The Reason the Church is Floundering....

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Major said:
Good for you! Look at it this way......."Satan is not going to run you away from the worship of God!!!!"

Ephesians 6:13...........
"Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand."

Honestly and factually......I do not think that there has been another time in history where men need to be coming together in the worship of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 12:40 is IMHO now...........
"Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not."
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I still worship God, but by myself. But, I agree with you.
 
Gold Heart said:
No need for a warning sir. I find those words a bit harsh as I am a true believer in Christ. Still trying to understand the “personalities” here 🧐 a lot of what people say here - it doesn’t really come through via typing quite frankly.
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I tend to lean left on social issues and center or right on all others. I think both the right and the left pain with broad brushes and humans are way too complicated for that. Our collective cup is overflowing with hate, intolerance, lack of accountability, and just plain old non-politically correct honesty.

Society is what society has become. I was thinking about this on Sunday. One of the positive aspects of volunteering and serving for all three Sunday services is that you have time to hear the message and spend a great deal of time thinking about it.

One of the remarks that always leaves me wanting more is the comment that we are not of this world and should not spend time with such matters. How does that work? Yes, we are not of this world, but we sure as heck are deep in this world. It is no longer possible to give away everything you have and spend the rest of your earthly time spreading the Good News and surviving off the generosity of like minded men.

Well, that's how I feel at the moment....

Rtm
 
forgiven61 said:
many pastors are trained that way . the days of old time Holy Ghost conviction preaching is gradually being replaced by seminary preaching. to bad you dont live in my area i would gladly invite you.
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forgiven61 said:
my church is small in number i can hold a hundred if need. i ask that you folks pray for Fairview general Baptist church. there all lots of churches in our area that has small numbers sad thing is i fear many will never return . the Devil has used this virus as a tool to keep folks away from Church
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Major said:
I have no need to question your comment. I actually agree wit you that what you are saying is true. But that is NOT the fault of a Seminary.
I will tell you however that what you are saying is just an excuse for those who refuse to preach the Word of God. Instead of looking to themselves and accepting the correcting of God...those that you speak of instead blame a seminary for their failures.

I am a Seminary trained person myself. In fact two of them. I did hear and was told things that were silly and stupid and I rejected them because they were told to me by a man and what was said was not found in the Scriptures. It was MY choice and MY responsibility as a called man of God to follow what God said not what a man said.

Allow me to give you an example. Everyone I know of has read and believes what C.S. Lewis wrote and taught. I had a professor hold Mr. Lewis in the highest regard. He taught us what Mr. Lewis said and when I asked him why he thought that a man of such high esteem would write that "water baptism" and "Purgatory" was a requirement of salvation and was told to read again what he wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and then I could give the correct answer and pass his class.

So I did.....I gave the answer he wanted. Passed his class and never, ever taught what he taught again the rest of my life. WHY????

Because what he taught was not the Word of God.
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Major said:
That does not mean you can not find a church that would meet your needs. Please look around!
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Cosia said:
Thank you for the encouragement. I will start looking again.
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Many churches in these times have evolved with bad doctrine, underlying motives in the preacher's sermon and, alas, the personality of church members. When we go back to the Patristic Era, or early Church Fathers to the "Church in a Changing World" to the Industrial Revolution it's no surprise that much hasn't changed.

But we cannot write the church off as God's failure and we all should be encouraged that there are still many churches throughout God's nations, how He is moving in Africa, South and Central America, India, Korea, etc...and these United States.

Sad, but we need to take responsibility for ourselves as well. God is angered when the church talks and says behind the back of the Pastor and Spiritual leaders. God is angered more when the Senior Pastor grumbles about the flock God has held him accountable. This can go on and on but the Good News is, God's church is alive and well and He is not going to allow the bad apples to fail His people, for He has so many reinforcements, the ones who truly love God and rely on the One, the Way, the Truth and the Life who will save and guide them.

I had no regrets about completing seminary but am still praying for my brothers who are much younger than I, flourished in their studies (man, these young people are smart) but they cannot find a church in their calling because they are "looking for a career." Others were hired but only lasted a year or two because though they had the knowledge, they lacked the shepherd's heart to lead His people and was asked to step down. I have to admit they didn't teach this at my seminary.

Major, personally, I'm encouraged by your post regarding the church, and the individuals who allowed God to build up their discernment, to recognize their calling and Holy Spirit conviction to send His vision and message to the church family. I'm also encouraged by those who are not giving up searching the church that God is leading and anointing them to serve.

Personalities? If anyone has a problem with my disposition, get in line. We are to go beyond personalities to the next level. Jesus teaches us the greatest commandment, Matthew 22:37-39, 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

We need to stop putting fluff on this passage and starting putting meat on His teaching.

Let's all pray in accord for the church you are currently pastoring, serving and attending. For those were are searching, keep searching because there are still God's churches who are spirit led with good sound, teaching and truthful doctrine.

God bless you all and your families.
 
bobinfaith said:
Many churches in these times have evolved with bad doctrine, underlying motives in the preacher's sermon and, alas, the personality of church members. When we go back to the Patristic Era, or early Church Fathers to the "Church in a Changing World" to the Industrial Revolution it's no surprise that much hasn't changed.

But we cannot write the church off as God's failure and we all should be encouraged that there are still many churches throughout God's nations, how He is moving in Africa, South and Central America, India, Korea, etc...and these United States.

