Let's talk about the elephant in the room
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Nehemiah6 said:
There will be no great revival since Christendom is going more and more into apostasy.
justbyfaith
Maybe instead of denouncing the possibility of revival, you should pray for it to occur。
I agree with both of you. Face the reality, but you can embrace hope
There will be no great revival since Christendom is going more and more into apostasy.
justbyfaith
Maybe instead of denouncing the possibility of revival, you should pray for it to occur。
I agree with both of you. Face the reality, but you can embrace hope
Or worse: there's a codified system that protects the perps.
An institution is designed to protect the institution, it cannot decide against the preservation of its own interests. This is why the church (Roman and Evangelical et. al.) have been unable to curtail the rise of abuse within their own ranks: decisions are made to 1st address the needs of the institution. The needs of the victim and consequences for the abusers are secondary matters. The result is always the preservation of the institution.
God, however, will remove the grace from churches and end entire religious systems because of the activity of the people. But who is there to decide this? I mean: who can judge when the light is removed from a place that once was filled with God's grace? Certainly not those who look for the trappings of an institutional organization that validate a church's existence: a road sign, by-laws, 501(c)3 status, an organizational chart, historical provance, etc.
An institution is designed to protect the institution, it cannot decide against the preservation of its own interests. This is why the church (Roman and Evangelical et. al.) have been unable to curtail the rise of abuse within their own ranks: decisions are made to 1st address the needs of the institution. The needs of the victim and consequences for the abusers are secondary matters. The result is always the preservation of the institution.
God, however, will remove the grace from churches and end entire religious systems because of the activity of the people. But who is there to decide this? I mean: who can judge when the light is removed from a place that once was filled with God's grace? Certainly not those who look for the trappings of an institutional organization that validate a church's existence: a road sign, by-laws, 501(c)3 status, an organizational chart, historical provance, etc.
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You're assuming preserving the institutions is what God is doing. I believe He is exposing them for what they are and that those who love the truth will leave them. Some of us heard "Come out of her my people" 20+ years ago. We have been setting the table for those who find themselves without a "church home" after following the Lord out from their gatherings.
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If we do nothing but pray, then perhaps that is the ministry that the lord has given to us.
For example, if someone is relegated to a sick bed and then begins to pray for revival; but then does nothing to bring it about (except to pray).
Others will do the work of bringing about the revival in that instance.
Someone might think that if they pray then they are obligated to evangelize or preach.
But that may not be their position in the body.
It may be their position to only pray; and if they feel obligated to evangelize or preach for that they prayed, they may not even pray.
It is better to pray and do nothing else, therefore, than not to pray at all.
For example, if someone is relegated to a sick bed and then begins to pray for revival; but then does nothing to bring it about (except to pray).
Others will do the work of bringing about the revival in that instance.
Someone might think that if they pray then they are obligated to evangelize or preach.
But that may not be their position in the body.
It may be their position to only pray; and if they feel obligated to evangelize or preach for that they prayed, they may not even pray.
It is better to pray and do nothing else, therefore, than not to pray at all.
I agree that not all are called or equipped by the Spirit to teach or preach or even to evangelize.
As was previously mentioned those that do these things ((in the context of preaching)) and aren't grounded in the truth, or worse, don't even believe the truth but do these things for gain - they may do more damage than good. On the other hand Paul thanked God that the gospel was preached even if only out of selfish ambition.. But that is assuming it isn't a false gospel going out. We have plenty of those today!
As was previously mentioned those that do these things ((in the context of preaching)) and aren't grounded in the truth, or worse, don't even believe the truth but do these things for gain - they may do more damage than good. On the other hand Paul thanked God that the gospel was preached even if only out of selfish ambition.. But that is assuming it isn't a false gospel going out. We have plenty of those today!
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I once had an addiction to internet pornography.
However, at a certain point I began listening to Christian music on the internet; and I think that there must have been a program connected to that music that blocked out all of the pornographic websites.
I was no longer capable to access the pornographic websites.
My addiction was mainly rooted in the easy access.
