It's been said confession is good for the soul. So I confess... I
once was a smug Christian. I belonged to the "one and only true church." I
was "saved", and everybody that did not worship like me was going to an
ever-burning hell to be tortured for all eternity. What a warped view I
was taught by preachers about my Heavenly Father's love, mercy, and
forgiveness. Praise the LORD, He rescued me from Churchianity.
Christians
have nothing to be smug about. We are not righteous (or saved) people
telling other people they need to "get saved" and join the right Church, rather we are one beggar
telling another beggar where to find bread. God
is not impressed by Church names, eloquent speeches, or religious
clothing. He responds to trust and obedience. Sometimes, the ones who
assume they are entitled to blessing
are the very ones who miss it.
As Paul wrote in Philippians 2:11-13... Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
It's a 24/7 job minding our own business. As it is written,
"Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or
falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him
stand".
~ Romans 14:4. What
others do with the gift of salvation is their business. No Church
organization has a franchise on God, or a monopoly on the truth. The
Church that Jesus built is not an earthly organization, it's a Body of
Believers who are seeking first the Kingdom of God.
Seeking Truth is central to Christianity because it is equated with Jesus Christ, who is described as "the way, the truth, and the life." Understanding and living by HIS truth is essential for salvation, as it frees people from sin and deception. For
Christians, truth serves as a moral compass, guides relationships, and
provides spiritual discernment and security, ultimately shaping one's
worldview and daily life.
What American Christians don't understand about Christians in various denominations and Believers in foreign countries could fill a football stadium.
The gap in understanding within American
Christianity, points to vast differences in practices, beliefs, and
challenges faced by diverse denominations (like Orthodox, Catholic,
Protestant) and fellow Believers globally, where Christianity often
looks and functions very differently, from persecuted minorities in some
Muslim-majority nations to vibrant, distinct expressions in places like
Latin America or Africa, showcasing a spectrum from individualism to
deep communal faith often unseen by many U.S. Christians who believe their denomination has a franchise on God and a monopoly on Truth.
It
seems Christians are the easiest people for Satan to fool. He was able
to persuade a third of the angels to rebel against God, so we should not
be to hard on babes in Christ who cling to traditions of man. It is
very difficult for immature Christians to understand the difference
between Churchianity and Christianity. Satan is not stupid, he
counterfeits the word of God and always makes
disobedience seem like harmless fun.
The exact phrase "Church of Christ" (singular) isn't found in any version of Bible translations, but
the plural "churches of Christ" appears only once in Romans 16:16. Church of God appears eight times. Spirit Filled Believers of Jesus Christ are The Church. The Name on the Meeting House Does Not Matter.
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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 which He purchased with His own blood.
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To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
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Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God.
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But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.
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What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.
- For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
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Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia:
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For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.
The Church in the wilderness predates all denominations. Acts 7:38 Stephen describes Moses as being with the "church in the wilderness" (or congregation/assembly).
You are cordially invited to join Renew Your Strength Bible Study Group
The purpose of this post is to get people to think about what they believe and why they believe it, not debate who's right or wrong.
To
learn the revealed truth of God we must know and understand the true
meaning of the words God inspired to be written. Use Strong's
Concordance to check the original word before it was translated. Do your own research, make up your own mind, rely on the Holy Spirit to guide you.
