Apostasy, have you seen it?

[eric]

Hi David, I cant keep up with you guys, LOL

Eric, do you believe that church experience is optional in being an obedient Christian? You left me that impression when you said following a negative experience that you have substituted with this on-line fellowship.

Actually I never had any bad experiences from the churches I've bee involved with, only some doctrinal differences. Yes I like the on-line fellowship. Its very diverse'

cheers, eric.

[David from New Bern]

Hi David, I cant keep up with you guys, LOL

Eric, do you believe that church experience is optional in being an obedient Christian? You left me that impression when you said following a negative experience that you have substituted with this on-line fellowship.

Actually I never had any bad experiences from the churches I've bee involved with, only some doctrinal differences. Yes I like the on-line fellowship. Its very diverse'

cheers, eric.

Eric, (repeated) do you believe that church experience is optional in being an obedient Christian?

[David from New Bern]

Eric, do you believe that church experience is optional in being an obedient Christian? You left me that impression when you said following a negative experience that you have substituted with this on-line fellowship.

[/quote

Are we not assemble together right now. This is the Church...when TWO OR THREE are gathered together. The Church is not a organization, it is an organism. The Church is something living. The Church is the coporate expression of Jesus Christ.

Ruck1b...thanks for the input...but your quote is from Matthew 18 when Jesus addressed accountabilty and church discipline. "The two or three" quote is one the most abused. It is used as an awkward excuse for poor attendance. But Jesus was dealing with keeping the church pure by confronting dissension or sin that threatened the body. This passage points t the need to confront for the purpose of restoration. This is not a church but a parachurch organization. It is suppose to compliment the work of the church. Yes, we are the church invisible but not the church visible.

Parachurch organizations are a vehicle by which evangelical Christians work collaboratively both outside their and across their denominations to engage with the world in mission, social welfare and evangelism.

Through many decentralized organizations, parachurch organizations function to bridge the gap between the church and culture. These are organizations "alongside" (Grk: para-) church structures, and often seek to be less institutional, however over time, with growth and success, and in response to environmental pressures they can become more institutional.

What is a parachurch? And where do can you give me more concerning that observation

[eric]

David asks,

Eric, (repeated) do you believe that church experience is optional in being an obedient Christian.

If you are asking if you have to attend church to be an obedient christian. I would have to say no.

eric.

[eric]

Hi again David,

if you want to know what a parachurch is, try doing a google search.

eric.

[David from New Bern]

David asks,

Eric, (repeated) do you believe that church experience is optional in being an obedient Christian.

If you are asking if you have to attend church to be an obedient christian. I would have to say no.

eric.

The book of Acts is the birth of the church, in those chapters you find the function and importance of the church for mutual support, equipping, organization for mission, and discipline. All the books of the NT following are addressed to churches, some on mission and some not. Jesus established the church and concept...

And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.Matthew 16:18NKJV

Immediately following this use of the term and concept Jesus gave authority over the believer to the church...

And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.Matthew 18:17NKJV

When we are saved we are placed in the cradle of a church, we are raised and brought to maturity for service, then we find our place of service in the context of the work of the church inside and outside the walls of the meeting place. Before anybody goes there, no it is not a church building, but it a relationship of mutual submission. It is there we learn to love and care for each other. When churches are healthy and not dysfunctional God adds to their numbers daily those that are saved according to Acts 2. In short, this is what a church is and what a parachurch cannot completely address. This board is a wonderful tool, but most of us here are almost anonymous hiding behind created names. You don't know if I live what I preach or if I just consider myself an intellectual who enjoys the banter. There is no active way to get involved in my life fully in this forum. It is very valuable to me, but it doesn't meet my need for the local visible body of Christ. If I were to lose the ability to use this forum I would miss it greatly. And I have only been using it for a week. But if I lost the local church, my walk with the Lord would suffer.

Edited March 1, 2006 by David from New Bern

[BellaRose]

This is the poem i was talking about David. I wrote this after Ferocious Faith. When you read this poem, you will see why i understand what it is like to be a lost sheep. I supose this is why i have a real heart for those who have become prodigals because of people who have misrepresented the Heavenly Father. Berea Christian Life Centre was a church in Sydney, Australia, which caused the devastation and distruction of alot of peoples lives, including mine. The church was so full of fraud, abuse and deciet that A Current Affair did a news report on the church in 1989. The cult eventually fell apart and the leaders of the church fled to different state.

JESUS led me back home to God's waiting arms eventually. But i have had to go through so much healing and re-learning of who God really is.

i wrote a book in 2003. As i wrote it, I healed. Now the book is touching other peoples lives that have walked a simular road. The book speaks volumes of Gods LOVE and exposes Satans lies and deception(see below)

Cult of Confusion

A plea for those involved in Berea in the Campbelltown area in the 1980

[eric]

Well we are all different, brother and each has been called according to His purpose. If you are being fed at your local church, well I'd say go for it and may God bless you for your in put into the gathering.

e

[50_Cent's_dog]

I'm at the very beginning of a writing project. The subject is Apostasy. I would like to read some of your responses in my research gathering. What do you understand apostasy to be? Why do people suddenly drop out of church? How and why do churches lose their way and embrace heretical doctrine? What kind of behavior accompanies apostasy that you have observed firsthand? Eschatology tells us that the church will experience a great falling away and that a multiplicity of false teachers will infiltrate the church and even fool the elect. Are we there yet?

We are instructed by Christ to love the church. So, anything shared that would influence me, would have to reflect a holy jealousy, and not cynical anger. I look forward to reading anything that you believe approaches the subject from any angle.

Feel free to ask me any clarifying question or simply to engage me in your response.

Not going to church doesn't make one an apostate. A lot of people who don't go to church, don't go to church because the churches they've visited are all apostate, and they are sick and tired of being let down.

I disagree. I quit going to church for awhile not because of bad teaching, but because I felt uncomfortable. I knew that I was wrong but refused to go. I think that many people who don't go to church make excuses for themselves, so that they don't feel guilty. The Bible says don't forsake the assembly of the saints. I forced myself to go back to church because I wanted to be obedient to Christ. If the church that you went to is teaching false doctrine go to one that teaches the truth. Don't make excuses for not going to church. If you do it is sin.

[Iryssa]

I'm at the very beginning of a writing project. The subject is Apostasy. I would like to read some of your responses in my research gathering. What do you understand apostasy to be? Why do people suddenly drop out of church? How and why do churches lose their way and embrace heretical doctrine? What kind of behavior accompanies apostasy that you have observed firsthand? Eschatology tells us that the church will experience a great falling away and that a multiplicity of false teachers will infiltrate the church and even fool the elect. Are we there yet?

We are instructed by Christ to love the church. So, anything shared that would influence me, would have to reflect a holy jealousy, and not cynical anger. I look forward to reading anything that you believe approaches the subject from any angle.

Feel free to ask me any clarifying question or simply to engage me in your response.

Not going to church doesn't make one an apostate. A lot of people who don't go to church, don't go to church because the churches they've visited are all apostate, and they are sick and tired of being let down.

I disagree. I quit going to church for awhile not because of bad teaching, but because I felt uncomfortable. I knew that I was wrong but refused to go. I think that many people who don't go to church make excuses for themselves, so that they don't feel guilty. The Bible says don't forsake the assembly of the saints. I forced myself to go back to church because I wanted to be obedient to Christ. If the church that you went to is teaching false doctrine go to one that teaches the truth. Don't make excuses for not going to church. If you do it is sin.

well said.