The word “church” means “people called out from the world and to God,” “the universal (total) body of believers whom God calls out from the world and into His eternal kingdom,” and “belonging to the Lord” (https://biblehub.com/greek/1577.htm).
But the word “church” has come to mean buildings, and denominations (Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, etc.). And, these denominations of men have, for the most part, united with the government (in the USA) in an unholy union, and they have turned the church into businesses of men, being marketed like any other businesses of men.
So, that is not “the church.” These businesses may be called “church,” but they are not “the church.” For they are united with the world, and their target market is the world, and so they pattern their gatherings after the world in order to draw in large crowds of people from the world.
So, if we unite ourselves with these businesses called “church” we are not living as those who are truly called out from the world and to God. So, we need to get back to the basics. We need to return to what the Scriptures teach about the church and how we are to function as the body of Christ, and we need to leave these institutions of men who are united with the world behind us in order to follow Jesus in obedience to his will for our lives.
Something God gave me to share with all of you on this subject today:
I find the mega churches which tend to preach a “performance-based Gospel to be direct contradiction with God’s vision of gathering of believers.
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I am sorry, but I don’t understand what you mean.
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No worries Sue. I caught back up to you in your later message.
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I find mega churches not to teach a performance based gospel. Most are teaching no performance, a do nothing gospel where nothing is required of us. So people can continue living in sin without guilt. But if you mean by performance there is no life of Christ in their gospel, then I would agree.
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Sue, we are on the same page. These churches do not teach the Gospel. I have found many rural churches more in touch to teaching and proclaiming the Gospel without all of the big city bells and whistles.
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Oh, good! So glad!
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Well said, Pretty lady in Christ.
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Bonnie, thank you. Glory to God. Thank you for your kindness.
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You are welcome.
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Really good thoughts.
Thank you for sharing your heart.
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Thank you, Lydia, for taking the time to listen. Praise Jesus. Thanks for your encouragement.
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You’re welcome.❤
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