The greatest weakness of most churches

I am strongly inclined to agree with you deac!

Sure wouldn't make the PC approval list tho'!:thumbs::laugh:

 

Here's an excellent sermon on that very topic, JD. Just listened to it yesterday.

http://media.sermonindex.net/18/SID18002.mp3

 

I agree also.
It's gotten to the point it's sometimes hard to tell the differenece between the church and the world.

 

I disagree with you at a more basic level because most do not share their faith and as a result are living in sin even though they have deluded themselves into thinking they are living out the truth when they are not making disciples and sharing their faith. Years ago I knew of a church that would not accept someone for membership until that person had won another to Christ. If that were the case in all Baptist Churches how many would have become members?

 

You would see a true revivial and moving of God among His Church - but you'd also see a lot more empty pews - and many pastors simply aren't willing to stand on principle rather than lose their popularity.

 

When I look at the church in general or even my own, I find there are lots of "greatest weaknesses". But when Jesus dealt with Peter about his denial, his lies, his lack of courage and his pride, he dealt with him at the most basic level, "Do you love me?"

With the church at Ephesus who did all the right things Jesus talked about leaving their first love.

That for me would be the first among equals of weaknesses in the church.

 

I used to think that Jd but now I realise that the greatest weakness in churches today is actually the reluctance of people to deal with sin in their own lives.
The church of God is not meant to be policed. Yes there are times where a church has to step in and administer discipline but if you read the epistles careflly you'll see that when it comes to most sin Paul urges believers to deal with that in thier own lives. It is only with regard to the issues of sexual immorality and heresy that he encourages people/the church to get involved in the lives of others with regard to sin.

If we taught for maturity and encourage people to live lives of transparency and accountability this would not be a problem I find that pastors and church leaders are the first culprits when it comes to giving everyone the impression they are perfect. So the membership follows suit and pretty soon you are too afraid to say you have problems and are too busy pretending you are just fine!

 

That is because they want a job for pay and not God for eternity.

 

The church I am attending (almost 2 yrs. now) has realized this very thing, we have confronted members who have now or in the past hurt people for what ever reason among other things. some have repented, some have left the church. We as a church have sent letters of apology to those we know about, and the Lord has truly blessed. It is amazing what God will do with a repentant church.
Danny C

 

The problem I see here is that we can't see the heart of the sinner to determine if in fact they did a particular sin, and not only that, what happens when you miss judge someone for a sin they didn't commit? If we set our selves up as judges, with the right to judge another’s sin then we aren't any better than the Pharisee's. I know you might mention the first church but if so you have forgotten that the first church were legalist. The Law was all they had to go by. Even Peter fell back into legalism until Paul corrected him. They were Jews who had lived by the Law all there lives. Man didn't truly understand what Grace really was until Paul came along and explained it to us.

How many times did Christ say to forgive your brothers once twice or a dozzen times. Maybe just keep right on as He does with us who still sin each and everyone of us. Should there be an end to our forgiveness. Like I always say let the one who has no sin cast the first stone.

MB

 

I agree that dealing with sin is a huge issue but I find myself seeking the root cause of this epidimic in our churches and I have come to the conclusion that false conversion is the biggest issue. People who are not really saved are not going to care about sin and holiness, etc.

 

Bingo!:thumbs:

 

We still have the same Problem who settles the issue of who's saved and who isn't. If you say the pastor then who's checking him. What are we to spy on our brothers to see if they sin or not. We already know everyone of us will sin eventually simply because man will sin. It lives in his flesh. There isn't one member of any church that doesn't sin. If you kick everyone out of the church that sins you wouldn't have any one left including yourself.
MB

 

1Co 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
1Co 5:2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
1Co 5:3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
1Co 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1Co 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1Co 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
1Co 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
1Co 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
1Co 5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
1Co 5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
1Co 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
1Co 5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
1Co 5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

 

While the church cannot judge a person's heart it must judge the actions of its members.