Before I start with this chapter of my book, I wanted to point out that sometimes Christians seem to wear a mask. Let me explain...
A mask can be used to hide a person's real identity (see Batman and Robin)
A mask can also be used as a way of pretending to be someone.
Adam West put the mask on to pretend to be a super-hero. As Bruce Wayne (the millionaire), he would put the mask on to protect his true identity.
How many Christians do you know who wear a mask? Maybe you can't see the mask but it is there just the same. How many people put on the mask of christianity as a way of hiding who they truly are? they are "pretend" christians or false converts. They will face Jesus some day and He will say, "depart from me you worker of iniquity, I never knew you." If that describes you, I pray that you will reconsider the choices you have made. (one more note: I will be updating this particular post later today with some more notes -- right now, it is almost 6am and it is time for me to go to my fishing hole to talk to some lost sinners!)
LOCKED DOORS
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH
Non-church going Christians
Chapter 18
This will most likely not be easy to read for the non-church going Christian. Test your faith to see if it is genuine.
Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesized in your name? And in your name have cast out devils? And in your name done many wondrous works? And then will I profess to them, I never knew you, depart from me, you that work iniquity. Matthew 7:21-23
Personally, when I first became a Christian, this Scripture really bothered me. How is it that some people who call on Jesus are saved and others aren’t? What is the difference? How can I know for sure that I am not one of those Christians whom Jesus says, “depart from me?” The answer is this: Jesus will reject the Christian, who says that they have accepted Him by faith, but is not repentant of their sins. The first words that we hear from Jesus in his ministry are: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Have you repented of your sins yet? Are you still holding on to your old comfortable lifestyle? Do you feel it is not necessary to go to church because you do not think your God cares whether you are in a building or not? Do you think that all you have to do is profess Jesus as Lord and Savior? Yes it is right that we need to profess Him as our Lord and Savior. Are you a new creature as a result of accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior? We need to be a changed person. The change that must occur is that we are repentant of our sins.
What are your reasons for not wanting to go to church?
1. Church is full of hypocrites.
2. Don’t like Denominational Churches.
3. Don’t feel it is necessary to go to church.
4. Have to work on Sundays.
5. It is my only day off; I have too much to do.
6. I am good enough that I don’t need it.
1. Full of hypocrites.
You went to church as a child and what did you see? You saw normal everyday people like your parents. You saw your teacher, your neighbor and some of your friends. Everyone was telling you that you must be good to get into heaven. You try your best but then it hits you. Why do I have to be good when I hear my parents yelling at each other during the week? I hear my neighbor cussing up a storm while working on his car. My teacher is always depressed. You see the Elders of the church looking down their nose at you and you never see God’s love displayed through them. You realize that the church is full of hypocrites. It is full of judgmental people who make you feel as though you are less of a person than they are, and you know in your heart that they are false Christians.
2. Denominational Churches
You grew up a Methodist, a Baptist, a Catholic or a Presbyterian and you are just burned out by the traditional worship services. You see that they are full of man-made requirements. You say, “Where in the Bible does it say you must wear a suit and tie to worship God?” You figure that they didn’t have suit and ties in the first century church. Stand up, sit down, stand up and sing the Doxology. It is so steeped in ritualism that it loses its true worship value. Instead of spontaneity it becomes boring and expectant. Instead of allowing worship to come from the heart of the believer, it has been preordained by the Denomination on how you should worship.
3. Not necessary to go to church.
You feel that you can worship God better at home. You think that you don’t need to go to church to worship Him. Unfortunately if you are truly honest before God: you really don’t worship Him at home, do you? You think you don’t need to be in a church setting. Unfortunately, God is only an after thought to you at home. You find that God cannot solve your life’s problems. You say that when you argue with someone, that God cannot help. You feel that in order to change someone, it will only happen if you force him or her to change: to be the kind of person “you” want him or her to be. Talk about a life that is void of God completely! You say that you believe in God and that is all that matters. Don’t forget that God says there will be those people who will call on Jesus and He will say, “depart from me, I never knew you.” You will be known by your fruits. You say you are a good person and yet you are guilty before God of breaking several of God’s Commandments. You will be judged. Do you bear good fruit or bad fruit or no fruit at all?
