In this blog, we have been discussing the Challenges to the Christian Faith, including the the Counterfeit Religious System. We recently began to discuss this topic with one of our Guest writer, Pastor Sharon White. Her heart has often been to see the Lord’s people step into the calling we have. In responce to the topic of the Emerging Church, she wrote us this post.
*******Read more...(802 words, 2 images, estimated 3:12 mins reading time)
Another reader’s comment on going to Church, the building rather than being Church, His people:
“I see now how I am guilty of what you wrote in this post. The church has failed and so have I. The church should be filled with old and young, rich and poor, thieves and CEOS because ultimately we all thirst for the same thing, Jesus Christ.
“We are all in need of repentance, redemption, and reconciliation. Let us not abandon the church until we find one that fits our mold but let us be the church; sanctified and broken in communion with God.Read more...(151 words, 1 image, estimated 36 seconds reading time)
Here is another song that will fill your heart with worship. It is a YouTube video music by Chris Tomlin -called ‘I Lift My Hands’. It was uploaded by katesg on May 30, 2011. Enjoy
I trust you have enjoyed this song as much as I have enjoyed sharing it with you,
Here is another view from readers on the topic of going to the box we call church –
“I think it’s very important to look into ‘Emergent Churches’ on a church-by-church basis. I’ve attended quite a few churches people label as emergent, but have a very conservative theological foundation.
“They believe in the absolute authority of scripture, they just question fundamental views that don’t have conspicuous scriptural backing. It’s like Luther, liberally reforming against the conservative Catholic biblical understandings. Luther shed off traditional teachings, but still based everything on scripture… likewise a lot of “emerging” AND “emergent” churches are doing the same thing.Read more...(222 words, 1 image, estimated 53 seconds reading time)
We have selected several responses to the YouTube “Religion I hate…but Jesus I love” by Jeffery Bethke. Here is another interesting reply adapted from: Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus, Patheos Website ‘The Smackdown.mht. Remember to leave your own comments at the end of this post.
“Without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, religion is a joke. This is made apparent not only in the words, but in the actions of Jesus Christ. Whether you believe in the sacraments or not, there is no doubt that Christ established ritual. It’s one thing to ignore Christ’s statement to “eat my body.” It’s another to ignore his command to “do this in memory of me.” Christ commanded that we have rituals.Read more...(605 words, 1 image, estimated 2:25 mins reading time)
Another interesting comment came into the blog from another source about people’s attitudes towards going to church. Here is number 14:
“We need to stop talking about ‘good kids’ and ‘bad kids’. We need to stop being pleased with attendance at youth group and fun retreats. ‘Night events’, ‘band events’ or shared church events – where is the gospel being shared with our youth?
“We need to start getting on our knees and praying that the Holy Spirit will do miraculous saving work in the hearts of our students as the Word of God speaks to them. In short, we need to get back to a focus on conversion.Read more...(263 words, 1 image, estimated 1:03 mins reading time)
From Spiritual Slavery to Spiritual Sons by Jack Frost
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A Word from the Lord:
"I have followed the flight of an eagle with My eyes. I have seen the mighty fish in the sea and they all give Me great pleasure ..… but do you know the greatest of all My creation is the Adam and Eve I created?
"Time has not changed My joy in seeing mankind grow. However, My heart has been saddened when I know the pleasure I wish to give My people, give to you My child. My ways are meant to be light, My burden easy. Religions and rules make the heaviness I wish to lift from My people.
"I long to draw you closer, to teach you deeper things of My Spirit. I need you to let your Heart rest in My love, to rest in My peace. I know the paths ahead for you. I have planned and will provide many treasures you have yet to see. Look for My hand and let Me guide you.
"I do know of your beginnings, of the painful places you have walked in your life. I have provided healing and grace to get up and go on … but know this, My child - I have never left your side. I have always walked with you, even when you cannot see My hand in your life. It is in times like this that I wish to grow your faith and trust.
