Doesn’t what you say recall the parable of the Samaritan?

It’s up to us, isn’t it?

God bless your day.

I go to a church that teaches directly from the bible, not sugar coated scripture. There are good churches out there, but a lot are pushing the prosperity gospel.

I’ve come across this idea a lot. It doesn’t hold up to scrutiny.

1. Your home, closet, garden, etc should well be a place where God is welcome and engaged with regularly, but it does not substitute in the least, a congregation of faithful men and women who can strengthen one another. Trees are hardy, strong things. A tree in a forest of similarly rooted trees, is ALWAYS stronger and longer enduring than a single tree exposed to the elements. All it takes is time. The single tree will fall. And it’ll take the sproutlings with it.
2. Corrupt “men” or “women” have always manipulated people to enrich themselves. Ignore the “institutions” that “have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof.”
3. The Son worked under the Authority and as a direct witness of the things “He saw His Father do.” He then authorized the Twelve to go forth and build up the Church with His Authority given to them. The Twelve held the Authority to organize the Church of Jesus Christ. Yet they also knew of a truth, by the Prophetic Statements of Jesus of Nazareth, as well as their own Revelations, that both they, as well as the early Saints of God, would be destroyed and overcome by the beast which had power from the Dragon.
4. Be wise. God is one Truth. The Apostles built one church, though there were congregations of it throughout Asia Minor and the Middle East, some even so far as modern London. Yet all acted as one. All united by Priesthood Authority as possessed by the Twelve Apostles, who likewise received it from the Son, who received it from our Father.
5. Given point 4, that means there are all kinds of churches, some established by good men, good women who lacked authority and who’s attempt has been taken over by opportunists who exploit the misdirected faith of others. And yet others which are outright wolves in sheep clothing. Devouring flocks, molesting generations of children, and more unimaginable evil not as yet public. These are they whom our Savior Himself declared “Many will come in my name, saying I am Christ.” He declared each of us look and understand. He also gave us the 2 greatest clues for our day and time, to identify the two greatest churches to stay away from.
6. “He is here, in the Desert” —believe it not.— What great world religion do we now see at a distance, which arose from the great desert? If you don’t know what it is, I can help you. I’ll say this though it rose to combat point number 7.
7. “He is in the secret chamber” —believe it not.— This one is so painfully obvious, so let me only add this; Every single split. Each one. Mr. Luthor, and every single branch of that tree, grew from a dead trunk. The roots of that tree extend not to the Savior, but well before him. About 450 years before the Son was sent. The College of Popes were the highest degree of Roman “priesthood” long before the advent of their Empire. Also, consider this, if the Son deferred always to His Father as the only righteous man, think on this. He wouldn’t even allow inferior men to call Him good. But the addressee’s of point 7 go by the title “holy father”, which is as blasphemous as anyone could imagine.
8. In searching for the truth, for the pure Authority God has granted to man, the True and Living Order and that is the key isn’t it? Order. We know, of a truth that God is a God of Order. Organized. So sitting around popping off about false christianity and it’s thousands of dead branches, means nothing. What means everything, is finding the one, the true and living branch of the Tree of Life. All others are cheap counterfeits. But the One, it is very much real. The way to find it is to turn off all of the chatter of worldly men and women claiming authority that stems from a degree from a college, because the Savior did not establish a college, nor did He hand out degrees. He lay His Holy Hands upon the heads of twelve men, one of which was a devil, and He conferred upon them a Living Power and Authority. One that enabled the blessing of the faithful, the same miracles the Savior preformed, they preformed. After the Saviors death, they used the Authority Jesus gave them and added a faithful witness to the Quorum of the Twelve by the Laying on of Hands. Then they spent their lives building a Church in the image of God and His Son, one that explicitly bore the Name of the Son of God, knowing that their time was short and that not one stone would be left upon another. They whole thing would be torn down. But they saved the lives of thousands before the beast murdered them all, save John.
9. We need the One True Church and the One True Church needs us. As the Salt of the Earth, we receive power and authority to save our selves through Faith on the Son of God. Then to save our families. Then to save our neighbors, or more correctly, to bring to them and their understanding the path of Salvation.
10. Salvation requires Ordinances. Ordinances require authority. Authority cannot be purchased with money. It cannot be obtained by man from paper printed or hand written, no matter who signs it.
11. All bible believing Christians as well as Jews and other Israelites must acknowledge, by those very scriptures, that Authority can only be obtained now as it was in times of old, in One of Two ways. First and easiest way, by the laying on of hands by one who rightly holds the Priesthood Authority. Two, by the advent of Angelic Ministrants, who lay their hands upon a worthy man’s head and confer the Priesthood after the Holy Order of the Son of God.
12. Most “christian” institutions, reject the above, because it undoes them. They literally have nothing to stand on, and they know it. So why keep it going? As you mentioned, much money and power is to be had… to their own destruction.
13. One church has it. The Old and New Testament (KJV or Older) bare it witness. Search those books about Priesthood and Authority from God and you will find it existed from Adam through Malachi. You will also find that John called Baptist is the last Old Testament Prophet who held this Authority. Then you will find that John called Baptist was the first New Testament Prophet who held this Authority. But you will also find Jesus of Nazareth, a man who held a much greater power and authority from the Father. Then you will find Him choose twelve and give it to them. You will also find him choose other seventy and give it to them. It is there for them who are truly seeking the light.
14. Questions you should ask yourself. 1, when was the Gospel first Preached? 2, who are the Ancient Patriarchs?, 3, after the flood, how was the earth changed? Did Noah land where he started, or did he land on another side of the planet and affix names of places known to him, upon similar structures he found there? 4, why does that matter? 5, What authority did Abraham hold? Who did he get it from? 6, did Abraham confer, by the laying on of hands upon Isaac? Did Isaac do so to Jacob? Did Jacob do so to Joseph? Did Jacob bless all of his sons? 7, nearly 400 years later, came Moses, who was ordained under the hand of a Midianite man named Jethro… Where did he get his authority? How do we know Jethro had authority? Because God recognized his ordination of Moses… 8, what did it mean when God and Moses desired to make of Israel a peculiar people and a treasure? What does it mean that they were to be a nation of Kings and Priests? 9, What did the camp of Israel do in the wilderness that offended Moses and God? 10, What did God do about it? What are the “base commandments?” What are the “carnal commandments? Where did the Aaronic or Levitical Priesthood come from? What is it a lesser form of? Jump waaaay forward to John called Baptist and see him testify that we indeed baptizes with water, but that there comes one greater than he. But if John held the Levitical Priesthood as a Levite, how could Jesus be better than he, while of Judah? What is the Melchizedek Priesthood the Son held? Where did He get it from? Why is it called Melchizedek Priesthood? Who was Melchizedek? What became of Melchizedek? (He was from the Abraham time frame and conferred the Priesthood upon the head of Abraham and Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek. See the Book of Genesis) Because of how righteous Melchizedek was, is that the reason the Priesthood, or Authority to act on God’s behalf, renamed? Took away the too frequent use of the name of God in speaking of it? Hmmm…..
15. Finally, we know that Joel, Amos, Daniel, Ezekiel, and the Savior, the Apostles, and particularly John spoke of a time when men and women would run from the north to the south, east and west, seeking the word of the Lord and would not find it. We also know from them that there was to be a period of time wherein the beast made war with the remnant of the Church of Jesus Christ, and over came them. We further know if a time identified in the last days, as a restoration, the fullness of times, and as the Savior Himself stated that “again this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached again in all the Earth and then the end cometh.” So the Son of God said both of these two things. The beast will overcome the Saints of God (Daniel also said that the beast would “wear out” the Saints”) and that the Gospel HE was preaching and that His Apostles were preaching, would AGAIN be taught at the last days, for a witness unto them (us) that HE is Christ. This was explicitly to occur after the false swearers “out of the secret chambers” and “out of the desert” had their false ministries.

