14 characteristics of genuinely friendly Churches

[Rollo Tamasi]

Rollo,

1. The first thing we should do is recognize that "the falling away" or the great apostasy which the apostle Paul prophesied (2 Thess 2:3)has occurred and is gaining ground every day in the evangelical churches, which see nothing wrong with joining hands with Rome and other apostate churches. Believers need to be aware and alert and stand up and speak out -- "Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain" (Rev 3:2).

2. The second thing we should be doing is applying the exhortations which the Holy Spirit gave to the 7 churches in the book of Revelation, and deal with the sins that are within our local assemblies -- "I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil; and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars" (Rev 2:2).

3. The third things which local churches should be doing is coming before the Lord to repent of their falling away (Rev 2:5,16,21; 3:3,19). Do you notice how often the Lord is commanding the churches to repent? "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and REPENT, and do the first works..." (Rev 2:5).

Where is that happening? In wicked Nineveh, the evil king and the Ninevites immediately fasted, put on sackcloth, and "turned every one from his evil way" (Jonah 3:5-10) . That's what the churches should be doing. Instead we have the World Evangelical Alliance joining hands with Rome as we speak.

What you are saying here is very true, but I see it as an empty message.
Who are you talking to?
What is the motivation?
And what are you doing about it?

 

[Kathi]

What you are saying here is very true, but I see it as an empty message.
Who are you talking to?
What is the motivation?
And what are you doing about it?

Good point.

 

[Willie T]

Isn't it remarkable how many posts we type using the word, "you", when we really should have the word, "I", instead? I do it all the time.

 

[Malachi]

What you are saying here is very true, but I see it as an empty message...

How can the words Christ be an "empty message"? You and I are to simply do what He said. Sadly, Christians too often are fearful instead of courageous.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

How can the words Christ be an "empty message"? You and I are to simply do what He said. Sadly, Christians too often are fearful instead of courageous.

Yes, Malachi, I created a statement that has people standing up.
What you said was prophecy to us here on the forum.
And it keeps getting quoted over and over.
What can we do about it?
If we are unable to take the next step, for whatever reason, then it is an empty message because no one is receiving it.

Many people here on the forum are churchless, that is, they don't attend an organized group where they live.
Church becomes the forum, which is good.
One can worship God with music here, receive God's Word in the Bible study forum, the focus on Scripture forum, and the foundation of faith forum.
There is a place for prayer and testimonies.
One can have organized church right here on the forum.

But how many go to church first and then have coffee and donuts in the Lounge?
All that you have said needs motivation and leadership.

How do "we" do this?

 

[Malachi]

All that you have said needs motivation and leadership.
How do "we" do this?

Rollo,

Every genuine child of God has (1) the indwelling Holy Spirit, (2) at least one spiritual gift, possibly several (3) the written Word of God, (4) the true Gospel, and (5) the Lord Jesus Christ leading, guiding, teaching, and chastening.

If we all were to dedicate ourselves to (1) a serious study of the Word personally, (2) a serious effort to reach out to the lost we know or we can contact, (3) a serious effort to ask local believers we know to attend home Bible studies in our homes, and (4) a serious effort to study the Word in fellowship with others in our homes in order to share the Gospel and to study Bible doctrine, we all would have established house churches as those which are found in the New Testament. This does not mean that after there is sufficient growth, Christians should not meet in a public meeting place, but this is the nucleus of a local assembly of believers. It could be 5 or 50.

While the forum can be used to communicate and fellowship from a distance, God desires us to "assemble" with other believers and to "break bread" with other believers (Heb 10:25). I trust these few thoughts will be helpful.

Some claim that house churches cannot have Scriptural spiritual leadership. That is utterly false. If believers meet to be obedient to the Word and to the Lord, God will raise up elders and deacons as He did in the New Testament churches. As long as Christians refuse to accept any "benefits" from the IRS and refuse to register themselves accordingly, the government has no sayso in our freedom of worship. And when the time comes that the government tries to interfere and nullify that right, Christians are to stand up and be counted.

 

[ReginaForbes]

When I visit my local Reform church vs the Catholic church I feel a vast difference. Being raised Catholic it was more like visiting God once a week and then "you're on your own kid" while instead when I volunteer at the Reform church I feel like this is a family. It could be due to the fact that in the Catholic church authority is top-down and faceless so it feels cold and uncaring while within the Reform church, authority is more involved and present so it feels friendlier. I really like smaller congregations and localized authority it feels friendlier because you can put a face to a church's policy and speak to the policy makers if something feels unfair.