Post by Becka on Dec 31, 2013 20:22:43 GMT
Oh, let me get my soapbox! How long you got? hahah!
Okay, here's the deal. I left my apostate church. They were a Vineyard, who was heavily affiliated with Bethel Church in Redding, CA and the Jesus Culture music. It was probably the hardest decision I've ever made, as I loved them truly, but I felt as if I was beating my head against a brick wall when I would "correct" them. Our small groups, instead of being solid Bible studies, showed movies of people getting random gold teeth, gold glitter, gemstones, and glory clouds during services, being drunk in the Spirit, all this other stuff that made me SO uncomfortable, you have no idea. I was very outspoken about it, but my concerns were swept under the rug. Our book club read a book that literally taught that you can stop sinning and live an absolutely holy, perfect life. I railed about that, and got blank stares that I would challenge the book by this respected leader of Bethel Church. Couple that with worship songs about Jesus with lyrics like giving Him a "sloppy, wet kiss" and I had to FLEE from this place like Sodom and never look back!
I've been to another church that was better, but still had an awkward vibe. I've researched others online, and one has a "member charter" you must sign, making a covenant with that church to be a part of the church family, and I'm thinking no, I'm not signing that. Church membership should have nothing extra-curricular to what SCRIPTURE tells us.
So now, I am leery of going back to church. I have learned SO MUCH by my own study and the leading of the Holy Spirit. I've prayed to God, asking Him to show me if He wants me to be somewhere. I read books by pastors all the time talking about getting a church family and getting involved in the community and questioning the salvation of Christians who don't do this. I have issue with their conclusions, obviously.
I truly believe one of the reasons for a push to go to church is for the church to get more money from tithes and offerings. I really wish churches wouldn't make such a big deal about it - I would love to have offering boxes in the back and just be done with it. I get it, that the Pastor gets his money from the offering and the church keeps its lights on through it, but even so, we know, quit with the guilt trips about it. My old church would have a special little "word" before the offering, designed to make one think twice about not offering. Ugh.
Its obvious to me now that it is supremely hard to find a church with any solid, meaty preaching. All churches preach milk, and most preach self-help at best. When the Sunday School is getting better fed with stories of King David, Noah, Samson, Solomon, and the like, I literally get "jealous". Where's our meat? We just get marshmallow fluff! So I get angry at pastors who guilt trip you into joining a church family. I do not go to church strictly for a social experience, although that's part of it. But when we don't get solid, meaty preaching, that's ALL you're getting, a Christian support group. Which is what we have here, among other places online.
I cannot go to church just for a support group. You might argue that corporate worship is worth it, and yes, I do enjoy singing to God in a group. But without solid preaching, and without at least a Bible study for those who are more mature and want more meat, it's just vanity to go. And it pains me, but there it is. When I read Psalm 119:99 for the first time, it slayed me. "I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation."
That's it EXACTLY. It's not pride on my part, it's that I jealously want to protect what I believe from false and lazy teaching. But God is doing a good thing here. Paul Washer says this in a nutshell - that God is working His own revival, in our country and those of others, where believers are returning to old roots, like older preachers, Spurgeon, the Puritans, etc., without the help of ANYONE'S ministry. I seriously believe God is saving a remnant of His people and calling the true believers to "come out of her", to leave the vapid vanity that is the modern Christian Church.
~~Becka
Okay, here's the deal. I left my apostate church. They were a Vineyard, who was heavily affiliated with Bethel Church in Redding, CA and the Jesus Culture music. It was probably the hardest decision I've ever made, as I loved them truly, but I felt as if I was beating my head against a brick wall when I would "correct" them. Our small groups, instead of being solid Bible studies, showed movies of people getting random gold teeth, gold glitter, gemstones, and glory clouds during services, being drunk in the Spirit, all this other stuff that made me SO uncomfortable, you have no idea. I was very outspoken about it, but my concerns were swept under the rug. Our book club read a book that literally taught that you can stop sinning and live an absolutely holy, perfect life. I railed about that, and got blank stares that I would challenge the book by this respected leader of Bethel Church. Couple that with worship songs about Jesus with lyrics like giving Him a "sloppy, wet kiss" and I had to FLEE from this place like Sodom and never look back!
I've been to another church that was better, but still had an awkward vibe. I've researched others online, and one has a "member charter" you must sign, making a covenant with that church to be a part of the church family, and I'm thinking no, I'm not signing that. Church membership should have nothing extra-curricular to what SCRIPTURE tells us.
So now, I am leery of going back to church. I have learned SO MUCH by my own study and the leading of the Holy Spirit. I've prayed to God, asking Him to show me if He wants me to be somewhere. I read books by pastors all the time talking about getting a church family and getting involved in the community and questioning the salvation of Christians who don't do this. I have issue with their conclusions, obviously.
I truly believe one of the reasons for a push to go to church is for the church to get more money from tithes and offerings. I really wish churches wouldn't make such a big deal about it - I would love to have offering boxes in the back and just be done with it. I get it, that the Pastor gets his money from the offering and the church keeps its lights on through it, but even so, we know, quit with the guilt trips about it. My old church would have a special little "word" before the offering, designed to make one think twice about not offering. Ugh.
Its obvious to me now that it is supremely hard to find a church with any solid, meaty preaching. All churches preach milk, and most preach self-help at best. When the Sunday School is getting better fed with stories of King David, Noah, Samson, Solomon, and the like, I literally get "jealous". Where's our meat? We just get marshmallow fluff! So I get angry at pastors who guilt trip you into joining a church family. I do not go to church strictly for a social experience, although that's part of it. But when we don't get solid, meaty preaching, that's ALL you're getting, a Christian support group. Which is what we have here, among other places online.
I cannot go to church just for a support group. You might argue that corporate worship is worth it, and yes, I do enjoy singing to God in a group. But without solid preaching, and without at least a Bible study for those who are more mature and want more meat, it's just vanity to go. And it pains me, but there it is. When I read Psalm 119:99 for the first time, it slayed me. "I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation."
That's it EXACTLY. It's not pride on my part, it's that I jealously want to protect what I believe from false and lazy teaching. But God is doing a good thing here. Paul Washer says this in a nutshell - that God is working His own revival, in our country and those of others, where believers are returning to old roots, like older preachers, Spurgeon, the Puritans, etc., without the help of ANYONE'S ministry. I seriously believe God is saving a remnant of His people and calling the true believers to "come out of her", to leave the vapid vanity that is the modern Christian Church.
~~Becka