a perfect church [Archive] - Christian Forums

Artos

1st August 2005, 02:45 PM

Read this a long time ago...thought it might be helpful...
The Perfect Church

If you should find the perfect church
Without one fault or smear,
For goodness sake! Don't join that church;
You'd spoil the atmosphere.

If you should find the perfect church
Where all anxieties cease
Then pass it by, lest joining it
You'd mar the masterpiece.

If you should find the perfect church
Then don't you ever dare,
To tread upon such holy ground;
You'd be a misfit there.

But since no perfect church exists
Made of imperfect men,
Then let's cease looking for that church
And love the church we're in.

Of course, it's not a perfect church,
That's simple to discern
But you and I and all of us
Could cause the tide to turn.

What fools we are to flee our post
In that unfruitful search
To find at last where problems loom
God proudly builds His church.

New_Wineskin

1st August 2005, 04:47 PM

For goodness sake! Don't join that church;

Finally !! After all of the nitwits constantly telling people that they must joing a "church" , someone is kind enough to tell people *not to* . Good job . :)

Artos

1st August 2005, 11:47 PM

thanks!

Count

2nd August 2005, 04:41 AM

We are not looking for the "perfect church". We are looking for the first century church, even if it means to be the Corinthians church. By the way, the modern church with the first century church are two different worlds.

New_Wineskin

2nd August 2005, 06:15 PM

I wouldn't look for a group doin things the way that they did in the first century . They were all over the place . They were still trying to find their way .

Count

3rd August 2005, 06:14 AM

I wouldn't look for a group doin things the way that they did in the first century . They were all over the place . They were still trying to find their way .

Excactly, they were finding their way under the guidance and leading of the Spirit. That kind of group I would look for! The church was, is and will always try to find her way, or....His way through the leading of the Spirit.

New_Wineskin

3rd August 2005, 04:52 PM

The church was, is and will always try to find her way, or....His way through the leading of the Spirit.

I totally agree with this . :)

mortsmune

5th August 2005, 08:12 AM

I wouldn't look for a group doin things the way that they did in the first century . They were all over the place . They were still trying to find their way . But they turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6). At least in America and Europe today, the world is turning the church upside down.

New_Wineskin

5th August 2005, 03:43 PM

But they turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6). At least in America and Europe today, the world is turning the church upside down.

Well , the Lord was responsible for any world being turned upside down . And , He did it in spite of the shortcomings of the people - just as He will today . Since it was all Him then , I don't see a reason for me to act like the people .

With respect to America and Europe ... that is their own doing . The "christian" groups have messed with people in those geographical areas for hundreds of years . I don't blame the people of those nations in putting checks on groups referring to themselves as "christian" .

Franze

14th August 2005, 07:10 PM

I am catholic, in faith and morals is perfect, in another chapters not. Catholics are sinners but we can get up and coming back to the way for Jesus and for heaven. We can pray for the purgatory souls for helping them to reach heaven and later they will help us.

New_Wineskin

15th August 2005, 05:22 AM

All righty - then .

SNPete

16th August 2005, 01:05 AM

About 6 years ago, we were between churches and at a loss as to where to go. We had our list of what we wanted in a church regarding doctrine, style of worship, etc.

One Saturday, I prayed over the phone book, hoping that God would lead us to the right church. I felt led to check out the local Presbyterian church. I thought Presbyterian? But I am a Pentecostal, who likes contemporary style worship. I sez, OK God.

So we went to First Prez and guess what. It wasn't even close to what "we wanted" in a church, but it felt so right. It was the best church experience we had in that town. The only reason we no longer attend First Prez is that we moved to our present location.

The lesson is this: Toss your list of requirements for a church and instead open your heart and mind. Ask God where He wants you to be and go there in faith. A guaranteed formula for success!

Artos

16th August 2005, 03:22 AM

The lesson is this: Toss your list of requirements for a church and instead open your heart and mind. Ask God where He wants you to be and go there in faith. A guaranteed formula for success!

AMEN ! AMEN! AMEN!

New_Wineskin

16th August 2005, 05:15 AM

Spamming makes a good point look suspicious .

Artos

16th August 2005, 07:07 AM

Spamming makes a good point look suspicious .

