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Error exposed is better than love that is hidden. (see Proverbs 27:5)
RW
Click here to witness the crowd that is asleep in Christ.http://youtube.com/watch?v=Nu9k60-GgVk
2 Tim 4:2
Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.] And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching.
2 Corinthians 6:16 (Amplified Bible)
What agreement [can there be between] a temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in and with and among them and will walk in and with and among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
Which Church do you think God is with and among?
THIS
OR
THIS
Is building bigger state of the art earthly churches more important to God or Building God's Kingdom one soul at a time? Are bigger state of the art churches the answer to reaching the lost? Is it important to raise money so we can have a better, bigger, state of the art, special effect, big screen hoopla to worship GOD? Is GOD really in it? Lastly, Has He commanded Christians that we build these big state of the art churches?
Let us see what Scripture tells us.
James 4:4
You (the church) [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world's friend is being God's enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God.
Now as the Pictures I have provided above (Kentucky poor church) and (state of the art megachurch) show, where do you think God is really amongst? Do you really think Jesus who is the head of the Church needs a huge state of the art grandiose church to be worshipped in or two truly repentant persons in a barn like termite infested chapel praying for their whole nation to come back to their first love? So far my blog doesn't tickle your ear. Good.
I understand that it is wonderful to have a convention of True believers once in awhile somewhere in such a stadium like atmosphere to meet new brothers and sisters and worship together to see all those who will make their stand in HIM, but should a home church be really focused on Bigger numbers, state of the art facilities etc. and how huge they can grow?
NO!
The money these ever growing entertaining state of the art churches they raise up for their new state of the art BIG church for example, is covetousness plain and simple in our BODY and this really needs to be addressed desperately. So I will.
What is wrong with these Pastors? Is it a popularity contest for the Pastor with the most sheeple and state of the art facility?
Are Christians supposed to live their best life now? Here is an answer. NOT IN GOD'S WORD.
Oh these Pastors may declare that it is God's will as the money from the tithes and offerings are rolling in as they hold fast to Malachi 3:10 but according to scripture that is not distorted and what Jesus really taught, where did He say in any of His Gospel teachings to build such state of the art monuments for Him to worship Him?
Jesus commanded Believers to go OUT and preach the gospel not to gather His wheat in earthly state of the art barns. We are supposed to go out and gather those into His Kingdom and that does not consider earthly state of the art Churches. Churches are for training to send Believers out and back into their local communities to form new churches right? Did not Jesus himself choose twelve only to disciple during His ministry and to show this example? Each Two disciples he sent OUT had their own ministries to make disciples and send them out as well. Acts 2 and 4 teaches how communities were forming because of the gospel to be our example of how other communities of believers in other places to example the how to spread and live the gospel etc. Were those in the first century taught to go out and build huge churches in there cities? None of the early church fathers taught this. BUT Pagans were this example building BIGGER temples etc. to their idols or gods and the church was to be the opposite and not partakers of this behavior or it was Apostasy. 
As Paul warned Timothy: 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (Amplified Bible)
For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold,
And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions.
Just like the Pagans and the gnostic teachers whom constructed big temples and perverted learning centers for their gatherings as they stealthily infiltrated the BODY. (Rev 2-3).
Another example for the present that scripture warns us is an ad and a email I received that grieved my heart to think this is really reality AGAIN:A Seat To Get Saved In.
By August (This popular entertaining BIG Church) needs to raise $5.5 million in
additional funds (beyond current pledge commitments) and another $1.7 million
by September (For a even BIGGER state of the art church). For your gift of $300 you can sponsor the cost of a
(and installation) in our new State of the art BIGGER sanctuary. Each seat is numbered with a
specific scripture reference from the Bible and will be assigned in the order
they are sponsored.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO PARTICIPATE BY:
GOING IN ON THE COST OF THE SEAT? $300--
FOR OUR GIFT WE'LL RECEIVE IN RETURN:
A certificate of appreciation that lists the seat
and scripture assigned to us. Also, a recorded video of us that will be used in
a future online virtual tour of the sanctuary re the seat and scripture
purchased. The 3500 seats in our new sanctuary will be used to
share the hope of Jesus Christ with many and your gift will be part of that
legacy!
Current participants for ONE seat are:
Lou cipher $300 R. Warren $30, Jezebel $30, King Ahab $300, J. Iscariot $30 Benedict $300, R. Tilton, $30 Luke Warm $300
LET ME KNOW IF YOU'D LIKE TO JOIN US IN HELPING
SUPPORT GOD'S CHURCH.
THANKS. Pastor Gimme Morebucks.
