DON'T GO TO CHURCH,
BE THE CHURCH WITH OTHER FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST.
Top 3 major things to be aware about a church & CHURCH-IANITY
by Tuese Ahkiong
Top 3 major things to be aware about a church
by Tuese Ahkiong
- THEOLOGY
Contrary to popular opinion, it's not the worship band, kids program, but is the church teaching The Gospel Truth of The Holy Bible? Is The Lord: Father, Son and Holy Spirit being worshipped in truth and spirit.
Is legalism, works, performance, adherence to a specific set of church dogma and rules being taught instead of God's saving grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone as the means of salvation alone based on the authority of the Bible alone?
CULTS deviate from Scripture on the Gospel/Salvation, person of Christ, The Trinity, The Bible Alone being God's Word and Authority on spiritual matters...
So, who has the authority to say their theology is correct and everyone else's isn't? The Holy Spirit and NOT a group of control freaks who lord their titles over people.
- LEADERSHIP
Is it a church lead, fed, and protected by biblical elders who exercise biblical discipline and discipleship?
Beware of nepotism where one family and/or a small group of people control the church.
Beware of churches where leaders are appointed to positions because of their last name and are not anointed and appointed by The Lord.
Beware of pastor rule churches where people are duped into following the personality of a charismatic leader rather than being trained to follow The Holy Word of God.
Sin is forgivable but beware of churches that coverup sin rather than discipline it, especially among its leaders. They want to look perfect without flaws on the outside but what did Jesus say in Matthew 23 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
Beware of churches where elders are used as poster boys when in reality the eldership is controlled by a small group or person.
CULTS are usually controlled by CHARISMATIC INFLUENTIAL LEADER.
Beware of churches that lord authority over others.- meaning beware of THE CONTROL FREAK pastor/leader
SPIRITUAL ABUSIVE by leaders
No accountability or discipline of leaders!
Does the church push UNIFORMITY like a cult or UNITY?
Does the leadership push UNIFORMITY of teaching through VIDEO FEEDS? Why don't they video feed the worship rock band? Ain't it kind of ghetto to bring your friends to a video feed? LOL.
Having to get "the church's official authorization." Churches stifle the work of The Lord with bureaucracy.
Does the church act more like a CORPORATION than the family of God?
Does the church give its leader CORPORATION NAMES like senior pastor (CEO), executive pastor, founding pastor...
MEANINGLESS MEETINGS
Emasculation - God is my boyfriend songs, everything needs to be nice, neat, safe
BEWARE OF SEXUAL PREDATOR PASTOR who lords his authority, manipulates and seduces - Ok I have a theory. A gal close to a pastor like a secretary, ministry team member will all of sudden leave the church and end communication with long time friends at the church because the pastor was getting sexy with her.
I know a few cases in Hawaii and Cali. Usually they're big fat and ugly. Typically the corporation church spends tons of money trying to do damage control cover-up. ANYONE ELSE EXPERIENCE THIS?
These pastors think they're slick and will get away with it but their sins will find them out!!!
- MONEY
SHOW ME THE MONEY! Who controls the money? Things always get funny with the money!
Churches are notorious for mishandling funds. Commingling of personal funds and church funds is a common naughtiness of church peeps who control the moolah. Beware of churches that use and abuse church resources for their personal matters.
Beware of no budget churches. They may say they have one, but ask and see if it be. And if it isn't so, then you'll know, that they broke number 9 and lied. ASK TO SEE THE BUDGET!!
CHURCHES WILL LIE TO YOUR FACE IN JESUS NAME THAT THEY HAVE A BUDGET WHEN THEY DON'T.
Beware of churches that are owned by a family.
Beware of name it and claim health wealth prosperity teaching of give the pastor money and God will give you a thousand fold. Using God's Name again to swindle peeps out of their money.
TITHING IS NOT FOR THE NEW TESTAMENT PEOPLE OF GOD!
Whatever is important is usually where the money goes. If training and discipling the saints is important then resources will be poured into this area. If making the building pretty is important then that building is going to have pretty paint, rugs, and pews...
FOLLOW THE MONEY will show you what the leadership values.
WHY the heck are they constantly pimping CDs, books, workshops... It's about the money!!!
BEWARE of CONSUMER CHRISTIANITY both monetarily and spiritually.
I went to a church that PAID PAGAN musicians to lead worship.
HOLLYWOOD churchianity with all the bright lights, lasers, video, drama queen singers,... LOL what a joke!!!
Matthew 20 Lording authority over others
20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.
21 “What is it you want?” he asked.
She said, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.”
22 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said to them. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?”
“We can,” they answered.
23 Jesus said to them, “You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.”
24 When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Mandid not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
to be cont....
CHURCH-ianity - Corporation
by Tuese Ahkiong
Churches today are ran like corporations instead of like the household of God. I've had too much crap lately from Christian folk in their institutionalize Christianity or churches = church-ianity. It was exactly their crap that I believe God used to help me see their corporate mentality!
The church corporation will do Christianity for you.
Awww! Such wonderful intentions that will destroy your walk.
