Church or Church: What you must do

That's a strange title don't you think? Yes, it is. However, it's an important question and needs to be answered by all that claim the name of Christ. I'm writing this with double intentions. One, to warn and inform. And two, to educate to relocate. I’m praying that you read with a total reliance upon the Holy Spirit. I’m praying that you trust the Spirit of God to show you the truth presented here. We never have to be afraid of the truth because, "ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32)

What is the True Church?

I have covered this in detail with previous articles. See house to house for a full explanation. I will; however, review this important material. Pay careful attention to this for it is a vital truth that is grossly overlooked, if not all together hidden, from the majority of Christians. As with any important decision we make as Christians, we must make them based on sound Biblical principles. We must take the Bible seriously and authoritative. It must be the rule and rod for which our lives are governed.

The enemy (satan) likes to create smoke-screens in our minds. But we're "…not ignorant of his devices." (2 Corinthians 2:11) he is a master at the art of deception and ruse. Remember "…for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." And "Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." (2 Corinthians 11:14,15) Beware and watch out!

One of the important things the Holy Spirit does is bring us to truth—if you have the Spirit. He also brings us, points us, and directs us to Jesus. Wouldn't you say the most important thing in your Christian life is Jesus? I hope so. God always brings back to Jesus; Jesus is the foundation of Christianity. We have to be 100% for Jesus nothing less will do.

"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name." (Philippians 2:9)

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

"For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us." (2 Corinthians 1:20)

"And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2:46,47)

We must always remember that "we" means those that have truly been born again and saved by Jesus Christ are THE CHURCH. This includes all those living now on the earth (sometimes called the Church militant) and all those in glory (called the Church triumphant). We are the Church—the body of Christ. The people comprise the Church not walls of a building. All those that are truly born again and know the savior we make up the entity called Church. No building, creed, or denomination can be the Church. Please get that into your understanding because this is very important.

Old Testament passages that show we are His people and Church

"For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him." (Genesis 18:19)

"Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, [even] to Horeb. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush [was] not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here [am] I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest [is] holy ground. Moreover he said, I [am] the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God." (Exodus 3:1-6)

"Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be [as] still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, [which] thou hast purchased." (Exodus 15:16)

"Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name [is] in him. But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies, and an adversary unto thine adversaries. For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off." (Exodus 23:20-23)

"And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy." (Exodus 33:19)

"And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD [am] holy, and have severed you from [other] people, that ye should be mine." (Leviticus 20:26)

"For thou [art] an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that [are] upon the face of the earth. The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye [were] the fewest of all people: But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt." (Deuteronomy 7:6-8)

"For thou [art] an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that [are] upon the earth." (Deuteronomy 14:2)

"But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him [to be] captain over his people, because thou hast not kept [that] which the LORD commanded thee." (1 Samuel 13:14)

"Howbeit the LORD God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah [to be] the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make [me] king over all Israel: And of all my sons, (for the LORD hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. And he said unto me, Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him [to be] my son, and I will be his father." (1 Chronicles 28:4-6)

"But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him." (Psalm 4:3)

"Blessed [is] the nation whose God [is] the LORD; [and] the people [whom] he hath chosen for his own inheritance." (Psalm 33:12)

"I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah…Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon [one that is] mighty; I have exalted [one] chosen out of the people." (Psalm 89:3,4,19)

"Blessed [is] the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law; That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked. For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance." (Psalm 94:12-14)

"The remnant shall return, [even] the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God." (Isaiah 10:21)

"Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, [in whom] my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles." (Isaiah 42:1)

"But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called [thee] by thy name; thou [art] mine… [Even] every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him… Ye [are] my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I [am] he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me… The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, [and] rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen. This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise." (Isaiah 43:1,7,10,20,21)

"And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there." (Isaiah 65:9)

"For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, [even] I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out." (Ezekiel 34:11)

