> Introductions, Announcements, and More of Ray's Teachings
So is church really bad?
cjwood:
hi hayley. i have never heard of the "100 monkey syndrome". :o
what is that about?
claudia
cjwood:
never mind hayley. i just googled it and got quite the education. interesting phenomenon.
claudia
p.s. maybe that's where the phrase "monkey see, monkey do" came from. ;D
Kat:
Here is a little refresher on "first love."
http://bible-truths.com/lake13.html -----------
ALL FALL AWAY
I showed numerous times that all: leave their first love, forsake Jesus, look back, blaspheme, build a spiritual house upon the sand, etc.
It is when John is standing on the sand of the sea that he first sees the wild beast come up out of the sea. Now the questions become: "WHEN did John stand upon the sand in HIS life? WHEN do we stand upon the sand in OUR lives?
Answer: When the spiritual house that we all build falls down with a ‘GREAT FALL.’ When (notice I did not say, ‘IF’)…when our spiritual house built upon the spiritual sand falls, WE ARE LEFT STANDING ON THE SAND OF THE SEA. We are only INCHES above the very sea itself—the masses and multitudes of humanity who do not have any knowledge of God AT ALL. It doesn’t mean that we have no knowledge of God at all at this quandary in our spiritual lives; it just means that we are no closer to God than all the humanity in the sea. Hence, we are not IN the sea, but rather standing on the SAND of the sea where out spiritual house just FELL!
And since God is not only calling some of us but choosing us also, God begins to teach us anew. And the first thing He begins to show us is the WILD BEAST coming up out of the sea that is the CAUSE of our being overcome and the CAUSE of our spiritual house falling! This wild beast will be reckoned with by all humanity sooner or later.
v
I showed you in a previous installment that the very first thing that Jesus pointed out as a spiritual flaw in the first of the Seven Churches, was that they "LEFT their first love."
This is referred to in fundamental circles as "backsliding." But, supposedly, only a few ever "backslide." Most, it is assumed, just keep growing and growing from grace to grace until they die a happy death of old age.
The Seven [COMPLETE] Churches of God represent the WHOLE CHURCH OF GOD in all generations. And so, what is it that God says those who are ALREADY IN THE CHURCH have to do if they are to overcome and be in the Kingdom of God? Answer:
"Remember therefore from whence you are FALLEN, and REPENT…" (Rev. 2:5).
Repent of WHAT? Repent of "…leaving your FIRST LOVE."
But you say, "I have never left my first love." Well then, this Scripture isn’t speaking to you. But everyone who does make it into the Kingdom, does leave his first love. There are those, however, who have left their first love, AND DON’T EVEN KNOW IT! Repenting will come especially hard for them, as they see nothing to repent of.
Whenever someone is called of God and he repents, is baptized, confirmed, initiated, or whatever, it is into a church. And sooner or later that particular church will bring you to the point where you will leave your first love for God and turn to the church and its religion as the idol of your heart. God calls His people OUT of the Babylonish System of Religion which has a strangle hold on ‘The Church.’
"Mystery Babylon the Great" is a CHURCH! But it is also A SPIRITUAL WHORE:
"For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to JERUSALEM which now is, and is in bondage with HER CHILDREN. But Jerusalem which is ABOVE is free, which is the MOTHER OF US ALL" (Gal. 4:25-26).
Jerusalem above is our MOTHER. Jerusalem below is also a MOTHER with children in bondage.
-------------------------------------------------------------
There is so much more in this article on this subject.
mercy, peace and love
Kat
dodrill:
Thanks Kat - I do receive understand and agree with - especially this "Jesus pointed out as a spiritual flaw in the first of the Seven Churches, was that they "LEFT their first love."
The church represents the world - and like the prodigal son - I left my father's house (my first love) to seek my fame and fortune in the world - taking my inheritance early and living it up, learning the ways of men (false church teachings) and I do see the beast in me - and repent - so I can go back to my father's house - (my first love) and he receives me
I guess its the word 'church' that throws me - because I never learned the love of God at the institute of church (one of those seven Jesus spoke about). But there was a time that we were once in our father's house literally, physically and spiritually - when we did not assign the nature to God that the church teaches - before we came into being (before being born physically). And when we do hear the truth - that is what our spirits witness with - this memory of God and His true nature. Well that is what I think :) Same truth just processed in the mind of hayley :D
so is the church / world / flesh experience - good or bad - why its both - sometimes we just spend more time outside the building ;D
Ray also said the Pharisees never taught a doctrine as evil as the christian church - can they really be likened to the churches of old?
They are a new breed - the sons of perdition. Webster definition of PERDITION: the state of being in hell forever as punishment after death.
Not all people have been fed that lie - so is it still necessary to first be in this modern church and then called out? - I don't think so
Kat:
Actually hayhey, I do think this applies to all the churches down through the ages. The church represents the false concept that they know the truth/God, and actually blasphemy His name. The world as a whole does not even try to imply that they know God... they may say they believe in God, but that is as far as it goes. The church is guilty of greater injustice by teach terrible falsehoods about God, claiming it is the truth, both at this time and those that Jesus Christ condemned.
Luke 12:47 And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
v. 48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
Mat 23:13 "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.
mercy, peace and love
Kat
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version