Satan. Can you see also how evil men crept in unawares (Jude 4) and perverted the gospel? And can you now see the reasons for testing everything against the Word of God? But do not hate nor dislike the Catholic or any other cult member for, again, they are as you were - lost but not without hope. Pray for those you know to be Catholic and tell them the true gospel; tell them John 3:3,7,16; John 14:6; 1 Tim 2:5; Luke 1:46,47; because, "faith cometh (only) by hearing and hearing (only) by the word of God" (Emphasis mine). In other words believe in the saving grace of the sufficiency of Scripture alone and not in the pleading words of man to, "say this prayer after me." I hope this helps to clear up a muddied area and to make clear the words of our Lord. (Jay, Lara, Vic)
I am... sad about your reluctance to accept that the power of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Holy Spirit are for today (Betty, Toowoomba, Qld).
Ed: I have never said this. I praise God for His Holy Spirit's power. God still graciously equips His Church with spiritual gifts. Without the true work of the Holy Spirit we would be weak and ineffective Christians.
I believe tongues has fulfilled its purpose in history, and has ceased, just as the Bible says it would. The so-called "tongues" in evidence today are NOT the special sign and gift of languages of the Bible.
God is still baptising His people with his Spirit. There is still a second, and third, and fourth, etc blessing experience we can cry out for. In our days many have just settled for a cheap imitation that sees this as an assortment of confused noises coming out of a person's mouth. No brother, sister, there's something much more, much deeper, much more tangible and real. Something much more scriptural and genuine. It is that that we must seek. I'm sure in your heart of hearts you would see this also. What is passed off as the "Experience" is shallow and empty. Let's get back to the real McCoy. If we truly have the fruit of the Spirit we will get on with making the main thing the main thing and lay aside the controversial and irrelevant things that only steer our energies away from the real task of the church.
Some churches are actively promoting "prophets" and "apostles" today. We must be very careful "...because many false prophets are gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1). Prophecy is also no longer needed, since God's completed Word is our "more sure word of prophecy" (2 Peter 1:19). We do not need "extra-Biblical revelation". Churches which promote so-called modern day prophecy are getting away from the Bible foundation.
Sad to see that many who claim a Biblical heritage, for example, "Morphett Vale Baptist Church", resorting to charismatic signs and wonders meetings, often led by female preachers. Such things are astray from the Bible. (Ed)
There are many benefits of faithful fellowship with God's people. DON'T MISS OUT!!! GET TO CHURCH THIS SUNDAY!!!
Miss church, and you miss CHRIST'S POWER & PRESENCE. Christ promises to meet with us (Matt. 18:20). God's manifest glory and power is at work when His people get together in obedience and fellowship (2 Chr. 7:2-3; 1 Sam. 4:21). Out of church you can lose power in your relationship with God through disobedience (Judges 16:20).
Miss church, and it will damage your WITNESS. A fellowshipping Christian can effectively invite the lost to hear the public, evangelistic preaching of God's Word (Acts 15:7; 1 Th. 2:9). The witnessing Christian who is connected to a Spirit-filled, Biblical Fellowship collectively and actively reaching out to the lost (Acts 2:40,41) can be truly fruitful. Miss church and the effectiveness of your witnessing will be greatly hindered, and you will grow passive, neglectful, and sterile (2 Pet. 1:8).
Miss church and you will lack FRUIT. Joyful, loving believers are productive members of a fruitful, visible, local church (Col. 1:6, 10), exercising the Fruit of the Spirit, in regular interaction with God's people, as Brothers and Sisters. Out of church you can tend to develop a bitter, critical spirit (Eph. 4:31; Gal. 5:15) and become isolated, and unrelated to the Family of God's people.
Miss church and you miss FELLOWSHIP. In church you can relate and meet with other believers (Heb. 10:25), and can collectively help other saints to grow in their walk with the Lord, and in their understanding of the things of God (Acts 2:42). Out of church you may be cut off, unstable, ineffective in helping yourself or others in the faith, and you cannot grow in grace and love of the brethren (2 Pet. 3:16-18).
Miss church and you miss MINISTRY. In fellowship we are joined, as an effectual, working part of the Body (Eph. 4:16), exercising gifts and callings within the framework of Scriptural Fellowship. We can have opportunity to use our gifts and talents to the glory of God and the mutual edification of God's people (Heb. 6:10; 13:21). Out of church you have severed yourself from the body, and are unable to effectively serve or use gifts and talents for the benefits and edification of others; you cannot be obedient to God's call to serve one another (Gal. 5:13).
Miss church and it shows your lack of OBEDIENCE. You are failing to obeys God's command to gather with the saints and be joined together in public assembly and in the receiving of godly admonition from God's servant/s (1 Th. 5:12, 13). You will likely become apathetic, carnal, inactive; and will show by your works an open disregard to the clear and plain instructions of God in His Word (Titus 1:16).
Miss Church and you will miss HEARING GOD'S WORD. In church you can hear the Word of God read (1 Th. 5:27; 1 Tim. 4:13), and preached (Acts 13:44) and gain instruction - whilst you may not necessarily agree with all that is said (1 Cor. 1:21) by the imperfect human instrument, though that person is God's vessel at that time (Acts 20:7) - whilst receiving it, you can "be a Berean" (Acts 17:11). Miss church and you'll likely be rebellious, have closed your ears to the public preaching of God's Word through God's vessel at that time (Zech. 7:11-12; Acts 7:57); and are deliberately and disobediently dull of hearing (Heb. 5:11; Acts 28:27).
Miss church and you miss LEARNING. There is opportunity to be taught and receive exhortation - if you are receptive (Heb. 13:22). Without fellowship you will tend to be stagnant; stunted in spiritual growth, weak, not receptive, proud (Rom. 12:16), unteachable, and contentious.
