10 Implied Messages of Institutional Church Gone Astray

[*Zion*]

I don't know what the Institutional church is, nor Jim Palmer. But the spirit within me tells me most of them are wrong. Maybe #5 has some merit to it, because when people are left to their own understanding of scripture, too many go wrong.

#3 also has some merit. Isn't there a verse in the OT that says, "my people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge"? But what people need most is a personal relationship with God and Jesus. But to even say that is wrought with danger. I've met people who were clearly involved with serious sins. But they were convinced they knew God.

3. What people need most is good information about God.

Well, consider this - how many sermons focus on filling your head with knowledge about God and other aspects of theology?

Now consider - how many sermons focus on teaching you how to live the Gospel. Or even better, how many churches are actually focused on discipleship? ("Go and make disciples....") Discipleship involves hands and feet learning, not book-learning.

True thing. You better preach it girl!

C'mon Steven, do you know what I'm saying or what? Don't make me bring out the cruel duck!

well I was trying to enhance what I believed you were saying.... we are set free in Christ yet while here

we are restricted by that freedom even within our own bodies. Case in point the car person you mentioned

is involved with who's who and position by possession and we the same but ours is Possession of The Holy

Spirit hence the eternal unlimited freedom we have eternally yet here we live in the restriction to be at peace

as much as possible to all men as being in the world but not of it! Is it wrong to have nice things no... but since

Jesus has come and told us all things... isn't seemingly vain to amass that which passes away?

Rom 12:18-21

18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge

yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.

20 Therefore

"If your enemy is hungry, feed him;

If he is thirsty, give him a drink;

For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head."

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

NKJV

Love, Steven

I wholeheartedly agree, but I would like to explain what I meant about paying for someone's car. These people say that if we give to their ministry we ourselves will be blessed. But their ministry is not the gospel but their bank account. Shock and horror for some to hear, but I assure you, it's a true thing. Don't get me wrong. TV can and should be used as a medium to preach the gospel. But the gospel has disappeared from many of these people's messages. Not bad to have good things at all. But bad to deceive people into thinking their giving to contribute to God's work when they're just sustaining a greedy con-man's - yeah I said it - lifestyle. The good news is they have already received their reward in full here on earth. We have treasures in heaven where nothing can destroy them. Bless the Lord!