I have talked with many on here and it seems to be a recurring theme among many who listen to these hard hitting preachers that are far from lukewarm or compromised, my question is simple is it our responsibility to leave a lukewarm church OR stay within that church using the influences the Lord has given us to set a Godly example to the lukewarm around us?
_________________Matthew Guldner
I can tell ya that the sermons on here have ruined me for all other preachers! I expect much more out of them BUT we are not supposed to be SNOBS about it either!!! So I expect much more out of myself as a listener but most importantly as a reader of the Word. BUT BE DOERS OF THE WORD, AND NOT HEARERS ONLY, deceiving yourselves, for if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror, for he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like but the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. ~ James 1.22-25 (This verse speaks to every believer regardless of denomination) We should be in a local church to encourage one another and so what if they are not where we (think we) are spiritually, perhaps the Lord would like to use us as encouragers instead of criticizers?!!! (huge grin) I think perhaps so because I have been a huge criticizer in times past of his churches and He is showing me that I am hindering more than I am helping.Just my two cents this morning!! God bless you Matthew!Lisa
_________________Lisa
Brother, what do YOU want to do?What did Moses do with the Israel?They were lukewarm too, oh they loved Egypt. They were in bondage yes, but they were used to it. They had everything that they needed it seemed. They lived in the fertile delta, they had the best of the best of the land of Egypt and because they thrived there Pharoah became jealous and put them through harder labour.But Egypt wasn't so bad afterall, compared to desert sands and rocky terrian no water and worse, no garlic, no onions and no leeks.But what did Moses do, abandon ship?He stayed with them and when it came to a point that God's wrath reached boiling, Moses stood in the gab and made up the hedge, crying that God would have mercy on this bunch. And God did.If your the only light in your Church and you leave it, they will be in darkness and are we not sent to be a light?Unless God has told you to get out, stay and pray!Get in your closet or pray with your wife or maybe there is another guy in the church that you can pray with that you two may stand in the gap and make up the hedge calling out to God to have mercy upon yourselves and for your church.Your church may like the onions and garlic in Egypt but if there is no one to stand proxy for them, who will?God bless as you seek an answer.
Thank you both for the responses, I really don't ask this for myself but in general to open discussion :). I agree with the both of you, We are the light of the world, this includes the church. How do we deal with this attitude of "Abandon Ship"? How do we minister to those that have become a Pharisee in the sense that they only look down on others who aren't as passionate about the Gospel and Jesus Christ? I am asking these questions because for this kind of community of strong believers who get more than the daily dose of a Sunday morning sermon.
