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IT'S TIME TO COME OUT OF THE CHURCHES
Harry Bethel
BethelMinistries.com
If you cannot see the truths in this declaration you have already been substantially influenced, if not overcome, by the spirit of Antichrist that is in the world (1 John 4:3).
What God said about His people in Isaiah's day is descriptive of God's people today: "The Lord says: "These people come near to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is made up only of rules taught by men" (Isaiah 29:13).
It is time for all Christians to come out of the churches. This seems to be a very bold statement. Indeed, it is. This declaration will convince the sincere, unbiased Christian with a teachable spirit the following gut-wrenching, astonishing and sobering truths:
1. There are no God-sent pastors.
2. There are no scripturally organized local churches.
3. As much as half of that which is taught by true Christians is heresy.
4. Christians will go through the Great Tribulation.
5. Power will be given to the Antichrist to overcome true Christians, many of which will take the Mark of the Beast.
6. Christians remaining in churches will likely be overcome by the Antichrist.
7. What you should do after you come out of the churches.
"There must appear a new type of preacher. The proper, ruler-of-the-synagogue type will never do. Neither will the priestly type of man who carries out his duties, takes his pay and asks no questions, nor the smooth-talking pastoral type who knows how to make the Christian religion acceptable to everyone. All these have been tried and found wanting.
Another kind of religious leader must arise among us. He must be of the old prophet type, a man who has seen visions of God and has heard a voice from the Throne. When he comes (and I pray God there will be not one but many) he will stand in flat contradiction to everything our smirking, smooth civilization holds dear. He will contradict, denounce and protest in the name of God and will earn the hatred and opposition of a large segment of Christendom." A.W. Tozer
1. There Are No God-Sent Pastors
There are many so-called "pastors" who are born again, but there are none that have been sent by God to be pastors. One thing that obscures this fact is that God obviously uses many pastors to minister to congregations. God used a fish and a worm to accomplish His purposes with Jonah, a jackass to accomplish His purposes with Balaam, and Satan to accomplish His purposes with Job.
The mere fact that God uses a "pastor" to accomplish His purposes does not mean that the Lord sent him (or her) to be a God-ordained pastor. There are many women "pastors" today that minister to congregations, but God does not send women to be pastors. There are even practicing homosexuals that serve as pastors, but God does not send homosexuals to serve in that capacity.
The following checklist will prove that there are no God-sent pastors today. God would not send a man who had not received from the Holy Spirit the truths listed in this section, in addition to the other qualifications listed herein.
A God-sent pastor would have been filled with the Holy Spirit. Many pastors and teachers claim that every Christian is filled with the Holy Spirit when they are saved, but that is not true. One may or may not be filled with the Holy Spirit at virtually the same time one is born again, but most are not. Being filled is a separate experience, and most Christians have never been filled with the Holy Spirit, including the vast majority of "pastors." And even if a so-called pastor were filled, he would not have met all of the other qualifications to be sent by God.
A God-sent pastor would have met all three conditions in order to be a disciple according to Luke 14, one of which is to literally forsake all that he has to become a learner (disciple) on this higher level like the twelve disciples and many of the early Christians who became disciples (Luke 14:26-27, 33; 18:22, 28; Acts 2:45, 4:34-35).
A God-sent pastor would accept and apply the truth of Romans 13:8 to not owe any money or finance anything including houses, automobiles, furniture, appliances, church buildings or have business loans or loans for anything else. He would not use or have credit cards. He would trust in the Lord to provide all his needs. He would accept the truth that the borrower is slave to the lender (Proverbs 22:7). (Please see article titled Should Christians Borrow Money?)
A God-sent pastor would accept and apply the truth that women are not to speak in the congregations, they are to remain silent, and if they have a question they are to ask their "man" at home. (Please see article titled The Subjection and Silence of Women.)
A God-sent pastor would accept and apply the doctrines of separation from the world and would not seek a charter from a state or other government, nor would the "church" be incorporated. We are in the world, but we are not of the world and the civil governments should have no control over, or sanction, a scripturally organized local church.