Miss church and you miss GODLY RELATIONSHIPS, where you can interact scripturally (1 Th. 5:14) and build godly relationships; pray together, and learn together. You miss opportunity to encourage those who are weaker in the faith; and to exercise the fruit of the Spirit with those who are lacking in it. You miss opportunity to love the brethren (1 Th. 4:9); and to recognise the needs of others in order to be of some service or blessing to God's family, in edification and love (Eph. 4:16). You will have limited in inter-relations with other believers, and you will tend to be divisive, cause strife, be carnal (1 Cor. 3:3); selfish, self-centred (Lk. 22:24), disobedient, and will not submit to scriptural authority (Heb. 13:17)
Miss church and you miss DOCTRINE where you can gather together to hear the teaching of God's Word (Acts 2:42); as balanced Christians. You will tend to get off track, and become unbalanced and cultic (Phil. 1:15).
Miss church and you will miss RECEPTIVITY - being open to hearing from God and be able to exercise scriptural discernment (Heb. 5:14). You will tend to be faultfinding, picky (Jas. 4:11) and gainsaying.
Miss church and it will hinder your ATTITUDE. People who fellowship are more likely to be positive, productive, solid and faithful (Acts 14:22, 15:32; plus many Bible references to "faithful brother"). Those who don't fellowship are likely to be negative, destructive and unreliable.
Miss church and you will hinder INVOLVEMENT - you will not be able to be active, or put faith into action. In church you can proactively participate (1 Cor. 14:26) and be a relevant, working part of God's church (2 Th. 3:13), you have opportunity to serve God and man, and be an effectual working part in right relation to others (Eph. 4:16); striving together (Phil. 1:27), and always abounding in the work of the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58), with patient continuance in well doing (Rom. 2:7). You will likely have passive, dead faith (Jas. 2:14, 17); you cannot take part - or are deliberately idle - unwilling to work; in effect you have become a severed part from the local body of believers.
Miss church and you miss WORSHIP - the opportunity to join in the joyful corporate public worship of God in unity with other believers (Acts 2:47).
Miss church and you will fail in WITNESS TO COMMUNITY. You won't show the world that we can be a shining light (Acts 2:47) and corporate public testimony (1 Pet. 2:12); as a glowing, visible, radiant witness. When believers fail to be a faithful part of the assembly in the local community it is destructive to the visible church of God. By not being part of the visible church they are effectively standing against it, and stand with the world and God's enemies (Ex. 32:26).
Miss church and you fail in TESTIMONY - the opportunity to testify of the goodness of God in order to encourage and uplift others. Your testimony will be hindered; you will be a poor witness to younger believers, and can cause little ones to stumble (1 Cor. 8:12; Rom. 14:13).
Miss church and you show lack of COMMITMENT. True believers will be committed to the visible local church in the community, upholding the Word of God, in union with the people of God, to a lost and hell-bound world (throughout the Bible). Missing fellowship leads to lack of commitment and carnality (1 Cor. 3:3).
Miss church and you miss PRAYER. You miss joining in corporate prayer (Acts 4:31, 12:12). You cannot share needs and answers to prayer and be thereby encouraged (2 Cor. 1:11). By missing corporate prayer (Acts 1:14) you will not be able to minister as effectively to others by joining together in prayer with other believers, nor receive prayer for yourself.
Miss church and you miss EDIFICATION; the opportunity to edify the saints (Acts 9:31, Rom. 14:19, 1 Cor. 14:12) and extend your arms of friendship and love to other believers. You cannot give heed to godly edifying (1 Tim. 1:4); you are not able to edify yourself - or others, and will tend to become contentious (Prov. 26:21).
Miss church and you fail to GLORIFY GOD. Believers can assemble together and give Glory to God together (Rom. 15:6-7) and see His hand at work in the corporate gathering (Acts 4:31). Those who don't assemble refuse to glorify God in the assembly (Jn. 17:10).
Miss church and you fail to EXPRESS UNITY with God's people. God promises to bless the expression of scriptural unity (Ps. 133:1), as shown in being part of the local body of believers (Eph. 4:3; 1 Cor. 12:20, 1 Cor. 1:10). You will likely just murmur, complain (Jas 5:9); create schism (1 Cor. 12:25), or disunity and discord (Prov. 6:19).
Miss church and you miss BREAKING BREAD TOGETHER; you miss opportunity to join in corporate remembrance of what Christ has done for us in His work at Calvary (Acts 2:42, 2:46), and the keeping of the ordinances (1 Cor. 11:2). This is disobedience to Christ's command.
Miss church and you miss the RESULTS of church-going; in terms of growth, and vibrancy of spiritual life
(2 Th. 1:3). You will tend to become stagnant, worldly, and backsliding.
Miss church and you lack ACCOUNTABILITY - You will not be a responsible part of a disciplined and God-ordained fellowship (Gal. 6:1), acting under authority (2 Cor. 10:8); receiving godly instruction, challenge and exhortation (1 Th. 2:9). You will likely become selfish, will lack submission to scriptural decency or order; and will not be in right Biblical relationship to God's people or submission to godly leadership.
Miss church and you miss being able to show STEWARDSHIP - to faithfully (1 Cor. 4:2) support the visible expression of God's work on the earth (Gal. 6:10), and its extension by Biblical preaching and ministry (2 Cor. 11:9) and giving (Rom. 12:13). You will fail to support a local expression of outreach or ministry in a scriptural manner.
Miss church and you fail to show CARE. The members should have care
of one another (1 Cor. 12:25). You are called to love other believers (1 P.
1:22, 3:8), not please yourself (Rom. 15:1). If you miss church you are self-centred;
you cannot effectively support the weak (Acts 20:35) and cannot effectively
care for other believers.
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