Churches

[Yahsway]

I believe the "Church" or the Body of Christ is important in the eyes of Yahweh God, but the "denominations" are not.

[Guest jckduboise]

The title for this topic, "Churches - which ones are going to hell", is not about buildings or structures, not even about organizations: churches don't go anywhere, people do. Churches, however, are a collective term for the people who embrace them. So the title is abstract. This discussion is not. It's about people.

I have not been a Christian for a long period of time, but I've been alive for nearly fifty years. Like you, I've seen the bad stuff, from violence to the more subtle forms of death...such as lies and cheats, etc. I only mention the age-thing because I'm more qualified to give my own human insight into churches, than I am qualified as a Christian to speak on the subject. However, it was as a human that I was called to Almighty God. I did not become Christian, then human. And as this might seem a worthless point, I submit that it is the heart of every call to Christ...that we, seeing our own infirmities and those around us, have it already in our hearts to want what is better and more meaningful. The difference between those that answer the call, and those who do not, is not whether or not the desire is there...it's whether it is more meaningful than the other desires they harbor, also. You can, as a Christian, make the mistake of leaning toward desires that are false in their value, just as you can run toward the desires that lead to the treasures of God.

That's why I chose the title. Churches have, in their collection of people, a wealth of desires of every shape and form. The people hold love, hate, fear, anger, empathy, and you name it. They've got it. Churches do not differ from one another in that way. And, as well, they all hold this: individuals who will lean toward false treasures, and individuals who will run toward God's treasures. To apply any label on a Church, is by assignment of that label, assignment to all it's people...and it is presumptuous as well. It presumes that God does not see the human heart or the Christian soul. In fact, to presume is an act of inserting our own eyes over the eyes of God. We say, in affect, that we know more that God Almighty, and in so doing, make fools out of ourselves.

If churches were the center of the Christianity, Christ would not have come to shed his blood for individuals. He would have hung on the cross and said, "I shed my blood for the Baptist Church, the Catholic Church..." or whatever church of the day. But he didn't do that. The point of the crucifixion was toward humans, like the criminal on the cross beside Christ.

Why was it the top priority of the Apostles to set up new churches throughout the regions? Why did Jesus himself give such great authority to the church during his earthly ministry and through his written Word? Why is the church the bride of Christ? If the church is so irrelevent then why is the church so important in the eyes of God?

sw

The churches of the Apostles time were intended to be the True Church with exactly what has been examined and explained in the previous posts..it is the religiosity and teachings of man that has ruined what would be these churches..woe to those who live by indoctrination and teachings of man over the teachings of God..surrender unto our Lord God the King is the only way to the heavens. And it is through Spiritual growth and heartfelt obedience to His commands that we gain this right of passage.

Those who are living by the spiritual skin of their teeth, those who believe that salvation is simply claiming their belief in Christ yet live as hypocrites, those who live in the playing field of the world, those who take teachings of man over God as gospel and buy into believing that their religion is the only "right way to get there"..will stand in stupified amazement when they are not called to belong to the remnant of God. Those who are unwilling to place themselves prostrate at the feet of God and are so proud of their "goodness, rituals and deeds" that they stand tall and dare look the Lord in the eye on the day of judgement will find that their names have been deleted from the book of life...

A glorious day it will be for the true remnant, a pitiful day it will be for those who are not. They will cry out "but we cast out demons and healed the sick in your name" and He will say, "I never knew you, away from me". And they will be cast into the place of whaling and gnashing of teeth.

[Guest man]

The Church is one the reasons that a growing number of people reject God.

[EricH]

The Church is one the reasons that a growing number of people reject God.

Actually, according to scripture, the main reason people reject God is personal sin and rebellion. Ungodly actions by churches give those people excuses to use for their rebellion

[Floatingaxe]

The Church is one the reasons that a growing number of people reject God.

Actually, according to scripture, the main reason people reject God is personal sin and rebellion. Ungodly actions by churches give those people excuses to use for their rebellion

EXACTLY.

[Guest man]

The Church is one the reasons that a growing number of people reject God.

Actually, according to scripture, the main reason people reject God is personal sin and rebellion. Ungodly actions by churches give those people excuses to use for their rebellion

I don't see the church giving them any reason not too. When people see the sins of the church, why would they want to be part of that? Christians have a reputation of being very judgemental. People don't like to be looked down upon and they connect that negative christian attitude with the church.

I agree, it is personal sin and rebellion but when you take a look around at the church, what else is there?

[st. Worm]

The Church is one the reasons that a growing number of people reject God.

Actually, according to scripture, the main reason people reject God is personal sin and rebellion. Ungodly actions by churches give those people excuses to use for their rebellion

I don't see the church giving them any reason not too. When people see the sins of the church, why would they want to be part of that? Christians have a reputation of being very judgemental. People don't like to be looked down upon and they connect that negative christian attitude with the church.

I agree, it is personal sin and rebellion but when you take a look around at the church, what else is there?

Jesus said he came for sinners, not the righteous. Which are you?

sw

[Guest man]

The Church is one the reasons that a growing number of people reject God.

Actually, according to scripture, the main reason people reject God is personal sin and rebellion. Ungodly actions by churches give those people excuses to use for their rebellion

I don't see the church giving them any reason not too. When people see the sins of the church, why would they want to be part of that? Christians have a reputation of being very judgemental. People don't like to be looked down upon and they connect that negative christian attitude with the church.

I agree, it is personal sin and rebellion but when you take a look around at the church, what else is there?

Jesus said he came for sinners, not the righteous. Which are you?

sw

What's your point?

[dakota190]

The Church is one the reasons that a growing number of people reject God.

Actually, according to scripture, the main reason people reject God is personal sin and rebellion. Ungodly actions by churches give those people excuses to use for their rebellion

I don't see the church giving them any reason not too. When people see the sins of the church, why would they want to be part of that? Christians have a reputation of being very judgemental. People don't like to be looked down upon and they connect that negative christian attitude with the church.

I agree, it is personal sin and rebellion but when you take a look around at the church, what else is there?

read what you just posted, and tell me how you differ from what you just criticized. perhaps, that church you blasted so hard, needs a little guidance, as you might.

(i don't intend to hurt any feelings, we all need guidance, just making a point.)

[Guest jckduboise]

The church is still important today. It is his bride.

The church that is going to hell are false teachings... false doctrines.... false practices.

The church that is going to hell rejects Jesus Christ as God come in the flesh.

The church that is going to hell is a group of people not born again.

These three are not real churches but pretenders.

That is right!! Now how many church groups out there are exactly as you have described? I believe in the CHURCH, Christ's church..not man's church. Not a building with a bunch of pompous asses that walk around in their flowing robes spouting a bunch of malarki just to hear themselves sound "wise"..

The church that enters heaven will be the remnants of those that attend these places described above and move beyond the bull into the LIGHT..

I don't like wolves in sheeps clothing, they make me sick to my stomach.

Glad to see there are others who agree.