this is my church

[Terasec]

As the years pass I find myself attending mass less and less often.
But I am no less religious,
As I sit here , listening to the thunder and watching the rain.
I realize this is my church. The thunder is my church bells, the rain my baptismal waters.by not attending church and spending my sundays outdoors I find myself closer to God more so than ever before.

[IL_ray_phillips]

Originally Posted by Terasec

As the years pass I find myself attending mass less and less often.
But I am no less religious,
As I sit here , listening to the thunder and watching the rain.
I realize this is my church. The thunder is my church bells, the rain my baptismal waters.by not attending church and spending my sundays outdoors I find myself closer to God more so than ever before.

So true! The church and its teachings are so fake! If a person seperates themselves from it and seeks God he will come near to them. He wants nothing to with people who are full of every kind of evil and call themselves christians. Outdoors is my prayer closet. I planted a garden this year and i love spending time out in it just listening and enjoying the peace!

[Rebel Hog]

Matt. 18-20
King James Bible
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

[Venator2]

Originally Posted by IL_ray_phillips

He wants nothing to with people who are full of every kind of evil and call themselves christians.

Is this what you think of people who attend Church.?

[LBR]

Hebrews 10:25 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

[Snooky]

Hebrews 10:25 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

[LBR]

I can understand and relate to feeling closer to God when you are close to nature, but IMO we can't let that become and excuse to substitute hunting or fishing for organized worship.

Chad

[IL_ray_phillips]

Originally Posted by Rebel Hog

Matt. 18-20
King James Bible
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Very true Reb! But there is much more to gathering in his name than simply stating the words. Remember what Jesus says here.

Mat 7:22 KJV - 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 KJV - And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Mat 7:24 KJV - Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

Many who gather in Jesus name will here these words from Jesus himself! "I never knew you:depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

What is a person who works iniquity? Here it is again.

Gal 5:19 KJV - Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Gal 5:20 KJV - Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Gal 5:21 KJV - Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Know anyone who claims to be a christian and is involved in these things? The last scripture is not my words but God's!

So then we have the question of "What is gathering in Jesus name"? Its the same thing as asking in Jesus name. Being baptized in Jesus name. It is part of the mystery of Christ! Its right infront of us but our sinful nature and unwillingness to let go of the flesh blinds us and keeps us from seeing the truth of the matter! Its a matter of the heart and fully giving yourself to God!

2Cr 3:14 KJV - But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which [vail] is done away in Christ.
2Cr 3:15 KJV - But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
2Cr 3:16 KJV - Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.


Here is Jesus name!

Rev 19:12 KJV - His eyes [were] as a flame of fire, and on his head [were] many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Rev 19:13 KJV - And he [was] clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

Jesus name is the Word of God! He was with God in the beggining as seen in John 1:1! If you are gathering in Jesus name you are gathering in his truths and living the Word of God. Living acording to the precepts set by Christ upon the foundation of God as seen here.

Isa 28:13 KJV - But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

If you are being baptized in the name of Jesus you are taking the truth of the Word and living it . You are putting his words inside you. That why he said his words are life. You cleanse yourself with the word of God! It is how the bride is prepared for the great and terrible day of the Lord. His words are living water. Proper mode of baptism is emersing yourself with the truth of God's word. The Word is an exact representation of who God and Christ is. It is our manual for living!

Eph 5:25 KJV - Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 KJV - That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27 KJV - That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

[IL_ray_phillips]

Originally Posted by Venator2

Is this what you think of people who attend Church.?

Tts 1:15 KJV - Unto the pure all things [are] pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving [is] nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
Tts 1:16 KJV - They profess that they know God; but in works they deny [him], being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.


I think the people have been deceived and think than can live a lie from the devil(imparted to them from todays religion which I will not call God's chruch. The church is the pilliar of truth and there is not much truth in chruch today) and still have life with God after they die. I believe there are alot of great people in the religion and when God moves will come out and be seperate. Poor choice of wording by me on the wanting nothing to do with them because he wants all to be saved. I should have said that that sin creates distance between a person and God. He will not come near to them if they are in sin. The people are being fed from the table of demons and not at the table of the Lord. The are filled with wine not the spirit! The spirit is truth and the maddening wine is what is being taught causing people to stumble!

1Jo 3:6 NIV - No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.
1Jo 3:7 NIV - Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.
1Jo 3:8 NIV - He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.(Here is Grace! Jesus appeared to empower you to overcome your sinful nature!)
1Jo 3:9 NIV - No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
1Jo 3:10 NIV - This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.

Isa 1:15 KJV - And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.
Isa 1:16 KJV - Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
Isa 1:17 KJV - Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
Isa 1:18 KJV - Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Isa 1:19 KJV - If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
Isa 1:20 KJV - But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken [it].

Nothing has changed! If we will turn from our wicked ways and be obedient we will be forgiven. If not we will be devoured by the sword which is the Word of God. This means we will be judged by those precepts set for us in the bible. It does not mean our heads will be lopped!

I know there is a scripture in the new test that says sin creates a distance between a person and God but I cant find it! I will have to do some reading and praying to find it.

[IL_ray_phillips]

Originally Posted by Snooky

Hebrews 10:25 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

Hbr 10:22 NIV - let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Hbr 10:23 NIV - Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Hbr 10:24 NIV - And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
Hbr 10:25 NIV - Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hbr 10:26 NIV - If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,
Hbr 10:27 NIV - but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.
Hbr 10:28 NIV - Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Hbr 10:29 NIV - How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?
Hbr 10:30 NIV - For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people."
Hbr 10:31 NIV - It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

This has everything to do with what I have said. If you take the whole context! First 10:22 is very important. It tells us how we come to God! We have to have a sincere heart. Lets say be obeying the 1st commandment! Then we have to have a clear conscience or knowing we have been forgiven of our sins. If the priest of the original temple went in unclean they would be pulled out by a rope! Then it tells us how we become clean. Its by being washed in pure water as seen here! Applying the word of God in our lives!

Eph 5:25 KJV - Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
Eph 5:26 KJV - That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,


This was written to encourage those paul was writting to stay in the truth! Not to return to the sinful nature! Not to be doubleminded.(thinking they can sin and be of God) It has nothing to do with potlucks and bible school! It says if you have the truth revealed to you and return to the sinful nature after being born again you will perish! No sacrifice is left for sin. Do you think he is talking about the people of todays church? Seriously! He is talking about the children of God. He is talking about Zion! There are requirnemnts for being called a child or son of God!

1Jo 3:9 KJV - Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
1Jo 3:10 KJV - In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.