4. Have to work on Sunday.
Today’s society is so different from that of the 60’s and early 70’s. Back then stores were closed on Sundays. Times have certainly changed. Many churches offer a Saturday night service. Do you go? With Saturday night and several options on Sundays including evening services, there really is no excuse for not being able to go to church. Examine your heart as to why you really do not go to church.
5. It is your only day off.
Sleeping in till noon sounds really good to you. You would rather sleep than worship the God who gave you life. Turn off your TV long enough for you to go to church. Watching the ballgame is not the best way to spend your Sundays.
6. Self-righteous (good enough person)
Okay, so you are a good person. You know you are saved because you gave your heart to Jesus (the Bible tells us that man will proclaim his own goodness). But what about the rest of you? Do you give him all of your mind, your strength and all of your very soul to follow him? Have you made any disciples for Christ or do you figure that the pastor is the only one that is supposed to do that? Ignorance of God’s Holy Word is no excuse. God says that there is none that is good except for our Heavenly Father. So where does that leave you? Do you keep the Sabbath Day Holy? No, then you have broken the Fourth Commandment. The Bible says that even if you don’t break all of the other Laws, if you break just one Law, you are guilty of all of them. You are headed for Hell. There is a reason why we are told not to forsake the getting together of the saints. We encourage each other. We are not perfect: far from it. We are all sinners. If someone in church parades around like they are perfect, then challenge them on it. Bring up the Ten Commandments (lovingly), and show them their sinfulness. Those perfect saints are only fooling themselves and they do not have the fear of the Lord in them. Don’t let those people be an excuse for not going to church. There are a million excuses why you don’t have to go to church. Let’s look at one reason why you should go to church. Love. If you truly love God, you will live your life the way that Jesus tells us to. We are told to love God and to love even our enemies. We are also told to be forgiving: that includes all things from the past. Let it go to never be brought up again. You will be forgiven the same measure that you forgive others. Are you still bringing up the past? Do you want God to bring up your past on judgment day? Do you think that you are the only person who has the power to change someone? God says that those who believe in Him and follow Him are made as a new creature. So if you are not willing to let God take charge of your life, then you will never be the person He intends for you to be. Give up your self-righteous attitude. You are not a good person. You are a sinner like everyone else and you fall way short of the glory of God. Repent today and let God change your heart. Let Him take your anger and your pain away. Let Go, Let God!
So maybe now you realize the need to go to church but you don’t know where to start. Remember, that bigger is not always better. The church must teach the Bible. They must teach the Ten Commandments (God’s Law) along with the Gospel (God Offers Sinful People Eternal Life). Without the Law, you will fall back into your old sinful ways. When a pastor preaches the Law, give thanks to God for opening your eyes and your ears to the Truth. Don’t be mad at the preacher but rejoice that you now understand you are a sinner. Make sure the pastor says that Jesus is the only way to heaven. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life: No man comes to the Father, but by me.” John 14:6
There is no other name under heaven, whereby we must be saved. Watching church on TV is not the same as going to church. Not every TV evangelist preaches God’s Word. Many of them preach that you have to buy your way to salvation. Do not listen to them. There is one in particular who preaches that for some people, they only need to believe in God, that it is not necessary for them to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. There is another one who does miraculous healings and professes himself to be a prophet of God. History has shown that his prophecies did not come true. They all require the same thing. Buy their books; give money to their telethon and you will be saved. The Bible tells us how to discern if someone is truly a prophet of God. If one of their prophecies does not come true then that man is not a prophet of God. Do not listen to him. That is why it is so important that you read the Bible each and every day and learn God’s Word. (Personal note) I used to be like you. I was a Christian but did not believe church was necessary. In my late 20’s, I stepped foot into a church and was taught God’s Word. This church had a prophet and it was essential that you believe in the prophet in order to go to heaven. The Mormon Church is so full of false prophets, beginning with Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He prophesized that Jesus would return in his lifetime: never happened! If even only one prophecy does not come true then that man is a false prophet. I left the Mormon Church when my eyes were opened. It took me three years to see the Truth and to leave. I do not want that to happen to you. Following a false prophet will not get you to heaven.