Once there wasn't easy access any longer, I found that I was not going to go to the trouble of accessing porn through other means.
My addiction was abruptly brought to a halt when I found myself no longer capable of easy access to pornography on the internet.
I am thankful to the Lord that He did this in my life. Even before I got delivered, Romans 7:24 (a discontentedness with my sinful behaviour) was characteristic of my attitude towards my sins. But it was not enough to stop me.
When the program stopped me from accessing internet porn, that chapter of my life came to a close.
Now, I do not even test to see whether I might be able to once again access porn. I know that that was dirty water that, if I were to partake of it again, I would only thirst again.
But now that I have partaken of the living water that is offered by the Lord, I am not thirsty for the water that I once drank out of the coffers of this world.
John 4:13-14, John 6:35, John 7:37-39.
However, at a certain point I began listening to Christian music on the internet; and I think that there must have been a program connected to that music that blocked out all of the pornographic websites.
I was no longer capable to access the pornographic websites.
My addiction was mainly rooted in the easy access.
Once there wasn't easy access any longer, I found that I was not going to go to the trouble of accessing porn through other means.
My addiction was abruptly brought to a halt when I found myself no longer capable of easy access to pornography on the internet.
I am thankful to the Lord that He did this in my life. Even before I got delivered, Romans 7:24 (a discontentedness with my sinful behaviour) was characteristic of my attitude towards my sins. But it was not enough to stop me.
When the program stopped me from accessing internet porn, that chapter of my life came to a close.
Now, I do not even test to see whether I might be able to once again access porn. I know that that was dirty water that, if I were to partake of it again, I would only thirst again.
But now that I have partaken of the living water that is offered by the Lord, I am not thirsty for the water that I once drank out of the coffers of this world.
John 4:13-14, John 6:35, John 7:37-39.
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Just when you think it can't get any more unbelievable, a pastor says it's okay to rape your wife. The full article is here: https://julieroys.com/pastor-best-person-to-rape-wife/
Addiction cycle... fall into a sinful behaviour... experience pleasure from it.. then.. feel bad-guilty from doing it rather than convicted by God to change.
Feel bad... go back to sinful thing to get pleasure.
Often it is a lack of close connection with God and others that leads someone into pornography. Wanting to satiate a desire or longing that isn't being met healthily
Feel bad... go back to sinful thing to get pleasure.
Often it is a lack of close connection with God and others that leads someone into pornography. Wanting to satiate a desire or longing that isn't being met healthily
Looks like this guy resigned. At least some good came out of it.
https://julieroys.com/pastor-men-rape-wives-resigns/
https://julieroys.com/pastor-men-rape-wives-resigns/
There are so many evil and shameful things going on in so called 'Christian' churches--this is why we all need to 'test the spirits to see if they are of God'. A woman no more belongs to a man than a slave belonged to their owner--this is EVIL. Who do we belong to? CHRIST. Is a woman called to submit? Yes. But it isn't about equality it is about roles--like a President and Vice President. Whose job is it for her to submit--HERS. And the woman and man have their parts and they fit together like a puzzle--if a man is loving His wife as "Christ loved the church and gave His life for it" then it is easy to submit. And the bible is quite clear about the sexual relationship in a marriage--rape is ALWAYS wrong. A husband raping his wife would not be a loving thing to do, therefore it is sin.
"Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control."--1st Corinthians 7:5
"Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control."--1st Corinthians 7:5
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Yes this is a very serious problem. A friend of mine divorced her husband who was an elder in our church because of it. Another church of 300 dwindled to 50 after the pastor was caught looking at pornography in the church office. (another pastor took over, but it was too late).There are so many more stories like this. I have always believed pornography should be banned as it is destroying society--if hate speech is condemned and the objectifying of women, then why is it allowed on the internet, when so many tame tweets are removed from Twitter and accounts shut down? There are reports that young men are so devastated by the repeated use that they have lost their natural sexual response to a real woman. If anything is of Satan pornography is--it's not only that it is sin, I believing it is preventing healthy human interactions and the pursuit of the marriage relationship. Children are being exposed while their young minds are still developing. It's tragic.