See also: Genesis 21:1-3; 17:1-4,5-9; 27:27-29; Exodus 2:1-3 (God chose Moses) 12:1-13; 15:13.16 (God reserves for Himself a people) 31:2,3,6; 40:15 (chosen priesthood fulfilled in Christ) Numbers 16:7; 17:5,8; Deuteronomy 4:37; 9:4-6; 10:15; 21:5; 26:18; 29:12-15; Judges 13:3,5,24,25 (chosen beforehand) 1 Samuel 2:24,25,28; 3:4,10; 2 Samuel 6:21; 7:8,10,12-16,23; 22:20; 1 Kings 8:53; 11:32; 14:8,13 (salvation before adulthood or infancy) 19:18; 1 Chronicles 11:3; 15:2; 16:13; 17:7,21,22; 29:1; 2 Chronicles 6:6; 21:7; 29:11; 32:31; Ezra 1:3; 2:1 (Divine calling) Nehemiah 9:7; Esther 2:2,2 (type election of God) Psalms 22:9,10,30,31; 31:19,23; 33:15; 37:18,23,24; 47:4; 48:14; 65:4; 71:5,6, 74:2; 94:5,7-11; 105:6,26,42-45; 106:31; 135:4,12; 139:1-3 Proverbs 24:14,16; Ecclesiastes 2:10; 4:8; Isaiah (all of chapter 1 gives a call of God to come back) 13:3; 14:1; 26:2,3; 28:5; 41:8,9; 42:16; 44:1,2,21; 45:4; 48:10,11,12,15; 49:1,5,6,7,15,16; 51:2; 55:5; 65:22; Jeremiah 1:15; 31:1,3; Ezekiel 9:4-6; 20:5; 28:25,26; 34:15,30,31; 36:24; 37:26; Daniel 1:3,9; Amos 7:14,15; Jonah 1:1; Habakkuk 3:13; Haggai 2:23; Zechariah 1:17; 2:12; 3:2; Malachi 3:16,17,18.

"And the LORD was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet." (2 Kings 13:23)

"And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou [art] a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not." (Nehemiah 9:17)

"I have been young, and [now] am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread…For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off." (Psalm 37:25,28)

See also: Exodus 9:20,26; 10:23; 11:7; 14:30,31; 40:15; Numbers 20:12 (this is punishment not condemnation there is a difference from condemnation as in 16:26,31,33) Deuteronomy 4:37; 9:4-6; 13:17; 26:18; 32:43; Judges 6:11,13,14; 1 Samuel 7:3; 9:16; 2 Samuel 14:14; 1 Kings 6:12,13; 8:32; 9:3; 14:8; 15:5 2 Kings 32:31; Ezra 9:9; Nehemiah 1:5; 9:19; Esther 2:17; Job 36:7,10; Psalm 33:18,19; 37:17,18; 48:14; 49:15; 84:11,12; 85:8,9; 97:10; 105:24,42-45; 135:12; Ecclesiastes 2:4; Isaiah 19:25; 54:17; 55:31; Jeremiah 31:1; Zechariah 2:8,12; 10:6.

The New Testament

The Church started in a house, and then went house to house. Has the advent of denominations changed the way the Church is perceived in the world? I think it has greatly, and to the detriment as well. In the New Testament the word congregation appears only once in Acts 13:43.

"Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God."

It's the word soon-ag-o-gay', which means assembly, congregation, or synagogue. The word assembly appears only five times. In Hebrew 12:23 it's the Greek word pan-ay'-goo-ris, general assembly, a mass meeting. And in James 2:2 it is the Greek word soon-ag-o-gay', assembly, congregation, or synagogue. In the James passage it's interesting he uses this word seeing he is known for his Judaic overtones.

In the other three passages the word is the Greek word ek-klay-see'-ah, called out ones, assembly, or the church. This is the common word found in all the passages referring to the Church in the New Testament. This word appears 77 times, and in every place it's this word that is used. No other meaning is alluded to other than Church. The first time we find the word Church is in Matthew 16:18.

"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

Evidence of the validity of the house Church method.

