Why

[irishcowboy]

I appreciate the replies from you all, but...

Why are not more of us living the life of Christ? Love God with all your heart and mind and love you neighbor as yourself. Why has that gone out the window?

well, part of this is because we have grown to love the things of this world.... and we have come to covet the things of this world.... the money, things, and status...

even in the churches, we covet the status.... there are many in the churches that will not be there unless they have their hand in controling something.....

I know one lady, that complains every week that she can not stand the kids in the church she is in, but yet she will not give up the sundayschool teaching position or the childrens church position....... she complains daily of the kids and their parents from the school that she has a position in, but they can not fire her ( poor teacher ) cause she has her Tenure..... she dont like kids, never has as far as i know..... but yet has to have the position so she has some " STATUS " ....

never goes to church with her husband, but he would sit there all by himself, when he tryed to get involved with the sundayschool and childrens church, she got it so he would not have anything to do....

now, this woman is divorced ( he divorced her ) and incharge of the womens ministry and the childrens ministry in her church..... lost her husband ( by being abusive to him ) and yet the church is allowing her to continue as she is.... what is going to fail now?? all she wants is status....money.....things......

with that, where are our churches going????

Again, why do we preach the Word to others, speak in tongues and then we go out and embezzle, steal, bear false witness against our brothers and sisters for self gain? For promotion? For stature? For power? Self! Self! Self!

EXACTLY !!!!!!!!!!!

Could it be that those that walk like this really aren't Christians? They just claim to be? If so, then I think there's far fewer of the genuine article around than we'd like to believe.

Let us pray for one-another. Let us visit the prisoners. Let us clothe the naked. Let us feed the hungry. Let us comfort the hurting. I know that many of us do these things. But why not more of us?

How many will Christ say this to: Depart from Me, I never knew you! Scary thought isn't it?

You know - it's all about LOVE. That's the bottom line.

Just my thoughts and ramblings.

John

John, I would have to agree... we need to hold them all up in prayer.....

do you realize, that the non-pentacostal denominations of 1900 were more pentacostal then the pentacostal churches of 1960?????

wow, what a change......

now, if we get some one that has a bit of life in their soul, we tell them to be more dignified and to calm down and to quit preaching hell fire and brimstone, we tell them that tongue talking, Bible thumpin, faith healing, laying on of hands, hand raising church goers are just radicals........

we need more of these radicals.. we need our teens to catch fire..... we need to bring in the Lord more into the Churches, not just how to live a good life, but how to Live a Life of Jesus.... of God.... not just be a good person, but be a Godly person, sharing the Word of the Lord with all....

mike

[Guest yod]

the reason used most for people not going to church, is that they say the church is full of .....

HYPOCRITS.....

That is one of the lamest excuses there could ever be...

whenever someone says that to me I tell that that we have plenty of room for one more and they are welcome to come

Why are not more of us living the life of Christ? Love God with all your heart and mind and love you neighbor as yourself. Why has that gone out the window?

I really don't think much has changed in history since the days of Noah. There will always be those who are bolder in their faith than others...yet God has made even the timid to be an important part of the body.

There are also those who are lukewarm and it "might" seem like today is worse than ever before but I really don't think so.

It just depends on where you are looking...try China.

[refugepsa91]

I know some "christians" like this...and truly believe it is all for the attention and admiration they get for accomplishing something in the church or attaining a certian stature in that church. They like to tell everyone they meet...I am a member of this church and my position is....etc...or I organized this...I am the head of this....or I lead the... it is all for attention to them...they NEED to hear praise directed at them, they are addicted to compliments and admiration for what they do.

But get them out of the church and into society and they will deal with strangers or even members of their own congregation wrongly. Mosty though with strangers...just to give an example....a man from a church here in my town decided he wanted to head up a fund raiser to get the childrens church bus fixed and repainted. Well he took this bus to my uncle (he owns a bodyshop) my uncle wrote him estimate, of course it was low because it was for the kids...he didn't charge for labor...but he did charge for the material. Well this man was totally upset and told him it was for God and he shouldn't charge him anything. Long story short my uncle let him take the bus. Sent him the bill and still hasn't gotten paid for it. What I would like to know is where all the so called fund raiser money went? Its a sad story...who got the attention for this bus being redone...the man who took on the fundraiser thats who. And that is what most want the credit for a task accomplished no matter who they step on to do it.

