Seasoned by Grace

I agree completely. If we're doing Gods will and were sure in our hearts what we are doing is His will for us and have been all along, then we should just keep doing what we're doing and not worry about the rest of the world and what's happening or what others think of us. "We are in the world, not of the world". God bless you all. My name is OLIGOS

Of coarse they are dying!! Romans 13:2-7, "Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinances of God, and those who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves". Titus 1:1-3 "Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, to be gentle, showing every consideration to all men. Mark 12:12 Even Jesus said, "Give to Ceaser what is Ceasers and to God what is to God what is Gods." A reference to submission to authority. Matthew 4:5-7, "Do not tempt the Lord your God". The pastors and church people I've heard speak out against the closing of churches, and wanting to reopen, don't reflect any of the characteristics of Godly people mentioned above. We are to be the SALT and LIGHT to the world. The Jewish nation rebelled against God several times, and each time had to suffer great catastrophies. Will we do the same? Ignorance, rebellion, false teaching , arrogance and ego, lead most of todays church people and churches, and we'll continue to see death in the churches as we begin to see Gods judgement as an automatic response to rejecting Gods truth. Gods plan is already in motion for anyone who rejects His truth. Gods judgement is upon the false churches who teach a false faith, and live a false doctrine. This is just the beginning until repentance is claimed in their hearts not arrogance. 1st Peter 4:17 says, "..in the last when judgement begins, judgement begins with the HOUSE OF GOD. My name is OLIGOS

Jesus always prayed to the Father "Not my will but thine be done".

Along with what everyone else has said here, I think there is some rational thinking, wisdom to be prayed for, as well as being aware of the results of other churches opening. In the news just recently several churches have opened with disastrous results. One church having a third of the congregation coming down sick with the coronavirus. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- One thing to remember is we don't live by our faith to prove who we are to other Christians who may judge us, we live our faith from our heart, and whatever we do God Himself looks on our heart and understands our intentions. What other Christians think of our actions is their problem, what God thinks is ours. My name is OLIGOS

To me this is a really good question considering the state of our country right now, and peoples state of mind.. I wonder how this question would have been answered during the war between the states - The UNION against the CONFEDERATES?? What about KENT STATE PROTESTS AND STUDENTS BEING SHOT - DEAD - BY ARMES MILITARY, or RODNEY KING RIOTS, or MARTIN LUTHER KING RIOTS AND MARCHES or the WATTS RIOTS, or the VIEYNAM WAR PROTESTS AND RIOTS all over the U.S.?? IS HAVING THE FREEDOM TO HAVE A VOICE MAKE US GREAT?? Why do people still come from all over the world to live here?? Is the American dream still alive inspite of all this?? Do we have the freedom to become anything we set our minds on?? if WE'RE BORN HERE DO WE TAKE EVERYTHING WE HAVE FOR GRANTED , AND EVEN HAVE THE FREEDOM TO EXPECT TO GET WHATEVER WE WANT, AND THINK IT'S OUR RIGHT TO HAVE THINGS GIVEN TO US BY OUR GOVERNMENT. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Is our country perfect. ABSOLUTELY NOT!! Is anyone in this country perfect - ABSOLUTELY NOT!! Even Christians - ABSOLUTELY NOT!! People have problems, countries have problems, even families have problems, and marriages have problems. But in this country we work through our problems, always have, hopefully, we always will. To me being great isn't just about what you do, but how you do it a certain way and why. We don't always have the right answers at first, but we don't quit until we find them GOD BLESS AMERICA MY name is OLIGOS

Debp So very true. So many people caught up in LEGALISM and RULE KEEPING, have no idea how understanding and loving and kind God can be when we have no control over our personal situations. How much God loved King David INSPITE of his sins, continually amazes me. How gentle and merciful our God can be when we are trying because of our love for HIM, but we fail, and He allows us to get up and try again, and again, until we get it right. God bless all who stop by. My name is OLIGOS

I have always believed that God looks on our heart and our intentions, not how we follow rules or do as others expect - LEGALISM and RULE KEEPING. Look at David, how he failed God, but through it all David never quit loving the Lord. DAVID was called a man after God's own HEART - absolutely BEAUTIFUL!! God bless you debp My name is OLIGOS

Well LonerAndy my friend, you have a pretty strong opinion and I don't think any thing I say will Change your mind, and for me that's O.K. The lord is still growing us both, and we're still on the same path and God still loves us, so what could be better??. Like a lot od people who think their Christians, they don't have a clue about "Legalism" vs. LOVE, and what your talking about in your beliefs is legalism and rule keeping, instead of doing what you do from your heart from love. We're all at different places in our faith, and just because I'm not where you are doesn't make me wrong. Are you 77 years old yet like me, and been a Christian getting closer to 50 years?" Have you preached in 2 churches? Have you served the Lord leading men's groups or worked with the homeless for over 12 years?? We're all in different places, so chill out and live your life for God, and back off on judging others by your own standards because we all have our own that we'll all have to answer for some day, and I'm good where I am, and the Holy Spirit has validated where I am. God bless you brother and with all my love as a Christian brother, and may you find your own path in life as the lord leads and guides you! My name is OLIGOS

