Yesterday, I had a good talk with my dad. We were talking about churches and how they are structured. Well, honestly it was more me.
The idea was that he enjoys his church and the things they do, but they are rapidly losing members. The elderly are passing and there aren't any younger people joining. I explained that it was just a business, and this is what happens to businesses. Sometimes they thrive, but sometimes they fizzle out.
The majority of modern churches in the US are built on a western business model and not the bible. I am pretty sure Jesus was clear about what he thought of the churches.
I know that God is moving us from a time of believing in Him to a time of knowing Him. Not just believing that He is real, but connecting with Him daily through prayer and meditation.
Be well. Be encouraged. Be radical.
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A church start to perish when there is no youth in the church again because the yout is the tomorrow not the elderly
I agree. The youth are waking up to the idea of the business. The problem is they are nit always leaving to continue their growth spiritually, some just leave and fall away
I would say a great elder and leader is more important. The youth are confused, and even more so these days.
Thanks for another post @freedompoint.
For me, the parables of Christ are setup in a way that a true follower would need to be all-in to the extent that upholding and abiding by the teachings are the most important thing to that person and by far.
I personally believe that the only way to follow in the footsteps of Christ is to do similar things and say similar things.
The end result is meeting the same end as Christ and with it comes understanding it all (a.k.a. understanding the parables).
Yeah, maybe. Jesus said "you will do these things and greater" I think that He was speaking tiward the future and the freedom. Nit si much that we had to do exactly what He did, but live out the words He taught. After all he was a Jew and had to fully live in the law to fulfull it. What you are saying is that we would all need ti live as Jews under mosaic law and then talk as if we didnt have to haha. I believe that the parables are clear to those that are filled with the Holy Spirit, and those that are not will only read it as a book. As it unfolds for us individually we have to work it out individually. Together in Jesus. If that makes sense. Yikes! I almost gave you a whole vlog in a comment haha
I don't think he intended to abolish Mosiac law @freedompoint and I don't think anyone who follows him is free to live outside of Mosiac law.
But I also think that the law was symbolism and need not be taken literally. In order to fulfil Mosiac law you would need to:
1. Love God with all your heart, mind & soul.
2. Love your neighbor as yourself.
I also think that the parables are only clear to people who have done what they instructed. Many people can be said to be filled with the Holy Spirit but only few have actually done what is instructed.
When it is written that he said "Greater things shall you do if you believe" I interpret that as meaning that all of us are capable of participating in miracles equal and even greater than the miracles attributed to him. But I have found that faith requires desire, not just belief, and many of us desire things not associated with miracles.
Thank you for taking the time to write out a good reply @freedompoint Most people cannot relate to the things I am writing about in your comments.
The law was very much literal for the jews. 613 laws, still practiced today. You may be thinking of commandments. The ten commandments and then what Jesus says in Matthew 19.
He came not to abolish the law but to fulfill it. I take this as we need to know the law to understand what He has done for us.
Perhaps you didnt understand Gods grace through Jesus or the personal relationship with Jesus...while you were trying to live via parables and the levitican (moses) law..
I am here today to tell you thats Gods grace is abundant. If you were to believe Jesus is who He says He is, and believe what He says, you will see the kingdom of God ( now not after death)
I already experienced the 'Kingdom of God' and I think anyone whose first priority is living out the Parables of Christ will.
The new message of Christ was to follow the general lessons, purpose and spirit of Mosiac law more closely than the actual letters of the law. Christ used King David as an example when David apparently broke the law in letter, but not in Spirit. That was the new message of Christ - following in Spirit, not in letter.
The Tanach was then altered, edited and revised before naming it the Old Testiment and creating a new religion based on the message of Christ (a.k.a. the Bible).
I don't believe the leaders of today are repeating the letters of either religion verbatim, but people that can extract the general lessons, purpose and Spirit of the story and lessons of Christ.
Just as Christ did by all accounts.
Another way to look at it is to follow the Greatest Commandments attributed to Christ, not the rest of the ideas, beliefs, ideology, theology and religion.
Everything else can still be lived and experienced but it isn't nearly as important as returning to our source and alleviating the suffering in the world.
I hope I addressed your reply properly @freedompoint I have taken the Parables of Christ seriously and this is what I learned from it.
This church age is a joke. A money grabbing scheme and a true disgrace.
a time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine but after their own lust shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears. And they shall turn they ears from the truth onto fables. Tim.
Awesome. Thank you. I agree.
Spiritual stuff isn't my strong suit.
I was blessed to have been raised in the church and active in it for the first 20 years of my life. What you're seeing here is exactly how I feel. Knowing, not just believing.
Most of my Sundays are spent in the dirt and sun, not in a building, because the building doesn't matter. Fellowship matters, and there's more to fellowship than a central location.
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