Are Christians more accepting of charlatans then we should be?
- Thread starter LostSoul
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On what grounds? Certainly not on the basis of Christ's messages to the Seven Churches.
Churches which abandon their biblical basis and the true Gospel never come back to the truth. They simply go into more and more error and/or apostasy.
The Lord has a wonderful plan for the structure of our world, and it is based on the family,
with everything growing from that.
1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
In keeping with God's plan we need to pick a home church, one small enough we can personally meet, love, and care for each member rather than go to a megachurch. We are to be part of our home church.
with everything growing from that.
1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
In keeping with God's plan we need to pick a home church, one small enough we can personally meet, love, and care for each member rather than go to a megachurch. We are to be part of our home church.
That's a mouth full though nowadays we go from thread to thread deciding which militant group to watch argueing or the other option is to watch a good fight in the Bible discussion forum.
You speak about "spiritually discerning" these mega churches, yet seem not able to see these "churches" are a part of His Great plan to cause the unfaithful to fall into the apostasy they deserve. That, friend, is how close we really are to the end.
What I see here is a great deal of false advertising. I'm wondering if you're here to stir the pot, or whether you're on their side? As I read your posts, they are mostly one-sided for the false church. It's my wish that your eyes be opened & the light of Christ would shine on you.
S
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You can easily get involved in a home church from a Mega Church. Most have really good home church meetings as part of midweek service. Another good thing about a mega church is that you can find many outreach ministry opportunities to get involved in. These outreach ministries become a core group of really close friends that become life long friends who have the same passion for ministry. Many small churches have nothing like that. They just have Sunday service and a few food events and that's it about it.
Can someone attend these home meetings without the expectation of attending the mega congregation?
S
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Oh yes. Many of them will have neighbors that attend but never go to the main church.
I am not sure how large my church is
We used to be about forty adults plus kids, until almost three years ago when we amalgamated with another church, and moved to a more visible location. After that, my neighborhood church grew to over 100 people. There were two what we call campuses, although in truth only that other church had a real home base (an actual church!), as we were still renting space to hold our services. And since then, also, we have planted another church in different area of town, so now I guess we have three "campuses." Any ways, the thing is, we are definitely not a mega church, but we are growing. Even when it was just 40 adults, we had monthly pot lucks after Sunday service (my former pastor would also host a luncheon in his home after other Sunday services for different people each week) and weekly Bible study groups, which we now call community groups. There are many of those, serving different neighborhoods, as well as separate Bible studies, and other community oriented events, courses on how to read the Bible, a parenting course, a course on how to pray, weekly prayer meetings, pre-marital counselling, as well as hosting a yearly Alpha Course. We host podcasts and online weekly sermons, meet via zoom, support missions locally and abroad, have prayer partners in other areas of the word, and probably other things I am not aware of. My elders are amazing God-loving simply wonderful people, and I love my church!
S
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You speak about "spiritually discerning" these mega churches, yet seem not able to see these "churches" are a part of His Great plan to cause the unfaithful to fall into the apostasy they deserve. That, friend, is how close we really are to the end.
What I see here is a great deal of false advertising. I'm wondering if you're here to stir the pot, or whether you're on their side? As I read your posts, they are mostly one-sided for the false church. It's my wish that your eyes be opened & the light of Christ would shine on you.
I just don't think they are as bad as all that. I am not seeing them as apostate.
S
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I don't think they have abandoned the true Gospel just because they need to mature in certain areas.
In 1990's, Lester Sumrall's Church operated Lesea Broadcasting + had a Church capacity around 3,500. It was considered a [Mega] Church in those days. My entire family and even when I was dating went several times to Sunday Service. No one pressured anyone for money. yes, there were a variety of envelopes to give to through the offering plate, but I never remember a single Sermon based upon giving to the Church. It was a very comfortable setting. And when the Power of God took over, it's the [same] as a smaller setting, but more people witnessing and worshiping God creates that energy buzz that is electrifying. Not that it is God, but it is a reaction of the senses to what God is doing and the people are just like currents of flowing energy. I had some good connections [for being in a Church atmosphere] with God in that Mega environment.
S
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I was the leader of the Soulwinning ministry outreach at Word of Faith in Dallas Texas in the early 80s, The pastor was Robert Tilton. The 20 to 40 people I was very close to from the soulwinning ministry were all about Jesus and saving souls and we were not into the extreme Hyperfaith or name it and claim it message.
As Robert Tilton began to get further astray from the mission of the Church we all eventually left, the church closed down and he went off to California or Florida or somewhere and started up somewhere else. I think he is still pedaling the same nonsense on late night TV.
There were many Jesus loving people in that church and for a while there were many great moves of God. These churches that are on the cutting edge of a move of God are going to have to find their way through any nonsense that tries to spring up. Hopefully they can work it out like the Corinthians by applying the scriptures when any extremism or flaky stuff pops up. Meanwhile every little thing they say and do will be used against them by those that are looking to accuse them of "false doctrine".
are you sure Hillsong is a "cult" ?
I haven't been to Hillsong in Sydney, but have been to the Hillsong "campus" in Newcastle.
A mate invited me to go one Friday night.
I left partway through cos it came across a bit presumptuous.
money is God's provision ... correct ?"God wants you to give me your money"
- Hillsong's core message
I remember Robert Tilton. I never really felt easy with anything he said.
My ex father n law is one of the best musicians on the keyboards/piano. Did work with Moody Blues and several other groups. Said he was sent a bus ticket and cash to come join the Jimmy Swaggart Praise and Worship team. My ex father n law could buy a 6 pack, have 3 finished before walking from liquor store to car, and other 3 done before leaving parking lot. Said the musicians partied like they were Rock n Roll stars. But one time my Dad had Swaggart on t.v. This was when he sat at a desk doing Bible Study and praying over prayer requests. We were watching and the tears just streamed down jimmy's face and my ex father n law busted out laughing. He said, oh, I remember that trick. He told us jimmy had fresh cut onions in a drawer he'd rub and then bring near his eyes. That's when he also told us about being a musician for Jimmy. I never could get that man to believe in God.
there was a memoir written by a former hillsong attender called Those in glass houses.
its an interesting read. It sounds similar to word of faith type churches. A lot of hype and a shallow type faith. I think churches with lots of converts at first seem really impressive and vibrant, but many fall away and into sin, because they lack depth for the long haul. There needs to be good soil. You cant just grow a church on steroids and then in hard times they eventually end up going bankrupt.
why I would call it a cult is because its leadership seem controlling and a little manipulative.