Page updated 22 September 2018
Page Suggestions: Occult Influences, Tithing, the prosperity gospel, the preacher's role, Wolves in Sheep's Clothing
Organized Religion and the Great Apostasy
The Counterfeit Church (man's traditions and denominations)
Page 2
The church in our age is set up all wrong. It was never meant to be a one man show. God never intended for us to hire a man to take care of the spiritual side of our lives. But that’s what we’ve done. We expect the professionals to do the work of the ministry. We expect to sit back and be entertained and carried along by them. This is wrong. -Steve Lumbley, www.apostasywatch.com-
Churches are demonized social clubs
Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
Does Steve Lumbley's story sound familiar to you? It sure does for me! I believe it holds true for most of us. No thanks to organized religion! My mother and I will NEVER NEVER NEVER AGAIN have anything to do with organized religion or church people, [fakers, imposters, pretenders]. We have been treated so wrong by church people. Church people treated my grandparents horribly as well. And it was CHURCH PEOPLE [Pharisees] who arrested and crucified Jesus Christ in His day too (John 18). We thought these people were only coming out of the mega Baptist Church in town but now we see that these people are the same no matter what church they attend. Having me arrested, slandered, taking my job and my reputation was the last straw. [Read my story.]
I think that maybe most often people attend church because friends invited them. Then part of the time they may make a public commitment for Jesus but often not be sincere about it or care to understand what it is all about. Thus, there is no genuine HEART CHANGE going on. A lot of people go to church for social aspects alone. They join a "clique" and believe they are saved because they go to church and their friends love them. None of this has anything to do with salvation. Some parts of the world Christian people have to meet in secret. Some parts of the world there are people who have no one to meet with and also have to hide their identity. This does not make these people any less of a Christian. These people are more likely to identify with Jesus than anyone who meets up with their friends in a church building. A true salvation conversion will exhibit the fruits of the spirit written about in Matthew 7:15-20
(verse 15) Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
(verse 16) Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
(verse 17) Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
(verse 18) A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
(verse 19) Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
(verse 20) Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.Matthew 7 verses 15-20 and
Galatians 5:22-26(verse 22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
(verse 23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
(verse 24) And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
(verse 25) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
(verse 26) Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.Galatians 5 verses 22-26. Read The 9 Fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said "FOLLOW ME." Read
Matthew 4:19And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.Matthew 4 verse 19,
Matthew 8:22But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.Matthew 8 verse 22,
Matthew 9:9And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.Matthew 9 verse 9,
Matthew 16:24Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.Matthew 16 verse 24,
Matthew 19:21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go [and] sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come [and] follow me.Matthew 19 verse 21,
Mark 2:14And as he passed by, he saw Levi the [son] of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.Mark 2 verse 14,
Mark 8:34And when he had called the people [unto him] with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.Mark 8 verse 34,
Mark 10:21Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.Mark 10 verse 21,
Luke 5:27And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.Luke 5 verse 27,
Luke 9:23, 59(verse 23) And he said to [them] all, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
(verse 59) And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.Luke 9 verses 23, 59,
Luke 18:22Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.Luke 18 verse 22,
John 1:43The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.John 1 verse 43,
John 10:27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.John 10 verse 27,
John 12:26If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will [my] Father honour.John 12 verse 26,
John 13:36Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.John 13 verse 36,
John 21:19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.John 21 verse 19,
Acts 12:8And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.Acts 12 verse 8.
Jesus never said to follow the "crowd." Jesus is NOT in the crowd. -NR Caetta-
Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7:14
We were talking to a local business owner recently. He asked us where we go to church. We told him NOWHERE! We said that these church people are the most vile, dangerous, evil, wicked, cruel, lying, murderous and on we went. He said that he agreed with us and then he added that they are also cheats and thieves. Then he began telling us stories of his own encounters where church people used his services and never paid him anything at all. Then they would stand behind a pulpit or in the choir with great pride
(Galatians 2:6But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed [to be somewhat] in conference added nothing to me.Galatians 2 verse 6) like they had done no wrong. Whenever someone tells him that they go to church somewhere he said that he "holds onto" his wallet. He told us that he was a Christian and used to be heavily involved in the church until he saw the wickedness going on and he got out before something major happened. He said that he runs an honest business and when he goes home at night he has a clear conscience that he has treated people in a fair and honest way. His books are honest, he said.
I too used to be heavily involved in church. I grew up in church. Since my grandfather was a preacher church then became my life. Church used to be where I felt the most comfortable but as terrible things kept happening I was feeling worse. Then I would be told "Oh, you just have to let it roll off your back." Really? Just keep winking my eye and walk on. No punishment, no justification, no accountability? No making amends? Really?