1.Why do you go to church? I'll go first. I presently don't go to church...simply I can't find one that complimentsholy living and non manipulating...I listen to Dave Wilkerson weekly on the net with my family. I plan to find one but that is not an easy task.It's like drinking ..whatsoever is not done in faith is sin..and Ican not in good faith sit and listen to some of these humanisticsermonettes and support them.
2. Do any of you go to church simply because you feel it's the right thing to do but in reality your church is stone dead?That's the battle I face. Nearly all Christians go to church so I feel something must be wrong with me.
3. Do you feel it's a sin if you don't go to church?Not sure ...this is why I asked the question.I know I don't feel totally right about it but I must admit I've grown very close to God ever since I stopped going.To be honest ..I'm confused about this one.
4. What church do you go to ? Why do you go there?I listen to Dave becausefrom ....greatest to least. a. His track record..fruit. Jesus said you would know them by thier fruit.
b. He doesn't talk about money EVER!!!
c. He is not a respector of persons. Oral , Benny and Mr. Price from the mid west asked him to "join their team". He declined. I love his face like flint attitude.
d. His messages are always about holy living.
e. He believes the gifts of the spirit are for today as I also do.
I need encouragement in this area folks. Bill, please don't hijack this thread. I really am interested in these responses.
Now Chuck, do you want Spiritual answers to your questions, or religous back patting?
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1.Why do you go to church?
True Believers do not go to "Church" . They are the "Church" . The Church is the collection of True Believers Scattered through out the world.
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2. Do any of you go to church simply because you feel it's the right thing to do but in reality your church is stone dead?
The True Church is not dead. It is the Body of Christ. However, all congregations of people who place names, or recognize their "church" as a seperate denomination do indeed attend dead congregations. This is supported by the Scriptures that point to the fact that Jesus will leave the local congregations as the Last day approaches, leaving Satan in control of the local congregations.
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3. Do you feel it's a sin if you don't go to church?
Actually, it is sin to attend the local churches today. They are under the headship of satan. The Good News is, is that the True Believers have already left, or will be leaving soon, leaving only the false brethren there to worship the lies taught by satan.
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4. What church do you go to ? Why do you go there?
There is only One Church, and if you are a Child of God, you are always present there. As for local congregations. God placed me in the Southern Baptist sect for some time to be a first hand witness to how a dead church actually functioned.
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I'm thanking you in advance for your time in answering these questions
Now Chuck, do you want Spiritual answers to your questions, or religous back patting?
Very foolish remark Bill. A post like this will get me quite the opposite. No one will pat me on the back for staying home. Even listening to Dave Wilkerson ,is frowned upon as your only means of church, I certainly will not find a pat on the back.. even from you because obvously I'm listening to the wrong preacher in your eyes. ..because he does not preach once saved always saved.
If there be a universal invisible church its membership is known only to God. It has never met, assembled, nor congregated anywhere at any time; that is, the supposed assembly has never assembled. Its fellowship is imaginary. It has no ordinances whatsoever, for these are for local churches. It has no organized existence. It has and exercises no earthly authority. It has no periods of worship, hence it never prays, praises, or preaches. It has no mission in the world; no message for the world. It has no house of worship. It cannot be opposed or persecuted. It cannot carry out the great commission. It never sends out missionaries to preach the gospel. It cannot receive nor exercise discipline. It never holds any revival meetings nor witnesses to anyone about Christ.
Christ and His Apostles did not coin the word "ekklesia" (church).It was already in use when they were on the scene, and they merely carried its meaning over into Christian literature. In the Classical Greek the word meant only "assembly." It had no other meaning at this time. The word could not have ever referred to a never assembled group, yet the invisible church has never assembled. If I can give a word a new meaning so as to fit my creed when the common meaning makes good sense, I can change the entire Bible to suit my fancy and the next person can do the same!
Matt.28:19-20
[19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
[20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
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Jesus said, "he who stands firm to the end will be saved" Mark 13:13.
Live Life in such a way that those who do not know Christ will come to know Him because they know you
If there be a universal invisible church its membership is known only to God.
While the Church is Universal, in that it has members through out the World, it surely is not invisable. The True Believers, or members of the Universal Church, ie the Body of Christ where evident in places like Rome, Galatia, and Corinth, as the Scripture points out. These "Churches" were the collection of True Believers who on occasion congregated together.
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It has never met, assembled, nor congregated anywhere at any time; that is, the supposed assembly has never assembled.
While True Believers do indeed congregate, they do not do so under commandment, but rather out of a desire to associate.
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Its fellowship is imaginary. It has no ordinances whatsoever, for these are for local churches.
The fellowship of True Believers is not designated to remain in a certain, area, or "home church". The Bible does not teach this. The Bible does teach that there are indeed True Believers residing in area's all over the world. For instance, the True Believers who reside in the state of Texas could be called the "Church in Texas".
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It has no organized existence. It has and exercises no earthly authority. It has no periods of worship, hence it never prays, praises, or preaches.
The Church was Established in eternity past, and it's powers are great for it is God's Word that proclaims that it will judge not only the angels, but the world itself.
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It has no mission in the world; no message for the world. It has no house of worship.
The mission of the True Believer is to spread the Gospel , The Good News of the Messiah to the entire world. Since such a ministry makes one itinerant, it is God who established within the Believer a "self priest" which allows him to be his priest onto God, and since Jesus Christs Body represents a Holy Sancuary for the True Believer, no buildings of stone, metal or plaster must be entered to establish the ability to worship the Lord.
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It cannot be opposed or persecuted. It cannot carry out the great commission.
A True Believer will opposed, and persecuted if he spends his entire life in cave. The fact that a man is indwelled by the Holy Spirit makes him an enemy of satan.
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It never sends out missionaries to preach the gospel. It cannot receive nor exercise discipline.
It is not a Church building membership that makes one able to carry out his ministry. A true minister of God is send out by Jesus Christ to preach the Gospel. Nothing can deter such a commision, because it comes from God.
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It never holds any revival meetings nor witnesses to anyone about Christ.
The True Doctor lives among sick, and dying. When his words bring about Spiritual healing, there comes with it, a great revival. Those who show Lazerus come alive had a great revival "meeting"
Chuck . . .I would that you search the Scriptures for an example of a Christian that chose to live his life apart from assembling with other Christians. Anywhere Christians are among other Christians they get together. Every time Paul comes to a place in Acts, if there are no Christians there he wins converts and organizes them into a group . .a little church. Acts 20:7 shows that the early church gathered as a way of life. Some of the reasons are for the use of spiritual gifts. 1Corinthians 12 makes it clear that God has given spiritual gifts to every Christian . . . .not to make us feel good . . .but to be able to be part of the ministry for the good of all. We use our strengths in others areas of weakness. At the same time our weaknesses can benefit from others strengths. Peter 4:10 commands us to use our spiritual gifts to help each other. Gods gives some the gift of being a preacher or a teacher . . . .how can we hear if we don"™t listen?
The church is pictured as a body in 1 Cor 12, and Paul explains that each part of the body exists to meet the needs of other body parts. God wants us to meet the needs of other believers, using our gifts where needed. None of us are self sufficient, we need each other. . . . .Look at all the "śone another"ť commands . . . .comfort one another, build up one another, confess our sins to one another, pray for one another, etc. How can we significantly do that on any scale if we don"™t gather with other Christian folk?
Then there is the tool of accountability . . . .by ourselves we can easily rationalize sinful attitudes or actions. We all need to realize that God has given us preachers and teachers and that there are others that God can work on us thru.
One verse says it all . . .Hebrews 10:25
__________________ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Why do you go to church ?
I really am interested in these responses.
