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Religion/Repitition
D Student:
Matthew 7: 15-20
About 3 years ago I was invited to a small Church where my friend was a Cell Group Leader. I met some of her friends(Middle/HighSchoolers) that were sooo educated and had alllll the answers. They seemed like nice people, but kind of drove me crazy after hearing their personal belief lectures over & over.
Being so proud that GOD himself had chosen them. The Senior Pastor and the Youth Pastor were so kind as to grant them the gift of leadership, after reading the manuals prepaired for them.
Their Bible studies were AWSOME!!! Everyone got together with hugs, handshakes, kisses and laced with big smiles. Then everyone went to their PRIVATE areas in the room so they could be 1 on 1 with God and get to scream out their Love & Thanks, so ONLY GOD would hear them... Soothing music in the background to go along with this soothing PERSONAL time. I was in my corner, questioning??? What's going on?
" YESSS JESUS!!! OHHH AMEN JESUS!!! IN YOUR NAME JESUS!!! YESSS!!! AMEN & AMEN JESUS!!! "
Matthew - 6:5-8
That's all I could hear for the first 30 minutes of personal time with our Lord. So after this was finished,
the Leader opened up her folder and looked at what topic was to be disscused that day.
" Everybody got their Sword? " " Shiiiiinnggg! " Oh, My, God,,, I did manage to hold my laughter in...
So then that days verse was read, re-read and then was open for questions. Anyone who wanted to, was able to speak their mind. Then ofcourse the Answer was given to them. It was all written right there on the
Agenda. GOD is GREAT!!! So now everybody would go home and focus on what the Pastor jammed into their brain, ooops I mean what God had shown to them... I wondered the entire time, " They're not robots?"
At service the Senior Pastor would often talk about how he was short on CASH that week but always put in on his Tithes. He spoke of how he was blessed by finding money in the cracks or was given a good
deal/break on something. He indeed, was, BLESSED... Matthew 6:24
Then the Youth Pastor went in and shouted things like,
" Who's our Lord? What?!! I can't hear you. I said, WHOS, OUR, LORD? " "Amen & Amen..."
Always gave me the feeling like I was at a Pep-Ralley and we were going to the Super Bowl.
Funny at times yes, but when I knew that this was no joke, it killed me to hear this non-sense.
He would speak often of his visions that were given to him.
" Ohhh , Yesss, in Jesus name!!! I see myself standing at the Gates,,, Yesss,,, and there in front of me,
what do I see??? Ohhh, Ohhh, God is good. I see a line,,, it's a line of of people... People that I've brought to the Lord. Amen, in Jesus name, Amen...( while hopping up & down) Now, this line is nooo short line.
I look to see the end of this line,,, and,,, ohhhh this line, goes wayyyy back... I can't even see the end of this line... Amen Jesus Amen. That means I'll be getting a Crown beyond belief. Gold, Jewels, etc... "
MatthewMatthew 7: 21-23
This made me sick and I talked to my friend about this stuff. She said it was kinda over the board, but it was to boost up the joy & love for those that were seeking. The trips, the camps, the game nights all had very little to do with what was actually printed in their very own Bibles.
The beautiful stories of how their Partners in Brazil were trying to reach the LOST in the Favelas(ghettos)
and had no money. Their trips were all about going into the ghettos and inviting the poor to , COME,
come and hear the Word of God. Ohhh yeah, and we'll give you food & drink to. It's on us.
Hummmmm...
In the pictures that were always later put into slideshows & videos, it made me wonder.
Would'nt these people still have went to them even if they were to have told them,
" Hey everybody, we're Satanists. Yup, the Devils our Daddy & he hates you to "
Free food is free food and in Brazil that RARELY happens. I'm Brazilian and know alot of how things are always so twisted that it's not important to people to know, what's realy going on. Trying to stay alive is their mission in life. Matthew 6:1-4
Yay, it's fasting time. Everybody mark your calendars. Give thanks, Yesss,,, In Jesus name...
