Church attendance in decline

[Indentured Servant]

19 hours ago, Sower said:

           Or even fleeing Egypt either, say wot!

I think I live on a different planet than you, sir...

Thank you for your reply....

No, same planet, different understanding...

God personally brought His Chosen Nation out of Egypt; they didn't seek a new land due to not wanting their religion dictated to them. America is not a chosen nation... If you think it is, you are welcome to believe that.

Please accept my apology for offending your beliefs. I truly did not intend it to become personal. 

 

[Anne2]

4 hours ago, Indentured Servant said:

No, same planet, different understanding...

Maybe it is an issue of differing gifts for a calling.

 

4 hours ago, Indentured Servant said:

God personally brought His Chosen Nation out of Egypt; they didn't seek a new land due to not wanting their religion dictated to them.

However they did leave Egypt to worship God

Ex 5:1 And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.
2  And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.
3  And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days’ journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.

I think sometimes we do not recognize/appreciate the various operations of the body of christ.

1 Cor 12:14  For the body is not one member, but many.
15  If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16  And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17  If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18  But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19  And if they were all one member, where were the body?

David a man of war, blessed and chosen King...was not to build God's house..

1Chr 28:3  But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood. {blood: Heb. bloods }
4  Howbeit the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel:

 

Edited May 29, 2024 by Anne2

[Indentured Servant]

9 minutes ago, Anne2 said:

Maybe it is an issue of differing gifts for a calling.

 

This is correct; however, I do not typically reveal that God has called me according to the manifestation of the Spirit, ("gift") He has given me. It is not ever well received.

Christians don't understand this, as most denominations teach that people like me can't exist, or that I am a phony  for believing and engaging two-way communication with God.

Scripture teaches we can seek His heart and His mind. We can ask for wisdom, insight, and gifts, "especially prophecy." These I have done. 

But to tell someone that I "have a calling from God to call Christians out of Christian Nationalism" comes across as arrogant, overly dramatic, and heretical... I'm sure you see my point, haha.

I'm not here to offend anyone... But, if someone is offended, does that mean I no longer have a right to communicate a biblical message... Or even my own opinion? Or a sincere warning?

If that's the case, perhaps we brought some of the mindset of the Church of England with us and still desire to control the religious beliefs and traditions of others who may not be conforming to our traditions.

I've been clearly dismissed in this thread, therefore, I will respectfully make this my last post. I'm not here to debate or to proselyte. 

 

 

 

[Sower]

6 hours ago, Indentured Servant said:

No, same planet, different understanding...

God personally brought His Chosen Nation out of Egypt; they didn't seek a new land due to not wanting their religion dictated to them. America is not a chosen nation... If you think it is, you are welcome to believe that.

Please accept my apology for offending your beliefs. I truly did not intend it to become personal. 

 

You haven't offended my beliefs, Indentured Servant.  Just the facts.
I can read between the lines and clearly see much obvious anger within you.
Did you come here on this forum to vent everything wrong with this country?

Did you come here to bash all of God's local assembled believers(churches)?
I resent my church being included with your views of the body of believers.
I only respond to you so those 2300 viewers, and seekers, get a full story.
Not a biased slanted version of a pi--ed off church/country basher.
We often forget this is a public forum, and not a club for angry Christians to vent.

Just what are you personally doing as a soldier for Christ in the army of God?
Strutting the internet exposing all the perceived wrong in the world?

In and not of this world. The lost, hurting,  need Jesus, not criticism. The good news is GOOD NEWS...
Did you serve in the military. Where/when. What did you do. Defend this country?
Do you still have your disdain for the military, the possibility to engage in combat.
Is it wrong to defend the defenseless against terrorist"

Are you even going to answer any of these questions?
Or just vent and run away to the next forum?

Why do you still live here in the USA if you detest it's origin?
Or do you live here? What's your story for all this anger?

Have you given it up to God to deliver you from it and have peace?

Do you have a message from God only to keep for yourself?
Or do you have spiritual strength to share with other believers?.......

