A group of us woship in the park every morning around sunrise. People and Church Leaders from every verified denomination were invited and attend. After the Bible Study which I lead and the 15 min Sermon from an invited local Pastor. We form small groups for those who have questions and want to acept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Once, someone comes to Jesus we ask them personality questions to see which Church would be their best fit. Then we take them around to introduce them to people from that Church, who volenture to take them to their Church next Saturday or Sunday. This is being organized by Home Churches for the handicaped. Amablance companies volunteer to pick up people to take them to the rotating homes for worship.
The one problem I have with local groups is the fact that Jesus said that, what started as “local” in his day, had to become ‘global’ before his judgment day.....
By the time of his return, the “whole world” had to have received his testimony...
Matthew 24:14....
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (ESV)
Christianity is not about small local groups trying to do better...though commendable, by now (almost 2,000 years hence) genuine Christianity would already be a global body.
When I say “genuine Christianity” I am referring to the “weeds” which Jesus said would be “sown by the devil” as a counterfeit form of Christianity in the world.....but which would result in a distinctly disunited “church” who could barely agree on much of anything but a core of beliefs taken from Roman Catholicism at the Reformation. Christendom’s teachings are not even close to original Christianity, but it is the only “Christianity” that people have known for centuries. That core of beliefs is not even biblically based but was grafted in by overlaying those pagan ideas over the scriptures....ideas that were in existence long before Christ walked the earth.
Trying to implement what Christ taught is admirable, but time is running out for this world....we are deep into “the time of the end” and the final judgment for those who claim Jesus as their “Lord”.....and for those who don’t.
Since “many” will claim Jesus as their “Lord” at that time, what will be the decider as far as Jesus is concerned?
Matthew 7:21-23...
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” (ESV)
Can we imagine being on the receiving end of that rejection?
This should give us all pause to evaluate what we believe to see if it is what Jesus and his apostles actually taught. Christianity is not about label wearing.....Christ does not see labels, he sees what each individual is doing and thinking and whether they know the truth in their heart when they hear it....or not.
The truth should “set us free” rather than enslave us to false beliefs that depend on fear rather than love to bring us to Christ. So how can we know? The truth is, we cannot know for sure regardless of how sincere we are in our beliefs.....the decision has to do with God....
Jesus said...
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. . . . “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” (John 6:44,65 - ESV)
So it is the Father who draws right hearted ones to his son....as much as we think it is we who choose him. This explains why there will be those who offer their excuses to Jesus at the judgment.....but who will never enter the Kingdom. God will not correct us unless we acknowledge that what we believe is not Bible truth, and want to correct ourselves, willingly. So the onus is on us, to make sure of what we believe.....
We keep a very low profile to keep cities from putting us out of business and avoid lawsuits. Our Statement of faith is closests to Baptist, Free Methodist and Presybtains.
What is it that Baptists, Free Methodists and Presbyterians believe that makes you think they teach the truth as opposed to other denominations?
All praise has to be based on truth....