Faith killers

[lesjude]

It is my observation that the church has no faith because they are doing what is right in their own sight just as they did in the book of Judges which is LAWLESSNESS i.e. antinomianism. Grace does not give Christians freedom from obedience. They may have Jesus as savior but not Lord/King. He will answer those who are lawless by the idols in their hearts, give them what they want, and tell them what they want to hear Ezekiel 14:1-4. It often is a disaster. Judges 20:1-48

The second reason, at least in the US, is rebellious attitudes. Americans are under a principality of rebellion as this is the foundation of the nation i.e. the American Revolution. If you read Matthew 8:5-13 you will see why a respect and understanding of authority is important to having/exercising faith.

The third reason is most in the west have the Greek/Roman mind set which means they need evidence/proof before they believe much of anything. This is EXACTLY the opposite of Bible faith Hebrews 11:1. This is manifested in the fact that most need evidence from "creation science" to believe Biblical creation. It is one of the first things Christians are to believe with NO sense evidence based on God's word alone Hebrews 11:1-3. They prove their lack of Bible faith by being defensive, suing school systems, and generally getting ugly with groups or institutions who advocate evilution.

There is much more wrong with this Greek/Roman mindset as well, including the pervasive belief among Christians in humanism. They make God just as the Greeks did, in their image and reasoned understanding. They believe that majority rule is the way God wants His church run instead of led by the Holy Spirit who is NOT a democrat or democratic. They believe democracy is God's government when He is an absolute monarch. Democracy and rights are the cornerstone of humanism. Belief in humanism removes faith in God's sovereign control using believing prayer and intercession from His saints which is their duty and honor as citizens of His kingdom.

Legalism is also a reason for no faith. Here is how Jesus defines legalism:


Matthew 15:6-9

New King James Version (NKJV)

6 then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment[b] of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
8 ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And[c] honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.

 

[Biblicist]

They make God just as the Greeks did, in their image and reasoned understanding. They believe that majority rule is the way God wants His church run instead of led by the Holy Spirit who is NOT a democrat or democratic. They believe democracy is God's government when He is an absolute monarch. Democracy and rights are the cornerstone of humanism. Belief in humanism removes faith in God's sovereign control using believing prayer and intercession from His saints which is their duty and honor as citizens of His kingdom.

How would you structure a church so that the Holy Spirit can be in charge and not man - who would be the decision makers?

 

[lesjude]

How would you structure a church so that the Holy Spirit can be in charge and not man - who would be the decision makers?

Ephesians 4:11-13New King James Version (NKJV)

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

Acts 20:28
New King James Version (NKJV)

28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God[a] which He purchased with His own blood.


Read 1 Timothy 3:1-7 for the qualifications of an overseer not bishop which is a wrong translation. Also 1 Peter 5:1-5
The elders (pastors) of the local assembly make decisions following scripture and with prayer and fasting if necessary to receive the mind of the Lord. The lead elder as led by the Holy Spirit makes the final decision if necessary. Elders (pastors) are raised up from the local assembly by the Holy Spirit. It will be clear to all who they are based on the above qualifications and the Spirit's leading. They are NEVER elected and decisions are not made by "majority rule".

Here is their primary function. The local assembly is to be a teaching center to bring each member into a functioning ministry to the assembly 1 Corinthians 12 and to minister to the lost as stated in Mark 16:17-18.



Ephesians 4:11-16

New King James Version (NKJV)

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.