You must acknowledge that Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven. Joseph Smith said that “he” held the keys to heaven. If you are in the Mormon Church, please get out.
Find a church that preaches the Ten Commandments and tells you that Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven!
OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH
Non-church going Christians
Chapter 18
This will most likely not be easy to read for the non-church going Christian. Test your faith to see if it is genuine.
Not every one that says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesized in your name? And in your name have cast out devils? And in your name done many wondrous works? And then will I profess to them, I never knew you, depart from me, you that work iniquity. Matthew 7:21-23
Personally, when I first became a Christian, this Scripture really bothered me. How is it that some people who call on Jesus are saved and others aren’t? What is the difference? How can I know for sure that I am not one of those Christians whom Jesus says, “depart from me?” The answer is this: Jesus will reject the Christian, who says that they have accepted Him by faith, but is not repentant of their sins. The first words that we hear from Jesus in his ministry are: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Have you repented of your sins yet? Are you still holding on to your old comfortable lifestyle? Do you feel it is not necessary to go to church because you do not think your God cares whether you are in a building or not? Do you think that all you have to do is profess Jesus as Lord and Savior? Yes it is right that we need to profess Him as our Lord and Savior. Are you a new creature as a result of accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior? We need to be a changed person. The change that must occur is that we are repentant of our sins.
What are your reasons for not wanting to go to church?
1. Church is full of hypocrites.
2. Don’t like Denominational Churches.
3. Don’t feel it is necessary to go to church.
4. Have to work on Sundays.
5. It is my only day off; I have too much to do.
6. I am good enough that I don’t need it.
1. Full of hypocrites.
You went to church as a child and what did you see? You saw normal everyday people like your parents. You saw your teacher, your neighbor and some of your friends. Everyone was telling you that you must be good to get into heaven. You try your best but then it hits you. Why do I have to be good when I hear my parents yelling at each other during the week? I hear my neighbor cussing up a storm while working on his car. My teacher is always depressed. You see the Elders of the church looking down their nose at you and you never see God’s love displayed through them. You realize that the church is full of hypocrites. It is full of judgmental people who make you feel as though you are less of a person than they are, and you know in your heart that they are false Christians.
2. Denominational Churches
You grew up a Methodist, a Baptist, a Catholic or a Presbyterian and you are just burned out by the traditional worship services. You see that they are full of man-made requirements. You say, “Where in the Bible does it say you must wear a suit and tie to worship God?” You figure that they didn’t have suit and ties in the first century church. Stand up, sit down, stand up and sing the Doxology. It is so steeped in ritualism that it loses its true worship value. Instead of spontaneity it becomes boring and expectant. Instead of allowing worship to come from the heart of the believer, it has been preordained by the Denomination on how you should worship.
3. Not necessary to go to church.
You feel that you can worship God better at home. You think that you don’t need to go to church to worship Him. Unfortunately if you are truly honest before God: you really don’t worship Him at home, do you? You think you don’t need to be in a church setting. Unfortunately, God is only an after thought to you at home. You find that God cannot solve your life’s problems. You say that when you argue with someone, that God cannot help. You feel that in order to change someone, it will only happen if you force him or her to change: to be the kind of person “you” want him or her to be. Talk about a life that is void of God completely! You say that you believe in God and that is all that matters. Don’t forget that God says there will be those people who will call on Jesus and He will say, “depart from me, I never knew you.” You will be known by your fruits. You say you are a good person and yet you are guilty before God of breaking several of God’s Commandments. You will be judged. Do you bear good fruit or bad fruit or no fruit at all?
