Before I even start, I must say this thread has turned into a very interesting debate.
Holy Bible -
Matthew 10:8 (ASV)
Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons: freely ye received, freely give.
Churches are apostate, not doing as the Lord commanded, filled primarily with unbelievers, servants of the Devil, Satan. Churches are siding with Satan by not casting out demons (devils, evil spirits) and for other reasons.
There are ways to tell who is a believer and who is not. However, churches throw the doors wide open to the public, contrary to scripture.
I'm a strong believer in the need for the churches to return to operating in spiritual gifts (all of them), but your OP seems to suggest that those who are not doing so are not believers. To that I would ask you: Where do you think those who return to operating in spiritual gifts are going to come from? Certainly some will come from the streets, but others will be believers who currently do not but will enter more into it in the future, yes?
I like the scripture that says God added daily to the church as many as were saved.....they got saved and baptized and then were added to the church.
Excellent post! On the "opening the doors" question, I like this scripture as well. They were saved, baptized and
then added to the church. Best post in the thread so far. There is a spiritual responsibility that comes with becoming a part of the body of Christ, and because of this rituals like baptism and communion were taken very seriously.
I am really surprised at what I am hearing. Some of you are actually saying that nonChristians should not be allowed in "your" buildings. I agree that they should be hearing "The Gospel" from each of us out on the streets and at work or school, but to say to, in effect, turn them away??????
Certainly we should allow people to visit if they are curious, Willie, as 1 Corinthians 14:23 says they were doing. But to be added to the church as described in Acts 2:47 is a different matter. Visiting is one thing; being added to the body of Christ is another, and carries responsibilities.
It is no coincidence that we don't find any spiritual maturity these days.
But the ministries are for the perfecting of the saints...not just a perpetual recruiting drive.
The church agenda has become numbers....with no depth at all.
Good point. Appealing to the lowest common denominator means that if you want to grow to anything resembling spiritual maturity now, you have to do so outside the church. You'll sit there and starve to death spiritually, dying of total spiritual lethargy unless you do.
It's as if most churches have dedicated themselves to becoming spiritual pre-schools. Anything above that level, and believers are forced to begin educating themselves.
The presence of God is VERY important to me. A stage show is not the way to present intimacy with the Lord.
Amen. Related to this open door question, I used to lead worship in a small church, and I will never forget the awful feeling I would get when people who were unsaved would be sitting in the front row, and visible out of the corner of my eye. Nothing quenches the Spirit of God more during worship than people who do not have the Spirit of God within them. And without the Spirit within them, how can the rest of the service be Spirit-filled and Spirit-led? These questions may not be important to those who do not value His manifest Presence, or even know what it feels like to experience it. But for those who do it is indispensable. If the Spirit is not present, it is not even church. It's just a gathering.
Churches are not doing the word of God. For example, by not casting out demons, they side with Satan. Churches are apostate.
Holy Bible -
Revelation 3:16 Berean Study Bible
So because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to vomit you out of My mouth!
You seem fixated on deliverance ministry in particular. Why?