In conclusion, for those who read and considered each point and question without the noise of the world and unauthorized conjecture from those who have no recognizable authority, God lives. He is at the Head of One and only One Church. It is the same Church He gave to Adam and our ancient fathers and mothers until the time Moses arose and the children of Israel rejected the higher law in the wilderness. The came the lesser law as a type and shadow of the coming of the Messiah. Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled all of the prophecies of all the ancient Prophets who prophesied in power and authority. Jesus is Christ. There is no one employed in His stead. It is Him. Only Him and you. He built a Church on the Foundation, or Rock of Priesthood Authority. He filled the souls of all men and women who would, with the Gospel or Glad Tidings of Great Joy. It was organized as is attested to in the New Testament, with offices of Priesthood and ordinances of Salvation. He prophesied of its fall, but also prophesied of its renewal, or restoration in the Last Times. How will it be recognized from the abundance of false churches bearing in vain His name? Look for the same structure, the same authority, the same powers, revelations, gifts, ministering of Angles, miracles, etc as was had in the first iteration under Jesus Christ. Look for Prophets, Apostles, Seventy, Priesthood Authority connected with the Heavens, look for the saints of God, a people united in faith and seeking greater light and truth. Look for the Ordinances of Salvation. Look for the Temple and its ordinances. Look for the Church that teaches of an Eternal God. The Father, Holiest of All, His Son, Jesus Christ. Look for a Church that also teaches the Saviors Gospel. “This is Life Eternal, that they might know thee, God the Eternal Father, and Jesus Christ, whom He hath sent.” Ignore what all others say of this Church against it. Seek its truths yourself and be rewarded and then share that reward with as many as you can. This is salt which hath not lost its savor.

