Things your Church cannot do:
1. Give you the holy spirit
2. Give you good health
3. Give you salvation
4. Give you eternal life
Things your Church can do:
1. Teach you false doctrines
2. Pass the collection plate
Things Jesus Can Do For You:
1. Give you the holy spirit
2. Give you good health
3. Give you salvation
4. Give you eternal life
Millions of Christians worldwide read the same Bible, worship the same God, and believe in the same Savior - yet will not fellowship with another church group. The difference between a Church member and a Disciple of Christ is: a Church member follows the doctrines of their denomination, a Disciple follows Jesus Christ. ~ 1 John 2:3-6
Jesus said, "I am the Good Shepherd, my Sheep hear my voice and follow me." The hireling shepherds tell their sheep not to fellowship with other sheep. They say, "We are the good purebred sheep, those other sheep are spotted and bad."
This is nothing new. From the beginning of the ministry of Jesus Christ, men have led sheep away from the Good Shepherd's flock. 1 Corinthians 1:12: Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.”
Acts 7:38 tells us the ekklesia, assembly or church was founded in the wilderness centuries before Pentecost in 30 A.D. The Church has always been the people who follow Christ, not organizations. Pentecost in the New Testament was the giving of the holy spirit, not the founding of a new religion, or the Church of Christ, or the Catholic Church, or any other organization. As it is written: The general assembly of God and church of the first-born are registered in heaven (not a corporation registered on earth) ~ Hebrews 12:23.
It is good to meet with other Believers, but don't get the idea that your Church has a franchise on God or a monopoly on the truth. Jesus/Yahshua is the only person qualified to give you the unvarnished truth. Listen to Him. To organized religion it seems right to incorporate a Church name, have an earthly headquarters, put up a building, hire a preacher, and go into business, but what seems right may not be right. ~ Proverbs 14:12
These "one and only churches" remind me of Elijah who said to God, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; and I alone am left who serves you. God answered (paraphrased), "Elijah, don't kid yourself, I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to organized religion (protestantism) and every mouth that has not kissed the big toe of St. Peter's statue or the Pope's feet" (paganism). KJV reads sightly different but the gist is the same. ~ 1 Kings 19:14-18
Churchianity says if you are not a member of our "one and only true church," you have no hope of salvation. Jesus says in Mark 9:38-41..."if they are not against us, they are on our side." Was Cornelius a member of any church? Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation (or denomination) whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him." ~ Acts 10:34-35
Today, under the New Covenant, God has reserved many millions of zealous people all over the world to be citizens of His Kingdom. Does your Pastor teach the Gospel of the Kingdom?