I've heard so many of these criticisms from other posters over the years since I've been here. The same story, painted with different colors. My role often,
defending the body of Christ, how so ever weak and in need of wisdom.
Do you go to church (some local assembly of the body of Christ)?
If not, you weaken that body you are anointed to serve. And there goes another weak body with missing parts.

"Christian Nationalism"   Too bad they forgot to Trust in the Lord and not their own understanding.  You cannot legislate morals. That SHOULD come from the pulpit.  Make disciples. Share the WORD of God. Win souls. Yes. Everybody..
But, in their own understanding, at least though, they are trying if not making a bigger mess.

And thank God almighty for this free country we live in with liberties,  thank God the light you have, and share the light. We already know about the darkness.

God said;  Share the GOOD NEWS!

 

45 minutes ago, Indentured Servant said:

I've been clearly dismissed in this thread, therefore, I will respectfully make this my last post. I'm not here to debate or to proselyte. 

Do you really believe you can challenge and not expect others to respond?
Have you no conviction to defend your premise?

I've made many assertions and assumptions. Correct me, brother.

 

[Anne2]

1 hour ago, Indentured Servant said:

This is correct; however, I do not typically reveal that God has called me according to the manifestation of the Spirit, ("gift") He has given me. It is not ever well received.

Christians don't understand this, as most denominations teach that people like me can't exist, or that I am a phony  for believing and engaging two-way communication with God.

Scripture teaches we can seek His heart and His mind. We can ask for wisdom, insight, and gifts, "especially prophecy." These I have done. 

But to tell someone that I "have a calling from God to call Christians out of Christian Nationalism" comes across as arrogant, overly dramatic, and heretical... I'm sure you see my point, haha.

I'm not here to offend anyone... But, if someone is offended, does that mean I no longer have a right to communicate a biblical message... Or even my own opinion? Or a sincere warning?

If that's the case, perhaps we brought some of the mindset of the Church of England with us and still desire to control the religious beliefs and traditions of others who may not be conforming to our traditions.

I've been clearly dismissed in this thread, therefore, I will respectfully make this my last post. I'm not here to debate or to proselyte. 

 

 

 

I did not bring this up to offend either. I have thought on this aspect for many years. Quite frankly I myself have fallen into not appreciating the calling of another. I think it has become habitual in the Church. I also suspect it is why we have so many denominations. We want to cookie cut the various operations within the body to often. I do not wish to offend anyone. one area as an example, head knowledge vs spiritual. And people will judge others based upon these aspects. These are often simply areas of calling in the church, a gift operating in both for the benefit to the whole.

Edited May 29, 2024 by Anne2

[Ray12614]

On 5/27/2024 at 7:41 PM, Neighbor said:

So far about as far out as God has sent me is to vote for Goldwater back in 1964 and now to plan to vote for RFK Jr in 2024.

Yes, we have dual citizenship with the Kingdom of God as our 1st allegiance.

Regarding RFK . . . do you believe that he would change the Democratic progressive administration that is ruining this country, promoting anti God policies, family values, and the like?

[RdJ]

I'm Dutch so I don't mind offending everyone.

The Dutch were a bunch of nasty colonizers in Indonesia and Africa, Surinam. I just said in the random thread that they call those silly monkeys with an absurd long nose and fat belly Dutchmen. That's what you get when you colonize the bunch. Say sorry, get revival, go to church together. They had a big revival in Indonesia. It wasn't only bad bozo dominant white Dutch men coming there to marry an obedient Indonesian slave. The missionaries came too. 

Yesterday I was offended because Torben Söndergaard said on Facebook that christians sleep and don't even notice that the next storm is coming. That offended me because he does always everything perfect, so I took it as an accusation that I'm lousy and lazy and do never anything good.

So then I Googled that to see if someone could join me in my offense and anger and a preacher said that he had offended people from his church and he had said sorry and they don't always do it on purpose but LOL that was his intro and then he came with some absolute horrible rude stuff some supposed preachers had said who were not even sorry.

