"You Can't Be Saved Without a Pastor."

[Sarah]

Originally Posted by Amanah

Jesus built his church by calling and discipling men and women. He told us to go and preach/teach, and baptize. I don’t think it’s possible to be part of the body of Christ without being a part of his Church, without assembling ourselves together in some manner. If we love Him, we will feed his sheep. He paid the price of Calvary so he could have a glorious Church without spot or blemish.

If everyone walks away and says “I don’t want to be a part of a Church that is made of frail humanity, which fails and falters at each step,” then how can we be the body of Christ?

Amen, Amanah! It's just that simple!

[bbyrd009]

Originally Posted by Amanah

Jesus built his church by calling and discipling men and women. He told us to go and preach/teach, and baptize. I don’t think it’s possible to be part of the body of Christ without being a part of his Church, without assembling ourselves together in some manner. If we love Him, we will feed his sheep. He paid the price of Calvary so he could have a glorious Church without spot or blemish.

If everyone walks away and says “I don’t want to be a part of a Church that is made of frail humanity, which fails and falters at each step,” then how can we be the body of Christ?

Thank you Amanah, for assembling with us today for this word. I sure say Amen, to all of it. Having never left a church in a huff, I have a blind spot there, surely, and hate to contemplate how some of my comments on this may have been taken. "You can lose your religion right where you're at" is a favorite of mine. I wouldn't leave the RCC unless the Spirit told me to.

[AreYouReady?]

Originally Posted by Amanah

Jesus built his church by calling and discipling men and women. He told us to go and preach/teach, and baptize. I don’t think it’s possible to be part of the body of Christ without being a part of his Church, without assembling ourselves together in some manner. If we love Him, we will feed his sheep. He paid the price of Calvary so he could have a glorious Church without spot or blemish.

If everyone walks away and says “I don’t want to be a part of a Church that is made of frail humanity, which fails and falters at each step,” then how can we be the body of Christ?

There are a lot of people who do assemble themselves together in the Name of Jesus...they just do not do it in the organized church system.

[llambert]

Thinking about this thread in light of the thread about being a Liberal 3stepper, I was thinking, what do you do if the only churches in your region are churches with which you have some fundamental, irreconcilable difference; for example:

1- They believe differently about Acts 2:38 being the New Birth
2- You believe Jesus is the Father and the Holy Ghost- they either don't or downplay it so much that you feel like they are compromising
3- your views on clothing, women's hair/head coverings, jewels, going to movies etc are very different
4- anything else, such as you don't believe in celebrating Christmas and the local church(es) are very big on holidays or you have a different viewpoint on marriage and divorce

One thing that has been taught in many church organizations is that one needs to be a church member with a pastor or else one is in great danger of being swept up into deception and/or pride and that a pastor has a greater purview than a regular saint.

My question for the forum is if one is honest and real with oneself, and all the churches in one's area have some issue of difference, is one out of the will of God to attend these one or more of these churches but not join and just keep an honest relationship with God even if one feels they cannot fully submit to any of the pastors because they don't share the same revelation?

In some smaller areas, parts of the world, there is a lot of economic pressure to join churches too. Like you won't be able to fully participate in the local economy, get into a good school or have funeral rites if you aren't a card carrying church member somewhere.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

There are a lot of people who do assemble themselves together in the Name of Jesus...they just do not do it in the organized church system.

When they gather together in their little group, it IS an organized church system...unless they all act like anarchists there is an organization in the small local home church as well.

Again churches and church orgs may not be doing it completely right but the first church was organized. They set up a system of government by elders and Apostles. They sent out missionaries and church planters etc etc

[AreYouReady?]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

When they gather together in their little group, it IS an organized church system...unless they all act like anarchists there is an organization in the small local home church as well.

Again churches and church orgs may not be doing it completely right but the first church was organized. They set up a system of government by elders and Apostles. They sent out missionaries and church planters etc etc

Ok let me rephrase that then. Most organized church systems adopt the 501 C 3 tax-exempt status and follow the IRS rules and regulations so that their local body will not have to pay taxes.

Most small local home churches and people who gather for a bible study do not align themselves to be a tax-exempt organization.

Christ said "For where two or three gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them". There are no elders, pastors, prophets in this scenario, yet Christ accepts that two or three are gathered together in His name to come together for worship and He is among them. Who dares to defy what Christ declares?

[deafdriscoll]

I always thought Jesus said that he is the way. Oh, now a pastor is???? oopps is this a matter of pride. I have heard such talk before and do not return to those churches.

[bbyrd009]

It's not about changing your church,
it's about changing your mind.
It isn't possible to get even the tiniest bit
closer to God at another church.

At the same time, I would not ignore
the concept of your Right Pastor; but
you and the Spirit can work that out.

[Amanah]

thank you bbyrd, I understand what you are saying.

[AreYouReady?]

It is hard for one to keep their eyes on Jesus when you have pressure from pastors to follow them...instead of you following Jesus and what is wrote in the Word.

There are many pastors who say...and do not. There are lessons in the bible that some pastors do not touch ...with a ten foot pole to teach to the congregation.

And just because some are a seminary school trained, man ordained pastor, does not mean that some truly have another's best spiritual interests in their hearts.