Friday, November 13, 2015

Do You Go to the Church of Sinners???

There's a pastor who posted this about his church ~



Let's examine the purpose for the church. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love {Ephesians 4:12-16}. This, my friends, is the true definition and purpose of what church is all about. We must STOP being like children, tossed to and fro; listening to the lies of those who are not preaching the Word of God.

The church in Corinth was SO messed up that Paul wrote two books in the Bible to them.  He strongly rebuked them for allowing a man who was having sex with his step-mother to remain in the church. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed… But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler-- not even to eat with such a one.
For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES {1 Corinthians 5:6-13}.

The church is a place to equip the SAINTS so they can go out into the world and spread the Gospel. Yes, anyone is welcome into the church for the purpose of hearing the Gospel, repenting, believing and becoming a new creature in Christ. It is NOT a place to promote or honor those who are living in sin. NO! This is what Paul was exhorting and rebuking the church in Corinth about.

If a church wants to spread around a post about their church, it should read something more along the lines of this; All are welcome here! We are a family of believers who God calls saints. Our goal is to love others deeply, forgive freely and show grace to others as the Lord has done for us. If you are interested in hearing the Truth of the Gospel, come in and let us explain to you how much Jesus loves you and His power to transform you so you can be freed from your sin and walk in newness of life!

Why would we want to draw others to church if we looked just like the world? We are God's transformed children by the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. As soon as we believe, we are new creatures and transformed by renewing our minds with God's Truth. His Spirit is working mightily within us to be salt and light to a dark and decaying world. Now, go find a church that teaches biblical Truth that will inspire you to be like Jesus with other believers who will encourage you towards godliness and NOT brag about their bondage to ungodly and unholy living. "He chose us for a purpose - to be His holy people. To come out of the world and NOT be common or unclean anymore" {John Piper}.

Comments (24)

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Lori
thank you for this post. My heart sank when I read the intro from the Pastor, this is so prevalent nowadays. We are new creations in Christ and though we may fail very badly at times (me too!), we should be growing in Godliness. It says in 2 Peter 1 vs 5 Make every effort to add to your faith goodness, and to goodness, knowledge, and to knowledge, self-control, and to self-control, perseverance , and to perseverance, godliness.
As you know re the news item I emailed you about earlier in the week, this is getting more of a 'clarion call'. I have had more replies saying 'Stop judging others, who are you to judge......, how dare you criticise others behaviour, let him who is without sin, cast the first stone'.

Thank you for hilighting this increasing viewpoint which is sadly gaining more ground.
Blessings to you
Helen UK
1 reply · active 489 weeks ago
We are commanded to not judge those outside of the church but those within the church. "For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church?" {1 Corinthians 5:12} This means we are not to confront those outside of the church with their sin but we should preach the Gospel to them since they need Jesus. However, we are commanded to rebuke, exhort and encourage those within the church to live as believers who have been redeemed and are freed from their sin.
Roselyn Krapf's avatar

Roselyn Krapf · 489 weeks ago

Hi Lori, Aunt Roselyn here again. I enjoy reading your blog, but I have the same comment as last time. I wish you would clearly attribute your source. As I read this post, I wondered if you had written it, or maybe Ken, as he frequently contributes. At the end of the post, I saw (John Piper). Did he write the entire post or the last paragraph? I would like to know the source at the beginning of the post. Such as, "I enjoyed this writing by John Piper and I want a to share it with you." It is a matter of intellectual integrity. I hope you are feeling well. Hugs.
1 reply · active 489 weeks ago
Thank you, Aunt Roselyn! Yes, I have been feeling much better the past few weeks. My sodium levels have remained stable and my neck is better. This post was written by me and just the last comment was from John Piper. I went back and put quotation marks around it to make it more clear. I will try to do that more from now on. Love you!
Great post Lori! That was quite the intro. It's amazing how many churches who are so caught up with teaching about grace only that they forget that we are now a new creation and should be taught from that standpoint. It's good to realize that we saints come to fellowship meetings with baggage but more importantly that they understand that said baggage must be released/removed. Our church has a deliverance/counseling ministry that assists those in bondage to become free as well as how to effectively walk out their freedom.
3 replies · active 489 weeks ago
Our church has one also, Shiloh, and I know it has helped many people understand their freedom they have in Christ. "Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God." {1 Corinthians 6:11}. Believers need to clearly understand what Christ accomplished on the cross for them and begin believing it!
rajuncajun's avatar

rajuncajun · 489 weeks ago

What church do you attend, Lori? I would like to read more about their deliverance ministry.
We attended a Calvary Chapel for a while but have gone back to an Evangelical Free church since all of our family goes there. The program that both of these churches offer for those needing deliverance is called Celebrate Recovery.

However, the greatest way to be delivered from bondage to sin is to know who you are in Christ and what He has done to free you. I recommend Michael Pearl's study of Romans! It is amazing. http://nogreaterjoy.org/audio/romans-audio/?minis...
Lady Virtue's avatar

Lady Virtue · 489 weeks ago

I actually once remember seeing a man standing outside a church door smoking a cigarette!

