Christ First Forum

No it is not just you! And yes they have lost their minds!

It seems that every day we are seeing more and more signs of His return.

It is also lukewarmness to the max.

I think that hits the point dead center!

Am not surprised. I am so glad that my pastor would never stoop to this level. It is simply astonishing how foolish people are getting!

I don't think we are seeing what was in Acts, mainly because I don't think it's for the 21st century. I do think however that we may have a 2nd great Reformation along moral lines instead of doctrinal ones this time. Very exciting and scary

I believe 95% of what is called church these days is in reality a spiritually rotting corpse. Jesus described the Pharisees as dead mens graves white washed and pretty on the outside but rotten to the core. I have lost all use for the organized businesses that claim to be houses of worship. All denominations are compromising and seeing how much like the world they can be. Name me one thing thats different in most churches than what the world does or offers. Is Divorce rates any lower? Are church members avoiding fornication and adultry? Are churches makling real disciples or turning out assembly line babys who will never grow beyond needing milk? I proclaim the mainline church a dismal failure and Ichabod is on the doors but no one can see it. In Revelation Jesus describes being at the door knocking many missuse this for evangelism but he was referring to the Luke warm churches that depend on promotions instead of true power, gimmicks instead of the gospel, appearing spiritual but not knowing a true move of the Holy Ghost if he slapped them upside their empty heads. If Jesus was to walk down the isle of most churches would he even be recognized today? Vent mode off.

Hi brothers and sisters, I haven't been here in a while but I got this post in an email and wanted to definitely respond and agree. John said "it is the last hour/time" close to 2000 years ago and we know it is the last hour because of the many antichrists that are popping up everywhere, as a prelude to the Antichrist (1 John 2:18-19). The false prophets are going to profess Jesus Christ with their mouth but deny Him with their life (1 John 2:22). Just like Jesus said, they will come in His name saying that Jesus is the Christ with their mouth (Matthew 24:5) but their hearts will be far removed from Him (Matthew 15:7, 8). The kingdom of God was right in their midst and they didn't even see it (Luke 17:20, 21). Their love of their carnal, earthly lust blinded them to the true spiritual kingdom and when they saw the works of God—the miracles—they had no excuse. It was either see themselves for what they were, repent, believe and submit or deny what they knew was the truth. They chose the latter and slandered Him because they loved their sin (John 3:17-21). Ironically in that day, Jesus will profess to them that he never knew them (Matthew 7:15-23). When the truth shows up, there really is no middle ground—which is why Jesus said you're either for Him or against Him (Matthew 12:30). We can try to create a middle ground, by being friendly with and tolerant of the world (James 4:4), but it'll be revealed that we're lukewarm and against Him when He finally spits us out His mouth (Revelation 3:15, 16). I remember reading a quote that says "Standing in the middle of the road is dangerous. You will get knocked down by the traffic from both ways." No doubt, there are modern day Pharisees and religious leaders who stand in their pulpits and profess Jesus is the Christ with their mouth but deny Him with their lives. They are adulterers and adulteresses as James said (James 4:1-4). They shake hands with corrupt politicians and businessmen and then try to wash their hands clean of their guilt, justifying themselves. Just like there were Pharisees and religious leaders of that day, it's the same thing today and nothing is new under the sun. And they had their flock of vultures who they gathered to themselves. We all have to search ourselves and ask for light through prayer and the word of God (1 John 1:5-7; Hebrews 4:12, 13). We have to love the truth about ourselves (2 Thessalonians 2:8-12). Loving in a sense that God has revealed it to us and we're extremely grateful for this light on areas of our lives that we didn't see or might have seen previously but denied. It is the only way to escape deception which is so thick in these last days (Matthew 24:3, 4; 2 Thessalonians 2:3). If we continue to deny the truth we will one day be given over and condemned by what we love so much—our lies, our flesh, our sin (John 3:18-20). God is evermore gracious because where sin abounded, grace abounded even more (Romans 5:20). An awesome and all-wise, all-knowing God we serve (Romans 11:32, 33)! He makes provisions for us and is long-suffering towards us, desiring that none should perish (2 Peter 3:8, 9). To Him be all the glory!

your brother,
KSol

This is EXACTLY what has happened to our church....

Our 'just ex preacher' brought in these people from 'Assemblies of God' into our congregation...

First it started off with 'comtemplary music with a band' then 'clapping replacing Amens' then 'raising of the hands' then 'the spiritual wave throughout the church' then 'the whispering, chanting songs.'

The interrient pastor walks around to the back of the sanctuary...down the sides...to the front...teaching and encourging these 'charismatic teachings',and yes, he's from our Southern Baptist Association...

I can't tell you 'when' was the last time a person was saved in our church....

Yes, this became too much for my husband and me, so we chose to leave...

What is sooo sad is that 'soooo many' within our church are 'sooo open' to this music, feelings, joining of all religions within our church, and etc...

The Antichrist and False Prophet will show signs and wonders,and I can see our churches are being GROOMED for his acceptance and his coming...

We don't live by FAITH anymore...

