95 Modern Theses - Thesis 2

2. Christians ignore most of the methods, practices and principles found in the book of Acts. (Acts 2:42,44; Acts 2:46; Acts 2:38)
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I encourage discussion about each of these thesis points as they are posted. We are posting 1 per day for the next 95 days as per the challenge one brother made and I considered a tremendous idea:

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A proposition to everyone that reads this post! Lets stimulate a modern-day e-tsunami of reform! - http://bit.ly/drvHsJ
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The full list of Theses can be found at: http://95moderntheses.wordpress.com/

Some Christians, most Christians or All Christians?

What practices, what principles? What is in your mind behind this statement? Acts 2 does not cover all the practices and principles in the book of Acts.

Is this what you are trying to say? "Many christians ignore the methods, practices and principles found in Acts chapter 2.

Can you give us some examples of Christians that ARE applying Acts chapter 2?

Do you see what I am trying to say? It is a very sweeping, generalized statement that can be interpreted to mean almost anything. It sounds good until you start thinking about it.

It is like saying, "Christians ignore most of the practices, principles and methods that are in the Bible".

Just accepting your invitation to discuss.

Acts 2:42 - They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Acts 2:46 - Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,

Acts 2:38 - Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

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The book of Acts is the guidebook and blueprint for the Church. Traditions and Old Testament practices are not to be what the Church is. Listed are some of the important practices in the 2nd chapter of the book of Acts:

- Apostles teaching (commandments of Christ primarily)

- Fellowship (not once a week but a community of christians commited to each other daily in life).

- Breaking of Bread (practiced on the first day of the week in the book of Acts as an important reminder and purpose of the church and of the Lords coming).

- Prayer (the life-blood of the church, something to be relied on soley and not to be done because we have to or we should open the service in prayer, the whole reason for the service is prayer the reason for teaching is to lead the people to God ie prayer.)

- Meeting Together (in homes and also in public, one cannot be substituted for the other)

- Glad and Sincere (there was an honest amonst the early Christians with each other about their faults but also about the needs in the community and there was joy and gladness amongst all).

- Repentance (this must be preached to unsaved people to come to the Lord and as the life-style of believers)

- Baptized (baptism is a step of obedience in the word of God and is upon believing and repenting)

- Gift Of The Holy spirit (The Holy Spirit is a person and it is very important that he is reconized, for Jesus Christ Himself spoke much of the Spirit of God and His indwelling in the believer, a concept not much really considered that God lives in us now by His Spirit as Christians).

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this is just some points from the book of Acts. I have considered to write a book just taking all the "church practices" of the book of Acts very simply and listing them out. The Bible is our guidebook for life and Church practice.

All very good points.

I would submit though, that the church that is seen is very much different than the unseen church.

There is a church that trumpets its own accomplishments and relies on the methods of man rather than the Lord. And that is why most everything it does, fails, and the people that give their heart and soul to this church are by and large living lives of quiet desperation.

Then there is the unseen church that gets and wants no publicity, will not be found in phone books or Saturday religious sections of newspapers. They are holding fast to what Greg talks about.

The "Seen" church is easy fodder and can be criticized all day long. They are an easy target and it seems like a waste of time. Because the church that is seen will not change as it is a system of man. The only hope is that individual lives within the system will hear the call of the Holy Spirit to come out.

Luther's 95 theses were also given to a system of man and many came out.

Let's hope that Greg's 95 theses, touch many hearts, too.

In this respect, Luther theses were not directed against Christians but the false church system and false brethren. He took a brave stand and did not mince words. Everyone should read Luther's 95 theses.

If I would change one thing in Greg's 95 theses, I would make very clear that it is directed towards the false church system and not Christians. God's sheep are scourged enough by the system of man.

Christians are simply ignoring these things because of the System they are in and what their "Leaders" are telling them?

I am only saying to go to the heart of the matter. The system not the Christians. Many of our brethren are holding on for dear life in the man's system of works and performance.

Luther saw that the religious system was taking advantage of people and spoke out against the religious system, not the people (sheep). God in Jeremiah and Ezekiel does the same thing. He speaks out against the Religious Leaders. Jesus also did the same thing.

Then there is the unseen church that gets and wants no publicity, will not be found in phone books or Saturday religious sections of newspapers. They are holding fast to what Greg talks about.

The Scriptures teach us about the Seen and the Unseen church.

One is anonymous and one is boisterous and self-exalting.

THE SEEN CHURCH
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It is the church that draws attention to itself.

That basks in it's own limelight.

That pursues selfish ambition and pride and greed.

It is the church making a name for itself and not Jesus.

They are all about doing their works before men and exalting their own name.

Rev 3:1b
I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

It is the church that markets and publicizes itself for it's great programs and guest stars.

The church that trumpets all it works to the world to be seen of men.
Mat 23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men:

Mat 6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

Mat 6:5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men.

