I was watching Joyce Meyers on TV yesterday and this was her topic. It was awsome because its what I've been studying lately. I dont want to step on toes in here but this is what I believe.
A lot of churches these days are religious. By this I mean they have a lot of laws and by laws and rules etc, etc... About a year ago I left a church because of these reason. One example is this, my wife was to sing a special one sunday night and the pastor wouldn't let her because she was wearing a pant suit. Wearing pants and she can't sing in the church? How religious is this? Some of the other laws of a church may be no drinking, no make up, no jewelry, no women preachersor teachers. What are rules like this going to accomplish? They condemn people and make people feel low. Obeying these rules will not get you any closer to God. Anyway, we have found an awsome Spirit filled and carismatic church that does not condemn people by the way they dress or anything. We believe that the Holy Sprit will convict a person to clean up or stop an addiction they may havebut when the Holy Spirit gives the conviction and not the church condemning you, God will give theGrace to achieve whatHe has asked you to stop or fix.Doing something because its traditionor a law of yourreligion to make you feel better or closer to God is a lie of the devil. The Bible teaches us that blessings nor salvation can be earned my human effort or we can boast about,"look what I did, I prayed for 3 hours this morning, God is going to bless me for that". No, No, No!! God blesses us because of his son Jesus, not by what you did!
When I think of the religion in the churches I think of the people that was afraid to claim Jesus as the Christ because they didn't want to get kicked out of the synagogue. These Jewish leaders or pharisees wanted to keep thier religionand "LAWS". Thats why they wanted to kill Jesus, Jesus was not about Laws or rules, he did the Will of the Father when he wanted and where he wanted.
Brothers, I know that some on here believe that by living by thier church rules will get them "in" better with God. I've seen that cutting meat out of your diet, or not watching so much tv or blah, blah, blah, living in obedience to God will do what ever. I'm saying that no man can stop a habit or lust by thier own power. When God convicts a person, then and only then will you be able to stop. God does want obedience but hewants a relationship. When we have a close personel relationship with Him, by this I mean talking to him 1st thing in the morning, 1st thing when you see a problem in your life, reading the Word and seeking His Will. Thats what the Bible says, "seek first the kingdom of God and he will add ALL things unto you".
Location: Heaven is my home, temporarily residing in WNY :)
Posts: 6,661
RE: Religion or Relationship
Religionvs Relationship
penanceRepentance
Works to get loved by GodWorks because you ARE loved by God
"I never knew you" "Enter now into my rest"
Sunday morning Duty All week long desire
How you act when people see you How you act when you are alone
temporal eternal
Hell Heaven
__________________
A Trophy is highly personal and is often determined by the circumstances, events, and the individual feelings of accomplishment and not by a score card. - Greg "Doc" Caldwell
for out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks!
Religionvs Relationship
penanceRepentance
Works to get loved by GodWorks because you ARE loved by God
"I never knew you" "Enter now into my rest"
Sunday morning Duty All week long desire
How you act when people see you How you act when you are alone
temporal eternal
Hell Heaven
Great reply. It is about a relationship with Jesus Christ, not a relationship with a church or religion. Jesus says this in Matthew 7 when he says, "depart from me, for I never knew you." This clearly points to a relationship with Jesus and not just head knowledge.
__________________
In Christ alone I place my trust.
Christians aren't perfect, just sinners saved by grace.
Love to fish, hunt, ride atv's, music at church, football, family and friends.
Without making judgment on anyone, I have to say that with some folk part of their relationship with Christ includes dressing in such a way that they feel is pleasing to God. This is usually a body of believers that feel that according to God's Word men and women should refrain from wearing certain type of clothing, make up or jewelry.
This does not mean that these folk don't have a relationship with Christ. Just the opposite as they deny themselves much of what they consider worldly in trying to be conform to what the Bible says. Most of these churches I've been to would'nt deny others to attend service but would'nt want these "worldly" ways to be viewed as acceptable by opening the pulpit or the choir, etc to those not in accord.
This is obviously not going to be acceptable to everyone but usually this church was there a long time before those who disagree decided to attend. I would agree that if a person is offended by this and cannot see their way to accept this way then the best thing to do is to find another place of worship.
