You've never "been had" until you've "been had" by a so called church pastor or one who calls you "brother." (and don't get me wrong, cuz many pastors are decent and many churches are as well. Grow in a healthy Christ-honoring W.E.L.L. church - a Worshipping Jesus, Evangelizing, Loving, Learning.. church)
No hurt runs so deep as church-hurt. Some of you right now need to be involved in real healing and restoration, even when some of your so called leaders or alleged elders, keep sayin' that you need to be involved in more serving (of them) and giving to support "the ministry." Yo, just follow and please Christ instead of mere men. "Minister" means servant and his attitude should be humble as he serves, and not be that the people are there give and support his ministry (though we all love to give and serve the Lord with balance)."He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God."' Rev 2:7
I say.. Turn and join Christ, be on-fire for Him. Yes, more than for anything or anyone else. Be apart of a living Christ-honoring Bible teaching kinda church instead of some lame refuse-to-rightly-apply-the-Bible kinda dead church. Bu..bu.. bu..but Kurt, what's a dead one like? Well, I'm surely not talking about a dead or abandoned building here.
1.) A dead church worships its past. Don't do that. Why waste your time. Live in the present, set worship of the Lord as your first priority ministry, and plan biblically for the future.
2.) A dead church is inflexible and no longer open to good kinda change. Why not flex with new technology as a tool to feed, edify people. Why not flex with musical style—styles the people actually like - nothing wrong with that (not talking about lyrics here). But be inflexible applying the basics and with doctrinal Essentials.
3.) A dead church is stuck in a rut with lazy leadership that's now in cruise control mode. It's way comfortable and uber-easy for em to lead like that, all prayerless. Question: Why would the devil waste any time giving opposition to a church not making any impact...one that's not exalting Jesus Christ, or calling sin, sin.. or preaching and teaching all the counsels of God by the power of God's Spirit? The leaders have allowed spiritual lethargy and apathy to set in and could really give a flip. If the horse has died, just dismount. Bail. Find a church that's alive and sound.
4.) A dead church neglects young people. The leaders won't listen to them ..or to anyone. They only want to give attention to the money-people. Some of them love the TV camera more than people.
5.) A dead church lacks evangelistic zeal and Great Commission vision. It doesn't happen at home, this soul-winning stuff, nor does it happen across the street or over an ocean from such a church—the leaders also don't example evangelism. It's a turn-off to em. They refuse to couple practical service with reaching out to witness at their own house, globally, or anywhere. "That's not my calling" they say.
This following passage has always been so interesting to me and should be for anyone who wants to be well. Reminds me of some churches I've visited, "..to the angel of the church in Sardis write, 'These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: 'I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent.'" Rev. 3:1-3 You know that alive and awake; that's much better than sleeping or dead, believer. facebook.com/shareJesus
