I thank God every day for my small church. We have about 30 in attendance on Sunday. I believe that is a perfect size. We are a very close congregation. We know each other personally and socially outside the church. Tends to be better for rebuking each other to live a more godly life. My Pastor and his wife are in their 60's Pastor Ron and his wife do not work outside the church. They own their 4 bedroom home, a new car, and have a small furniture repair and restoration shop in their basement . They are always available to help there congregation if they are in need. Pastor and Sharon hold counseling for individuals as needed, babysits as needed, visits the sick in the hospital, visits our elderly, whatever they need they are only a phone call away. Our elders and deacons are always busy with the work of the church. Cleaning, repairs, visitations with members of the congregation. There is so much work to be done in a small congregation, i can not imagine these things would be done in the big churches (businesses).
I have always wondered how mega churches Pastors could know the flock that they shepard?
I agree, brother. The thing is that the similarities you made do one thing to the common man. It completely takes him out of the picture and board room. Just like the big corporations out there the interest is purely on profit and losses.
I always thought it was funny at how the "churches' always have to stay "current" with the times and try to get people into their doors by introducing new gimmicks other than the Word of God.
What is sadder still is that the intimacy amongst the believers is staggeringly not visible compared to the new flashier sound systems and bigger monitors.
PJ, coming from a man who is more apt to condemn and judge people (in a manner that is contrary to the Scriptures) you show your God to be a bitter one, brother.
Try putting a little love in your heart. It will make some of the words you speak a little more understanding and thought out.
phillipjohn Was it not love that said to mark those cause division?
ME: Yup. That is why you are marked as one who causes such and with this plight, brother, and because you show no love in doing so.
Was it not love that said that the carnally minded are at enmity with God.
ME: Actually, you are STILL misquoting Scripture when you constantly use it to fit your biased view, brother. This speaks of non-believers in the cross of Christ and His redemptive work as a whole. You really should remove the rose colored shades from your eyes when trying to present truth to somene, PJ.
The lack of love love start;s with one elevating themsellf above the word of God, and they are willing to be corrected.
ME: I agree. so why is it that you do not accept correction regarding the Word of God, brother? You seem to walk according to rules that are set by your own pace instead of the rhythm of the Lord's.
Your say so has nothing to do with truth Agapeton.
One walking in truth would not continually such as on this forum complain about what they think is wrong with the church, that is never acceptable with the head of the church.
He has never changed and there is a large example of what happens to those that complain and resist the will of God.
Your say so has nothing to do with truth Agapeton.
ME: How would you know if you NEVER BOTHER TO RESEARCH IT, PJ? Ever search the Scriptures enough to question your practices?
One walking in truth would not continually such as on this forum complain about what they think is wrong with the church, that is never acceptable with the head of the church.
ME: It is not acceptable if the head of the church is a man, but it is acceptable if THE Head of the true church is calling for the truth and wants it preached to all who have ears to hear. The problem is that those who like the feathers sounding off in their ears are used to it like the cotton swabs they use to plug them when it comes to the truth and tend to get offended enough to bash the messenger before they actually act like Bareans and research the Scriptures daily to see if things were so (Acts 17:11-12).
By the way, I am not complaining. I'm proclaiming it. Jesus would have been viewed as one doing the very thing you are accusing me of doing, brother. In fact, I can almost see you with the phylacteries and pharisitical garbs along with the words you're spewing forth, brother.
He has never changed and there is a large example of what happens to those that complain and resist the will of God.
ME: Christ was, is, and will be the Eternal Everlasting one, brother, That is never under dispute or scrutiny. What is under scrutiny is they way that man has changed the ways of our faith and we so willingly followed it without ever bothering to research what ever happened or when. Jesus said that we in Christ are not to 'lord things over one another" like the heathens do. Yet, we suddenly act just like them by "appointing" men to lord things over us and organize how a gathering should be conducted in order to please others and make things more comfortable for the masses who will accept it.
That is under scrutiny.
Jesus broke the rules when it came down to "corporate worship" and set in new ground braking ones. He took away temples and rituals and made all the believers priests and kings so that THEY ALL COULD teach, and admonish each other. But that isn't the case anymore. Is it? We need an "anointed" class to do it now, according to what we have been taught. I can't believe that we in Christ need a mediator to THE mediator by us becoming a collective of silent passive ears to listen to one man's personal testimony every week as the supertongue of God.
That is what changed, PJ. That is what Jesus meant when he questioned if there would be "faith" upon the earth (Luke 18:8) at his return, brother.
May the Lord Jesus Christ bring you into His truth and give you the peace you have been looking for, my brother.