A God-sent pastor would not be affiliated with any denomination or sect. He would not be identified as a Baptist or Calvinist or Lutheran or Methodist or Mennonite or Pentecostal or Holiness or any other such identity other than "Christian." All such denominationalism or sectarianism is a manifestation of carnality and apostasy (1 Cor. 1:12-13; 3:1-4).
A God-sent pastor would not watch television and would not approve of the congregation doing so. (Please see article titled Should Christians Watch Television?)
A God-sent pastor would realize that a Bible college or seminary education is not only unnecessary for being qualified for being a pastor, but is detrimental to it. He would know that God would not send a man to be trained in these institutions, all of which teach many false doctrines, and are apostate.
A God-sent pastor would not be responsible for sending out missionaries that have not first met the three conditions for being a disciple according to Luke 14, nor any man who has not been filled with the Holy Spirit.
A God-sent pastor would not approve of sports or participate in them. Many so-called churches have softball or basketball or volleyball teams. All of this is worldly and carnal. A competitive spirit is not of God. A man who enjoys worldly sports would not be sent by God to be a pastor. (Please see article titled An Article on Amusements)
A God-sent pastor would not be involved in, or approve of, dramatic presentations or movies for the congregation. Acting, even for teaching events in the Bible, is not of God and the Holy Spirit has no part in this carnal, worldly activity. (Please see article titled The Menace of The Religious Movie.)
A God-sent pastor would have the discernment to see through most of the contemporary "Christian" music and anything that even resembles rock music. There is no such thing as "Christian rock" music. That is an abomination to God.
A God-sent pastor would know that Christmas is of Satan, not Jesus, and would preach against celebrating this pagan-inspired holiday. (Please see article titled Should Christians Celebrate Christmas?)
A God-sent pastor would not be patriotic, even in a "democratic" country. Christians should not be involved in the political process, not even voting. (Please see article titled Democracy---A Scriptural Perspective.)
A God-sent pastor would be non-resistant. He would not intentionally harm another person. He would not agree with Christians serving in the military or being employed as a policeman or in other law enforcement capacities. (Please see article titled Should Christians Be Non-resistant?)
A God-sent pastor would not be caught up in the "King James Only" cult. Many King James-only advocates believe that the translators were inspired by the Holy Spirit just as the original writers of Scripture. All of this is contrary to what the KJV translators wrote in the Preface of the 1611 edition. The vast majority of KJV-only advocates do not even use the 1611 edition; they use an edition that has been corrected several times and the spelling is more modern. (Please see article titled The Great Omission---The Last Word on The KJV Debate.)
A God-sent pastor would have the power of God to cast out demons. In these last days anyone doing the will of God will encounter demonized people, and even Christians who are in bondage to various sins and need to be delivered from demons. Most "pastors" today have never even cast out a demon. Some "pastors" even deny the existence of demonic spirits or their influence on Christians. Mark 16:17 says, "And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons..." (Please see article titled Can A Christian Have A Demon?)
A God-sent pastor would know that the Mosaic Law, including the Ten Commandments, is not for Christians, it is for Jews who have not been born again. He would know that a Christian has a much higher calling than the Old Testament saints and that keeping Jesus' commandments does not refer to the Mosaic Law, but the approximately 180 commandments of the New Testament. (Please see article titled The Ten Commandments Are Not For Christians---We Have A Higher Calling and A Message For Messianic Jews.)
A God-sent pastor would not teach unconditional eternal security. Many true Christians will be overcome by the Antichrist during the Great Tribulation. This will be because of their apostasy and compromising spirit, not being disciples, and not loving Jesus with all their heart, soul, mind and strength, and will take the Mark of the Beast, thereby forfeiting their salvation (Rev. 13:7; Dan. 7:25; 12:7). Because the Christians in the church of Laodicea who were in Christ, were lukewarm about Him, Jesus said unless they repented He was going to vomit them out of His mouth. Born-again Christians have eternal security, but it is not unconditional. (Please see the most important article for Christians on this website titled God's Ultimate Warning To Christians.)