4. Have to work on Sunday.
Today’s society is so different from that of the 60’s and early 70’s. Back then stores were closed on Sundays. Times have certainly changed. Many churches offer a Saturday night service. Do you go? With Saturday night and several options on Sundays including evening services, there really is no excuse for not being able to go to church. Examine your heart as to why you really do not go to church.
5. It is your only day off.
Sleeping in till noon sounds really good to you. You would rather sleep than worship the God who gave you life. Turn off your TV long enough for you to go to church. Watching the ballgame is not the best way to spend your Sundays.
6. Self-righteous (good enough person)
Okay, so you are a good person. You know you are saved because you gave your heart to Jesus (the Bible tells us that man will proclaim his own goodness). But what about the rest of you? Do you give him all of your mind, your strength and all of your very soul to follow him? Have you made any disciples for Christ or do you figure that the pastor is the only one that is supposed to do that? Ignorance of God’s Holy Word is no excuse. God says that there is none that is good except for our Heavenly Father. So where does that leave you? Do you keep the Sabbath Day Holy? No, then you have broken the Fourth Commandment. The Bible says that even if you don’t break all of the other Laws, if you break just one Law, you are guilty of all of them. You are headed for Hell. There is a reason why we are told not to forsake the getting together of the saints. We encourage each other. We are not perfect: far from it. We are all sinners. If someone in church parades around like they are perfect, then challenge them on it. Bring up the Ten Commandments (lovingly), and show them their sinfulness. Those perfect saints are only fooling themselves and they do not have the fear of the Lord in them. Don’t let those people be an excuse for not going to church. There are a million excuses why you don’t have to go to church. Let’s look at one reason why you should go to church. Love. If you truly love God, you will live your life the way that Jesus tells us to. We are told to love God and to love even our enemies. We are also told to be forgiving: that includes all things from the past. Let it go to never be brought up again. You will be forgiven the same measure that you forgive others. Are you still bringing up the past? Do you want God to bring up your past on judgment day? Do you think that you are the only person who has the power to change someone? God says that those who believe in Him and follow Him are made as a new creature. So if you are not willing to let God take charge of your life, then you will never be the person He intends for you to be. Give up your self-righteous attitude. You are not a good person. You are a sinner like everyone else and you fall way short of the glory of God. Repent today and let God change your heart. Let Him take your anger and your pain away. Let Go, Let God!
So maybe now you realize the need to go to church but you don’t know where to start. Remember, that bigger is not always better. The church must teach the Bible. They must teach the Ten Commandments (God’s Law) along with the Gospel (God Offers Sinful People Eternal Life). Without the Law, you will fall back into your old sinful ways. When a pastor preaches the Law, give thanks to God for opening your eyes and your ears to the Truth. Don’t be mad at the preacher but rejoice that you now understand you are a sinner. Make sure the pastor says that Jesus is the only way to heaven. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life: No man comes to the Father, but by me.” John 14:6
There is no other name under heaven, whereby we must be saved. Watching church on TV is not the same as going to church. Not every TV evangelist preaches God’s Word. Many of them preach that you have to buy your way to salvation. Do not listen to them. There is one in particular who preaches that for some people, they only need to believe in God, that it is not necessary for them to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. There is another one who does miraculous healings and professes himself to be a prophet of God. History has shown that his prophecies did not come true. They all require the same thing. Buy their books; give money to their telethon and you will be saved. The Bible tells us how to discern if someone is truly a prophet of God. If one of their prophecies does not come true then that man is not a prophet of God. Do not listen to him. That is why it is so important that you read the Bible each and every day and learn God’s Word. (Personal note) I used to be like you. I was a Christian but did not believe church was necessary. In my late 20’s, I stepped foot into a church and was taught God’s Word. This church had a prophet and it was essential that you believe in the prophet in order to go to heaven. The Mormon Church is so full of false prophets, beginning with Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He prophesized that Jesus would return in his lifetime: never happened! If even only one prophecy does not come true then that man is a false prophet. I left the Mormon Church when my eyes were opened. It took me three years to see the Truth and to leave. I do not want that to happen to you. Following a false prophet will not get you to heaven.
