(Click HERE to hear this article on John 4:24 Radio)
Most people who claim to believe in the bible would agree that it was Jesus Christ that set up, ordained and established His New Testament church in the first century some 2,000 years ago. They would also agree that it had certain ways, functions, truth and biblical traditions that He taught His disciples to uphold and teach to the world. They carried it on obediently to grow His True body according to all He had said and done; even to their deaths. It was rooted in Christ, all about His Ways and not made by man or of man at all. While this may seem rather simplistic and obvious to state, it helps us prove a point. Many agree with it but the bigger question is why then has man gone off and made entire NEW systems and practices that are no longer functioning like or in accord with Christ's True ways?
These denominational/evangelical organizations, rules and traditions of men have left the truth long ago and this surely did not please God.
Jesus said this is Mark 7:
These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.
Lastly, please listen to or read the biblical gospel here to find eternal life to come.
Most people who claim to believe in the bible would agree that it was Jesus Christ that set up, ordained and established His New Testament church in the first century some 2,000 years ago. They would also agree that it had certain ways, functions, truth and biblical traditions that He taught His disciples to uphold and teach to the world. They carried it on obediently to grow His True body according to all He had said and done; even to their deaths. It was rooted in Christ, all about His Ways and not made by man or of man at all. While this may seem rather simplistic and obvious to state, it helps us prove a point. Many agree with it but the bigger question is why then has man gone off and made entire NEW systems and practices that are no longer functioning like or in accord with Christ's True ways?
These denominational/evangelical organizations, rules and traditions of men have left the truth long ago and this surely did not please God.
Jesus said this is Mark 7:
These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain;
their teachings are merely human rules.
You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”
Lets be clear here and say it as it is. To leave God's NT design for His body (that Christ died to redeem) to do your own man made ways is a dangerous tempting of a Holy God! And that is exactly what denominational/evangelical/mainstream religion does on a weekly basis and so we call it out so people will repent and leave it for God's glory.
Now back to the question we posed as our topic for today:
"Is Your Religious Body Christian & Apostolic or Compromised & Atmospheric"?
In order to answer the question let us make sure we have our terms and meanings correct.
What does it mean to be Christian & Apostolic?
To be Christian simply means that you are born in Christ and FULLY practicing and teaching today ALL of Christ's ways who said "to worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:24). What makes one Apostolic is if we are exampling the ways of those who walked with Jesus (face to face) in the first century as He taught them and they practiced the true NT body. All of their ways are recorded in detail via God's Holy Word for us to study, live out and example today no matter the cost.
So what does it mean to be Compromised & Atmospheric?
It is obvious to state that if a group or religious system is no longer following the way left by Christ and the Apostles; it has compromised on God's truth. That is apparent on every corner in America today and its ritual meetings in buildings where they meet to follow mans ways NOT God's. Denominational/mainstream/evangelical religion today has long ago left the true NT ways and exchanged it for a man made compromised path of its own.
These false ways were handed down from the roman catholic system as well as through the reformers and the compromise goes on today as a false model not of God. The atmospheric aspect comes in to play when you look at how they strive to set up and the function of these false bodies of man to fill the pews. They describe them on their own websites so others will want to join them. We can often see terms like: "we want to be a place of acceptance in a relaxed atmosphere". They will use biblical words like love, worship, unity and joy but they lack the full truth and NT model God ordained. They stress community and acceptance which is nice but realize that even cults have those qualities so it is a deceiving factor is it not? They usually build it all around many age based programs that fit everyone, casual dress (that becomes unbiblical) modern buildings with gyms, atrium's and children's centers, pastors for all age groups, various music styles that please young and old, relevant easy to listen to messages, fun outings to water parks, holiday concerts, practiced musicals, recreation activities like soccer or basketball and both modern and old school so called "worship services" to make everyone happy. Do you see the atmosphere being the driving the factor here and NOT being biblical and Apostolic? The fact is modern pastors give the people just what they want and the people keep supporting the modern pastor in it. It is a vicious unbiblical cycle that has no good outcome. You must see it as false and repent of it. These places are compromised and atmospheric in the end. The bible warns this will come in the latter days;
These false ways were handed down from the roman catholic system as well as through the reformers and the compromise goes on today as a false model not of God. The atmospheric aspect comes in to play when you look at how they strive to set up and the function of these false bodies of man to fill the pews. They describe them on their own websites so others will want to join them. We can often see terms like: "we want to be a place of acceptance in a relaxed atmosphere". They will use biblical words like love, worship, unity and joy but they lack the full truth and NT model God ordained. They stress community and acceptance which is nice but realize that even cults have those qualities so it is a deceiving factor is it not? They usually build it all around many age based programs that fit everyone, casual dress (that becomes unbiblical) modern buildings with gyms, atrium's and children's centers, pastors for all age groups, various music styles that please young and old, relevant easy to listen to messages, fun outings to water parks, holiday concerts, practiced musicals, recreation activities like soccer or basketball and both modern and old school so called "worship services" to make everyone happy. Do you see the atmosphere being the driving the factor here and NOT being biblical and Apostolic? The fact is modern pastors give the people just what they want and the people keep supporting the modern pastor in it. It is a vicious unbiblical cycle that has no good outcome. You must see it as false and repent of it. These places are compromised and atmospheric in the end. The bible warns this will come in the latter days;
2 Timothy 4
For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.
Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a
great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
We must focus on the truth which is Christ. The holy standard and model of God's Word is to be clung to for daily living and church life. Building a body around what people want leads to the current seeker friendly un-biblical model that only grows false converts not holy saints. (We know we where in the pews once.)
There is a old saying that goes like this: "if the first century Apostles did not teach it or practice it, neither should we. And whatever they did practice and teach; we need to cling to it as well". This means that we are to mirror those who were trained and called by Christ Himself which made them Apostles to be imitated. Our doctrines, traditions and church function should ALL be the same and consistent to what Christ taught them or you have gone far astray. Christ built His church on Himself "the Rock" not on man's ability to alter it over time as he has done. (Over 30,000 denominations/evangelical groups or flavors today and it is shameful!) Does the bible warn against this? Well Apostle Paul said this:
So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. 2 Thessalonians 2
And he said this also:
Beware lest any man spoil
you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men,
after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. Colossians 2:8
So how does the modern denominational/evangelical systems lack in God's truth / function you may ask?
We wrote a large article on this that covers many of the issues. Here they are listed the qualities of a biblical NT body:
*Preach a biblical gospel (not a raise your hand say a prayer false gospel)
*Training up of the saints for ministry (not putting on ritual shows or mixing goats and sheep)
*Saints with testimonies of repentance and regeneration/daily holiness
*Training up of the saints for ministry (not putting on ritual shows or mixing goats and sheep)
*Saints with testimonies of repentance and regeneration/daily holiness
*Striving
for perfection (serious about faith not just religion)
*Know
the Word of God (all of it not some of it)
*Love
the Word of God (you study it and feed on it daily, not the culture)
*Are
obedient to the whole council of God (killing your flesh/sin daily)
*Love
the brethren (you love all believers not just your pew mates)
*Desire correction, rebuke and accountability(grow your holiness/obedience
*Desire correction, rebuke and accountability(grow your holiness/obedience
*All
men use their gifts (no pew sitting but a active part in gatherings)
*Not
one man lording over (no modern pastor role doing it all)
*Separated
from the worldly ways (give up the NFL, movies and entertainment)
*Using discerning judgment of false teachers (study to be approved)
*Using discerning judgment of false teachers (study to be approved)
*True
Lord’s Supper (full meal not a tid bit )
*Exercise church discipline( rebuke all public sin)
*Singing from the heart (no instrumental music)
*Exercise church discipline( rebuke all public sin)
*Singing from the heart (no instrumental music)
*Women
head covered
*Women
biblically dressed (long, loose robes/dresses and no adornment)
*Women
in submission, men leading homes/loving wives
*Women silent in church (no women leaders/pastors)
*Women silent in church (no women leaders/pastors)
*No
unbiblical tithe taught (money going to the gospel and needy saints not buildings, blacktop and salaries for more programs)
*Meeting
house to house/one anothering/biblical fellowship
The result of a true holy and obedient NT church body is the world will hate you for how you live and what you proclaim.
(Matthew 10) So the next time you realize your community and people in the world really love you and your religious body please consider that the saints were beaten, mocked and killed for their faith and what they proclaimed. We are to love others but the gospel and our set apart ways WILL bring hate (per Jesus). Why is it that denominations are embraced and accepted by the world today? It is because they are "of them" via compromise and atmosphere not "called out from them" (apostolic) per God's Word. ( 2 Corinthians 6 )
(Matthew 10) So the next time you realize your community and people in the world really love you and your religious body please consider that the saints were beaten, mocked and killed for their faith and what they proclaimed. We are to love others but the gospel and our set apart ways WILL bring hate (per Jesus). Why is it that denominations are embraced and accepted by the world today? It is because they are "of them" via compromise and atmosphere not "called out from them" (apostolic) per God's Word. ( 2 Corinthians 6 )
Perhaps then you can answer the question better.
Is Your Religious Body Christian & Apostolic or Compromised & Atmospheric?
The focus of the true NT body gathering is NOT to put on ritual shows through emotional music and programs. It is to biblically gather to train up committed saints into holy obedient lives daily focused on Christ; not man made systems and flesh pleasing atmospheres that serve people not God.
The focus of the true NT body gathering is NOT to put on ritual shows through emotional music and programs. It is to biblically gather to train up committed saints into holy obedient lives daily focused on Christ; not man made systems and flesh pleasing atmospheres that serve people not God.
If your body is not Christian and Apostolic, we pray you will strive to enter the narrow road to life. (Matthew 7) We hope that you repent of and leave man made false religion for good which will lead to true salvation and God's glory!
Please don't be fooled by mans counterfeit religion. If Jesus Christ or Paul walked into these places (with all of their compromise and un-biblical ways) once they realized this was suppose to be Christ's body... oh their would be some major rebuking going on no doubt. Come out of that and into the Lord's true body life.
Read more about the New Testament church life and function HERE.
Please don't be fooled by mans counterfeit religion. If Jesus Christ or Paul walked into these places (with all of their compromise and un-biblical ways) once they realized this was suppose to be Christ's body... oh their would be some major rebuking going on no doubt. Come out of that and into the Lord's true body life.
Read more about the New Testament church life and function HERE.
Let us know how we can assist you.
For God’s glory…www.dontperish.com