Does it matter which church we attend?
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I can’t find a church that believes every Word of God, so is it okay to just stay where I am? Should we attend church where the Word of God is ignored? What does God’s Word say about that?
Get this. We are in the last days, and in the last days people are supposed to be following false teachers, and false doctrines, because it is written that they will (1 Timothy 4:1-2, 2 Peter 2:1-3), and they will not put up with sound doctrine (2 Timothy 4:1-4). Everything is happening just as it is written that it will happen, so don’t let it shock you.
Read the following passage of scripture and know that God is still in control.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. NKJV
If God sends them a strong delusion because they do not love the truth, who is going to stop Him (verse 11 above)? Some people wake up and realize that they are in one of these churches that ignores what is written in their Bible, and they want me to help them fix it. There is no fixing what God said is going to happen. It’s going to happen, if they do not repent. You need to come out from among them if you are not there to proclaim what the Bible actually says, and if you are doing that in one of these places, you won’t be there long anyway.
You might be thinking that there is no where else to go. I know that feeling, since it took me a year to find just one preacher on TV that still preaches the Word of God like it is written in the Bible. However, bad company is only going to change you (1 Corinthians 15:33-34), and it is far better to meet where two or three believers are gathered, even if it is arond your coffe table, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season (Hebrews 11:25).
Hebrews 11:25
25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, NKJV
1 Corinthians 15:33-34
33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” 34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. NKJV
You might say, “Everybody sins” to which I would respond, “Really.”
1 John 5:18
18 We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. NKJV
1 John 3:8-9
8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. NKJV
You might say, the music is great, and God enthrons the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). God also says to take away the noise of your songs until righteousness reigns (Amos 5:23-24). He is looking for people who will worship Him in Spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). Can we reject the truth, which is the Word of God (John 17:17), and still worship Him? Let Jesus answer that question.
Matthew 15:8-9
8 “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'” NKJV
Get the teaching right first! The only thing that counts is faith (Galatians 5:6), and faith always includes the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Faith comes by hearing God’s Word (Romans 10:17), and not by man’s wisdom, or philosophy, which takes away the power (Colossians 2:8, 1 Corinthians 1:17, 1 Thessalonians 2:4-6).
I used to visit several churches that had great music and then leave right after the music, until the preachers started talking inbetween the songs. I don’t see anything wrong with just going to hear the music, especially if the preaching is lousy. Where is it written in the Bible that you have to stay the entire time. People listening to Jesus were free to come and go as they pleased.
Answer this question. Is there one church left in this country that the following verses are welcomed? If there is, then that’s where you need to go. There may only be 15 old people there, but without a doubt that’s the place. If they are willing to take a stand for the parts of God’s Word that almost every church in this country ignores, then that is the place, and when you find it let me know so I can support them too. That’s where I want to go when I’m on vacation, since when this country falls, that will ceretainly be the place to be.
2 Thessalonians 3:6
6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. NKJV
2 Thessalonians 3:13-15
13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. 14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. NKJV
Ephesians 5:3-11
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. NKJV
1 Corinthians 5:9-13
9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner — not even to eat with such a person. 12 For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? 13 But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.” NKJV
2 Timothy 3:1-5
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! NKJV
Romans 16:17-18
17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. NKJV
John 15:1-6
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. NKJV
Most Christians are willing to walk in some form of personal godliness. For example they may be sure to pray before every meal, or give a certain percentage of their income to a church, but very few take God at His Word, and say “As it is written, so let it be for me and my house!” We refuse to suppress the truth in order to fit in with world friendly Christians.