You must acknowledge that Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven. Joseph Smith said that “he” held the keys to heaven. If you are in the Mormon Church, please get out.
Find a church that preaches the Ten Commandments and tells you that Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven!
2 comments:
You are such a bigot that it simply amazes me in this day and age...why? Because you seem to single out and attack only one church. Why? Because you're afraid...and because you're ignorant. You live inside the four walls of your glass cathedral and lap up every lie you're told with hardly ever giving an honest moment of individual thought to any of it. You're so busy attacking the beliefs of others that you gloss over or outright ignore the gaping holes in your own. In spite of all this, the LDS church continues to grow. And THAT is what frightens you the most! The LDS is growing so fast, that it is literally taking away funds from your own pocket. That is what it truly is about. I'm here to say that the majority of those who have been to your blog never come back. Why? Because you truly are a bigot, and we can all see right through you. I know that I will never be back. But I will pray for you.
You are such a bigot that it simply amazes me in this day and age...why?
Definition of a bigot is one who is intolerant of another persons beliefs.
Okay, maybe so. But as a Christian, I do not have to tolerate a religion that is not a Christian but CLAIMS to be. I do not want people to go to hell.
Because you seem to single out and attack only one church. Why?
Actually, if you read all of my posts, you will see that I pick on Christian churches as well as mormons. I am against ANY church that claims to be Christian but does not follow biblical guidelines.
Because you're afraid...and because you're ignorant.
Afraid? Not afraid of anything since I have Christ in my life.
You live inside the four walls of your glass cathedral and lap up every lie you're told with hardly ever giving an honest moment of individual thought to any of it.
No one told me any lies other than the actual church that I mention in this post. I was a member of the LDS church and I do know EXACTLY what they teach. I can back up every comment with Mormon doctrine. Plus, I am not in a four wall, glass cathedral.
You're so busy attacking the beliefs of others that you gloss over or outright ignore the gaping holes in your own.
And yet, you provide no Scripture to back up what you are saying. I would be happy to dialogue with you on the false teachings of mormonism. I will also be happy to share with you biblical Scripture to back it all up.
In spite of all this, the LDS church continues to grow. And THAT is what frightens you the most!
Numbers do not validate anything other than many people are being led astray. Jesus said that few will enter the gates of heaven.
The LDS is growing so fast, that it is literally taking away funds from your own pocket. That is what it truly is about.
They are not taking a single cent out of my pocket. I am an evangelist and not behind the pulpit of a church. My goal is to reach the lost the way Jesus did.
I'm here to say that the majority of those who have been to your blog never come back.
Wrong!! I am able to keep track of who is visiting my blog. And you have no idea of the response I get. All Christians have been very supportive and I have Mormon friends who read the blog to and are investigating the claims I am making. That is all I ask you to do. Investigate the claims and see for yourself if they are true. I do not want you to go to hell.
Why? Because you truly are a bigot, and we can all see right through you.
I am a concerned Christian that truly cares about my mormon friends. I want them to be saved.
I know that I will never be back. But I will pray for you.
That is fine. I will be praying for you too.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
As anyone can see, attacks such as this one show a lack of reasoning. Mormons do not want to face the facts of Scripture. They turn to name calling in some cases. I pray that if there are other mormons reading this (and I know there are), that you will read all of the blogs. Read Mormo and the Mormons, 33 things a Mormon will not say to you, and Pastors beware. Read the Mitt Romney article from Dec 9.
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