Church Fellowship

[AndrewMichael]

Here is something that has definitely been bothering me for a little while.

I have come to find that many Message churches have decided that it is ok to exclude people from their congregations. Such as, if a woman has a pair of pants on, or a man a pair of shorts, they are not allowed into the building. Where is this in the Bible? Where is this in the Message??

Jesus spoke with the woman at the well which wasn't even customary at the time, and yet we think we have the right to keep people from the house of God because they don't see the truth. Of course women wearing pants in wrong, but dissallowing them to fellowship with believers has no basis to it in my mind. Here is what I believe any true church should believe:


No book but the Bible
No creed but Christ
*No law but love*

Where does the above practice fall in these simple pharses? Brother Branham would even tell women that they were preachers under the decernment and yet would not condemn them, then how do we decided who is "allowed" into the house of God or not? Remember when Brother Branham tells of his meeting in Africa where naked heathens recieved the Holy Ghost and the women covered themselves with their arms until they had clothes, and yet we will dub someone serpent seed because they have a pair of pants on. How can you win souls to Christ displaying such a legalism? We should love these people, knowing that once we were ignorant, lost, and up to our neck in sins as well.

What I believe is the problem is many Message people have forgotten that they need God's grace every day, every minute, every second. They forget of all that they were forgiven for, and thus don't see it possible that others can be saved. Just because you look like a Christian doesn't mean you are one, and just because someone doesn't look like a Christian now doesn't mean that they aren't one. We grow. We learn. But if the Love of Christ is not show, why would anyone believe the doctrine behind it? This is why so many people cannot accept the Message is because of the vast amount of Message "rules and doctrines" that must be followed, though they are not always found in the Bible.

This has been burning in my heart for some while, so I now bring it to the table.

[BroTrevor]

How can you win souls to Christ displaying such a legalism? We should love these people, knowing that once we were ignorant, lost, and up to our neck in sins as well.

What I believe is the problem is many Message people have forgotten that they need God's grace every day, every minute, every second. They forget of all that they were forgiven for, and thus don't see it possible that others can be saved. Just because you look like a Christian doesn't mean you are one, and just because someone doesn't look like a Christian now doesn't mean that they aren't one. We grow. We learn. But if the Love of Christ is not show, why would anyone believe the doctrine behind it? This is why so many people cannot accept the Message is because of the vast amount of Message "rules and doctrines" that must be followed, though they are not always found in the Bible.


Boom.......

[joris]

amen! man, this is great :) thanks for posting

[blessed]

bump..........

[HotShot53]

I would agree, there are too many Pharisees around.....

[blessed]

ummmm...... I don't think its ok to say that either..... maybe its just me but I don't like branding people because I know what Jesus can do.

[joris]

I would agree, there are too many Pharisees around.....aw no!! :y10: you know, let's try not to judge, but pray for them instead

[Angelo]

That's too bad for a person not to see where he come from. Being high-minded is a biiig problem.

[joris]

That's too bad for a person not to see where he come from. Being high-minded is a biiig problem.it's that one state of heart that takes you far from Fathers love :012:

[Angelo]

it's that one state of heart that takes you far from Fathers love :012:
Indeed, what God wants us to have, and to learn is to love others like He loved us.

[Jezz]

Amen Brother!

In the fourth chapter of book four of 'Supernatural: The Life of William Branham' written by Owen Jorgensen Brother Branham walks into a shabby cafe where he sees a girl in a short skirt with two boys flirting with her, theres also three old people drinking beer and a policeman was with a woman and they were gambling (which was illegal in that state) and that scene made Brother Branham sick, he wanted the Lord to destroy the world because of all the sin.

Then God showed him a vision, of the Earth covered by the blood of Jesus Christ, and told him "That crimson cover is the blood of the Lord Jesus who died to save sinners. That is the reason God can't destroy these people. They still have a chance. Every mortal being has a right to accept their salvation, until the day they die and go beyond that blood. If they die without accepting it, they are already judged. But as long as they are alive, they have a right to the Tree of Life, if they will accept it".

Then Brother Branham saw the Lord Jesus with the crown of thorns on his head, blood running down him and every now and then he would jerk. The angel explained that "they are caused by the slaps from your sin". When sin struck him he would raise his hand and ask the Father to forgive him because he doesn't know what he's doing. Then Brother Branham saw a book near the throne of God with his name written in it and next to it was written "Condemned". Brother Branham begged for forgiveness and Jesus wrote on the book "Pardoned" then Jesus said to Brother Branham "I forgave you, but you want to condemn these people". Then Brother Branham saw everybody in the cafe with a new compassion.

Sorry for the long post but I used to think the same about people similar to those Brother Branham saw in the cafe until I read that. One day one of my worldly friends might come to church and I know that people would gossip about it but thats wrong! Everybody can be saved, and how can anybody judge someone else, everyone has commited sin. As Jesus said "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone". For those who haven't read the Supernatural series by Owen Jorgensen I thoroughly recommend it.

[FreeAtLast]

I totally agree with everything you said AndrewMichael.

Are there really that many message churches that don´t allow a woman into the building if she doesn´t wear a long skirt? Lord have mercy on us!