Huh??:scratch:

SNPete

16th August 2005, 11:04 AM

Spamming makes a good point look suspicious .Unintentional my man. It just happened there were two theads in this section on similar issues and my post fit both perfectly.

Artos

16th August 2005, 12:21 PM

Oh. thanks.

New_Wineskin

16th August 2005, 03:27 PM

Unintentional my man. It just happened there were two theads in this section on similar issues and my post fit both perfectly.

Thanks !! :)

I appreciate that . I appologize for the wording . I was going to work and wanted to say something quick .

FLANDIDLYANDERS

20th August 2005, 02:36 AM

Chruch is a "mob with a purpose" - that's what we should b looking for I guess.
But what is our collective purpose?

Artos

20th August 2005, 11:13 AM

l Peter 2:9
To be holy so that we can
a. BE what He wants us to be
b. DO what He wants us to do- in areas of social justice, mission, evangelism, witness...etc.

FLANDIDLYANDERS

23rd August 2005, 04:46 AM

l Peter 2:9
To be holy so that we can
a. BE what He wants us to be
b. DO what He wants us to do- in areas of social justice, mission, evangelism, witness...etc.

That's the badger! Nice one old bean.

Artos

23rd August 2005, 05:32 AM

That's the badger! Nice one old bean.
:confused:
er ....are these British expressions? what do they mean?
thanks, I think....
:)

FLANDIDLYANDERS

23rd August 2005, 02:32 PM

:confused:
er ....are these British expressions? what do they mean?
thanks, I think....
:)

Class, mate. Top boss.
Toodle-pip!

Artos

23rd August 2005, 02:52 PM

ok. I need the gift of interpretation of tongues...Ha ha.

FLANDIDLYANDERS

25th August 2005, 12:03 PM

Indeedily-dooliy neighboureeno. Don't over bake the oldey noog-a-loon-aleeny!!

All authentic Flanders-American, I believe. That's so much clearer.

Wally22

26th August 2005, 12:59 AM

Cleary jesus came to establish the church for the purpose of the great commission. If you are just a beliver and are not "In" the body (which is the church as a whole) How do you fuffill the great commission?

Being one who has been out of church before i know churches arent always easy places to be. The reason churches have is so tough is there is a enemy prowling around and he has it in for the church. Gods chosen vessel for the worlds redemption.

I would encourage you guys to be prayerfull and find a good bible beliving God fearing church..One that is living to obey God and reach the world. There are churches like that out there.

New_Wineskin

26th August 2005, 05:29 AM

If you are just a beliver and are not "In" the body (which is the church as a whole) How do you fuffill the great commission?

All believers are *always* "in" the Body .

*We* don't fulfill anything , Jesus does .

FLANDIDLYANDERS

28th August 2005, 06:09 AM

All believers are *always* "in" the Body .

*We* don't fulfill anything , Jesus does .

Good point.
Also, Church can be lived in so many different ways with others... what most have problems with is that as an institution it has been found to no longer serve the Great Commission or the Church.

New_Wineskin

28th August 2005, 06:19 AM

Good point.
Also, Church can be lived in so many different ways with others... what most have problems with is that as an institution it has been found to no longer serve the Great Commission or the Church.

I agree , they tend to only serve the institutions , themselves .

FLANDIDLYANDERS

28th August 2005, 02:26 PM

The Church, particularly in the West, has become a Mechanic Structure instead of an Organic Structure. A mechanism needs specialists and maintenance; an organism needs food and growth.

statrei

28th August 2005, 02:30 PM

The Church, particularly in the West, has become a Mechanic Structure instead of an Organic Structure. A mechanism needs specialists and maintenance; an organism needs food and growth.So, how did it become a mechanic structure? (I prefer to note the distinction between an organization and an organism. If we don't identify the cause the same thing will continue to happen. What is the cause? We know the problem.

FLANDIDLYANDERS

29th August 2005, 06:45 AM

statrei

29th August 2005, 09:44 AM

The answer to that revolves around how we understand the "Priesthood of all believers" and how essential the Great Commission is or isn't.

For indepth discussions visit.... http://faithcommons.org/churchwithoutwalls cos I'm just part of a Church taking what seems the next logical step for us.Why can't you discuss it here? Part of the problem with Christianity is that it has stifled independent reasoning thus preserving the status quo even when people realize the problem. Most study groups follow what the leader has already decided.