[Neighbor]

46 minutes ago, Ray12614 said:

Yes, we have dual citizenship with the Kingdom of God as our 1st allegiance.

Regarding RFK . . . do you believe that he would change the Democratic progressive administration that is ruining this country, promoting anti God policies, family values, and the like?

Yes I strongly believe that as has been his approach to all matters of importance that the advocates of policies must articulate their stand and that it must hold up as benefiting the poor, the downtrodden, and those who have been victims of miscarriage of what is just.

JFK Jrs. long standing fight for the many American Indian nations that were disenfranchised by the US government in 1952 (I think it was) being one example. His fight to force pharma  and phama's regulators to do the very thing they are pledged to do in the way  of due diligence in testing of products is another.

He is NOT anti vax at all. He is anti bypassing serious testing and for continuous follow up to show proof of results! See His book on the subject. He and his kids are fully vaccinated with the exception of the COVID 19  vaccines.

He has investigated and interviewed Dr. Fauci and found him (In my own words)  to be wanting in  integrity. 

As to his understanding of the importance of faith (Of Jesus), I can only say that he is the only person I know of who  was brought up within a family that prayed before and after each meal, and read out of the Bible as a family daily, multiple times a day. How does that relate to his stands today? I can only think it influences them rather deeply, no matter how he relates his faith to his work .

I do believe him to be not only sincere, but driven to do justice where injustice has reigned especially within the political parties  he calls the duopoly of the Democrat and Republican Parties of today.

As a child he had leaders of the world in his family home, he learned to listen and he learned to hear what he was listening to, and then he learned how to influence others in causes that are good. 

He has filed probably more lawsuits against government agencies than anyone else and has won many, never giving up on the causes of the oppressed. That is the reason his own family fear him for his running. For his causes will hurt their  own pocketbooks (IMO) and they know his tenacity.

I share this response as a supporter of RFK Jr. both financially and as a humble  limited volunteer seeking to get him on every State's ballot - one of hundreds of thousands that so want a new choice. one to "Unite The states".

 I do have hope that God will allow this choice be there for us. Let the People speak.

[Neighbor]

40 minutes ago, RdJ said:

I'm Dutch so I don't mind offending everyone.

LOL  

Go eat a tulip.

Or better yet sip a bit of Tulip wine.

I had a little lady Mrs' Buglelink that spoke English with a pronounced Netherlands accent. She would call like clockwork each day to ask of her trust fund of a few dollars, but the world to her. She would  ask if it was secure.  Yes Mrs. Buglelink it is secure, do you want  to withdraw it? You may do so. No I just want to know.

Finally after years of this daily call, one day she called and asked for her money. A check was issued. I can still hear her stuccato voice "This...   is...   Mrs....  Bugle... - Link ..."

Oh, one day I needed to reach the Dutch Consulate-General  office at Los Angeles California USA. I asked the then telephone information  operator for that number, and waited and waited and waited; finally the operator came back online to say she could not find "Dutch Land" in the telephone book.  I simply responded- Thank you anyway.

We are all a bunch of laughs if one will just enjoy the humor found in us and our daily lives. My LORD must be in an uproar of laughter much of the time.

[RdJ]

On 5/28/2024 at 9:57 PM, Indentured Servant said:

I do agree that we should always be thankful for what God has given.

But, I don't believe God gave a bunch of restless Christians in England the right to leave their circumstance of being dictated to regarding their religion to make a home of an already occupied land and push the people in that nation into small desert communities. 

Essentially, we, as a nation, have committed genocide for OUR want of religious freedom, and THAT is it!

We have not even recognized it. I had no idea.

https://www.trouw.nl/nieuws/erken-ook-de-allergrootste-genocide-die-op-indianen~b0fd2930/

What have we to do with this? More than with the Armenian genocide. The Netherlands was a colonial power in North America. Under Governor Willem Kieft, our troops attacked random villages in the seventeenth century and murdered hundreds of Indians. Recently an Indian leader said: "We want recognition of the genocide and an apology. Not only from the US, but also from European countries. From Europe came the people who turned our world upside down."