[joris]

we should not be hostile to people who are different; never; and we should try not to judge at all (except when really guided by Holy Spirit)

about the text... well, what makes me sick is how children get abused, and how inocent girls are tricked into becoming prostitutes; compared to that, that cafe hardly touches something

[BroTrevor]

I totally agree with everything you said AndrewMichael.

Are there really that many message churches that don´t allow a woman into the building if she doesn´t wear a long skirt? Lord have mercy on us!

Actually there are "message" churches that have white wrap around style skirts they give to women to put on if they don't have one.

Yes, I think it's quite odd. You can't "wrap around" religion on someone. It has to come from the heart.

[FreeAtLast]

Actually there are "message" churches that have white wrap around style skirts they give to women to put on if they don't have one.

Yes, I think it's quite odd. You can't "wrap around" religion on someone. It has to come from the heart.

WHAT???
That´s ridiculous!!!
That would put me off straight away!
People get saved by preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ - not by changing their style of clothes!
What a shame to deal with ppl like that.
Once God does the job (starting with the inside first!) all those other things will fall in place anyway.

[BroTrevor]

WHAT???
That´s ridiculous!!!
That would put me off straight away!
People get saved by preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ - not by changing their style of clothes!
What a shame to deal with ppl like that.
Once God does the job (starting with the inside first!) all those other things will fall in place anyway.

Exactly. That's why I put message in quotes when referring to that.

It is very ridiculous....

[FreeAtLast]

It´s a shame what ppl have done with this glorious message God graciously gave to us through his prophet.

We have almost made another denomination out of it - with only rules and regulations - but hardly no life of Christ in us!

At times I feel ashamed to be part of "the message" - not talking about the Word that God has restored for our age but about the LODGE that ppl have made out of it!

Don´t even dare to ask me anymore: """Are you in the message?"""
Better start asking: Are you in Christ?
For that´s what really matters! Too many ppl are "in the message" - but don´t know God one bit.
Too many times it is just another lifestyle of living - with dresscodes and whatsoever - but not a true relationship between God and man.
May God help us is my sincere prayer!!!

[blessed]

I think its safe to say that the message so to speak has become another denomination, I see it all over but we have to take courage that there is the true vine somewhere. It is really sad because instead of the Word being used to glorify God we are using it to turn ppl away from God, oh what will we have to answer to on judgement day.


----------------------------------

During service last night this thought came to my mind really strong and it would not leave and I feel as though I should post it here:

Grace stands at her door willing for you to come
Very soon she'll close the door
Mercy would have moved out and
Judgement moved in
Come now my child come now!!!

I have no idea who this is for, but it was really strong on my heart to put it up on the forums.

[BroTrevor]

Freeatlast's post

- BOOM

Blessed's post

- BOOM


My thoughts exactly.. Wonderful little verse there blessed. My heart is very heavy today for the reality of the life of Christ to be displayed in me.

[joris]

I would agree, there are too many Pharisees around.....
I'm sorry, I'm posting this anyway; calling people a phariseer shows you're at danger to watch not becoming one; man, that's so sad it's almost funny; except it's not funny at all because you were serious when writing that

I think its safe to say that the message so to speak has become another denominationsorry to say that, but this seems to be true, yes
but see, that was exactly what branham was telling about church ages, remember? each time part of truth is given back by revelation something comes up and makes a formula out of it; it's just that us, people, we tend to think like that; we're taught to think like that; now let's see how to get back to the real thing, eh? :y10:

[HotShot53]

I'm sorry, I'm posting this anyway; calling people a phariseer shows you're at danger to watch not becoming one; man, that's so sad it's almost funny; except it's not funny at all because you were serious when writing that

Maybe I phrased that wrong...I wasn't intending to call anyone in particular a pharisee... what I was meaning was that the pharisee spirit that was around in the first church age is still around today... back then the believing pharisees wanted the gentiles to follow the entire law to be considered saved, now some people want you to follow the entire "message" as they see it to be considered "in", and won't hardly talk to you otherwise...

[joris]

back then the believing pharisees wanted the gentiles to follow the entire law to be considered saved, now some people want you to follow the entire "message" as they see it to be considered "in", and won't hardly talk to you otherwise...ah like that...
funny isn't it, I'm sort-of being phariseer to myself, rejecting me being flawed, but would try not to judge someone; ofcourse there I also fail now and then

[BroTrevor]

ah like that...
funny isn't it, I'm sort-of being phariseer to myself, rejecting me being flawed, but would try not to judge someone; ofcourse there I also fail now and then

But praise God, even through our flaws He loves us anyway!!

[blessed]

Amen Bro T, that's one of the best things I heard today.

[Angelo]

My thoughts exactly.. Wonderful little verse there blessed. My heart is very heavy today for the reality of the life of Christ to be displayed in me.
Yesterday has been a turnpoint on my walk. The Lord let me go through a circumstance that really gave a deep impression on me. It touched on questions that I asked myself: How I should live my life? what are my goals? What is more important for me in life? Then I made a vow to Him that I'm sure I can and will fulfill for the Lord. It's a great experience! I got His attention (or should I say He got my attention).