Run from any churches who take the words of the Savior and makes them a lie. Which teaches of a God who is unknowable. Much more could be said here, but follow the inspiration of the Holy Ghost and you will end up in the correct place. Mock, scoff, pledge to never join any church, which is your God given choice, because you don’t “need” His institution, at your own peril.

Above all, remember that God is our Father and loves each of us. He is not looking for ways to “damn” us on technicalities, or past bad behavior. He is all loving and all knowing. He wants us to succeed. He does not want to damn us, but to exalt us. To make us Joint-Heirs with Jesus the Christ. Inheritors of His Kingdom and possessors of His joy and His type of Life.

Tune out all of the noise of this fallen world. Ignore the well dressed, articulate, silver tongued mockers and join with me, and a small, but goodly host of our Fathers children, who are dedicated to living pure lives, uplifting our wife/husband and children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and who love and respect our neighbors as ourselves, in hopes that they can be as happy as we are. God bless everyone reading. My best wishes to all who desire to follow after the Son. May we, all of us, obtain Him and His Mercy, in the name of the Son of God, Amen.

(I almost never am able, due to mortal illness, follow along to replies. So those who respond, if in ridicule, I won’t see it. If in question, I will not name the Church that our Savior has re-established, at His word that He would. You must seek it out carefully. The Scriptures bear witness of it. The Saviors life bore enough detail and clues to make it obvious. Those who care for God above all, will be led correctly, by the power of the Holy Ghost. Those who are of token interest, well, see the parable about the sower sewing seed upon different types of ground and if understood, get more interested. Soon, very soon, we will find this final chapter of the world coming to a close. I hope everyone here finds their way to the One Being capable of bringing protection, as well as eternal salvation.

I agree with this and feel the same way.

I’m a non-denominational Christian who is not into the organized, institutional, denominational aspect of Christianity. I prefer to focus on the teachings of the Bible and on having a personal relationship with Jesus.

You don’t need a church institution or hierarchy to have a relationship with Jesus or to go to Heaven.

I don’t belong to a church or attend a church.

With that said, I respect everyone’s right to their own beliefs and don’t seek to convert anyone or to change anyone’s mind. I’m just describing my own beliefs.

Well, I don’t know… please follow along with me here for a moment, Scarlet Red Rose. I love your faith.

Jesus called the Jewish leaders a bunch of snakes, among other things. They wanted to kill Him. Seems pretty rebellious to me…

He started a near riot outside the temple when, in the understated words of the Gospel account, He overturned the tables of the money changers – those selling animals and doves to be sacrificed by the faithful, and profiting from it.

Picture that scene in your mind: It’s crowded, busy. He’s not just speaking quietly like Mr. Rodgers, He’s getting physical; wrecking the joint, you might say. People noticed; some of them got a bit irritated, perhaps.

He came to fulfill the propesies among those who didn’t understand them. Think on that: That took a little doing.

I guess it comes down to what you mean by rebellous and defining from that whether Jesus was a rebel., as in one who opposes the status quo and acts on that opposition.

I think He was. It is in perfect keeping with the will of God.

God made a mess of things during the Flood; the unrighteous were drowned like a bunch of rats. It must have stunk for a while when the water went down.

God is downright fearsome and unfathomably awesome in His power. We forget that – I’m so glad that He is also so gentle and forgiving, and that He loves us so much.

We’re also lucky that we don’t have to carry the fight – Jesus did that for us, all the way to the cross, the pit of Hell, and back to being among us for a few days, and then sending the Holy Spirit to live in our hearts if we simply ask and mean what we’re saying. Gentle as a Lamb, He is poweful enough to rescue the souls of men.

We see and are drawn to the gentleness of our Savior; in our weakness we often overlook the powerful part of His nature that set the world on its ear and changed the whole course of civilization. Did He rebel against what the world had become? Yes. Did He give us – all of us, not just the Jews – a way out? Yes.

Do we need to keep rebelling? No. He handled that.

All we have to do is follow Him.

Peace – and God bless you.

Christ rebelled against the Sanhedrin– those who abused their religious authority.

Thank you – God gets the glory.

God bless you.

Thank you so much. I feel my words to be inadequate; if they touch you, I thank God for helping me sort them out as I wrote.

God bless you.

You’re most certainly welcome.