A God-sent pastor would not preach or teach false doctrines such as the pre-tribulation rapture, mid-trib rapture, pre-millennialism, preterism, Dominion Theology, Restoration Theology or "Latter Rain" revival. He would not teach that there is a millennial reign on this earth after the Great Tribulation. Jesus is coming back on the last day of the Great Tribulation, which is the Last Day of this earth and the universe. (Please see article titled Pre-Trib Rapture---Fact or Fable?, The Pre-Tribulation Rapture Hoax, and The Last Day.)
A God-sent pastor would not preach or teach against the triune nature of God, as the United Pentecostal Church and other "Jesus Only" groups.
A God-sent pastor would not teach the doctrine of a limited atonement (that is, that Christ died only for the elect). One might not be able to reconcile the fact that Christ died for the sins of everyone with the fact that not everyone will go to heaven, but let God be true and every man a liar. The Scriptures clearly teach that Christ died for everyone and that most people will be cast into the Lake of Fire (Isaiah 53:6; Jn. 1:7, 29; 3:17; 11:51-52; 12:47; 2 Cor. 5:15, 19; Heb. 2:9; 10:10; 1 Tim. 2:6; 2 Pet. 2:1; and 1 Jn. 2:2).
A God-sent pastor would not teach that the Atonement of Christ included physical healing. Although God sometimes miraculously heals, it is not part of the Atonement.
A God-sent pastor would not teach or practice ritualistic foot washing. Jesus' practical teaching on washing feet as a service to guests in your home is not ritualistic, and all who do so, trying to be obedient to God's Word, have completely missed the true teaching on this. (See article titled Is Ritualistic Foot Washing Scriptural?)
A God-sent pastor would not teach or preach "easy believism." He would know that the true Gospel message includes the necessity of repentance in order to be saved. The vast majority of so-called Gospel messages and tracts today leave out the need to repent for salvation. (Please see article titled Repentance---A Forgotten Doctrine.)
A God-sent pastor would not teach that Christians must tithe to build a new church building or to support the "ministry." Tithing is an Old Testament command only to Jews who have not been born again. The New Covenant teaches that not just 10%, but all of a Christian's money belongs to the Lord. A Christian is merely a steward or manager of the money that the Lord enabled him to earn. There will be times when God would have a Christian give nothing, times when God would have him give, for example, 50% of what he has and times when God would have him give all that he has (Acts 2:45; 4:32-35). (Please see article titled Should Christians Tithe?)
A God-sent pastor would not lead a church to go "underground" even during persecution. (Please see article titled Persecution And Martyrdom---The New Testament Norm and Underground Church?).
A God-sent pastor would not be controlled, hired, or fired by a board of deacons or a "pulpit committee" or a congregation. Most "pastors" are little more than hirelings and are recruited like worldlings in the corporate world.
A God-sent pastor would know that a scripturally organized local church is led by the one and only pastor in a given locality such as a city, and by any number of qualified elders (who are old men) under the pastor's authority. Deacons are not preachers of the Word, their ministry is to the temporal needs of the congregation. He would know there is no scriptural warrant for a "senior pastor" or "youth pastor" or "associate pastor" or "minister of music" and other unscriptural nonsense. In these last days of unprecedented apostasy there are no scripturally organized local churches.
A God-sent pastor would be a man, not a woman, he must be able to teach, the husband of only one wife, must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, must not be a recent convert and must have a good reputation with outsiders (1 Timothy 3:1-4).
A God-sent pastor would know the below truth concerning that which constitutes a scripturally organized local church.
There are about a half-million "pastors" in the United States and many more around the world and none of them were sent by God to be a pastor.
There are many other factors that would disqualify a man and prove that he was not sent by God to be a pastor, but more than enough has been written to prove the claim.