"And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2:46,47)

"And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles." (Acts 14:27)

"Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper." (1 Corinthians 11:17,18,20)

"Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come." (1 Corinthians 11:33,34)

"If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying." (1 Corinthians 14:23,26)

New Testament passages that show we are His people and Church

"And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but [it shall be given to them] for whom it is prepared of my Father." (Matthew 20:23)

"Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." (Matthew 25:34)

"I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me." (John 13:18)

"Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2:47)

"But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to [the image of] Baal." (Romans 11:4)

"Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will." (Ephesians 1:5)

"And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." (Revelation 13:8)

See also: Mark 14:21; Luke 12:31,32; John 1:48; 8:47; 10:27,29; 17:12,20; Acts 2:39; Romans 8:29; 11:2,5; Revelation 13:8 (not written from the foundation) 17:8.

"And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18)

"So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen… And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but [it shall be given to them] for whom it is prepared of my Father." (Matthew 16:18,23)

"And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." (Matthew 24:31)

"Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." (Matthew 25:34)

"And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized: But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but [it shall be given to them] for whom it is prepared." (Mark 10:39,40)

"And when it was day, he called [unto him] his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles." (Luke 6:13)

"Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee." (John 1:48)

"John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven." (John 3:27)

"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out…And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day." (John 6:37,39)

"I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me." (John 13:18)

"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you." (John 15:16)

"Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world." (John 17:24)

"And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the [son] of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will…And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed." (Acts 13:21,22,48)

"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." (Romans 8:29,30)

"Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they [are] not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, [are they] all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. For this [is] the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son…Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will [have mercy], and whom he will he hardeneth." (Romans 9:6,7,9,18)

"Who shall also confirm you unto the end, [that ye may be] blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God [is] faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." (1 Corinthians 1:8,9)

"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will." (Ephesians 1:4,5)

"Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering." (Colosians 3:12)

"Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God." (1 Thessalonians 1:4)

"Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:2-5)

"To whom coming, [as unto] a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, [and] precious…But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light." (1 Peter 2:4,9)

"The [church that is] at Babylon, elected together with [you], saluteth you; and [so doth] Marcus my son." (1 Peter 5:13)

"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall." (2 Peter 1:10)

See also: Matthew Ch.1 (God choose Joseph/Mary) 3:9 (position or birth really does not have anything to do with it, it's by election) 3:12; 4:18,19,20-22; 10:1,2; 11:10 (speaking of John the Baptist) 11:25-27; 12:18; 13:30; 16:17,25; 19:25,26; 20:1-7; 22:1-14; 24:22,24; 25:32,33,46; Mark 1:20; Luke 1:5,6,13 (John elected and chosen) 17,26,27; 4:25-27; 10:1,20,22; 12:5,31,32; 13:24; 15:4,11-24 (the true child od God will come back if he sins) 16:19-31 (example of one chosen and one not) 17:27-29 (some chosen some not) 18:7; 19:3 (the drawing of God on someone) 19:5; 20:35; 23:35,39-43 (example of one chosen one not) John 3:33; 5:21; 6:44,45,64,65,70; 7:16,17; 10:3-5,14-16; 11:43-45 (example of calling, electing us to salvation) 51,52; 15:19; 17:10,11,12; 18:37; Acts 1:2; 2:25,39,47; 7:2,3; 9:3-6 (calling) 15,16; 10:41; 13:2,17,20; 15:14,17; 16:14; 18:10; 22:14; 26:16; 28:24; Romans 1:1,2; 8:28,33; 9:9-33; 11:5,7,28,29; 16:13; 1 Corinthians 1:2,24,26-30; 7:17; 2 Corinthians 10:18; Galatians 3:29; Colossians 3:15; 1 Thessalonians 5:24; 2 Thessalonians 1:11,14; 1 Timothy 5:21; 6:12; 2 Timothy 1:19; 2:10; Titus 1:1; Hebrews 2:13; 1 Peter 1:15; 4:18; 5:10; 2 Peter 1:3; 2 John 1:1,13; Jude 1:1.

What the Church is not

Now that we have firmly established what the Church is let's move on to what the Church is not. Remember we must uphold the Scriptures as the model for all Christian practices. Again, it's obvious and does not take a lot of effort to see that the institutional/denominations are not the pattern for Christians and Christian living. In what follows you may discover some things about your denomination you thought were Biblical but now are not. Once again, I pray that you would be led by the Spirit to understand.