When people get over the prospect of being popular then we all will be better off.

Just my opinion though.....standing in church no more makes you a christian than standing in your garage makes you a car.

Love and Blessings,

Angel

[Willow]

Matthew 6:2

"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

Matthew 6:5

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

Matthew 6:16

"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

I think scripture pretty much says it. As well as what refugepsa91 said:

They like to tell everyone they meet...I am a member of this church and my position is....etc...or I organized this...I am the head of this....or I lead the... it is all for attention to them...they NEED to hear praise directed at them, they are addicted to compliments and admiration for what they do.

I know I am guilty of this. I struggle with that all the time. I am a behind the scene's person who would like some recognition from time to time of what I do! BUT - I know better. I know I do this for my Father in heaven and because I love him and I love what I do!! The words to hear are nice - but they don't satisfy me the way doing the work and who I am doing it for does!!

I guess one answer would be this - other than crucifying our will and desires daily at the cross and choosing to be a true servant of Christ, I would wager to say that those who always act the way you have all described (hypocritical, deceptive, seekers of fame etc) have they really and truly experienced a life changing-heart altering encounter with Jesus???

The other idea I had - these people do not realize the authority they have in Christ and who they are as a child of God - so when the enemy sneaks in........he can silently infiltrate and discredit the witness of God. They are not spiritually aware of what is going on - unless they are willfully sinning. Satan has been sneaking around since the dawn of time.....

Much Agape Love,

Willow

[refugepsa91]

Well I for one am not against compliments from time to time...and Willow you should get a pat on the shoulder or a good hug for what you do for the church or just for people period. So willow here is one just for you :hug:

and remember this one...

Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in Gods sight. <>1Peter 3:4

Love and Blessings,

Angel

[Willow]

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww thanks!!!

But remember, I am laying up my treasures in heaven!! What I do, I do out of the love I have for my Father in heaven who gives me the desire to serve.

There is no doubt about it, God is bringing revival....are churches ready and equipped to 'handle' that revival.

Bottom line?? No we aren't equipped, because in a way, revival needs to hit the Church first! Praise the Lord for those that have recognized it and have started down the path of repentance and reconciliation, and praying and equipping themselves for the harvest.

We need to be less lazy and less like our drive thru society. Nothing worthwhile is instant, it takes work and effort. Something we have lost and must regain to see God's Kingdom come and his will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven.

Much Affection,

Willow

[ginakay]

I think the only way to get the hypocrits out of the church and the hypocracy out of our lives in general is severe persecution. Back before the communist takeover in CHina there were many Chinese who came to Christian services. For one thing, they would get fed. After the takeover when persecution became severe only the true believers met together. The others they called the "rice Christians" stopped coming. Well, I don't want the persecution! But if/when that time comes there will be a separation. Meanwhile the tares and wheat grow together.

The other aspect of this is how amazing people are at rationalizing their behavior.

Some who name the name of Christ will try to get out of debts they owe, will exaggerate, will....you name it. so sad

[Catsmeow]

I think all of us have had these thoughts..."What's wrong with these people?"

Didn't Jesus tell us not to let the left hand know what the right hand is doing?

If we are obeying this command, then -

* do any of you know who I've fed?

* do any of you know who I clothed lately?

* do any of you know the people I took in for Christmas and fed and cared for in their lonliness?

*do any of you know the wounds I've dressed?

* did you ever see me in the nursing home for the very poor?

* did you see me ministering to beggars and orphans?

* did you see the time I brought coffee and donuts to the teacher in the next room who was feeling unappreciated?

* did you see the goodie basket I brought the neighbor who was sick with the flu?

The answer is....OF COURSE NOT!

What many people DON'T see are the many acts of love done in quiet humility.

We are not in the habit of telling the world what kindness we've shown a stranger or the money we give to support the Kingdom.

If a person's is feeling convicted by what they are "not" doing...they should simply "get busy".

If not, then let us see the Church as it is.

