Jim Parker
Member
State of Union Part three:
The evidence of immaturity is the ease with which any charlatan with a talent for speaking can send the immature believers off chasing the latest wind of doctrine.
Prosperity Gospel?
Televangelists babbling about how to convince God to make your life work and then telling you to send them a big check so they can build their prayer tower and by a new jet.
Promotions for “Prophetic Conferences” with preaching by a host of Christian, super-star, celebrities.
Preaching about how to make MY life better and MY income bigger and how to get MY healing and MY new job and MY new car and MY big house.
But not: Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. (1 Tim6:6-11)
What is the cause of this general immaturity?”
I am not aware of any church in this area, and have not heard of one anywhere else, which has ON STAFF, FULL TIME; Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers.
Usually the pastor runs them out of the church. (That way, he doesn’t have to share the collection)
Churches have “music ministers” and a rock-n-roll gospel band or a big choir because that brings people in to hear the music they like and will stay to hear the pastor’s lecture (sermon) and write a big check.
They have “singles ministers” because that draws young men and women to the church but, unfortunately, they mostly come to “hook up” for the evening rather than to pursue holiness.
Churches have Bible classes where they create Biblical Gnostics who can argue about everything in the Bible while doing nothing for the widow, orphan and stranger.
> Pursuit of personal wealth and comfort while people go hungry and in need is a demonstration of immaturity.
> A church of immature believers will have absolutely NO impact whatsoever on the community where they live. They will not shine their light or be the salt of the earth.
- Planned Parenthood will thrive.
Founded as a racist, genocidal, organization with the express purpose of
reducing the number of minority births, they will continue to murder
over a million a year while the church wrings its hands and says, “Ain’t it awful?”.
- Drug and alcohol abuse will permeate the community.
Does you church have a Bible-based 12-step program for drug and alcohol addicts?
- Crime will increase because morality will decrease and morality will decrease because no one is stetting any standards and telling people that there is a hell for those who do not pursue holiness.
Does your church have a discipleship program to train up (not teach: train) disciples to help them lead a life of holiness?
- Hunger, Homelessness, and Poverty will be visible everywhere.
Does your church teach tithing?
Who is the tithe for? Look it up: Deuteronomy 14
It’s for the WIDOW, the ORPHAN and the Alien – NOT just the Levite.
Is there any mention in Acts of the primitive church collecting tithes?
No. Those who had wealth VOLUNTARILY sold their property and gave the proceeds to the church so that the church could make sure that those in need got what they needed and there was no lack in the church.
Does that happen in your church? I've not seen it either but I've hear pastors tell people to take out second mortgages on their homes so that he could build a bigger church.
> Ever increasing promiscuity, which is promoted by our school system and our media, results in more and more single mothers trying to raise children on welfare and deadbeat father’s who take no responsibility for the babies they make or for the mothers with whom they made those babies.
Does your church have a school for the children of the saints and anyone else who wants a good CHRISTIAN education for their children or are you content to let the pagans, socialists, and atheists in the government school system teach you kids what they think is important? Like “gender awareness”
Does your church teach and promote a high standard of holiness?
A real Christian should not “fit” in our neo-pagan, socialist, hedonistic society.
Does your church give water to the thirsty, food to the hungry, clothing to the naked, or shelter to the homeless? Do they visit the sick and the prisoners?
If not, why not?
Do you not know that Jesus will judge your faith
> based on whether or not you did those specific things and
> based on the evidence of your works Christ will determine whether
you inherit the kingdom or go to hell? (Mat 25:31-46)
Our country, the greatest country that ever existed for personal freedoms and opportunity for success for anyone who would strive for it, is going down the toilet because the people tolerate corrupt politicians who promise them free stuff and because the people worship Mammon and Molech and themselves.
Meanwhile, pastors are working hard to build “mega-churches” and drive Mercedes Benz automobiles and wear Rolex watches on their Christian TV shows.
While their flock is busy debating about whether the “rapture” will come before, during or after the “great tribulation.”
NEWS FLASH: The unsaved, hell-bound, lost sinner does not give a hoot about the “rapture.”
Here’s a worn out expression that’s still true: “The sinner doesn’t care how much you know; he want’s to know how much you care.”
BECAUSE: When you show how much you care, you are really showing how much God cares and that is what they need to know.
If the church does not show the love of God to the lost then they will conclude that God does not love them and that the Church is a scam.
What to do about it?
(1) REPENT and pursue holiness. Heb 12:14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
(2) BE the light of the world by letting people see your good works
(3) Strive to be a carbon copy of Jesus who never sinned and who only did what the Father showed Him to do.
(4) Love God – Love one another – Love your neighbors – Love your enemies.
John 17:20-23 I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
So, ask yourself: Based on my behavior, would the people in the world conclude that God sent Jesus and that He loves them?
