A. THE CURRENT BASIC CHURCH
SYSTEM.
I am an old man. I accepted Jesus as my Savior in 1963. About seven years ago i left the Church.To a large degree this was due to the fact that i spent most of my time outside of the formal Church sharing the Gospel and loving the unloved. During those years i met many followers of Christ and learnt a great deal from them on a one to one level.
Then clashes started within the Churches that i attended and the Lord said to me to start to study the Word again. That was about eleven years ago. Before this i had attended two formal
Christian Colleges. I have learnt more in these eleven years about The King of Kings than all the years after my acceptance of Christ.
During these eleven years i started to clash with Ministers, Pastors etc and many more in the Church.
So why did i leave the Church?
One of reasons was that the Church is not as it was in the first century. But this is a subject to be discussed in detail in a separate post. Now the other reasons for leaving are:
1.AGE SEPARATION.
Being sixty five plus years of age i was told to attend a separate service.I could not find any reference to this separation in the Word.
2.SUNDAY ENTERTAINMENT.
If i decided not to attend the “Old age service” i was entertained by songs that had copyrights attached to them. Recordings were also played during the services and payments were made to those who had the exclusive rights to these songs. And who was worshipped via these songs?
I was and am still convinced that the word “i” was the most important word in these songs. Not Jesus Our King. The popular songs were repeated over and over again.
3.POLITICS AND CHURCH ARE ONE.
Now a short and straightforward remark. We were taught that the two must be separated. The other side is that we are told to pray for the government but the reasons for this were hardly ever taught.
4.SPIRITUAL SIDE OF THE CHURCH LARGELY IGNORED.
Spiritual warfare is only mentioned about certain people outside of the formal Church. Setting captives free is ignored. Who is the One who is ignored?
5.THE GOSPEL IS NOT CLEAR.
We are taught that the Gospel is about Jesus saving us. And at times “Once saved always saved” is said to be true. Jesus’s Kingship is largely ignored. His power and authority is not clearly seen or taught.
6. WHAT DID JESUS DO ON THE CROSS?
What is generally said is that He overcame sin and saved us. That is true but there is a great deal more!
7. RELIGION AND TRADITION.
What a waste of time and so seldom directly addressed as it could result in membership reduction. “Keep the audience happy”.
8.DEEDS HAVE INCREASED BUT PRAYER IS NEARLY GONE.
Now we see the connection to point no 7.
9.PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE KING ARE FEW.
This again connects to points 7 and 8.
10.THE CHURCH HAS MOVED BACKWARD TO THE OLD TESTAMENT.
How? Communion is a sacrifice. An Altar is present.Robes and smells are important things.”Do this in remembrance of Me” and the normal meal is gone!
Look at the seats as well. A group on the left and the right. Deep divisions are clear.
The pulpit is elevated and so is the stage. The building is huge despite the fact that Jesus said the Temple would be destroyed. Back to Babel?
11. WORSHIP IS SINGING.
We were made to worship God in all that we do. Not just singing.Were there worship services in the first century?
Answer is no.
12.THE FEAR OF THE LORD HAS GONE.
How did i know this?.It’s absence is felt in the Spirit as well as seen in the physical.
13.THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS THE KING AND THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH IS GONE.
Look at the various decision making processes. When last was Jesus allowed to make a decision? No voting at all allowed?
14.A FINANCIAL MESS.
Because most Church buildings are large and tall.
15.FELLOWSHIP IS SHORT.
Generally only on Sundays for a little while, tea included.
16.NUMBERS ARE IMPORTANT.
Sermons are presented to draw in more on a Sunday.
17.EVANGELISM.
Removed. Now done by “special ministries”
18.DECIPILESHIP.
Also gone,with a few exceptions.
19.SUNDAY SERVICE.
Taking part in the service has been gone for many years. I like to sleep at home.
20. SPIRITUAL HUNGER.
Read Psalm 42.
21.BIBLE STUDIES.
Usually controlled by one person.
22.HOME GROUPS
These are simular to churches found in the first century, but not as part of a larger structure. Here is some light!
23. SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
This is just like the Sunday Church.
These “little ones” have a weak start to their spiritual lives.
B.GOD CAN MOVE SOME OLD BELIEVERS TO BE ISOLATED FROM THE CHURCH AS WELL.
1. They become uncomfortable about a spiritually empty pulpit.
2. The Gospel is not understood.
3. They do not care about numbers at all.
4. Jesus is the One that matters. He is everything.
5 They will uncover religion.
6. They are driven to prayer.
7. They may be made prophetic.
8. They move without bitterness, judgement or hate.
9. They believe that Jesus and His Majestic Spiritual Power on the Cross did Everything.
10. In this place of isolation they must surrender in silence. They are then in the wilderness. A wonderfull place in which to be taught.
11. From all this flows a thing called Holiness that comes from their Master. The word Master to them is nothing new.
12. They will learn to speak truth with boldness.
13. In the wilderness there are no pulpits, stages for applause, elevation or recognition. No robes. No titles.
14. God marks them with tender hearts and truth.
15.If they return they do not trust believers.
15.They will pray for a second Reformation with all in them.
26.They will not look forward for the third temple as they are in fact the Third Temple.
C. CONCLUSION
Jesus is the Restorer. Before the hard times come He will have refined His Church totally in accordance with His Will. This has already started.