For some the glass is half empty. For me, it's half full...I see the beauty of the Kingdom. I don't focus on the negative.

Satan is an accuser of the brethren. We should be just as quick to see the awesome love and kindness so many believers show to one another.

For instance, there's never been a time when I've been down and out that ICPGUY hasn't prayed for me...and several others here, too. :il:

[irishcowboy]

REVIVAL, is not going to begin in the churches ( the church buildings )...... REVIVAL is to begin in the CHURCH ( ourselves )

we are the ones that will bring revival, not the preacher not your neighbor, not the organist, not the pianist.... nor is the song leader..... it is the individual that will bring revival... it has to begin in ourselves.. in our hearts.... it has to begin by reviving oour own spirit....

Yes, Revival is begining to show thru out the world, and if we are all to see it, we must wake ourselves up and smell the coffee......

Let us each reach out to some one this week.... just one person more then you have last week..... for some people that will be only one person touched this week, but that is one person more then last week....

kind of like that commercial on TV that we use to see, of the lady that told two friends that told two more friends that told two more friends that told two more and , and , and....... if I touch two people this week, that makes three of us.....

and then next week I touch two more, and the other two touch two more, that will be 9 of us..... wow, in just two weeks, one person can become 9.....and each of the nine touch two people, that becomes 27 people....

what an increase!!!!!!!!! cool.... just think.... if those 27 touch two people that would be 81 the following week... 243 the next, 779 the next, 2337 people the next..... ..............................

can you imagine what it would be like if the churches in the USA alone all increased this fast?????

what if each person brought one person to the Lord each day of the week? ( for a 5 day work week and taking two days off )

week 1.... one bring 5 to equal 6, 6 bringing 5 = 30, 30 bringing 5 = 150, then 750, then 3750, then 18750.....

wow, can we have Pentacost all over again???

YES, WE CAN DO IT.....

it is not up to the pastor, for the pastor is suppose to teach us, equip us to go into the world and bring others to Christ..... the pastor is there to tend the flock, the flock is there to bring increase to the flock.....

biologically speaking, the shepherd can not produce more sheep, only sheep can produce more sheep.....

the elders are to teach the younger, ... the mature are suppose to teach the imature, but what is really happening???

we are all getting comfortible, and really dont care if anyone else joins our sundaymorning country club or not..... it is our country club, we want to keep things the same as they have been, we dont need to change things.. we dont need to bring in new members to our Sunday Morning country club..... why do that, all that does is stir up contention, makes us spend money on a new building cause the current one is being out grown...... makes us have to buy another bus, cause we have too many buss running now, and cost tooo much money..... and and and and ...... we dont need to let anyone else join......

yea, that is the attitude of many people... they will not admitt it, but you hear them complain about how the money is being spent.....

they forget that we have the monies in the church to build the church, not for the pleasure of the members of it.....

this is wednesday evening......

how many on here will be going to church this evening???

how many going will offer their hand in friendship to some one they do not personnally know when they get to church...????

how many will pick some one else up on their way to church???

how many will invite someone to church this week that they have only met????

if we do not talk to anyone about church, or God, or Jesus, or the Holy Spirit, then how in the world are we to expect to see an increase in the population of Gods Family????? much less the population of a peticular church congregation ( fellowship)

take some one to church tonite..... invite some one at church that is sitting by them selves, to sit with you, so that they are not sitting alone..... better yet....

ask them if they would mind if you sat next to them where they sit.....

well, being I am going to church this evening, I need to get ready to go....

will see ya all later.....

buy

by

bye

[Guest rmj7]

......... ........sigh. Okay people! It's simple! If everyone stops worrying about what everyone else is doing,a dn takes sincereness in his/own dynamic personal relationship with God, we wouldn't have all of these hypocrites and holier than thou's and people not walkin while they're talkin!

That's what tha problem is. We got too many folk thinking they're the one's who are suppose to be pointing the fingers and they're not even looking at the fingers that need to be pointed towards them.

Yes, I agree that Revival will begin with not a seies of Churches, but with every single soul which confesses the name of Jesus Christ. Until then, we will continue to give ourselves and Christ a bad name.