This is THE Church!

[Mr. Smith]

Originally Posted by Jason Badejo

I drove past a church in Gainesville,TX today, and right on the HWY there was a billboard that said;

"THIS IS THE CHURCH that started on Pentecost in 33 AD"
with an arrow pointing down and the churches name and address.

It was like the burning bush to me, I had to pull off the road and see it.

The church was a very small church, almost shack like no windows on the front. Its services were Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday night, but on the front door was this note "Thursday Night Services have been cancelled until further notice"

Of course, this was a Jesus name church.

Here's the sad thing:

I was told by a person who knows the pastor of that church that they have about 3 people who attend there. (whether thats accurate or not, they don't have many)

There is an open lot right beside the church, and then a very nice oneness church on the same side of the road, about 100 yards away. I am told these churches do not fellowship. I am told in fact that of the 4 oneness churches in Gainesville, none fellowship. (I dont know if that is a fact, I have been told that, and based on my experience in oneness, it wouldn't suprise me).

WHat is so sad is that people get such a spiritually elite mindset that they think they are right, they are the only saved church and people, and they waste away in years of obscurity while missing the joys of being in the body of Christ and fellowshipping other Christians and making a united effort to reach their city for Christ. Instead the "true" church has a service cancelled until further notice, therefore effectively closing the door to heaven to any who would come (at least in their minds).

This mindset is sad to me, that people will dedicate their whole lives to something, only to find out in the end they had it all wrong. I do believe people like that can be/are saved, but they completely miss the abundant life and the thrills of truly belonging to the church all over spiritual eliteness and either ignorance, pride, or both.

The bolded is an interesting concept coming from you, after you voiced your opinion that "Seeker" churches, which is the kind of church I pastor and the group of churches I associate with, don't preach repentance, don't teach the bible, and don't ask for commitment.

Yes, I'm still irritated about it!