Indeed, the above post from the pastor sounds like he is glorying in the sins within his congregation. If the church, who are supposed to be God's called out saints, look just like the world, how can the world even be aware of its need for Christ? It seems like a lot of Christians want to identify as Christian but then insist that they never have to deny themselves or sacrifice anything and then think they can win the world to the Lord by being like the world. It's very sad, really.
1 reply · active 489 weeks ago
Our church's motto is "Transformed People. Transforming Our World." It shouldn't be a place that is being conformed to society but a place where believers are taught that they are the ones who should be transforming society with the hope of the Gospel and the healing that comes from knowing and loving Jesus.
Thank you! I will stand my ground since my life and faith are built upon the Rock!
Good post. It is important to make the correct distinction. Paul often wrote: "And such were some of you..." past tense. Not present the way the opening quote implied.

For the record, while smoking isn't particularly wise or healthy, it is not necessarily a sin either. And no, neither I nor my husband smokes nor have we ever smoked.
3 replies · active 488 weeks ago
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." {1 Corinthians 6:9-11}. I LOVE this last verse that explains what Christ did for us and who we are in Him.

I would have no problem with someone smoking outside of a church. I wouldn't call smoking a sin but it certainly isn't good for you just as drinking a lot of coke or eating junk food all day isn't good for you either or wise. It sure isn't in the list of sins that keeps one from eternal life; that is for sure!
I don't really know if smoking is a sin or not. I've always thought it wasn't, but as our body is the temple of Christ is probably isn't ideal to smoke.
When my husband became a Christian he had been a heavy smoker for more than 25 years. He had a long history or drug abuse as well as an strong addiction to smoking. He was willing to give it all up to serve the Lord. He prayed earnestly that if the Lord wanted him to give up smoking, that He would enable him to do so. Within days, my husband was no longer a smoker. He went cold turkey, and had NO cravings.
So whether or not smoking is a sin I still don't know, but I do know that the Lord will enable us to do everything He asks of us, if we are willing to change/be changed by Him.
Dennis Marks's avatar

Dennis Marks · 488 weeks ago

Sorry but I need to interject. Smoking tobacco is a sin like putting any other drug into your body. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Putting anything in your body that is a known toxin or mind altering drug is defiling the body you have been given. Is taking drugs or smoking drugs a sin?
Cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, including 43 known cancer-causing (carcinogenic) compounds and 400 other toxins. These include nicotine, tar, and carbon monoxide, as well as formaldehyde, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, arsenic, and DDT. Nicotine is highly addictive.
I know your tempted to tell me that overeating is sin too. Very true. But this does not excuse purposely putting tobacco into your God-given body AND spreading your toxins to others around you.
Church discipline is a sound doctrine that is so maligned these days. Among the responsibilities of a pastor is that of keeping wolves out of the flock who would devour the sheep. A wolf is a wolf, whether they appear to be sincere or not. Actors can do a lot of damage within a congregation as our family has personally seen. God will eventually separate the wheat and the tares (sorry for the mixed metaphors) but we are presently to have spiritual discernment. God doesn't want us to be all hung up on criticizing others and meanwhile dismissing our own sin, but we are to be fruit inspectors and be wary of those whose manner of life belies their profession of Christ as their Saviour, Lord, and Master. Great post. Thanks for the encouragement to not be afraid to be the ones who stick out like a sore thumb amongst all the rampant, open, unabashed sin dismissed as covered by 'grace of God' flowing around us - grace that has had its meaning distorted, and been turned to "lasciviousness" (license to do evil). It grieves our spirits, what does it do to the Holy Spirit? How can we see God's power freely working when we allow, explain away, and in some cases, even celebrate sin? Sigh. Sorry for the rant. Sometimes even a far away ear is a source of edifying. Thanks again for writing truth and affirming the Word of God, not twisting it.
1 reply · active 489 weeks ago
"Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? GOD FORBID! How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein!" {Romans 6:1} Ken and I memorized most of Romans 6 and 8 since they are so critical to understanding our new lives in Christ. Grace doesn't give us the okay to sin; no, it gives us the power to not sin and walk in the newness of life!
You know what, Lori? I am seeing this everywhere. My frustration with many churches, as well, is that many don't address immodesty in the believing members. I expect unbelievers to live and dress in an immodest way, but if we are helping others come to Christ and are not addressing how they live and dress after they become saved, it becomes a potential stumbling block to other believers (and a bad example to children).

I am shocked at how many believers and church volunteers wear low cut tops and very short shorts, even while serving. The world has enough temptations that we don't need the church to be a continuation of that. When the leadership does not set a standard in areas like this, they are perpetuating the objectifying of women and allowing sin and temptation to reign in the house of the Lord. I'm not sure that there are a whole lot of men in most churches who are actually able to focus on the message and fellowship because of all of the women revealing themselves at every turn. It's sad that most Christians don't seem to be very set apart from the world.
1 reply · active 489 weeks ago
Most churches today don't care about following biblical instructions about purity, holiness and godliness for the body of Christ in most areas. Few practice biblical discipline but instead allow those practicing sin to continue attending their church. It has definitely caused many churches to grow lukewarm which is scary if you read what the Lord is going to do with lukewarm churches. There isn't much fear of the Lord anymore.
This hit the nail on the head! Thank you so much for posting! Our pastor recently preached a sermon of "acceptance" and not judging people or considering anyone an "outsider" saying we are to be friends of sinners as Jesus was. He mentioned some different sins (such as homosexuality) but never called them out as sins. I was appalled!! This was the last straw, we will be looking for a new church that stands firm on the scriptures.
Umm, Amen! That's all.
Dennis Marks's avatar

Dennis Marks · 488 weeks ago

Sad that too many sermons are built on clichés rather than the direct Word of God.
1 reply · active 371 weeks ago
It's really sad; tragic really.

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