BibleStudent100. I don't think it's so much about making church appealing, but it's more about making Christ appealing in the church and in our community. Not to be critical of you at all because I think I know what you mean, that If we live our lives for Christ we'll have a good reputation in the community and new comers may recognize some of the people there who have good reputations, and if we are a positive part of the local community, they may feel like their in the right place and even want to get to know us. Sometimes I think we focus on the external too much, and forget about just loving people without the rules and regulations we seem to create, or the legalism that puts our faith in a box or on a list of do's and don'ts. Lastly, it seems that more and more, in the churchs, that Christianity is becoming a THING, something to use to connect to people, like going to a bar to make friends, and the lines become blurred as to why someone is really there, or who they really are. They learn to speak the CHRIStIANEEZE language, and begin to fit right in - Tares and the wheat. And when church is over, people have busy lives and the young families want to get out as fast as they can to get the kids to soccer practice as there's no time to hang around for a church social with food and fellowship It's like they did what God expected, so mow there free to get on with other things. Think about it. My name is OLIGOS

In the comment of mine that you quoted I was referring to the intent of the heart. That should be the standard we live our personal Christian lives by. Are we not only true to God, but are we true to ourselves also ??? My name is OLIGOS

TheBlade my friend Try reading 2nd Corinthians 6:14-18, and try to get past just applying this message to marriage as many, many churches teach that it only applies to. If you can get past the legalism and rule keeping of most every church in America, and get to the heart of what God is saying in His word, God would never, and has never commanded us as believers to stay in a DEAD CHURCH. In the group of verses I quoted above, verse 17 says, "come out from their midst and be separate , says the LORD". In this context of the meaning of the word separate, which also means to be sanctified, Holy, or set apart, is the Greek word hagiasmos, which, when you refer to the scripture being quoted in 2nd Cor. 17 above, is Jeremiah 51: 45, Jeremiah is saying, "Come out of her my people! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES. RUN from the fierce anger of the Lord." The connotation in the Greek language here in this context, is the idea of running for your life as you'd run from a burning building. The Greek word aphorizo also means to separate, but can't be used in this context, a different application, so don't get the 2 confused if you study both. I hope that helps clarify your understanding in the statement you made above that I quoted God bless you as you continue on your path of Godliness. My name is OLIGOS

Logostician I so appreciate your encouragement, support and belief in me. God knows He owns my heart, and that my life is surrendered to Him for any calling He chooses to place on my life. I have served Him for many decades, and have learned how to place my life and situations in His hands to do as He wills. I so believe Jesus words, "Not my will but thin be done" in everything, and God has been faithful. I have taught my oldest son how to apply that to his life to, and the Lord is blessing him beyond description, as he applies trusting our LORD as I do What a joy to be a father right now. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Before I was a believer I set my own coarse in life, even after I became a believer, for a while, but God is gentle and patient, and led me to a different way of living in Him. It's so easy to choose your own coarse in life, and life can get really hard when we do, or we can choose to let God lead and it may still get hard, the difference is we are in training, and God has a plan and He wants to give our lives a value, and purpose we could never accomplish for ourselves, and bring to others the AWESOME gift of ETERNAL LIFE. My name is OLIGOS

No matter who tries to solve this here on the forum, do you really think discrimination will end??? The prejudice and hate is driving all of this as it always has. Prejudice and hate on both side. Remember 1964 and the Watts riots, and how many riots since then. This is about HATING your fellow man, no different than what I've seen and experienced in churches and men's groups Not as violent, but just as hateful. if you think this hate is restricted to the streets, you need to pay closer attention to what's happening in the churches between white folks. None of this is JUST ABOUT color, it's the release of pent up hate especially by our police who have had enough, just like the blacks have had enough too. It's a clash of both sides fed up and are lashing out. To me both sides are right, and both sides are wrong. IT'S HATE THAT IS OUT OF CONTROL!!! My name is OLIGOS

I love the differing views here and all your diversity of beliefs, and I'm grateful you stopped by to offer your advise and opinions. What I love is that there's been no harshness between people here on this thread. You've all been very kind and considerate unlike on many other topics here where there's been a lot of devisiveness. Thank you so much for all of your kindness's. My name is OLIGOS

Thank you dhchristian That's exactly what I'm trying to be as I walk around my neighborhood and meet and talk to folks, and see where they are in their life. God may not use me for any more than a lifter of spirits and an encouragement, and when there's an opportunity, share some words about faith as I have been given to me several times already . I'm a very relaxed east going person, a super friendly person and enjoy people tremendously, and love to hear about their lives, and joke around and laugh. I let them talk mostly and don't say too much, as people really like to talk about THEIR LIVES, and get bored real easy if the other person talks too much. God could be setting me up for more in the future, or he could be just putting me in a place where I'm available to talk when someone has need, or maybe something elase entirely I never thought of. God does that sometimes, but whatever He wants is my hearts desire - I'M ALL IN . God bless you al for chiming in and giving me support, a place to be heard, a voice, and some wonderful feedback and hopefully there'll be more. We all need all the help we can get and a few PRAYERS would sure go along way and be appreciated. My name is OLIGOS