Let me ask you a question, where do you go to church? Thank about that for a minute. Now go back up and read what the Bible says the Church is. Do you still think the church you go to is The Church? We cannot argue with the Scriptures. There is only one Church, and we are either in it or in something else. Brother, your crazy me leave my church? No, you can't leave the Church if your born again, why? Because YOU ARE THE CHURCH. Yes, you can and must leave a church if you're in a denomination, which is unBiblical. I know it goes against everything you've been programmed to believe, but it's better to obey God than man. God has His Church—His believers, His elect. Some of these believers are still stuck in these denominations they just need to be shown the door why? Because it's unBiblical. Again, the Church is not:

A building or denomination, an institution, a system, a program, creeds or confessions, religion, manmade, membership in some denomination, entertainment, false worship, filled with strangers, foreign men appointed pastors, TV ministries, children's church, choirs, bells, candles, fraternities, clubs, a business, a religious league, a service, an authoritarian regime, new love, freedom love, do what ever you want, ministries with man's name on it, church boards, seeker sensitive, emergent style, purpose driven style, come one come all, ministries, telethons, praiseathons, and et. al.! Get it? I think you get the idea. Beware what you listen to, read, or join.

Yes, these days look so very bleak, but we cry with the prophet Elijah,"And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away." (1 Kings 19:10) But we have hope for God says, "I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal." (Romans 11:4)

Are we to leave?

Given the facts stated above about the True Church, and the facts about the false church you have to ask yourself are you in or out? You have to weigh it with what the True Church is, what the false church is, and what God's word His written will for us says. Read, study, look around and open your eyes, look at what's going on. How can you stay? Let me tell you a bit of what happened to us. Years and years ago when the truth of God opened our eyes we saw what was happening, and the Spirit of God did so move on us that id we were blind we still could have seen it. We left and a weight of bondage was so lifted we felt born again again! We started home Church and have been ever since. When people ask us "what church do you go to?" and we say, "We home Church" you would think we had a disease. That's usually followed by "oh" and that's how it ends. Sad isn't it?

Today many, many Christians are sensing something is not right in "their" denominations. Many have already come out, and still many more need to be awakened. So, our purpose is only to warn and encourage the true believers. Warning those in their abusive controlled bondage denominations out to freedom in Christ! God must have complete sovereignty over our lives; we must submit and obey Christ not denominations. And to encourage those that have walked away, that they are doing the right thing. To us there is a place of glory with Christ outside of denominations. You need to leave if you see it. And don’t make the mistake I did once—thinking I could reform them. Forget it that wont work. Pick up pack up and move on.

As I have mentioned many times before in other articles, when we use the word Church with an upper case C we mean the True Church of God. When we use the word church with the lower case c we mean the false church system or denominations. The IC/DC's (Institutional churches/Denominational churches) are man made, buildings of bondage, filled with the world, polluted, dens of deception, hovels of heresy. Get out! So are we to leave? Yes.

Two wrongs never make a right

Let's go over some of the problems in denominations you might not be aware of. Again, remember denominations are man-made and sustained. Understand will be difficult but it's necessary. When you leave you will be attacked, if they care at all, for leaving. They may say, "your out of salvation, you're walking away from God, you need to be under authority, or you'll fall into deception." Pay no attention because cults do the same. God's true people are the tabernacle, His dwelling place, habitation, the Church of God. "Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach." (Hebrews 13:13) and as Moses did, "Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season." (Hebrews 11:25)

You can't be devoted to God and a denomination; God does not want that. You are members of Christ not "members" with them. Get in right worship—worth-ship, meaning how much is God worth to you? Who told you to pay 10% tithe, sing hymns from old saloon songs, give allegiance to your pastor, a denomination, a building all expensive and for a show, to bring in the xmas tree, to mix with other religions and especially the RCC? Ask yourself those questions. Ask yourself who told you? Because the things you're practicing did not come from God or His word. Check it out for yourself. You're being lied to and fed false doctrine. Your among unknowns and wolves in sheep's clothing.

