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Originally Posted by Amanah
How many people are caught in the dilemma of wanting to find a church that feels authentic.
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Everyone I have ever met. Yet, some have searched so hard that they became atheists or agnostics doing it. If Jesus isn't the light to our path, and our pastor. We end up in the weeds, and inevitably in a deep dark ditch. I don't know how long Paul, Cornelius, or the Ethiopian Eunuch were searching. But in time it all fell together for them. God reached out and brought them in. Time proves all things, and godly patience goes along way. At times we are in locations that might not have it all together. But it is where the Lord Jesus has parked us. We can either tell Him we want something better now. Yet, He wants us to learn a few things before we are moved on. Might not happen for years. Yet, we pray, we study, we teach our children, and we wait to see what God will do. I feel pretty authentic, you feel pretty authentic. So, since that is how we feel in our own shoes, we listen to Jesus voice, wait, and pray. We can't be ever learning and never coming to the knowledge of Truth. Just because we are in search of a group. Because sometimes, we look for a group who we "think" are authentic. We end up going inside the group and finding out a totally different deal. Again, it can cause people to lose what they got. End up atheist or agnostic. Or even worse. Religiously Kooky. I love Apostolic Pentecostals in all their bumps, scrapes, and all forms of ologies. I know these brothers are searching just as hard as anyone else. But, like others we tend to focus on bad examples, and that masks the good ones.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Amanah
How many know in their hearts that the mainstream church system that they see on TV and the YouTube prophet fortune tellers they are following are just not right.
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This question is complex on quite a few levels. Everyone has a first impression alert system. This enables us to check out a dangerous situation. You know if it is a safe place to land. Some groups love bomb the would be members. Some groups use business marketing techniques. Since most groups charge a cover charge or membership fees. They use a business model for their church. People know this, especially the men. Because usually the men are the ones who have the money, and make the money. hence, if you get the man, chances are you get the family. Bus ministries reach out to children, but that is working from the bottom up. Go for the head and you win the whole body. By I digress. Everyone knows the deal, everyone sees the issues at first glance. We just let things go until we are way too far into the ecclesiastical woods. By the time we realize it we turn around to find all of Jesus' bread crumbs have been eaten by religious birds. We must always keep the main thing the main thing. We must stay connected to Jesus Christ in devotion, unceasing prayer, and unwavering faith. Jesus must lead the way continually. We must love our brothers and sisters, and if we believe to be "authentic" then we need not undermine the ministry, or our brethren. We need to sweep around our own front door, mind our own business. Jesus has our back, we need to wait for Him to move the pieces on the chess board.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Amanah
But at the same time for the most part the church system isn't necessarily getting it right. So here we are.
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You name the religion, and it isn't necessarily getting it right. That's why the ministers and the CONGREGATIONS. Need to stay focused on the Pastor the Lord Jesus Christ. We have to hear His voice so we WON'T follow another.
Like I said, every religion has break aways, schisms and cults. From Buddhism to Islam. From Mormonism to Eastern Orthodoxy. All leave the home base, and wonder out in left field. The Spirit of Truth will guide us to all Truth. Again, we must keep the main thing the main thing. People start to believe their own PR. Especially leadership. Being a minister can cause a "rock star" mentality. Where the voice of God is diminished. But the saint in the congregation who believes he has new revelatory Biblical truth, may not have mature wisdom. Which can end up really making a huge stinking mess.
Just take a look at the history of every religion. You had rock stars, movie stars, and candy bars. Followers who were also, rock stars, movie stars and went too far.
We need to hold on to Jesus in the mighty lighting storm called Searching For Truth.