Churches are in a coma

[Dordrecht]

I have come to the conclusion that
most churches are in a coma.

They are operated by leaders that
cannot bark and are dumb dogs.

Leadership wants to be buddy/buddy with
the world and wants to be seen as "cool".

A form of Godliness but denying the power.

[KeptByTheWord]

If Paul used the description "having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof" it is obvious that he experienced a similar pattern of events in the early NT church...

I would submit that this is really nothing new, and in fact, there is nothing new under the sun... and you will not find a genuine move of God in such an atmosphere.

I would also submit that unless there is a genuine servant-minded plural leadership in a given assembly, you are not going to find much else, but the same problems Paul dealt with in his day. Whenever man seeks his own agenda, and tries to build his own kingdom, the Spirit of the Lord moves on. He will not share HIS glory with another. It's quite simple.

When the leadership acknowledges that they are not building an earthly kingdom but the Lord's, and have a servant minded attitude in their ministry, even as our Lord Jesus demonstrated to us, great moves of God can come forth out of this.

[houston]

A form of godliness is not having "dead" church.

People who deny the power thereof are those that play by their own rules. They have enough of "God" to feel good. There is no change or desire to change in their lives.

[KeptByTheWord]

How about we go to the scripture reference to see what Paul was referring to:

2 Tim. 3:1-7
1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Paul was not talking to those who were sinners or "of the world" or not saved... this reference was made to those in the church professing to represent the Lord, having the form, but not the substance.

There was a problem in the NT church, just like there is now. Nothing new... and his advice was... from such turn away...

[Jermyn Davidson]

What does the word "incontinent" mean in this passage? Is there a clearer synonym for what the Apostle Paul is saying here?

[Dordrecht]

When the Lord instructs us to "turn way from such"
it mean those churches are not the Lord's churches.

Those churches are man's churches, operated by men
and not the Holy Spirit.

If it's not the Holy Spirit in charge in these
institutions, it's the enemy running the show.

[houston]

It's about people, not congregations.

[Dordrecht]

Yes, it's about people.
And people are the "church".

We'r not talking about "church buildings".

I do not care about buildings.

[votivesoul]

What does the word "incontinent" mean in this passage? Is there a clearer synonym for what the Apostle Paul is saying here?

It means an inability or unwillingness to control one's self.

[houston]

Yes, it's about people. And people are the "church". We'r not talking about "church buildings". I do not care about buildings.You said "churches" which denotes congregations.

"those CHURCHES are not the Lord's CHURCHES"

[Dordrecht]

You said "churches" which denotes congregations.

"those CHURCHES are not the Lord's CHURCHES"

Yes, correct.
It's the same thing.

[houston]

Yes, correct. It's the same thing.No. People are individuals. Churches are groups of individuals.

[Dordrecht]

While the church is with you wherever you go,
the church is not just Jesus and me.
All believers around the world and throughout time are the church,
and in order to function as the church,
we must seek opportunities to gather together.

It's clear that all need to be in one accord, and I'm not talking about a Honda Accord.

But the church is not in one accord.

Point is that most of the church is in
a coma, that's why this thread was started.

It was not started to argue over individuals or groups
of individuals, that would be plain childish.

[shazeep]

Nice, Dordt. Don't bother putting down the death centered one; make a life centered one : )

[Abiding Now]

I am so happy that I don't live in some folks world.

[Dordrecht]

I am so happy that I don't live in some folks world.

Whatever.

[Abiding Now]

Whatever.

See, the thread title didn't say SOME CHURCHES, just churches are in a coma, meaning all churches are in a coma and thankfully it's not that way in my world.

[renee819]

There are many of us that sees the problem. What we need to do, is to seek a solution. The only solution that I see, is, 'back to the Bible.”

There were rich Christians among the saints. The Apostles could have set up a Tithing system, and built churches. Did they?
Peter and the apostles set up home churches.

I pray that we don't have to wait until the One World Religion takes over, before God's people move out of dead churches, and set up home churches.
It is the Paganism in churches that has killed them, and those that don't see this, will go right along with the Pagan OWR.

[houston]

house church does not remedy dead church