Wow, Annie! Your "hammer" never fails to hit our twisted spiritual and cultural nails smack-dab on the head! After 50+ years in Gospel ministry, I have not only seen this arrogance in many who peeled off to start "a REAL work of God on my own" (read: since all the rest of you blokes are incompetent and lack the deep grasp of Gospel Truth I possess!), and, as embarrassing as it is to admit, have smelt the rising fumes of such egoism in my own heart!
I must admit, I'm one of those "drop outs". I don't think it was a matter of giving up as much as it was getting out. Looking around at much of the culture/world that surrounds me I see degradation. Expecting the church to be the salt of the earth I have to ask what has happened? Is the church that weak? Has it lost its savor? If one were to grade the church based on the culture it affects, seems to me the church should get an F. Where are the Acts 17 type churches? My God says to come out of the beast system. The modern church is in lock step with the state and if you think the state is a God fearing entity then it's no wonder church has lost its savor, if it ever had it.
Annie, we older folks no longer NEED a physical church to sustain us. The younger folks though need what those bricks and mortar and timber framed building bring people like we all once needed to bring us together to worship. I am old and my faith is weak but it remains a presence in my life like the memories of the love of those who I still love but who are now gone. Memories will sustain me and my wife of 57 years. Younger folks need the annealing presence of physical presence and contact.
Wow, Annie! Your "hammer" never fails to hit our twisted spiritual and cultural nails smack-dab on the head! After 50+ years in Gospel ministry, I have not only seen this arrogance in many who peeled off to start "a REAL work of God on my own" (read: since all the rest of you blokes are incompetent and lack the deep grasp of Gospel Truth I possess!), and, as embarrassing as it is to admit, have smelt the rising fumes of such egoism in my own heart!
Ugh and Yuk! I REPENT!
-Johnny
I must admit, I'm one of those "drop outs". I don't think it was a matter of giving up as much as it was getting out. Looking around at much of the culture/world that surrounds me I see degradation. Expecting the church to be the salt of the earth I have to ask what has happened? Is the church that weak? Has it lost its savor? If one were to grade the church based on the culture it affects, seems to me the church should get an F. Where are the Acts 17 type churches? My God says to come out of the beast system. The modern church is in lock step with the state and if you think the state is a God fearing entity then it's no wonder church has lost its savor, if it ever had it.
First and foremost, church does not equal God, not even close.
Second, churches abandoned their congregations when the Plandemic began.
I sure appreciated this. Thanks for sharing!
Annie, we older folks no longer NEED a physical church to sustain us. The younger folks though need what those bricks and mortar and timber framed building bring people like we all once needed to bring us together to worship. I am old and my faith is weak but it remains a presence in my life like the memories of the love of those who I still love but who are now gone. Memories will sustain me and my wife of 57 years. Younger folks need the annealing presence of physical presence and contact.