Dear Institutional American Christianity

sermonindex Mar 21, 2008

~~[i]~~Part #1[/i]

Dear Institutional American Christianity,

I have backslidden from among your people. I will no longer be attending Sunday morning services with you. There are many reasons for this, the first being I find myself too tired to consider waking up, getting my family ready, and making it on time for service. I guess that I need to admit something that will shock you before I go any further. Lately I have been staying out all hours of the night on weekends with my new friends who also dislike "going to church". We usually spend our nights in the inner city to frequent concerts and bars. We also have been hanging out with a group of prostitutes, drug dealers, and gang members. Sometimes I am out past 2am, making it near impossible to get to service in the morning, even if I had any desire to go.

I know these facts and my confession come as a shock to some who have always thought of me as a nice “church goer”. Now don’t get me wrong, I have noticed how much effort you’ve been putting into making your services more comfortable, relevant, and entertaining for me. I guess it boils down to the fact that I simply do not believe in your religion anymore. I used to enjoy singing the pretty songs, clapping my hands, and attending two or three services a week with you, but something has radically changed inside of me. I can’t even stand to listen to the Christian radio stations anymore. It's as if I have undergone a complete transformation since my "church going days".

So it looks like this is our final good bye. I am sorry if losing my tithe money causes you any discomfort.

In brokenness of heart,

Me

~~[i]~~Part #2[/i]

Dear Lord Jesus,

I am sorry for playing church and giving my self to such strong religious bondage. I am sorry for trying to add you onto my life as an accessory, as a life enhancement tool, as a fire insurance policy. I am sorry for giving you only two days a week and ten percent of my money. I am sorry for treating you as some sort of dope dealer, paying to get my religious high a couple times a week. I am sorry for despising the blood of your covenant by continuing on in known sin through unbelief. I am sorry for sitting in front of the television for hours on end instead of sitting at your feet or putting my hand to the plow for your kingdom. I am sorry for living a life of compromise when you died to set me free, for storing up a little bit of treasure when you said that if any man served God he would despise unrighteous mammon. I remember you said that even scrupulous tithers like the Pharisees were still greedy at heart. I am sorry for trying to play you as a fool. I am sorry for using you as a means to advance and secure my own selfish ambitions in life, as if you died to purchase the American dream for your people. I am sorry for mocking you in so many ways, like secretly trying to save my life, instead of losing it finally, totally and irrevocably for your kingdom. I am sorry for trusting in man, for sitting under a protestant pope in an organization that is modeled more after Rome or corporate America then it is your true Church seen in scripture. I am sorry for sitting at fellowship nights and playing card games rather then weeping in prayer or preaching your Gospel of sin, righteousness and judgment to come to a lost and dying world. I am sorry for taking ease in Zion rather then feeding the poor, serving the oppressed, and reaching out to the marginalized with the reality of your kingdom and power of your resurrection. I am sorry for feasting rather then fasting, for acquiring rather then selling, for playing rather then praying, for all of these things I admit are utterly detestable and disgusting in your sight. For all of these things I repent. I humble myself Lord and ask you help me to abide in you, to worship in Spirit and in truth, and to bear much fruit to the Father’s glory. You are so worthy.

In brokenness of heart,

Me

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. - James 1:27 esv

C

crsschk Mar 21, 2008

amen ...

T

theopenlife Mar 21, 2008

JimDied2Sin wrote

I am sorry for despising the blood of your covenant by continuing on in known sin through unbelief.

Thanks. Amen to the post. While I may not go so far as to exclude the place of all "entertainment", providing that it does not exclude Christian love, I do consent that we ought to find our delight in spiritual exercises.

A year and a half ago, just prior to my conversion, I and one other friend quit "hang-out fellowship." We began listening to sermons, reading books of the bible aloud, and setting aside hours each night for prayer and worship. I have never experienced a more enriching or meaningful, let alone enjoyable season of life than when I cut out TV, movies, trivial games, and began enjoying glorifying the Lord actively.

What I must mention, though, is that despite inviting our other church friends to join us, very few had any taste for such activities, especially seven nights a week. Some told us it would "burn off".

It hasn't.

H

hmmhmm Mar 21, 2008

theopenlife wrote:

What I must mention, though, is that despite inviting our other church friends to join us, very few had any taste for such activities, especially seven nights a week. Some told us it would "burn off".
It hasn't.

Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

I have never experienced a more enriching or meaningful, let alone enjoyable season of life than when I cut out TV, movies, trivial games, and began enjoying glorifying the Lord actively.

Amen

sermonindex Mar 21, 2008

Would to God that we'd all get out of our Churches and hang out with the prostitutes and druggies and bring in the tithe that My House may be full. Sow the seed, reap the corn, fill our barns up with the tithe of those that have been set free from the bondage of homosexuality, various kinds of lusts, the backslider, drug addicts, the blind the lame and the adulterer.

This is the tithe, not ten but ONE HUNDRED fold, fill my barns to overflowing with the sick, the widow, the fatherless, let all come and drink of the water of life freely.

We've been in church far too long, playing the same tune, preaching the same gospel message to people that have heard the gospel Sunday after Sunday, waiting for people to stumble in the church instead of us stumbling out to bring them in.

Lets go where Jesus went, He was seen of those that had a reputation that most Christian Churches would shun. And not only that, Jesus went to meet them on the Sabbath.

Bro so and so said, "Where is Jesus?" Someone said, "Oh, he's at the local bar down the street healing the sick, cleansing the leper, setting the drunks free." Sister so and so said, "He is? It's Sunday, He belongs at Church, I knew He was a false prophet. If He truly says what He says He is, He'd be here with us at Church."

A candle lit in a room full of lit candles is a dim light. But one candle lit in a dark room draws all those that are in darkness to that one light. Just letting our light shine on Sunday ain't going to cut it, Jesus said that we are to be a light to men in this darkened world.

A

ADisciple Mar 21, 2008

Amen to your word Compliments.

Amen to this whole thread.

AD

sermonindex Mar 24, 2008

Praise the Lord! -Well put, Jim.

sermonindex Mar 24, 2008

Thank you for sharing this, brother Jim.

~~[i]~~"Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: ~~[b]~~but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and ~~[u]~~trembleth at my word."[/b][/u] Isa. 66:1-2 [/i]

sermonindex Mar 24, 2008

Hey Jim... good to see ya again.

A hearty amen...

Krispy

D

dohzman Mar 24, 2008

Why do we always blow a trumpet when we do things that we consider good or honorable? Or even right? As I've read most everyones posts against the organized church I've have come to see that most people have been saved to the church and not saved to Jesus, that's why there's so much discontent. I personally was saved to Jesus and taught that to follow Him meant I would be His disciple, it was a life long committment. Doesn't make one absolutely perfect, just perfectly committed. BTW Revelation outlines 7 church conditions that any age would find present within the church, and Jesus doesn't one time call His saints out of but calls them to be light and salt within by being those who have ears to ear, i.e.> obey. The reality is this, if one cannot walk with Christ in the midst of a backslidden church, or apostate church, it is very doubtful that they will be able to walk faithfully with Christ in a fallen wicked world.

R

rowdy2 Mar 24, 2008

Reply to jimdied2sin
When I felt real peace for the first time I returned to a local congregation and became confused and so I left. I don’t think I’ll ever fully recover in this life what I lost in that year but I know this;

Jesus is our everything
The Lord has laid upon Jesus the iniquity of us all.
All that enter the Sheepfold by any means other than the grace of God are thieves and robbers.
Thieves and robbers are every where stealing the glory of God.
If we claim any part in our’s or anyone else’s salvation we too are a thief and a robber.
We are not saved by doing, we are saved by the grace of God.
We are not saved by not doing, we are saved by the grace of God.
Jesus is The Door and we must enter by The Door provided by The Grace of God.
The wrong way is to following the thieves and robbers that preach another way other than Christ.
The right way is by way of the Holy Ghost that knocks and The Door opens.
Jesus is our salvation, Jesus is our life, Jesus is our righteousness, Jesus is our Sanctification, Jesus is the Door.

D

dohzman Mar 25, 2008

If we claim any part in our’s or anyone else’s salvation we too are a thief and a robber.
We are not saved by doing, we are saved by the grace of God.
We are not saved by not doing, we are saved by the grace of God.

Could you explain this statement? What is the grace of God? What do you mean by doing?