How disgusting! Oh how WORLDY spoils and covetousness have blinded our eyes. Is this truly GOD's Will? Doesn't the Bible say that God's Will is that we come together as THE BODY and raise this kind of funding money to stop abortion, feed the hungry in desolate lands, support the 250,000,000 Christian Martyrs in 60 countries and their families with their needs, send Bibles to those who wish they had one, help support missionaries and their financial needs in dangerous tyrannical areas, help those in need in the local church communities as the church is supposed to (see Acts Chapters 2-4) rather than build a BIG BIGGER BIGGEST unnecessary worldly state of the art building that caters to itself and its luxuries of pristine creature comforts with gold scripture written seats, your name for contributing and a praise video to boost our ego's so we could be comfortable and be cool?
1 Corinthians 11:22
What! Do you have no houses(of your own) in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and mean to show contempt for it, while you humiliate those who are poor (have no homes and have brought no food)? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, [most certainly] I will not!
Remember Robert Schuller and His Crystal Cathedral in the 80's?????
How about the way they raised money for the Vatican II in the 1500's. Does this sound all too familiar and does it seem history is repeating once again for the umpteenth time? Here let me provide and old saying from a Catholic priest from the reformation days trying to raise money for the RCC new bigger church and the Pope's lavish lifestyle.A coin in the coffer rings (to build the new Vatican 2 RCC)
a soul from purgatory springs (John Tetzle circa 1500 ad)
John Tetzle left out, "or your dead members and yourself will burn in hellfire if you do not support building a bigger new Vatican II Roman Catholic Church with your tithes and offerings" (sarcastic emphisis mine).
As today is not that extreme praise God, BUT what a waste of GOD's money too assume God wants the BODY to build bigger S.t.a.church buildings. THIS IS NOT BIBLICAL ONE IOTA AS SCRIPTURE HAS SHOWN SO FAR.
1 Peter 5:1-3
I WARN and counsel the elders among you (the pastors and spiritual guides of the church) as a fellow elder and as an eyewitness [called to testify] of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a sharer in the glory (the honor and splendor) that is to be revealed (disclosed, unfolded):
Tend (nurture, guard, guide, and fold) the flock of God that is [your responsibility], not by coercion or constraint, but willingly; not dishonorably motivated by the advantages and profits [belonging to the office], but eagerly and cheerfully;
Not domineering [as arrogant, dictatorial, and overbearing persons] over those in your charge, but being examples (patterns and models of Christian living) to the flock (the congregation).
Popularity and grandiose extravagance state of the art church buildings are not a Christian calling at all. As God's Word repeats consistantly, It is to GO OUT and Preach The Gospel to the whole World, to raise money for the widow, the orphan, the poor, the sick, the prisoners, those in need in the body. What business do we have in investing in BIG, WIDE, state of the art churches when these needs are needed to be met now. HOW DARE WE REJECT AND NEGLECT THOSE WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE IN THE BODY AND BUILD THESE EXTRAVAGANT NOT NECESSARY BUILDINGS when the less fortunate in the BODY we who are SPOILED are neglecting, are praying that we would hear them and help them this moment with prayer, financial backing etc. This Should be our main focus as Jesus taught. To build local Believing communities all over the world.2 Peter 1:4
By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you may escape [by flight] from the moral decay (rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and greed), and become sharers (partakers) of the divine nature.
God is not interested in Buildings or how big our personal church gets, but only interested in lost souls and those who will do His will. Where your family average number church is, is just fine. Wake up PASTORS! You do not need a bigger state of the art church. The Church is for training in worship to SEND THEM OUT. Send them out and let the BODY create more local gatherings in fellowship and worship so discipleship will be a focus in smaller numbers to keep them in. Shepherds never take on more sheep that they can bear. So do Generals who have a certain number of troops broken down into companies. We say that is what Home fellowships are for. Yes and they are meant to grow as a family as well until they can find a local community center to meet in their communities. CHURCH IS NOT A SOCIAL GATHERING OR AN ENTERTAINING VENUE OF WATERED DOWN GOSPEL MESSAGES FOR BIG INSTITUTIONAL GROWTH INCREASE BUT TO ADD TO HIS KINGDOM THAT IS COMING AND IS NOW. IT IS ALL ABOUT JESUS. DO we want people to succeed in the faith and press on being able to teach them personally to keep them from the fire? Heavens YES.
Remember, This world is quickly passing away and all material things with it. Let us focus on the coming Kingdom, to strive to fill it instead of SELF gratification and comfort in buildings that are really not necessary and will burn eventually. Invest in the BODY all over the world, to meet their needs and encourage them. For this is God's real Will.
"It would be a godsend if the Church would suffer persecution today; she hasn't suffered it for hundreds of years. She is growing rich and lagging behind. Going back." -Billy Sunday, The Need for Revivals, From "Billy Sunday: The Man and His Message", by William T. Ellis, Philadelphia: John C. Winston Co., 1914
James 2:5
Listen, my beloved brethren: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and in their position as believers and to inherit the kingdom which He has promised to those who love Him?
RW ([C] June 26 2007)
