Wakeup Church

[PBob]

Wake Up Church!

What I have written below may be considered by some to be extreme or provocative. If you are offended I ask your forgiveness but I feel that the time is short - that we must decide very soon whom we will serve - The Lord God or Baal.

I am requesting that you give your church leaders a copy of this. I pray that the Lord will have mercy on us and provide a window of opportunity!

Please do not be offended. As I sit here I feel so strongly that we who call ourselves followers of Jesus Christ have been playing games for to long inside the walls of our comfortable churches. We are commanded by scripture to be light and salt to the world - yet all around us perversion is happening (homosexuality, gambling, abortion, indoctrination of our youth, violence, child abuse, etc) and we seem to be silent and non committal (like an ostrich with its head in the sand) - are we afraid of losing our IRS status or how others may react? Are we so concerned with our "religion and our own earthly welfare and our denominations and our "church building" and with pleasing of man and our own selfish ambition that we have come to the place where we are no longer effective as light and salt. Are we serving God or man? Body of Christ wake up! Casino gambling and the lottery is about to take over our country, Christian Schools are struggling to survive, drugs are all around us, homosexuality is rampant, child abuse, abortion and pornography are everywhere. We need to preach the gospel of salvation and repentance with the love of Christ to the LOST - we will not be judged for whether or not they listen and we have not been called to force anyone - but we must SHOUT the message and warn them! Yet, to my knowledge, very few in the Body of Christ seem to care - no letters to the editor, no ads, no unity to combat evil - Brothers and sisters, WE ARE IT! WE HAVE BEEN CALLED! WE ARE TO BE THE LIGHT AND THE SALT! WE ARE THE "ROYAL PRIESTHOOD"! HIS WITNESSES! THE PEOPLE CALLED BY HIS NAME! I have been studying Jeremiah - take a look at Chapter 1 and 7 and ask yourself - has God changed - will He somehow wink His eye as we play church? I fear that we will be held responsible - for we are the called out ones! I sense so urgently that it is imperative that we stand up for righteousness NOW or we and all around us will "weep what we have sown!" If any of you have the same feelings please let me know. Perhaps we can become part of John 17:23! If not us who? If not now when?

Jesus did not start a denomination or a church

[freedfromsin]

Hello PBob,

there is no doubt that the church today is in a very bad way. I believe that as much as 75% of those who attend on a regular bases are realy lost and do not know it. Sadly we are not hearing the message of salvation today. Very few preach a biblical repentance and a biblical faith as given in scripture. Truly the words of the Lord will ring long and loud;

Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

What terifying words those are and sadly few are taking heed to them. Let us be warned that God did not send His Son to suffer and die so that men could profess His Son and continue in sin. God will not be mocked.

I strive to post articles on my web page so that people can read and hear the truth. I also have a link to a section called salvation test. My hopes are that some will listen and be awaken from their sleep unto life eternal. God bless.

[EricH]

Moved from the Welcome Forum to the Controversial Issues Forum

[Smalcald]

Well I agree to some extent.

I would look first to a little outreach IN the Churches.

In my opinion we are too much like the world, and just accept every sort of belief and evil because society says this is now acceptable and we don't want to offend anyone. Also what is with this blowing in the wind, I am seeing all of these "new" ideas and doctrines, as if no one before us in the last 2000 years ever read scripture.

Jesus did however form a Church; He said that Hades would not prevail against it.

[Guest]

STAND FAST!

2 Thessalonian 2

All Shook Up, Not!

1] "Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,"

[2] "That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand."

Falling, Falling Away!

[3] "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;"

[4] "Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."

Time's A'Coming!

[5] "Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?"

[6] "And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time."

Iniquity At Work!

[7] "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way."

[8] "And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:"

Lying Wonder Without Love!

[9] "Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,"

[10] "And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved."

Sinning With Delusions Of Happiness!

[11] "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:"

[12] "That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

Joy In Your Salvation!

[13] "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:"

[14] "Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Stand Fast!

[15] "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle."

[16] "Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,"

[17] "Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work."

[Guest yod]

The questions posed assume that the American church is "the church" and that ain't so. We sit like a queen who has need of nothing. That is NOT what the church is outside of western (greek) theological perspectives. Luckily, there are saints who are doing the real work we've been called to but I don't think we, in the church of America, realize that we are more of the problem than the solution.

I've gotten to the point where I believe only serious tribulation is going to shake us enough to buy eye salve. God is faithful to bring that upon us because we need it.

So I am answering these questions only as it pertains to the western church (led by America)

Is to much emphasis being put on buildings and programs?

Yes

No

Maybe

There is nothing wrong with having building programs. The question is whether they are for people who need them or is it for comfortable luxury?

How many huge churches have a building program so they can fit more saints into a single place instead of sending them out? Nothing wrong with having a lot of saints in one place but if people are coming from far distances to the "mega-church" doesn't that separate the saints from our local community more than anything else?

Do you think Epehesians 2:10 is relevant in most churches?

Yes - members are encouraged to use the gifts they are given

No - the leadership does the ministry the members watch

Members are trained, eqipped and released

Emphasis is put on Spiritual gifts

Pastor is expected to do the work of the Church

I wish there would have been another option. "None of the above" is what I would have chosen.

The leadership is failing us in America. I'm not sure if they or anyone else knows it, though....

Their real calling is to disciple the saints and it is up to us to see that the "ministry" gets done. The leadership (generally speaking with regards to the American church system) is not "ministering" as much as they are "administering" an institution of religion.

We are not being challenged to enter into His sufferings. We are ready to leave church when we are challenged so "the church" has decided to entertain us so we'll stay and leave a few bucks in the plate.