Why disciple your kids when Big Brother Church will do it for you with their hi-tech youth program? All you have to do is pay them because they're professionals who care more about your kids than you do.
Why feed the poor, when Big Brother Church will do it for you by working with Big Brother Govt (who has strings in which you cannot share the Gospel)?
Why visit the sick or prisoner when Big Brother Church will do it for you? You have better things to do with your time, so just pay Big Brother and they will do it for you.
Why do Bible Study when Big Brother Church will do it for you? Just pay for their books and workshops.
Why be the light of the world when you can pay someone to do it for you!
The corporation church turns people into passive cogs.
Church-ianity is like the publik skool system in that it dumbs people down to the lowest common denominator where they can repeat a few mantras and know very little of The Lord and how His Word applies to life.
Why do solid Christians hate The Big Mega Church-ianity Corporation and are disgusted with it? Like a corporation that exists to make profits, so too, their services are geared to entertain and target newcomers to make more profits. The worship services are not for worshippers but for evangelism in bringing more money givers in. Corporation churchianity sucks bc it does not know that worship is for believers and not unbelievers. As a former worshipper singer, everything is fine-tuned and staged for THE PERFORMANCE: from jokes, announces. skits.... It's all to ENTERTAIN the masses - DISGUSTING!!!
Why do solid mature Bible-strong Christians leave the corporation church? Because the corporation church is geared to conforming those within its corporation walls into its image of being a drone that supports the ministry of a pastor; it does not give meat but water-down milk Sunday after Sunday. A real Christian can only stand so much of this crap!
The corporation church is an institution of emasculation in conforming men to the spiritual gift of setting up chairs, singing god is my boyfriends songs, and entertainment ministries.
The corporate church's back are women. They out-number the men not just in numbers but in Bible studies and ministries (10-1).
People are controlled by moral manipulations (a works salvation) of guilt, shame and keeping rules.
People are encouraged to come to gatherings dressed neat, clean and perfect on the outside to show off how good and perfect they are.
This is COLLECTIVISM in the Church and it's disgusting!!!
Is it mandatory in Scripture to attend a weekly "church" service? If so, it should be written. Till then i say NO!
Please site the passage if you think I am in error. thanks.
Is membership mandatory?
Most evangelical worship services can be reduced to the following model or rituals:
4-5 God is my boyfriend rock songs (And this is what most Christians believe worship is. aiya!).
cute announcements sometimes with skits and movies.
hi five your neighbor
$$$ collection $$$ Some church leaderships make bank (look at the Roman Catholic leadership with all their pimp threads and gold; also TBN with their fat cars and mansions) but then again some don't. Where is the money being spent reveals what a church deems important.
a prayer that usually starts with "Uhhhh...." and is so theologically incorrect, i.e., thanking God The Father for dying on the cross,
Sermon - sometimes video (like why isn't the worship video-ed in? Is there a need for UNIFORMITY?)
Why are these sermons always geared for non-believers?
Isn't worship done by believers? Aren't the lambs to be fed? Well...?
Gospel Call: often theologically wrong, i.e., Bow your eyes and CLOSE your head (lol); "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for you!" -Hello, is it possible that the person that this is said to when he/she expires is separated from God? Yep. Aha! Now, I wish they'd stop speaking lies about God in their evangelistic madison ave. marketing techniques of chalking up another decision for Christ. .closing prayer
once a month communion
Megachurch model:
Have pretty people as singers, greeters, leaders and the preacher/pastors.
Church- ekklesia- the called out ones, the assembly, congregation; the universal invisible church, takes on many FORMS.
It's FUNCTION is to worship God and spread His glory.
A disciple FELLOWSHIPS regularly with other believers, displaying LOVE & UNITY.Ecc 4:9-12 Two are better than one, because they
have a good return for their work: 10 If one falls down, his friend can help
him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two
lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though
one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is
not quickly broken.
Hebrews 3:12-14 See to it, brothers, that none of you
has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13But
encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you
may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. 14We have come to share in Christ
if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.
Hebrews 10:25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.Pro 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one mansharpens another.1Thes5:11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.Psalm 133:1 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!A disciple gathers with other believers as THE CHURCH regularly to WORSHIP GOD, to have SPIRITUAL NEEDS met, and to make a CONTRIBUTION to the Body. Church and worship are not limited to a building that one goes to. Christians should simply BE The Church 24/7 & live all of life to God’s glory.Matt 16:18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome
it.
Act 2:47praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Acts 5:42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching andpreaching that the Christ is Jesus.
Act 9:4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him,"Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"Act 20:28 Keep watch over yourselves and all theflock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the
church of God, which he bought with his own blood.
Rom 12:4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.1Cor 3:9For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.1Cor 3:16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 17If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.
So, is it necessary/mandatory/obligatory for a saint to attend a "church" service?
Can Christians just BE the ekklesia, called out ones, congregation, assembly of believers without going to a physical building and just live organically?
Why I Don't "Go To Church" Anymore (part 1/2)
Why I Don't "Go To Church" Anymore (part 2/2)