Thursday, February 19, 2015

15 Churches Christians Should NOT Attend

  1. The Gospel-less Church: This includes the Roman Catholic Church, Kingdom Hall (the Jehovah's Witnesses' church), the Mormon Temple, the Seventh-Day Adventist church, the Christian Science Church, or any other false church. It even includes some Protestant churches.
     
  2. The Prayer-less Church: "And He said to them, "It is written, 'MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER.'"" Matthew 21:13
     
  3. The Non-evangelizing/Non-discipling Church: "And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." Mark 16:15; "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you" Matthew 28:19-20
     
  4.  The Child-less Church: If there isn't any crying, the church must be dying. "But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."" Matthew 19:14
     
  5. The Licentious Church: This church has received a false gospel, one that teaches they are free in Christ to do whatever they want to do. The Grace Life Conference is part of this heresy. "Do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh." Galatians 5:13b.
     
  6. The Cussing Church: This includes those churches where pastors cuss from the pulpit in an attempt to be "hip" or "cool" or "relevant," despite what the Scriptures say: "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear." Ephesians 4:29; "There must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks." Ephesians 5:4
     
  7. The Woman-led Church: "But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet." 1 Timothy 2:12; "For God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. Let the women keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but let them subject themselves, just as the Law also says. And if they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church. Was it from you that the word of God first went forth? Or has it come to you only? If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment." 1 Corinthians 14:33-37; "An overseer [pastor, elder], then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, uncontentious, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?); and not a new convert, lest he become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he may not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil." 1 Timothy 3:2-7
     
  8. The Gay Clergy-led Church: "You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination." Leviticus 18:22; "If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltiness is upon them." Leviticus 20:13; "For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error." Romans 1:26-27; "Or do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
     
  9. The Seeker-driven Church: Worship is for the believer—not the unbeliever. Unbelievers cannot worship God. Think about it; how can they worship someone they do not believe in? So why are these churches seeking to fill their pews with unbelievers who have not undergone a spiritual transformation?
     
  10. The Chaotic Church: "If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret; but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God. ... For God is not a God of confusion but of peace." 1 Corinthians 14:27-28, 33a
     
  11. The Narrative Church: Where the pastor gets up in the pulpit, perhaps reads a verse or two, and then proceeds to tell story after story after story (or joke after joke after joke). "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction." 2 Timothy 4:2
     
  12. The Music-centered Church: Church is not all about you—it is about God! If your church gathers people simply because of its music, then there is something wrong with your church. "But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'"" Matthew 4:4
     
  13. The Para-church: Campus ministries are not churches! They are supposed to serve a church. In other words, they should be a ministry of a local church.
     
  14. The House Church: Yes, house churches existed in the New Testament, but they were led by strong spiritual leaders who were trained by the Apostles. Too many house churches today are led by people with little education or understanding in Scripture, and the lessons taught are left open to subjective opinions and feelings as to their interpretation. Unless a house church is a ministry of, and is subject to, a local church, it is best to avoid them.
     
  15. The English Ministry: An immigrant group begins an immigrant church for their own people in their own language. Their children develop an English-speaking youth group and begin having separate services inside the immigrant church.

"Not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near." Hebrews 10:25