How selfish we have become! We don't want to serve...we want to be "fed" and then go to lunch! Even though we have already grown fat, we are only becoming fatter! We don't look for communities of saints that will put our hands on the plow! We want programs that serve our needs instead of committing ourselves to serve others.

We will be humbled. He is faithful to chastise those whom He loves.

Is the "Church" bringing the good news to the world outside?

Yes

No

Not in my community

We have an outreach program

We do not have an outreach program

If god wants them saved He will find a way

The body of Messiah worldwide? Yes

The American church? No

We are exporting greed in the form of "prosperity" teaching. We are exporting covetousness and envy in the name of "favor of the Lord". We are failing miserably to bring the REAL gospel anywhere including our own land.

Maybe the Chinese or the Germans or the Israelis will come to set us straight someday? I pray it happens soon...or we are in danger of being vomited out of our land like the Canaanites, Jebusites, Hittites, Kennezites...and even the Israelites.

I visited a little church in Germany last May that has restored my hope for the assembly of the saints worldwide. (note: I don't use the word "church"). It seems that they actually help people who can't pay them anything back...

This place has 230 members yet has 20 outreaches throughout the world that are changing nations. That is one outreach per every 11.3 members!?!

These outreaches are drug rehabs (Belarus) and childrens homes (all over South America) which they administer using a small team (usually no more than 5 people) along with indigenous people who are native to the nation they are in.

check it out. This is what a church should be. Every single saint is discipled (including the young children) and serving others. It starts with being disciplined to pray. They hear the Spirit of God and simply obey with a child-like faith.

http://www.tos.info/index.php?id=16&L=1

[Christ's Free Servant]

Wake Up Church!

What I have written below may be considered by some to be extreme or provocative. If you are offended I ask your forgiveness but I feel that the time is short - that we must decide very soon whom we will serve - The Lord God or Baal.

I am requesting that you give your church leaders a copy of this. I pray that the Lord will have mercy on us and provide a window of opportunity!

Please do not be offended. As I sit here I feel so strongly that we who call ourselves followers of Jesus Christ have been playing games for to long inside the walls of our comfortable churches. We are commanded by scripture to be light and salt to the world - yet all around us perversion is happening (homosexuality, gambling, abortion, indoctrination of our youth, violence, child abuse, etc) and we seem to be silent and non committal (like an ostrich with its head in the sand) - are we afraid of losing our IRS status or how others may react? Are we so concerned with our "religion and our own earthly welfare and our denominations and our "church building" and with pleasing of man and our own selfish ambition that we have come to the place where we are no longer effective as light and salt. Are we serving God or man? Body of Christ wake up! Casino gambling and the lottery is about to take over our country, Christian Schools are struggling to survive, drugs are all around us, homosexuality is rampant, child abuse, abortion and pornography are everywhere. We need to preach the gospel of salvation and repentance with the love of Christ to the LOST - we will not be judged for whether or not they listen and we have not been called to force anyone - but we must SHOUT the message and warn them! Yet, to my knowledge, very few in the Body of Christ seem to care - no letters to the editor, no ads, no unity to combat evil - Brothers and sisters, WE ARE IT! WE HAVE BEEN CALLED! WE ARE TO BE THE LIGHT AND THE SALT! WE ARE THE "ROYAL PRIESTHOOD"! HIS WITNESSES! THE PEOPLE CALLED BY HIS NAME! I have been studying Jeremiah - take a look at Chapter 1 and 7 and ask yourself - has God changed - will He somehow wink His eye as we play church? I fear that we will be held responsible - for we are the called out ones! I sense so urgently that it is imperative that we stand up for righteousness NOW or we and all around us will "weep what we have sown!" If any of you have the same feelings please let me know. Perhaps we can become part of John 17:23! If not us who? If not now when?

Jesus did not start a denomination or a church

[Iryssa]

I'm not exactly seeing how Eph. 2:10 fits with some of the options given for that question....

[Guest yod]

I just finished reading John 17 a few minutes ago and wrote about it in response to a post about "truth" on the Prophecy forum. So, this is a confirmation, I believe, that God is saying we need to be sanctified by the truth of God's Word and we need to be unified or we have lost our "saltiness" and can no longer be that light to the world.

Yeshua isn't saying that we need to be sanctified by a knowledge of truth. He is saying we need to be truely sanctified.

It isn't about what we "think" is true....it's about how faith is expressed in righteous deeds.

[Christ's Free Servant]

I just finished reading John 17 a few minutes ago and wrote about it in response to a post about "truth" on the Prophecy forum. So, this is a confirmation, I believe, that God is saying we need to be sanctified by the truth of God's Word and we need to be unified or we have lost our "saltiness" and can no longer be that light to the world.

Yeshua isn't saying that we need to be sanctified by a knowledge of truth. He is saying we need to be truely sanctified.

It isn't about what we "think" is true....it's about how faith is expressed in righteous deeds.

yod,

I'm not exactly sure your point. Here is the quote from John 17:17:

"Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth."

NIV Commentary:

Sanctify means "to set apart," usually for some specially good purpose or use; its derivative meaning thus becomes "dedicate" or "consecrate." Believers are so changed by the working of God's Word in their lives that they are separated from evil and to God. This new devotion, which results in separation from evil, produces purification of life and consecration to God's service. Since the Word of God is truth, it provides the unchanging standard for the course and character of life. The form of the expression "your word" raises the possibility that Jesus may be referring to himself. He has said that he is "the truth"; as the Logos of God he embodies truth in its totality."

Would you agree with that?