Jesus is The Door and we must enter by The Door provided by The Grace of God.

explain how you entered that door provided by grace?

Jesus is our salvation, Jesus is our life, Jesus is our righteousness, Jesus is our Sanctification, Jesus is the Door.

Could you put skin and bones into this statement for us so it doesn't just sound pretty, but it has real meaning, the kind of meaning an unsaved 8th grader could understand.

H

HeartSong Mar 25, 2008

Where He leads me, I will follow . . .

R

rowdy2 Mar 25, 2008

Quote:
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Eddie wrote-
If we claim any part in our’s or anyone else’s salvation we too are a thief and a robber.
We are not saved by doing, we are saved by the grace of God.
We are not saved by not doing, we are saved by the grace of God.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Could you explain this statement? What is the grace of God? What do you mean by doing?

Reply

God gives the increase. We harvest other mens crops.

2 Corinthians 9
10. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
11. Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God

Eddie

R

rowdy2 Mar 25, 2008

Could you explain this statement? What is the grace of God? What do you mean by doing?
Quote:

Reply
Eddie-The Grace of God is His love for us demonstrated by the His unwillingness to destroy our tabernacle because it is weak in the flesh, but provided man a better tabernacle, the body of Christ Jesus. Holy and acceptable to God as our spiritual abode. Separated from the birth of water and born again. ..
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Jesus is The Door and we must enter by The Door provided by The Grace of God.

With child like belief, I know my Heavenly Father is completely Holy and He has provided a sure way that I am acceptable into His presents, a way through the Body of Christ unto the Mercy Seat.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
explain how you entered that door provided by grace?
Quote:

I was called, given a new heart filled with the Spirit of God and declared to be clean by God and given eternal life.. I am being sanctified and when I die to the flesh I will be glorified into the spiritual likeness of Christ Jesus. All I have was a free gift of God made possible by the grace of God.
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Jesus is our salvation, Jesus is our life, Jesus is our righteousness, Jesus is our Sanctification, Jesus is the Door.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Could you put skin and bones into this statement for us so it doesn't just sound pretty, but it has real meaning, the kind of meaning an unsaved 8th grader could understand.

Reply- No I can’t, but our Preacher can, The Holy Ghost can if you have been baptized in His Consuming Fire, He will reveal His Son in you..

Matthew 11 25. At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

sermonindex Mar 25, 2008

Rowdy... thats probably one of the best responses (and Biblical responses) I've seen on this forum the entire time I've been here.

Well done.

Krispy

D

dohzman Mar 26, 2008

I appreciate your answers to my questions, but what I hope to see and don't is real hearts. God humbled himself by reaching into a pit of hell I was in and saved me even when I didn't merit it. That's the grace of God, He has worked with me to change everything about me, the way I think, the things I do, where I go and what I do, He's changed my desires and helps me in all my weaknesses and short comings. In seeing His reflection I become more like Him, in hearing His voice I'm brought to valeys of decision, in reading His word I'm instructed for this life and prepared for the Life to come. His perfections shine through my inperfections, keeping me humble before God alone. I am His child and I am intimately aquainted with this present reality, although it's not something I dare hold to with a wrong motive, I am His by decree, by precept, by doctrine, by pronouncement, and by experiencing Him in this life. My name is on His lips daily, is in His heart, and written on the palm of His hand, recorded in His book of Life, my tears are in His book of remberence and my name is spoken of in heavenly places. Now don't think for a moment I am self centered because He calls all His sons and daughters to daily die and follow Him. I lose my identity but not my personality, I yield over my will to His only to find true purpose in this life, His burdens become mine and like the pen in the hands of a skillful writer He uses my life to fill in pages to be read by all thoughs around. I find that true wisdom that comes from the Father is easily understood by ALL who will listen, saved or unsaved, and that keeps me humble, knowing that I am no better than anyone else but realizing that I have been given such an awesome gift I must share it and will forever be thankful for having been given this gift.

R

rowdy2 Mar 26, 2008

REPLY TO dohzman

Reply -Eddie Glad to testify of God’s grace. Only God can see the contents of the heart. Put your hope in God not us men. We all need to become socially refined, but that is not salvation. A new creature has a new beginning and is not a reformed heathen in a seven step, self help program of steps to recovery. We are required to die to self, not become stronger.

Eddie