Even today sooo many churches are accepting Christlam, where the koran and Bible sit ...side by side....

I've read this 'falling away from God' would happen within scriptures,and believe it...however, when you truly EXPERIENCE it with those you care about...it's really sad...

It's important to FIND a church that still teaches the Gospel,and people are being saved...

The church might be SMALL,but that's okay...even in the OT it was always a very small remnant that was saved...

I truly believe only a small remnant will enter the Rapture...

I must answer in the affirmative to your question. After reading Frank’s post and comments thereto, my thoughts went to Hebrews 2, which speaks about drifting away from God’s truth! The chapter begins with the first of several exhortations in which we find a warning about the danger of drifting or as the verse puts it slipping away from the truth. Drifting is a dangerous thing, both physically and spiritually. Physically, when a boat drifts, we may not be aware that any movement is taking place and is also the same spiritually. The greatest danger we face as believers in Christ and as a church is the gradual drifting away from the adherence to the truth found in God’s precious Word. The writer of Hebrews uses a very vivid picture to illustrate what happens when believers fail to hold on to the truth of Christ, which has been happening for a long time. Spiritual drifting is usually a slow and unnoticeable process, especially when we are careless about the truth of God’s Word when we decide to skip:

(1) Sunday school and church services;
(2) Prayer meeting
(3) Bible study;
(4) Daily devotions
(5) Prayer

(6) Lastly, we know it has occurred when we have strayed from our devotion to Christ, having lost the strong resistance to evil, and the passionate desire for truth that we once knew and enjoyed. For every believer who succumbs to a sudden and savage assault of evil, a hundred more will slowly drift away from God’s truth, regular worship, and a life of faith in Christ Jesus.
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My brethren, as citizens of heaven, we live in a foreign country that isn’t our home, and the world certainly isn’t our friend. People who don’t honor God, who don’t know the truth, and who would rather adopt the humanistic philosophies of this culture over God’s Word and be under the influence and control of the evil one, surround us daily. We are warned not to love the world nor the things of the world (1 John 2:15). We are also exhorted not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed (Romans 12:1-2). We are also told that the thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Yet, are we watchful? No, we’re not and haven’t been for a long time. However, the question which needs to be answered by each born-again believer in Christ is, “What are the currents that cause one to drift away from the truth? I truly believe that as believers in Christ we have drifted away from God’s truth because of the:

(1) Current of time in which we grow weary of doing good, a concerned expressed in Galatians 6:9, “and let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not”. As time passes by, we can gradually lose some of the passion of our devotion to serve Christ. We may begin to rest on our accomplishments, and cease pressing forward. However, Philippians 3:13-14 tell us, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

(2) Current of familiarity. As we become familiar with the truth, it may seem commonplace to us and we may lose its sense of novelty or even take it for granted. Like the church of Ephesus, we may lose our first love Revelation 2:4.

(3) Current of society. The tides of modern opinion can easily deceive, influence, and induce us to drift away from the truth found in God’s Word. Every day we are bombarded by forces that could and will destroy us, if we allow them to. Some are internal, such as our pride and selfish desires. Many are external forces, such as secular humanism, false religions, ungodly media influences, acquaintances that don’t support our faith, and the stresses of life. Because of these, it is difficult to maintain a true course if one is not firmly grounded in the Word that directs life, and such things can and will move the believer away from the simplicity and wisdom of our Lord (Romans 12:2). Living a God-honoring life in an evil world is not primarily a matter of the right outer location but of the right inner separation. We are living in a world that is hostile to our spiritual survival. The essence of the Lord Jesus’ prayer for His followers in John 17 was this: “Keep them in the world, but keep the world out of them.”

(4) Current of the flesh. Our warfare is not only without, but also within. 1 Peter 2:11, “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.” Our flesh is constantly waging war against our souls, and against the Spirit who desires that, we follow Him. Galatians 5:16-17, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”

(5) Current of daily concerns. There are so many varying distractions that exist in our life today. There is the continuous weight of daily cares, the pressures of work, and family responsibilities can and will distract and blind us to what it means to know the Son of God, the hope of His calling, the riches of His inheritance, the power that He has provided for us (Ephesians 1:181-19), and the purpose for which we have been called. Jesus warned against this on several occasions. Luke 8:14, “And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.” Luke 21:34, “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with suffering, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.”

(6) Current of unbelief. It’s easy to say we trust God and yet we try to handle things ourselves without turning to Him and His Word. Although God is constantly working, He allows us to set a limit on the degree of work He does on our behalf. You can see this truth demonstrated in Mark 6 when Jesus tried to do mighty things in His hometown. They persisted in denying His deity, in spite of His obvious miracles because the people saw Him merely as a carpenter's son and not as God's Son, thus, they limited what He could do for them (v.5). Many people demanded from Jesus "a sign from heaven" (Luke 11:16). Jesus refused their arrogant and insulting demands, because their real problem wasn’t a lack of evidence; it was their stubborn unbelief. My friend, things haven’t changed very much because such unbelief exists today, even though God has provided ample evidence as a basis for faith. Our responsibility is to believe the testimony that God has provided, to trust in His Son, and to obey Him (John 3:36; 1 John 2:3-6; 5:1-13). When we do these things, He gives us an inner assurance that we are His, which makes further signs unnecessary. Lastly, there are so many distractions that exist in our world and daily life and these distractions can blind us to what it means to know the Son of God, the hope of His calling, the riches of His inheritance, and the power that He has provided for us (Ephesians 1:181-19).