My personal response too often is: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me the sinner.”
The evidence of immaturity is the ease with which any charlatan with a talent for speaking can send the immature believers off chasing the latest wind of doctrine.
Prosperity Gospel?
Televangelists babbling about how to convince God to make your life work and then telling you to send them a big check so they can build their prayer tower and by a new jet.
Promotions for “Prophetic Conferences” with preaching by a host of Christian, super-star, celebrities.
Preaching about how to make MY life better and MY income bigger and how to get MY healing and MY new job and MY new car and MY big house.
But not: Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. (1 Tim6:6-11)
What is the cause of this general immaturity?”
I am not aware of any church in this area, and have not heard of one anywhere else, which has ON STAFF, FULL TIME; Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers.
Usually the pastor runs them out of the church. (That way, he doesn’t have to share the collection)
Churches have “music ministers” and a rock-n-roll gospel band or a big choir because that brings people in to hear the music they like and will stay to hear the pastor’s lecture (sermon) and write a big check.
They have “singles ministers” because that draws young men and women to the church but, unfortunately, they mostly come to “hook up” for the evening rather than to pursue holiness.
Churches have Bible classes where they create Biblical Gnostics who can argue about everything in the Bible while doing nothing for the widow, orphan and stranger.
> Pursuit of personal wealth and comfort while people go hungry and in need is a demonstration of immaturity.
> A church of immature believers will have absolutely NO impact whatsoever on the community where they live. They will not shine their light or be the salt of the earth.
- Planned Parenthood will thrive.
Founded as a racist, genocidal, organization with the express purpose of
reducing the number of minority births, they will continue to murder
over a million a year while the church wrings its hands and says, “Ain’t it awful?”.
- Drug and alcohol abuse will permeate the community.
Does you church have a Bible-based 12-step program for drug and alcohol addicts?
- Crime will increase because morality will decrease and morality will decrease because no one is stetting any standards and telling people that there is a hell for those who do not pursue holiness.
Does your church have a discipleship program to train up (not teach: train) disciples to help them lead a life of holiness?
- Hunger, Homelessness, and Poverty will be visible everywhere.
Does your church teach tithing?
Who is the tithe for? Look it up: Deuteronomy 14
It’s for the WIDOW, the ORPHAN and the Alien – NOT just the Levite.
Is there any mention in Acts of the primitive church collecting tithes?
No. Those who had wealth VOLUNTARILY sold their property and gave the proceeds to the church so that the church could make sure that those in need got what they needed and there was no lack in the church.
Does that happen in your church? I've not seen it either but I've hear pastors tell people to take out second mortgages on their homes so that he could build a bigger church.
> Ever increasing promiscuity, which is promoted by our school system and our media, results in more and more single mothers trying to raise children on welfare and deadbeat father’s who take no responsibility for the babies they make or for the mothers with whom they made those babies.
Does your church have a school for the children of the saints and anyone else who wants a good CHRISTIAN education for their children or are you content to let the pagans, socialists, and atheists in the government school system teach you kids what they think is important? Like “gender awareness”
Does your church teach and promote a high standard of holiness?
A real Christian should not “fit” in our neo-pagan, socialist, hedonistic society.
Does your church give water to the thirsty, food to the hungry, clothing to the naked, or shelter to the homeless? Do they visit the sick and the prisoners?
If not, why not?
Do you not know that Jesus will judge your faith
> based on whether or not you did those specific things and
> based on the evidence of your works Christ will determine whether
you inherit the kingdom or go to hell? (Mat 25:31-46)
Our country, the greatest country that ever existed for personal freedoms and opportunity for success for anyone who would strive for it, is going down the toilet because the people tolerate corrupt politicians who promise them free stuff and because the people worship Mammon and Molech and themselves.
Meanwhile, pastors are working hard to build “mega-churches” and drive Mercedes Benz automobiles and wear Rolex watches on their Christian TV shows.
While their flock is busy debating about whether the “rapture” will come before, during or after the “great tribulation.”
NEWS FLASH: The unsaved, hell-bound, lost sinner does not give a hoot about the “rapture.”
Here’s a worn out expression that’s still true: “The sinner doesn’t care how much you know; he want’s to know how much you care.”
BECAUSE: When you show how much you care, you are really showing how much God cares and that is what they need to know.
If the church does not show the love of God to the lost then they will conclude that God does not love them and that the Church is a scam.
What to do about it?
(1) REPENT and pursue holiness. Heb 12:14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
(2) BE the light of the world by letting people see your good works
(3) Strive to be a carbon copy of Jesus who never sinned and who only did what the Father showed Him to do.
(4) Love God – Love one another – Love your neighbors – Love your enemies.
John 17:20-23 I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
So, ask yourself: Based on my behavior, would the people in the world conclude that God sent Jesus and that He loves them?
My personal response too often is: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me the sinner.”