kevana Posted July 18, 2019 Group: Members Followers: 1 Topic Count: 9 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 27 Content Per Day: 0.02 Reputation: 34 Days Won: 0 Joined: 07/09/2019 Status: Offline Share Posted July 18, 2019 In the western world where I have been blessed to live for most of my 60 odd years I have noticed that church numbers over the last 50+ years has been falling despite large population growth. So 50 years ago many church's were filled every weekend yet now where there are huge numbers its mainly the prosperity & entertainment type gatherings. And that's good as wherever the Gospel is preached is awesome; Our commission is love to obey and serve, to discern and not to judge... So for those of us that weekly attend modest to small gatherings and don't see much growth, more like rehashed already believers that for this reason or that are now in fellowship with us I ASK , ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,DOES THE WORLD TRUST US ??? Most would agree CHRISTIANS are ,,, a people set apart, loving, helpful, understanding, good friends, generous, kind and yet we have been given a GIFT so precious that we our instructed not to conceal this PRECIOUS GIFT but to share it ... Looking over my lifespan in many homes of GOD where the truth was misled ..eg Catholic priest pedo controversy ,,, thru to liberal church views about Gay clergy , the pay for healing message over the airways and other ways to attract new members, rather than revealing the truth ,,, JESUS alive in us ... SO WHAT ARE WE TO THOSE THAT THOSE THAT ARE PERISHING CAN THEY TRUST US. Kevana. p.s. It starts right here with you has said the LORD to me... 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not me Posted July 18, 2019 Group: Royal Member Followers: 14 Topic Count: 510 Topics Per Day: 0.23 Content Count: 3,178 Content Per Day: 1.46 Reputation: 3,344 Days Won: 1 Joined: 04/06/2018 Status: Offline Share Posted July 18, 2019 10 minutes ago, kevana said: p.s. It starts right here with you has said the LORD to me... I think this is the truth and the ticket. Unless people really and truly see Christ written in our hearts I can understand why they choose to have nothing to do with the Christianity of the day. So to righteousness in our doings is that thing that will attract the hearts that are willing to know right from wrong and love the truth. My thinks, Blessings, Much love in Christ, Not me . 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevana Posted July 18, 2019 Group: Members Followers: 1 Topic Count: 9 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 27 Content Per Day: 0.02 Reputation: 34 Days Won: 0 Joined: 07/09/2019 Status: Offline Author Share Posted July 18, 2019 Bless YOU 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not me Posted July 18, 2019 Group: Royal Member Followers: 14 Topic Count: 510 Topics Per Day: 0.23 Content Count: 3,178 Content Per Day: 1.46 Reputation: 3,344 Days Won: 1 Joined: 04/06/2018 Status: Offline Share Posted July 18, 2019 2 minutes ago, kevana said: Bless YOU He has, and He will again, in both of our life’s. As long as we stay wanting Him. Blessings, Much love in Christ, Not me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevana Posted July 18, 2019 Group: Members Followers: 1 Topic Count: 9 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 27 Content Per Day: 0.02 Reputation: 34 Days Won: 0 Joined: 07/09/2019 Status: Offline Author Share Posted July 18, 2019 amen 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jostler Posted July 18, 2019 Group: Mars Hill Followers: 25 Topic Count: 6 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 2,679 Content Per Day: 1.41 Reputation: 3 Days Won: 16 Joined: 01/19/2019 Status: Offline Share Posted July 18, 2019 (edited) “The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.” ― Brennan Manning That could sound very condemning, if we fail to recognize that our brothers and sisters trapped in this behaviour are victimized by lies and misunderstandings of Him, of whom many TRULY desire to love and serve Him. Ministry has two faces.....one facing the Body, and the other facing the world He died for. We need to have His heart for rescuing both. And Body ministry is what produces disciples of Jesus Christ, and more harvesters. Edited July 18, 2019 by Jostler 1 1 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevana Posted July 18, 2019 Group: Members Followers: 1 Topic Count: 9 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 27 Content Per Day: 0.02 Reputation: 34 Days Won: 0 Joined: 07/09/2019 Status: Offline Author Share Posted July 18, 2019 Loved it JOSTLER, as usual you nailed it. Love your quote from B/M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Who me Posted July 18, 2019 Group: Royal Member Followers: 5 Topic Count: 17 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 3,272 Content Per Day: 1.73 Reputation: 1,677 Days Won: 0 Joined: 01/27/2019 Status: Offline Share Posted July 18, 2019 It is not a question of trust, but a question of world views and whether the opposing view, 'Christianity' is either relevent or even legal. We live in a world where Christianity is not seen as being relevent to peoples daily lives. As Jester said this is partly down to Christians not living out there belief. But it is also down to the rejection of Christianity by those in the media and there down playing of Christianity. We need to be living a radicly different lifestyle so as to be seen to be Christian, to be preparing for an increase in active hostility towards Christians, while also praying for a revival. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heybro Posted July 18, 2019 Group: Diamond Member Followers: 19 Topic Count: 12 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 1,360 Content Per Day: 0.67 Reputation: 2,139 Days Won: 0 Joined: 09/03/2018 Status: Offline Share Posted July 18, 2019 3 hours ago, Who me said: As Jester said this is partly down to Who me, if you are referring to Jostler (Jester) there are times when I think you're right, for some times he does "jest." lol 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pg4Him Posted July 18, 2019 Group: Advanced Member Followers: 3 Topic Count: 6 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 347 Content Per Day: 0.08 Reputation: 370 Days Won: 2 Joined: 08/20/2012 Status: Offline Share Posted July 18, 2019 I resisted Christ for years in my youth because I’d met enough “Christians” to be highly skeptical. In Romans, Paul chastised the Jews for making God a punchline among the Gentiles — and Christians today are repeating the cycle. American Christianity went over the cliff about 60 years ago when it became a business model. Now, even among small local churches, policy is made by consumer spending research, marketing plans, and leadership seminars. With the right business model, they can keep this system running with or without the Holy Spirit. Pastors go in these days expecting six-figure incomes, benefits, severance packages, etc. They stack the deacon/elder boards with the five or six most financially successful men in the crowd (who are good tithers of course) and then the pastor is shocked when a change in business plans results in his firing. Meanwhile for the lay members, money is wasted on fruitless programs and shallow study books. The music hurts their ears, the ‘preaching’ is based on TV shows they’ve never seen, and the home group is run by an airhead who does not return phone calls. But when they complain, they are dismissed as selfish consumers only looking for what’s in it for them. You can only do this for so many Sundays in a row before you’re done. There’s a new church plant in every public school in my town. Same website design, same buzz words, same marketing language, same everything. ‘A new kind of church with authentic community for people who want to love God and serve others.’ When one goes financially bust, the ”pastor” moves down to the road to a new neighborhood development, rebrands himself, and plants another one. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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