"Christianity is so entangled with the world that millions never guess how radically they have missed the New Testament pattern. Compromise is everywhere." A.W. Tozer
2. There Are No Scripturally Organized Local Churches
According to the Scriptures a local church is all the brethren within a given geographical area, namely a city or in some cases an island such as Crete where Titus was the first bishop of that local church.
Christ is the Head of the Church (which is composed of the brethren) and Christ is the Head of man, but man---not Christ---is the head of woman (1 Cor. 11:3). Women are to remain silent in the churches or assemblies.
It is a shame for women to speak in the assemblies, and they are not to teach. In fact, if they have a question they are not to even ask a "pastor" or anyone else, they are to ask their man (Greek "aner") at home (1 Cor. 14:34-35, 37; 1 Tim. 2:11-12). (Please see article titled The Subjection and Silence of Women.)
A local church, according to the Scriptures, does not have a separate identity such as Baptist, Methodist, Mennonite, Lutheran, Holiness or Pentecostal. All such labels are proof of carnality and apostasy according to God's Word (1 Cor. 3:3-4).
A scripturally organized local church has only one bishop (pastor) over all the brethren in a city. Under his authority are any number of elders (old men) and deacons. God never sent more than one pastor to oversee all the brethren in a given city.
(If you are truly concerned about knowing these truths read all of this article and search the Scriptures to see if these things are true.)
"The Church has lost her testimony. She has no longer anything to say to the world." A.W. Tozer
3. As Much as Half of That Which is Taught by Most True Christians is Heresy
Please see all the truths listed in the above section that are contrary to most of that which is taught by church leaders, teachers and writers.
"To be right with God has often meant to be in trouble with men. This is such a common truth that one hesitates to mention it, yet it appears to have been overlooked by the majority of Christians today." A..W. Tozer
4. Christians Will Go Through The Great Tribulation
(Please see article titled Pre-Trib Rapture---Fact or Fiction?)
"For a man to understand revealed truth requires an act of God equal to the original act which inspired the text." A.W. Tozer
5. Power Will Be Given To The Antichrist To Overcome Christians
"With regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together to Him...Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness [Antichrist] is revealed, the son of destruction" (2 Thes. 2:1-3).
"And it was given to him [the Antichrist] to make war with the saints and to overcome them" (Rev. 13:7). "He [the Antichrist] will speak against the Most High and oppress His saints...The saints will be handed over to him for a time, times and half a time [three and one-half years]" (Dan. 7:25).
"How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?...It will be for a time, times, and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken" (Dan. 12:6-7).
"When the children of God accept the world's values it is time some Christians spoke up. Babylon may have her gods, her own way of life and moral standards. It is when Israel [or the Church] begins to adopt them that the prophet of God becomes responsible to rise and cry out against them." A.W. Tozer
6. Christians Remaining in Churches Will Likely Be Overcome by The Antichrist
What would you think about a church that had good deeds, worked hard, persevered, could not tolerate wicked men, could discern false apostles, endured hardships for Jesus' name and had not grown weary? This is true of many outstanding churches today, right? This may even be true of your church. But what did Jesus have to say to such a church? He said they needed to repent! He said they had left their first love!
Jesus said if they did not repent He would remove their lampstand! Jesus said, He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God" (Rev. 2:1-7). My fellow-Christian, do you have ears to hear?
The only way you will overcome the apostasy of the last days and the Antichrist, and eat from the tree of life is to come out of the churches---churches just like the church in Ephesus that typifies so many of the very best "churches" of today!
The apostasy of the churches (all of them) is worse than at any other time in history. We are living in the time of the great apostasy (falling away from truth) prior to the advent of the Antichrist and the Great Tribulation about which the apostle Paul prophesied in 2 Thessalonians 2:3.
There will be no great revivals or reformation in the last days. There will be no "latter rain" or outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the last days---there will be apostasy! Five of seven churches rebuked by Jesus as recorded in Revelation 2 and 3, were in various degrees of apostasy.
