Christianity vs. Churchianity
Christianity is not a religion. Christianity is a personal relationship with Yeshua HA MAsshiach(Jesus Christ ). Christianity is the Holy Spirit indwelling believers and guiding them into all truth just asYeshua promised in John 16:13-15. Under Christianity, going to church is like stacks of individual logs, helping each other to stay on fire for the Lord. Under Christianity, the word of God is preached at church and, just as God warns us in Revelation 22:18, nothing is added to it, espescially the concept of salvation by good works instead of faith.
Take the Christ out of Christianity and make the church more important than Christ, and you end up with churchianity. Churchianity is a religious social club where the word of God takes a back seat to peer pressure, the appearance of morality and social or political sermons/speeches from the pulpit (if there is a pulpit). Churchianity encourages Pharisee-type thinking, judging others, and most of all the idea that you can be "good" enough to work your way to heaven if you work real hard at going to church, and work real hard at never saying "no" when asked to serve or do something for the church no matter how over extended or exhausted you already are. When Christian author, C.S. Lewis complained, "The problem with Christianity is Christians," he hit the nail right on the head. Let us not be a part of the problem. Let us be part of God"s eternal program: to reach the lost, to love others, and most of all to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind and spirit.
When you get to heaven after a life of serving Christ, what difference will it make whether you considered yourself an Armenian or a Calvinist, (or anything else that is invented by man, AND IS NOT EVEN IN THE BIBLE)! Churchianity is complicated. Christianity is so simple that even a small child can understand and accept the gospel message. Man makes churchianity so complicated that it is no wonder those who practice churchianity are loaded down, frustrated and confused.
The Narrow Path
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances; for this God"s will for you in Masshiach Yeshua." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
In the end, Churchianity will be burned up like wood, hay and stubble. Christianity will endure forever! To get back to Christian basics, get back to Yeshua, the way the truth and the life. Nothing else really matters. Do you need more Christianity and less Churchianity in your life?
Shalom
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The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. Zephaniah 1:14
פרץ
I have to agree that I have met some folksthat havelet the importance of church over-take the importance of belief. I guess sort of a case of missing the forest for the trees?
It can be in a fishing boat like this morning. Aaron said,"Dad, is it ok if I bring my Bible?" I said sure..Like yesterday we studied about 3 chapters of God's word. Althiough Aaron is slow in most academic areas..he has a great memory. h eactually has a better one than I . We read about Amnon raping his sister and Israel getting divided up between Absolum and david.
C7
It can be in a fishing boat like this morning. Aaron said,"Dad, is it ok if I bring my Bible?" I said sure..Like yesterday we studied about 3 chapters of God's work.
Quit griping about your church;
if it were perfect, you couldn't belong.
I don't know why some people
change churches; what difference does
it make which one you stay home from?
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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
For more Christianity and less churchianity we are getting ready to go on our yearly trip to the boundary waters. Nothing but God, His wide open creation, His word, and our family. This year we are taking our 5 and 7 year old. They can't wait. My dad and my little brother are coming too. It is going to be a great opportunity for us to show our faith to my dad and brother. My 5 year old is so excited that I helped her make her own calendar to mark the days off on her own. I put a tent on the day we are leaving and our van on the day we come home---We are counting the days!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is something that I have been struggling with. I am currently not attending the church my wife and I have attended for sometime. Several years ago we had a pastor retire and we prayed for a spirit filled man that would speak the truth as a replacement. That old saying be careful what you pray for. We received a pastor that is on fire for God and spoke the truth. Many of the members began to find fault in him very quickly. He encouraged us not to be satisfied with keeping the benches warm.
Many people felt as if he was preaching directly at them(Conviction). They became upset because he did not want to carry a cell phone. They were mad because he wanted Saturday( The Sabboth) off. To make a long story short they assembled their pastor parish commitee and had him ran out of the church in no time flat. Just at the point of time we were beginng to be fed.
I have been in denominational churches all my life and feel that denomination is one of the # one mechinisims of satan. Hey lets throw together a list of rules and regulations that we are going to believe and if you dont go by them or agree with them you cant be a part of our church. Jerk, hookset, somebody sure bit that worm.Does the word say something aboutthe spirit of division.Denomination or not we are all the body ofChrist. It takes every member and part forit to function properly.
As somebody said earlier the kids can figure it out. I likeBible school. The kids learn aboutGod and what they hear they take literal. Put a grown man in the mix and he will complicate things beyond comprehension.
Well enough from me. Idont have any room to talk about relations withGod because mine is definately lacking. Justknow what I feel in my spirit and heart and get tired of man limiting Godby running the church in the flesh.
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Elm River Hunt Club
Wayne County Illinois
www.illinoisdeerhunters.com
We have strayed from the meaning of church. Too many people go to church for themselves. It's not about us, it's about Him. Churchs have become social clubs where people jostle for position on the status ladder.
When we come hungry for Him and seek to worship in Spirit and in Truth, then church becomes an experience, not a simple meeting place. All of the sudden it is about Him, and not about us. We need to turn our church homes in places of worship and praise.
I've heard more bickering in church meetings than in most business meetings. Now that's a shame!
We need to turn from religion into relationship.
Rev; You are so right about the modern day form of "church" being nothing more than a social club. Ice cream socials, chicken dinners and chili feeds have replaced the "meat" of the gospel. Puppet shows have replaced the hell fire and brimstone messages that filled hearts with reverence and godly fear. Shaking the preachers hand has replaced the heartfelt conviction that lead to sinners praying all night for salvation. All that is left in most congregations is a "form" of godliness. Racket has replaced revival. Volumn is seen as anointing. If enough isn't given to satisfy the pastor, someone has a "green" devil and the way to cast him from the midst is to take another offering.
Oh for the days when Hell was hot, and eternity was too long to be without God!!
Christianity VS Churchianity