Dk, I don't know just how that all played out with your wife and yourself, but I'm sure it was very hurtful or embarrassing, or both. I attend a Apostolic Pentecostal Church and we're one of those that believe in covering our flesh and men wearing pants and women wearing the long dresses. No makeup and no jewelry. We try to raise our families to not dress like the world in general and to live a life of inward and outward holiness. We welcome with open arms all who would attend our service and pray and or be saved at the alters. . . .for as long or as often as they choose. However in order to be a part of the functioning of the services as far as speaking from the pulpit or singing in the choir, or even singing a special, it is not allowed unless they are in accord. As I've been on both sides of the issue in my time I know that it can put a person off. . . .or just the opposite. But from the perspective of a church that is trying to preserve holiness and reverence in their place of worship in a world where churches are more and more allowing what is sinful to creep in and take over, you gotta draw the line way before it's gone too far.
__________________ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
As I've been on both sides of the issue in my time I know that it can put a person off. . . .or just the opposite. But from the perspective of a church that is trying to preserve holiness and reverence in their place of worship in a world where churches are more and more allowing what is sinful to creep in and take over, you gotta draw the line way before it's gone too far.
Amen brother!
__________________
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
dkhamner I do agree with you on that. I've never seen the reason for membership of a church either. Why do you have to become a member of a church. It real doesn't matter if you are a member or not. It should be the relationship you have with God that matters. Just my thinking.
Location: Heaven is my home, temporarily residing in WNY :)
Posts: 6,661
RE: Religion or Relationship
Quote:
ORIGINAL: neb
dkhamner I do agree with you on that. I've never seen the reason for membership of a church either. Why do you have to become a member of a church. It real doesn't matter if you are a member or not. It should be the relationship you have with God that matters. Just my thinking.
The church is a necessary part of our Christian walk ... you can't possibly seperate the Christian from the church. I don't understand that thinking .... through the church, we learn, send out missionaries, minister to the prisoners, feed the poor, minister to the widows and the fatherless .....
__________________
A Trophy is highly personal and is often determined by the circumstances, events, and the individual feelings of accomplishment and not by a score card. - Greg "Doc" Caldwell
for out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks!
I'm not talking about not going to church I mean you being a member of a cerrtain church. I go to church and know the inportance of felloeshio and all that. Churches want youas a member and if I went to a differant church each week some would hold that against you for not being faithful to one church.
Location: Heaven is my home, temporarily residing in WNY :)
Posts: 6,661
RE: Religion or Relationship
Quote:
ORIGINAL: neb
I'm not talking about not going to church I mean you being a member of a cerrtain church. I go to church and know the inportance of felloeshio and all that. Churches want youas a member and if I went to a differant church each week some would hold that against you for not being faithful to one church.
You should find out which church God wants you to be faithful to. You need to submit to a man of God, as he is directed by the Holy Spirit. Then you can teach Sunday School, or usher, or whatever else the Lord would have you do. You will NEVER grow more than when you are submitted (a bad word in most peoples eyes) to a Bible believeing, local, New Testament Church.
__________________
A Trophy is highly personal and is often determined by the circumstances, events, and the individual feelings of accomplishment and not by a score card. - Greg "Doc" Caldwell
for out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks!
I'm not talking about not going to church I mean you being a member of a cerrtain church. I go to church and know the inportance of felloeshio and all that. Churches want youas a member and if I went to a differant church each week some would hold that against you for not being faithful to one church.
You should find out which church God wants you to be faithful to. You need to submit to a man of God, as he is directed by the Holy Spirit. Then you can teach Sunday School, or usher, or whatever else the Lord would have you do. You will NEVER grow more than when you are submitted (a bad word in most peoples eyes) to a Bible believeing, local, New Testament Church.
Shoot, I know a few missionaries, they don't need a building to go into everyweek. I require church, and of course am a member of "the church". I require being around believers to grow. I am weak and still early on my walk and we strengthen each other. But I see no reason some special individuals that God has a plan for, can't have a much stronger walk and not attend a building every Sunday Morning.
Religion or Relationship