This warning was to true Christians who were in Christ. Jesus said He would remove their lampstands or vomit them out if they did not repent. This was in 95 A.D. But the apostasy, or falling away from truth, began near the end of the apostle Paul's ministry. The church has been in varying states of apostasy ever since, until now when half or more of that which is taught and believed by the vast majority of Christians is false.
In the Bible light is characterized as truth and darkness as lies. Jesus said, "If the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" "See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness" (Mt. 5:23; Lk. 11:35). If what you embrace is false teaching (lies or darkness) you do not realize how great that darkness is within you!
Jesus is Truth personified. If much of that which you believe about God or His Word is false, then you cannot possibly worship Him in spirit and in truth. You are worshiping an imaginary God that conforms to your false beliefs (darkness). Those who worship God must worship in spirit and truth (Jn. 4:24). If you are not worshiping in spirit and truth you are not worshiping the God of the Bible.
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (Jn. 8:31-32). How can you hold to the teachings of Jesus and His Word if much of that to which you hold is false teaching (of the devil)?
If you are not holding to Jesus' teaching, then you are not really His disciple and you cannot be set free from false teaching which is the doctrine of demons and is darkness. To some degree you are in bondage to Satan, the father of lies, because only the truth will set you free.
If you are not free from false teaching then you do not have the power to be an overcomer---indeed you are already nearly overcome.
Also, Jesus emphatically said that if you do not meet the three conditions in Luke 14 for being a disciple (learner) then you cannot be His disciple (learner). If you cannot be His learner, then how can you possibly know the truth? And if you cannot possibly know the truth, then how can you be set free from error?
If you have never become a disciple of Jesus then how great is that darkness in you! How spiritually anemic you are! How can you possibly be an overcomer during the Great Tribulation? Jesus said He would never leave you nor forsake you, but will you forsake Him? Will you forfeit your birthright for a single meal like Esau? Will you have the power to refuse the Mark of the Beast without which you will not be able to buy even a loaf of bread, or a gallon of gasoline or pay your rent or pay the taxes on your property?
The Bible clearly teaches that a time will come when Christians will not put up with sound doctrine (worldlings never have put up with sound doctrine) (2 Tim. 4:3). Christians "will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth" (2 Tim. 4:4). And many Christians today "eager for money, have wandered from the faith" (1 Tim. 6:10).
Are you putting into practice the truths of the Word listed above that even "pastors" ignore or explain away? Jesus said, "The one who hears My words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete" (Lk. 6:49).
Jesus prayed to the Father, "Sanctify them by the truth; your Word is truth" (Jn. 17:17). We are sanctified (made holy) by the truth. The more error you embrace the less holy you are. "Without holiness no one will see the Lord" (Heb. 12:14).
The apostle Paul warned, "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons" (1 Tim. 4:1).
Are you following things taught by demons such as the heretical Pre-Tribulation Rapture teaching or many of the other lies exposed in this proclamation?
Speaking of endtime Christians, Jesus said, " At that time MANY will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other" (Mat. 24:10). Many Christians today, without realizing it, are turning away from the faith. They are embracing many false doctrines.
Over the past 20+ years this writer has been betrayed and hated by many more Christians and professing Christians than by worldlings. All these Christians, unless they repent and come out of the churches will almost certainly be overcome by the Antichrist.
Near the end of Paul's ministry he warned that, "Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them" (Acts 20:31).
Jesus said, "See to it that NO ONE misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying I am the Christ and will mislead many" (Mt. 24:4). All "pastors" today who have been born again come in Jesus' name saying Jesus is the Christ, but are misleading many.
The "pastors" who are true Christians have good intentions, but good intentions are not good enough. They are unknowingly preaching and teaching much false doctrine. Many of them are little more than parrots, repeating what they learned in seminary or Bible college or from other well-meaning, but deceived teachers or preachers or writers. Much of their teaching is lies (darkness) instead of truth (light).