"I have treasured your growth in following Me … and I want you to continue to seek Me for who I am, not what others have said about Me - or what the groups around you think.
"Look for Me and you will see Me in many layers in your life. I know your future; I know the dark places ahead and the places filled with sunshine and light. You will find Me in both places as I am moulding you and teaching you to walk with Me.
"Trust Me as you see the world around you. I will never leave you or walk away from you as I love you with a deep everlasting love. Yes, even when you make mistakes or take your eyes off the track. I am here! Rest in My peace and continue to let me fill you with My ways, with My treasures."
From Your Lord Jesus, your loving Father God via the Holy Spirit.
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To begin this section, let me tell you a story. 'Jenny' grew up in a semi-Christian home where she went to Sunday School every Sunday. It was probably more so that her parents had Sunday morning to themselves, away from their 4 children that they were sent to church. For whatever reason, little seeds grew in Jenny until she was a 20 year old and working in the church office.
She enjoyed her work and 'served well'. She even had a t-shirt made that said 'Steward of the Most High God'. She often marked her folders as 'Jenny, Steward of God'. This sounded like a good saying and to her, even sound doctrine … but it wasn't the whole truth. Something was missing.
She thought about leaving this group and looking for another church. Working in the church office made her feel like she belonged somewhere. She was the 'Helper to the Pastor' and that was how others saw her too.
They were her 'authority', her source of comfort and didn't they have the final say on what the Bible said? She wasn't really 'close' with any of them anyhow; none had tried to help her grow spiritually. She kept the rules of the church but quietly thought about 'church hopping someday'.
When she had a good day at work, she felt God smiled at her, even though her peers frequently excluded her in their church activities. She had her job with the church and they didn't. "Maybe they are just envious", she thought. "I need to protect what God has given me, especially since they don't understand me."
More and more she felt guarded and distrustful of others in the church and sometimes - if she let her thoughts go there - even felt the church pasters and leaders weren't doing the very best as stewards that they could have. "God was sole owner of everything and He had given me a job to do!" … and that was that as far as Jenny told herself.
So that was Jenny until the day her Mother died and she faced some hard truths. She was independent and could take care of herself but what about her family? One or two of the pastor's wives stopped by to offer their sad words but few others came.
The funeral wasn't very impressive as their money had been used for doctors. Jenny felt alone and lost, wanting to be loved by those she served but somehow, all this need and pride was mixed with isolation and being alone.
Sad and lonely, she went for a walk. "There's got to be more to God than this!" She began to question if she even knew the real Jesus and His love for her. At first, she didn't really feel like she could talk to HIM, the One who walked beside her. She didn't feel worthy; maybe she hadn't done enough? She was only His Steward …. but He saw her as so much more!
As Jenny walked and allowed His love to penetrate her independent, self-sufficient Heart. Her view of her walk as a Jesus follower began to change. Her view of being that 'Steward' began to melt into another sense of being His child first.
She began to feel gratitude for what the Lord was doing for her … and for her family. Never having known her biological father, she began to sense she really had a Father who just might cared for her. As the tears rolled down her face, she could she had turned her back on the real Source of her comfort, turned to the pastors who could never fill that need inside.
She could see that believing she was 'only His steward' had robbed her of knowing she was His child. Taking care of His things had replaced knowing she owned these things as His heir and beloved daughter.
She returned to the home she knew with greater peace than ever. She removed the labels 'Steward of God' of her folders and books. She replaced the labels with 'Growing child of God'. What a difference she felt!" (Names and places have been changed to protect 'Jenny's identity.)
As we begin this Stage 4 in our series From Slave to Bride, join us to find answers for your own life.
In this blog, we have been discussing the Challenges to the Christian Faith, including the the Counterfeit Religious System. We recently began to discuss this topic with one of our Guest writer, Pastor Sharon White. Her heart has often been to see the Lord’s people step into the calling we have. In responce to the topic of the Emerging Church, she wrote us this post.