Sad, but we need to take responsibility for ourselves as well. God is angered when the church talks and says behind the back of the Pastor and Spiritual leaders. God is angered more when the Senior Pastor grumbles about the flock God has held him accountable. This can go on and on but the Good News is, God's church is alive and well and He is not going to allow the bad apples to fail His people, for He has so many reinforcements, the ones who truly love God and rely on the One, the Way, the Truth and the Life who will save and guide them.

I had no regrets about completing seminary but am still praying for my brothers who are much younger than I, flourished in their studies (man, these young people are smart) but they cannot find a church in their calling because they are "looking for a career." Others were hired but only lasted a year or two because though they had the knowledge, they lacked the shepherd's heart to lead His people and was asked to step down. I have to admit they didn't teach this at my seminary.

Major, personally, I'm encouraged by your post regarding the church, and the individuals who allowed God to build up their discernment, to recognize their calling and Holy Spirit conviction to send His vision and message to the church family. I'm also encouraged by those who are not giving up searching the church that God is leading and anointing them to serve.

Personalities? If anyone has a problem with my disposition, get in line. We are to go beyond personalities to the next level. Jesus teaches us the greatest commandment, Matthew 22:37-39, 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

We need to stop putting fluff on this passage and starting putting meat on His teaching.

Let's all pray in accord for the church you are currently pastoring, serving and attending. For those were are searching, keep searching because there are still God's churches who are spirit led with good sound, teaching and truthful doctrine.

God bless you all and your families.
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You said...........
"Personalities? If anyone has a problem with my disposition, get in line. We are to go beyond personalities to the next level. Jesus teaches us the greatest commandment, Matthew 22:37-39, 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

We need to stop putting fluff on this passage and starting putting meat on His teaching."

AMEN! You would almost think that you heard that from me!!!!!!

Notice......the love of the Lord comes First, then the love of our neighbor!
 
rtm3039 said:
I tend to lean left on social issues and center or right on all others. I think both the right and the left pain with broad brushes and humans are way too complicated for that. Our collective cup is overflowing with hate, intolerance, lack of accountability, and just plain old non-politically correct honesty.

Society is what society has become. I was thinking about this on Sunday. One of the positive aspects of volunteering and serving for all three Sunday services is that you have time to hear the message and spend a great deal of time thinking about it.

One of the remarks that always leaves me wanting more is the comment that we are not of this world and should not spend time with such matters. How does that work? Yes, we are not of this world, but we sure as heck are deep in this world. It is no longer possible to give away everything you have and spend the rest of your earthly time spreading the Good News and surviving off the generosity of like minded men.

Well, that's how I feel at the moment....

Rtm
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Agreed.

God gives all men the ability to be free. What then is Freedom?????

It is the ability to make the right choices in life. However, if we make the wrong choices which God rejects then we are open to the judgment from God on the sin that comes from wrong choices.

How do we as humans know right from wrong so that we can make the right Godly choices??????

Read the written Word of God and do what it says!
 
rtm3039 said:
Dogs are funny that way. In my travels I have found that most people tend to fall short of the love and commitment our four-legged companions show us.
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Amen.

All of my life as far back as I can remember, I always has a dog. Every single one of them was as close to me as my own brothers.

When I see a pet mistreated, I am the 1st to call animal control and then sit there and wait for them to show up!

Squirrels are rats so that do not apply......IMHO! :)
 
Major said:
HEBREWS 10:25 ..........
“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
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In a very real sense CFS is a place were Christians gather together. It is not formalized like regular church meetings, but is a gathering place for Christians. Here we can learn how to practice faith and love in our lives. In many ways I have learned more from pastors and others here than in most formal church settings which is a shame.
 
CPerkins said:
In a very real sense CFS is a place were Christians gather together. It is not formalized like regular church meetings, but is a gathering place for Christians. Here we can learn how to practice faith and love in our lives. In many ways I have learned more from pastors and others here than in most formal church settings which is a shame.
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I am blessed to hear you say that and yes......it is a real shame!
 
CPerkins said:
In a very real sense CFS is a place were Christians gather together. It is not formalized like regular church meetings, but is a gathering place for Christians. Here we can learn how to practice faith and love in our lives. In many ways I have learned more from pastors and others here than in most formal church settings which is a shame.
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This concept of church is a bit new to me, although I saw it coming awhile ago through social media.
My hesitation to associate forums as Church such as this is because they lack...
1. accountability in the form of Church discipline.
2.Corporate Worship
3. physical interaction in the form of physically helping one another (visitations, helps etc.)
4. Lord's Table/ breaking of bread/ Love Feasts etc.
 
crossnote said:
This concept of church is a bit new to me, although I saw it coming awhile ago through social media.
My hesitation to associate forums as Church such as this is because they lack...
1. accountability in the form of Church discipline.
2.Corporate Worship
3. physical interaction in the form of physically helping one another (visitations, helps etc.)
4. Lord's Table/ breaking of bread/ Love Feasts etc.
Click to expand...

I agree and this forum is not church but I think "CPerkins" clarifies it with ......
"It is not formalized like regular church meetings, but is a gathering place for Christians."
 
Major said:
I agree and this forum is not church but I think "CPerkins" clarifies it with ......
"It is not formalized like regular church meetings, but is a gathering place for Christians."
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"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." This place is close enough, depending on how liberally you define "gathered."

Rtm
 
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