Emphasis is "LOVED TO PRAY STANDING". They prayed standing so that they could be SEEN BETTER. Get it? SEEN

Mat 6:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast

They Lord over one another and exercise dominion over their people.
Mat 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
Mat 20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
Mat 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

They say the right things but don't do them.
Mat 23:3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

They loved being addressed by their titles and seated in front of their entire church.
Mat 23:6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
Mat 23:7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

The SEEN church seeks the honor of men. As the Scribes and Pharisees did, who were ambitious of honour and respect from one another, as well as from the common people; doing all they did to be seen of men, and to gain applause among them:
Joh 5:44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

Their false gospel "At ease in Zion", not only kills them but their hearers.
Mat 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

The secular media only knows of this church because this is the one proclaiming the loudest their own goodness. And yet what the secular media always report of this church is their hypocrisy.

NOW, let me ask you, is JESUS here talking about SHEEP or SHEPHERDS???

IF JESUS IS TALKING ABOUT FALSE SHEPHERDS, WHY DO WE ALWAYS WANT TO GET DOWN ON THE SHEEP AND PREACH AT, AT, AT, AT THEM???

Is PREACHING SOME KIND OF SPORT?? LET's START PREACHING AT THE SHEPHERDS. IT's TIME THEY SAT DOWN AND LISTENED.

THE UNSEEN CHURCH
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Psa 83:3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against THY HIDDEN ONES (Unseen).

The SEEN church and the World persecutes the UNSEEN Church

Mat 10:17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;

Mat 23:34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:

They are not known or seen until for them it is almost too late for them. When they have been delivered up to the "councils".
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/8120142/Christian-woman-sentenced-to-death-in-Pakistan-for-blasphemy.html

They are the church that is not proclaiming their own works, but rather, anonymously carrying out His Will for His Glory.
Mat 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

They labor to be accepted by God and not man.
2Co 5:9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

Their light shines before man, not cameras, and unmistakeably gives glory and honor to Jesus, and that is why men who see them, glorify God and not them.
Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Their alms, prayers and fastings are done in secret (unseen)

The Unseen church is called rebellious and rabble rousers by the Seen church, because they do not submit to their authority. They do not view them with any status because they are not "organized" into a government sanctioned, tax exempt, 5013c structure.

They do not lord over each other but serve one another.
Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

They have peace with one another.
Mar 9:50 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

Covenant of peace is likened to the convenant of salt because salt is an emblem of firm union, accord and agreement. See Numbers 18:19 and 25:12. The disciples knew what Jesus was talking about in this illustration.

They seek not the glory of this world, nor the honor that comes from men.
Rom 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

The UNSEEN Church is SEEN by their Lord and they are SEEN by the common man on a daily basis. They affect the common man's lives as they walk as Jesus walked.

The Unseen church walks as Jesus walked. In humility and not pride, knowing that they are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
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2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
2Ti 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
2Ti 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
2Ti 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Amen jimp. Very true may we be about the Lord's work in evangelism, sharing the gospel and letting our live be a radical discipleship.

This video message by brother K.P. Yohannan really speaks of this:
https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/myvideo/photo.php?lid=2130

Telling you what I, I, I, I, am doing???

You illustrate my point, Jimp. Did you not read what I wrote?

What does it prove if I tell everyone what I am DOING?

What is important is what the Lord is saying and what the Lord is doing in us. It is not so much what we are doing for him, but what we are allowing Him to do in us.

There are already way too many people trumpeting their own accomplishments as if this is the measure of our obedience and faithfulness to Him. Dead works.

Martha wanted Jesus to chastise Mary about the same thing.

It's the Sunday preachers that chastise the Sheep week after week about what they are not doing. Not doing enough. "What are you doing for the Lord"? What they are really doing is using the sheep to make a name for themselves. (Of course, there are good Pastors out there. Someone with the Lord's heart of a Shepherd doesn't USE and ABUSE the sheep or build a name of himself).

I am contrasting the Boisterous, self-exalting church to the Lord's Hidden Ones.

Your question is such an easy question to answer and can make us look so good before men. Maybe I should take advantage of your question and list MY accomplishments for the Lord?

Study what the Lord said to the Pharisees.

If our DOINGS are not wrought in our KNOWING Him, then big deal. That's what the Lord was trying to tell Mary.

I am tired of seeing people led to Christ only to make them great DO'ers and not Knowers of God.

There is plenty of DOING going on by those that Know God. Only it's not the same kind of DOING that the DO'ers, do.

I hope the rest of these 95 theses don't slam the sheep.

But, I am going to say right now, that I will not comment on anymore of these theses.

Luther did not slam the sheep, he slammed the false religious system.

Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ezekiel 34:2b

The word feed is shepherd in the Hebrew.

Woe to the Shepherds that shepherd themselves and don't shepherd the flock.

Sheep are already beaten down by their "shepherds".

All the best to you, my brothers.

Greg, I apologize if I offended you or anyone else with my posts. I just finished reading your 95 theses and I see your heart in this matter. I just wanted to go on record as saying that I don't think you are chastising God's people.

They certainly get enough of that from slave driving false shepherds.

Be blessed and thank you for being a blessing to so many.

Pilgrim