(7) Lastly, and I think one of the biggest dangers of all, and one that is able to even make void the power of God’s precious Word would be false church traditions … (traditions of men ... practices and doctrines) that today’s churches are FILLED with. My brethren we know that Satan is doing all in his power to keep the unsaved from being delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of God’s dear Son (Colossians 1:13). Satan is the one who energizes the children of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2), blinds the minds of the unsaved lest the light of the Gospel reach them (2 Corinthians 4:3, 4), and holds the unconscious world in his arms (1 John 5:19).

But more importantly, it’s also revealed that Satan in his warfare will counterfeit the things of God, which undertaking will likewise be in accord with his purpose to be “like the most High.” He will promote extensive religious systems (1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15). In this connection it should be observed that Satan can promote forms of religion which are based on selected Bible texts, which elevate Christ as the leader, and which incorporate every phase of the Christian faith except one very important one; “the doctrine of salvation by grace alone on the ground of the shed blood of Jesus Christ.” Such satanic delusions are now in the world and multitudes are being deceived by them. Such false systems are always to be tested by the attitude they take toward the saving grace of God through the efficacious blood of Christ (Revelations 12:11). What we need to do is take to heart the words of the apostle Paul., when he told Timothy to focus on the purpose of his life and ministry (2 Timothy 1:6-13; 2:1-2, 22-26; 3:14-17). He also urged Timothy to tell others about Christ and to warn them not to turn aside from the truth (4:1-5). The values of this world can easily influence us, tempting us to despise "sound doctrine" and accept what is false. This is Satan's domain in which we live. He is our adversary and he wants us to get and stay off course, thus neglecting God's Word, and the purpose for which each of us have been called. And may I add he is doing just that.
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Closing comments:

Titus 2:12 tell us that, “We should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age”. This my friend is lacking today. In obedience to our Lord, we must be willing to go against the flow of society and not be conformed to the mold of this world. As we follow Jesus, our motives, values, and habits are bound to be different from those who are not believers in Christ. When you are marching to the beat of a different drummer, of course you will be out of step with people around you. This takes conviction, courage, and commitment, which is sorely lacking among the brethren of today. I'm reminded of Daniel, as he was an ideal model in his relationship with both God and man. There was no double standard with him and so it should be with believers who profess salvation in Jesus Christ. His daily conduct was consistent with his spiritual values and ours must also. His enemies tried to find some charge against him concerning the kingdom, but no fault could be found (Daniel 6:4). His walk before the world was in harmony with his walk with God, and so should yours if you’re truly saved by the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

I can only hope that we are in the midst of the Great Falling Away, for I'm looking, longing, and hoping for Jesus' return to take His children home.

Thank you BrotherFrank,and everyone for their insight and sharing , when I share my
concern's on this I get laughed at and mocked.no one it seems wants to hear it and I tell them its because the truth convicts,ie it scares them and they don't want to deal with it,they like things as they are,they don't want to hear that Christs returns is when a falling away, when you see armies gathering against Israel,earthquakes ,and many other things happening now , they just rather embrace the lie over the truth,they don't think they need a change in their thinking or heart... I guess if they don't believe it,it don't exist..The sad thing is Christian's are being pulled into non-believer's way of reasoning,and pat non-believers on the back and tell them Yeshua loves them just the way they are,well its true Yeshua loves every one, but He does not love that they are in bondage to sin and it will lead them to hell after they die..To tell them they are okay just as they are ,well such rational holds them in bondage .Everyone,ie Christian's know and understand Yeshua love us,but if He wanted us to stay just like we were from birth (born in sin )(Flesh) He wouldn't have needed to take all the sins of the world into His sinless Body and have them nailed to the tree at Calvary .. Compromising ,altering,twisting,pruning God Word in no way changes/conforms God to the world , Yeshua,God with us came to conform the world to the Word ( John3:16 , 17) And who-so-ever is NOT born again of Christ,is not Christs and wil not enter the Kingdom of Heaven ..Whats born of the flesh is flesh ,whats born of the spirit is spirit...
So many these days are running to and fro from one teaching to another each time
thinking they have found the truth ..The truth is of Christ Yeshua , God ...
They run from one Church to another,now its well to leave a Church whose teaching contradicts Gods Word ...Thats how pepople found the truth years ago,it was when they were given Bibles..now everyone can have a Bible... and If they would but read the Bible ,follow along as the Pastor reads from it,they would know when he is Preaching it word for word ...My Pastor say s " If you have your Bibles stand and read with me" he wants us to stand and read along..btw ,if you go to Church you should have your Bible,that is if you a Christan.....Oh stay away from Bibles that have been altered ,removing words.changing words to change meanings and some have whole verses removed..