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Being called out of the church

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snorky:
Well, here goes ol' snorky again on this vital issue. I go to a very small mountain comunity non-denominational church (pastored by a Baptist...oh, well.) As I have been reading Ray's stuff and other sites with Biblical Truth and being better able to discern the Bible with the Holy Spirit in me, I DO feel called out...but not sure, because the reason I still go to church is I clean it since I need the money (and no I don't tithe, attend their Bible study or other special functions, and, yes, I shake my head when the pastor preaches nonsense like the rapture or hell for eternity--after all, he did go to a Baptist seminary so he's brainwashed, obviously), and he knows I don't believe in that but that seems to be okay with him--half the very small congregation doesn't either!) So I "had a talk with God" over it, and I "talked" that if God would provide another method of employment whereby I could pay for my meds (I must stay in the mountains because I homeschool and it must be only a few hours a week). I'd quit the cleaning job, then quit the church. If God really wants me out of that church, He'll provide.

Some really good news...my son, who is now at Texas A & M Galveston, is NOT attending the "big" (mega?) church there on the campus. Said it was too big, and I said great, don't go to church, just keep reading the Bible.

There WILL be repercussions if I quit. This is a VERY close knit community situated in what some would call "God's country" (the Big Bend high plains of far west Texas). Some will be based on the fact that all the members gave my son a "going away to college" party and all 25 or so of them gave him altogether over $1,000! Some members are self-righteous hypocrites but other members are truly loving and would give the shirt off their back. Some always want to bring up politics (religious right), but some are totally against politics. Some are dying to be "raptured" and some know that's hogwash. I founf out the other day at least 2 of them believe in universal reconcilation! That was a real biggie! Now, my pastor there, who as I said preaches the rapture and hell every so often, does get it right quite a bit. For instance, he does emphasize giving, Jesus "calling" and "choosing" instead of all that stuff about someone "saving" themselves by praying a sinner's prayer, and faith over works and has said he never wants to preach in a megachurch. Simply we don't have all the ritualistic and organizational nonsense mega churches have.

Yet if God really does call me out I will leave no matter what they do (and I'll hear about them losing their only chior alto, that's for sure!). My daughter won't have the party my son had, either. My husband, who thinks organized religion is a crock (and could care less if he goes to church or not), won't mind at all.

Deb

a_child_of_God:
I don't even bother with going to church. My husband says that they're always asking for money, and that's why he doesn't go. He also doesn't go because he is very ill. I told my daughter a little bit of what is on BT, and she told me that she will not go to church anymore cause they lie. I don't know my brother's reason for not attending church.

Recently a classmate at school asked me if i went to church. i told him no. he then reminded me of Heb. 10:25. I wanted to ask him "where does it say we should go to church?" i kept my mouth shut instead. i have a pretty good sense about people when i am talking with them. i know that when the time is right, God will let me speak.

Ruth

Deborah-Leigh:
There is what is called. The Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.  At the top of the Hierarchy is "Self-actualization" note not CHRIST actualization but SELF okay.  So,my point is this.....the way, according to Maslow to arrive at "Self-actualization is via these needs from hte most basic starting with Physiological needs being having food, water, oxygen etc...then safety and security, then....and this is where for me the Church fits itself in....BELONGINGNESS and AFFECTION, then comes approval and prestige and after all this is the top achievement of self-actualization.....

I like what it says in the Scripture that Christ choses us we do not choose Him and that God drags us to Christ because we, in the flesh like to belong, we like to be approved and esteemed and admired.....it is a flesh thing....! We do not want to be alone or isolated or rejected. Playing Church is a comfort game that brings millions of hurting people together. Does one sermon teach that to follow Christ we should suffer rejection, that we should not pay evil for evil or that we should suffer persecution and abuse in a spirit of forgiveness. NO! Such teaching would bring the psychological order of control over the masses to chaos! How can anyone in their right mind teach that you should be abused and not retaliate, you should be rejected and love and bless in return.....that you should stand before God and be blameless as was Christ. Oh no. The Church will not teach the truth and it is backed up by the world teaching SELF as the way to go.

Ray lists in Lake of Fire part 2 what Christian theologians refuse to teach under the sub title. THEY SPEAK WITH FORKED-ED TONGUE. I want to know and discern the truth but it does come at a price. Ignorance is bliss! But it is a sore blessing to know that  if you go to a banquet and the food is five star but it has a little bit of deadly poison in it that will kill you slowly, it is for me better to no go no matter how tastey some of the dishes are. I am seeing the poison more and more so I am not able to go to the party.....Just today I watched Paula White. I was hungry for some food and saw only poison on the plate!....

Ray points out that Satan has his throne in the Chruch and Christ is only visiting.....so I think I want to start a thred on where to go to be fed.....Where and what are some of us doing to get into HIS Presence?

Hope to hear from you.

Arcturus

joyful1:
I've home churched for many years, primarily to be able to include my special needs child. I would go to church from time to time out of guilt that I was not "doing the right thing" in the eyes of the church...it was always an overwhelming burden and never "felt" right....

then in May 2000, I attended one more special service because everyone said; "you've just GOT to be here for this one!"  A special prophetic group had come to town and promised to "teach us" great things!  Oh my!!  ::) That night, the "gold dust" phenomenon manifested itself in our church. I just couldn't believe my eyes....I made a few of the people who were getting the dust on them stand still and let me closely examine their hands and sure enough....there WAS a golden sparkling substance appearing on their hands and arms.....I just freaked out completely....a few other really "weird things" happened that night....I won't bore you with the details....I left...came straight home with my mouth still open and my mind spinning.....when I was able to sit alone in the dark and think about it....I felt that I had witnessed "lying signs and wonders" right before my eyes....I went online looking for information about "gold dust" and came across a site that warned a great deal about this & other phenomena which were happening world wide at that time....they also promoted "home churching" for reasons other than Ray's ....but since that time, I've been home...and after finding Ray's site last year, I am at last, very satisfied with staying out of Babylon for good....a brief encounter with the church recently made me think that God might be leading back into the church to minister only....but that is just not happening for me....so, that must not be God's will , right?

keys2heaven:
This is my second post here but this is exaclty the topic I prayed for!

MY first thoughts after reading some fo Ray's teachings and his views on church was, "Oh no, we're going to have to pack up and leave. Or, at least I will".

We attend a Nazarene church. I am afraid that if people knew what I really think then I/we would be asked to leave.

We don't want to leave. Why? Our motto is this..."Doing life togehter". We value relationships, not only with each other but our ultimate relationship with Jesus. Our church doesn't go on and on about the "holiness" doctrine that some other Nazarene churches teach. Our worship is contemperary and I am heavilly involved with this. I sing and play trumpet and believe that these God-given gifts are to be used to help others. Outside of church, I see very little opportunity to use these unless I stand on a street corner somewhere.

We have two teenage daughters and whether or not they admit it, we believe that it benefits them to be involved with the youth of the church. However, I've been sharing what I've read here to them when the opportunity presents itself.

So, for now, we stay. We don't feel guilty about not "tithing" but we do give. Yes, sometimes its money and sometimes its clothes or food, depending on the need.

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