Too many times the motive behind decisions made in churches is the desire to attract people and fill pews. Sometimes this is because of a desire for more income to fund programs. Sometimes it is because of a desire for bragging rights to being the biggest or best in town. Sometimes the motive is more pure than this, but the doctrine is all fowled up and it is believed that attendance, membership, and perhaps baptism secures salvation. Whatever the case, it leads to compromising the word of God and calling it compassion. But true compassion leads to the ministry of reconciliation. True compassion comes from the Truth Himself and in doing so leads to one speaking the truth in love with the end being repentance and transformation. I find myself so often failing in the compassion of the Lord. I find myself being cold toward someone who needs something from God in a desperate way. I am often too busy to do what compassion demands and it is easier to be calloused than to be inconvenienced. Oh that God would impart to us His heart of compassion.
_________________Travis
A supernatural oneness is missing in the churches in America. Not among them....but within them.
QUOTE:______________________________________________________________Too many times the motive behind decisions made in churches is the desire to attract people and fill pews.______________________________________________________________I suspect this is one - among other - reasons why some churches are embracing a non-celibate lifestyle for its homosexual people. In doing so they are incurring the displeasure, distrust of other concerned Christians.Doing for the sake of being popular may work for a while but will die down before too long. Fortunately.Sandra
_________________Sandra Miller
I wonder how attendance numbers are doing in the institutional churches? They have big budgets to maintain and may be forced to compromise I order to "welcome" new tithe paying members.
I would LOVE to be part of a group where everyone consciously says "We are moving in faith that what Jesus prayed for is true, and that the Father answers His prayer for oneness just as the Father answered His prayer that the Comforter would be sent. That, in faith and obedience, we look at this Word and we commit to obeying it. And, so, we are going to love one another and wait in faith to receive the promise of Your oneness, and for that promise to persuade men that You, Father, sent Jesus."As a fellowship, we are discussing this actively and seeking Him for it.
_________________Tim