Matthew 6:16-18
We're moving, Brothers & Sisters. Bigger, better, double the size. More room to Love the Lord. But it won't be cheap. I mean, look at what we already have spent on the new T.V.s, Speakers, Lights, etc...
WHAAAT??? Not for me... Matthew 6:6
Ok that's enough for now.
(In case you're wondering where & who.)
I spoke to the Pastor and asked questions. he was on point with everything. It's almost as if he had trained for such an occasion..............
Big Benny <------- his Teacher had taught him welll...
Florida is a birthplace of this kind. Amen and Amen
D Student
SixFour:
D,
This reminds me of a large church in Raleigh, NC I was briefly associated with back in the early 90's. 'First time I had ever seen anything like you described. Religion and repitition indeed.
LittleBear:
Hi D,
I feel like I was there! Wait a minute....I WAS there! A long while ago.
You have a great way of describing things D. I was cringing inside from the sheer hypocrisy of what they do.
Ursula
dawnnnny:
--- Quote from: D Student on August 14, 2007, 09:10:09 PM ---
This made me sick and I talked to my friend about this stuff. She said it was kinda over the board, but it was to boost up the joy & love for those that were seeking. The trips, the camps, the game nights all had very little to do with what was actually printed in their very own Bibles.
--- End quote ---
This made me think of the church my daughter attends (4-square) and I talked to her about it. Why the services were always 75 minutes long, 4 songs (a bonus was a 5th one), never any alter calls for prayer, etc. Its a larger church (1500 or so). Anyway, she said its a "seeker church" and that was the first time I'd heard that descriptive term. In essence, they fit their service to the "seeker" of God so they don't do anything that might be offensive (i.e., let a service go on too long, get too 'spiritual', etc.). I asked my daughter, what about the flock? and she said that's why they have the smaller home groups.
I don't know, the churches I had attended up to this point were more (or so it seemed at the time), led by the Spirit and not "set in concrete" so it was strange to me.
My daughter wants to get into the ministry, somewhere in the music/drama area. She attended Hillsong International Leadership Institute in Sydney for two years specifically to prepare.
Since reading some of these truths, I must admit it concerns me :( but I know my prayers are the most important thing I can do to help her. I hope someday we can sit down and discuss these truths together. I do pray that her eyes will be opened as mine have been (as well as my son's).
Anyway D - interesting post. It really is amazing to see how these "Christians" behave isn't it? I noticed yesterday while reading a lot of the posts to Mr. Smith from all these "Christians" that were just overflowing with LOVE (being a little sarcastic here). It was/is sad.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Are you going to visit again? ::) (snicker snicker)
DuluthGA:
Hi D brother :) :D :)... to back up your casual conversation, here are the 'casual' verses you referenced from The Message [that just arrived at my house yesterday]: (It seems to complement your scenario so well... more later brother...)
Matt7: 15-20 "Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don't be impressed with charisma; look for character. Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned."
Matt 6: 5-8 "And when you come before God, don't turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people make a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat?
"Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense His grace.
"The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They're full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniquies for getting what you want from God. Don't fall for that nonsense."
Matt 6: 24 "You can't worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you'll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can't worship God and money both."
Matt 7: 21-23 "Knowing the correct password-- saying 'Master, Master,' for instance-- isn't going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience -- doing what my Father wills. I can see it now -- at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, 'Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.' And do you know what I am going to say? 'You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don't impress me one bit. You're out of here."
Matt 6: 1-4 "Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don't make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won't be applauding.
"When you do something for someone else, don't call attention to yourself. You've seen them in action, I'm sure -- 'playactors' I call them -- treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that's all they get. When you help someone out, don't think about how it looks. Just do it -- quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out." [Emphasis mine :)]
Matt 6: 16-18 "When you practice some appetite-denying discipline to better concentrate on God, don't make a production out of it. It might turn you into a small-time celebrity but it won't make you a saint. If you 'go into training' inwardly, act normal outwardly. Shampoo and comb your hair, brush your teeth, wash your face. God doesn't require attention-getting devices. He won't overlook what you are doing; he'll reward you well."
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