Most Christians today are like the proverbial frog in slowly heated water. They are enjoying the warm water, but will soon be overcome when it is too late. The frog does not realize his perilous predicament, succumbing because of his lack of discernment and accurate assessment of the situation.
If you are a Christian and will not accept the truths from the Word of God presented in this article, then you have left your first love, you have been overcome. Jesus is the Truth personified.
In addition to the true Christians who come in Jesus' name, and who mislead or deceive many, are the false teachers and false prophets who come in Jesus' name and deceive many. These would include the millions of Roman Catholic priests and leaders. This would include thousands of "pastors" who have not been born again in the apostate mainline Protestant denominations such as the Southern Baptists, United Methodists, Presbyterian and liberal Lutheran denominations, just to name a few of the many.
Most of the "church members" caught up in these mainline denominations have never been born again. They will take the mark of the beast without much, if any, deliberation.
Also, there are the false teachers and false prophets who do not come in Jesus' name but will give lip service to Jesus while denying His deity. Those cults are Jehovah's Witnesses, Mormons, most Seventh Day Adventist groups, Universalists, Unitarians, "Moonies" and many others. This article does not pertain to them; they will take the Mark of the Beast in order to try to survive.
Then there are the false prophets and teachers of the false religions such as Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism and a thousand other "isms." This article is not addressed to them, either. They likewise will take the Mark of the Beast and perish.
Many Christians have been brainwashed into believing that, in essence, their salvation depends upon staying in their "church." The truth is, in order to overcome the false teaching in their church and to be an overcomer during the Great Tribulation, they need to come out of it.
The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine (2 Tim. 4:3). That time has been here for a long while.
Most Christians today are like God's people in Jeremiah's day. The prophet wrote, "A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: The prophets prophesy lies, the priests [pastors] rule by their own authority [God did not send them], AND MY PEOPLE LOVE IT THIS WAY" (Jer. 5:30-31).
When God's people had become apostate (had fallen away from truth) during the time of Amos the prophet, God said to His people, "I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies" (Amos 5:21).
The apostle Paul said at one point, "Your meetings do more harm than good" because of divisions among the brothers when they came together as a church and because of the way in which they handled the Lord's Supper. Likewise today, like churches in Asia that Jesus rebuked in the Book of Revelation and was about to remove their lampstands or vomit them out, your meetings do more harm than good!
Most Christians would rather remain loyal to their "pastor" and "church" than to the truth and Jesus Christ. Many would say, "After all, my pastor is a dedicated man. He has been to seminary and is a good preacher and teacher. It is ridiculous to think of coming out of such a church. And besides, the Bible says not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together."
"This frightening hour calls aloud for men with the gift of prophetic insight. Instead we have men who conduct surveys, polls and panel discussions. We need men with the gift of knowledge. In their place we have men with scholarship---nothing more." A.W. Tozer
7. What You Should Do After You Come Out of The Churches
First let us deal with the most common objection Christians have concerning coming out of the churches: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together (Heb. 10:25). Dear Christian, you do not have to forsake assembling with other like-minded Christians. One does not need to assemble with believers in the so-called churches, none of which are scripturally organized and none of which have a God-sent pastor.
The apostle Paul inspired by the Holy Spirit of Christ said, "In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us...Do not associate with him..." (2 Thess. 3:6, 14). Here is a clear command from Jesus to not associate with any brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching of the Word of God.
You do not have to forsake the assembling with other like-minded Christians who love Jesus with all their heart, soul, mind and strength who refuse to compromise and who do what is necessary to be overcomers, just because you come out of the endtime apostate churches. Where is your loyalty? Is it with a "pastor" that was not even sent by God and an apostatizing "church" that is compromising God's Word and going over a cliff? Or is your loyalty with Jesus Christ and the truth?
"Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work" (2 Jn.1:9-11).
So, are you going to continue to assemble with someone who does not continue in the teaching of Christ or are you going to share in his wicked work?
Are you going to continue to assemble with a "church" like the one in Laodicea who Jesus is about to vomit out, or with those churches that were about to have their lampstand altogether removed? Have you not already forsaken the assembling with one church because you found one that you like better? Perhaps one that had a better "youth ministry" for your children? Of perhaps you forsook one "church" for another one because you liked the "pastor" better?
Did you say you are not looking for "the perfect" church because there is no such thing? There never has been, but this does not mean that you should continue assembling in a "church" that does not continue in the teaching of Christ.
So, you think that if you stay in a church (which is not scripturally organized and does not have a God-sent pastor) you can help to straighten them out? It does not work that way my friend. You will be pulled down in the mire of compromise. You, too, will likely be overcome.
As a reminder, if you stay in the churches of the last days, you will likely be overcome by the Antichrist and take the Mark of the Beast. Those who think they cannot forfeit their salvation (who believe in unconditional eternal security) are deceived.
Many Christians will believe they have been forsaken by God because they were not raptured before the Great Tribulation. They will not know what to believe anymore and will be overcome. Their choice to take the Mark of the Beast will result in the smoke of their torment rising for ever and ever (Rev. 14:9-11).
So, we come to what you should do when you come out of the churches. Following are a few suggestions with which to start:
Repent of your worldliness and compromise of God's truths. Get out of debt. Sell your mortgaged house, financed car, truck and everything else that you cannot pay off with cash. Cut up your credit cards and close the accounts. Get rid of your television. Cleanse your house of everything that you know is not honoring to God. Obey the biblical truths presented in this treatise. You may need to change jobs. Simplify your life.
Begin having a daily quiet time with the Lord before you begin your day. Pray and read at least one chapter of the Bible every morning (in addition to other Bible reading) and read through the New Testament and Proverbs. Pray for God to give you wisdom and discernment.
You do not need anyone to teach you. The Holy Spirit will teach you all things (Jn. 14:26) if you meet the three conditions in Luke 14 to be a disciple (learner) of Jesus. The Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth (Jn. 16:13).
Obey God in everything that He reveals to you and ask Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit. Once you have become a disciple and have been filled with the Holy Spirit the apostle John said, "As for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit---just as it has taught you, remain in Him" (1 Jn. 2:27).
If you become a disciple according to Luke 14 and are filled with the Holy Spirit then "one is your Teacher, the Christ" (Mt.23:10). You will not need a "pastor" or elder or anyone else to teach you the truths from God's Word. You will learn in due time that all the teaching presented in this website is true. Indeed you will know the truth and the truth will set you free from the bondage of false teaching.
Read all the approximately 180 New Testament commandments and obey them. (Please see article titled The New Testament Commandments). Jesus said if you love Him you will obey His commandments. Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.
Do not forsake the assembly of other like-minded believers who love the Lord and are obeying Him. But beware of those who want to start a "house church" that is not scripturally organized and that is led by a "pastor" who has not been sent by God to be a pastor.
It is all over. The apostasy will continue to get worse until the Antichrist is revealed and the Great Tribulation begins. There will be no true "revivals" contrary to what many teach today.
You must become a disciple according to Luke 14. You must prepare yourself to be an overcomer. Jesus said, "He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death [which is the Lake of Fire]" (Rev. 2:11). The clear implication is that those who do not overcome will be hurt by the second death. Getting your head chopped off because you refuse to take the Mark of the Beast is not being overcome. That is victory! You will have a martyr's crown to lay at Jesus' feet. Jesus is the only one worthy.
If you are compromising the truths set forth in this proclamation, then what makes you think you will not be a compromiser during the Great Tribulation and take the Mark of the Beast when the real pressure is on?
In summary, you must come out of the churches if you do not want to be influenced and deceived by the many false doctrines taught and preached by men (and women) who have not been sent by God to teach and preach. You must work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12).
http://www.bethelministries.com/ComeOut.htm
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The HEART of the issue is truly the issue of the HEART!
John 3:3;Mark 8:34-38;James 1:27
Posts: 3529 | From: Orange, Texas | Registered: Jun 2002
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