Ask yourself, What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? What communion hath light with darkness? What part hath he that believeth with an infidel? What agreement hath the temple of God with idols? The leaders, pastors, ministers are become peddlers of God and his word. Conmen coercing you out money and using God to do so. Deceivers, ministers of unrighteousness, devouring dogs, lustful wolves, and spiritual pimps! Woe unto them! But we have to trust God, and hold fast to the Biblical traditions that have been handed down to us.

So many Christians are deceived by a great number of things like Christmas, Easter, Helloween, other holiday's, being bound by the law, and other such nonsense. But in those things right in front of them they are blinded as well—being deceived by their pastor, minister, and denomination. We need true men of God standing up for God's truth. The problem is no one knows what truth is anymore because its all been twisted and polluted. Much of it by your pet denomination and your pastor puppet! Jesus is not "professional pastor." So, live for His kingdom, live for God, live because Jesus is Lord! Galatians 4:22-31.

It has become "…the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird." The place where anything goes. But, "Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp." (Exodus 33:7) Again God's place is in us and it is spiritually discerned.

We look to another city (Rev.3:12) our mother is not the IC/DC's but the covenant of freedom (Galatians 4:24-26). His sheep hear His voice they follow Him. The Church is not the little building down the road with the bought and paid for pastor. Brought in from someplace unknown, see Acts 7:48-50. God's men of truth are sometimes alone in that truth. We're called, "…the church in the wilderness." And "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16) Get it?

It's the responsibility of all believers to shun the counterfeit and to take hold of everything God intended. The Lord's remnant is to look to the heavenly and away from anything that may be for self. It's Jesus and not you. But today it's "all me and maybe some of Jesus." If you believe all that is written in the Scriptures then we have all truth. Better act like it! Better have the attitude and project authority based on knowing truth for no one else does! Get back to the Scriptures and all that pertains to truth, revelation, and righteousness. Once again, Acts 7:38; Revelation 21:3.

If someone builds an institution its only human nature that it goes by a name usually the name of the man. Ministries named after the men that "so-called" founded them i.e. Billy Graham Evangelical Association, Kenneth Copeland Ministries, Jack Van Impe Ministries, John Hagee Ministries, or Billy Bob Ministries, etc. Jesus said His church would be built on Him not on us or by us. Men desire kingdom building for themselves Genesis 11:4. The Church does not need a name it has one already its called Jesus'.

Remember, "And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place." (Acts 7:7) See also Genesis 28:16,17; Hebrews 3:6; Matthew 7:14. Jesus said, "But I say unto you, That in this place is one greater than the temple." (Matthew 12:6) Spiritual things are only spiritually discerned. "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." This is true freedom according to Jesus.

"By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned." (2 Corinthians 6:6)

The truth is that anything before Him is an idol. Even a "christian" one (2 Corinthians 11:4). This is more misleading and more abhorrent to God. What agreement is there between what is God's and what is man's? Again we're ordered to leave and get away from man made traditions and cling to God.

But brother, what things? Inventions, traditions, regulations, man made rules, methodology, substitutes, rites, observances, religious junk. Who told you to leave your home each week and play worship or "service" with a bunch of unknowns? This is not geared for fellowship or person to person, but pastor exhalation. This is where there is an absence of "every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." With only a short time after the meeting shaking hands at the door with the "minister" (Oh, what an honor let me bow down and worship!) This is something foreign to New Testament fellowship. Activities are simply to keep the members happy and in false compliance to the New Testament. We're one when we come together for true New Testament fellowship and "doing" the work of ministry in the body. Ecumenicalism is evil. (2 Corinthians 13:8)

"But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (Matthew 15:9)

Watch out for your souls. Denominations are teaching another Jesus. Because Jesus' sheep hear His voice and as the sheep they merely follow the Shepherd. The true sheep does not hear any other voice. They love the Scripture but fear and reverence it; it does not entertain the remnant. "Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word…" (Isaiah 66:5) and "but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word." (Isaiah 66:2)

Are you trembling at His word or laughing at it. Is the word convicting you? Does the Bible bring you to your knees? Is the word changing you? Do you jazz them up with cartoons and jokes to make fun of it? Brethren, things have gotten way out of hand and are getting worse. Get ready for some awful times ahead!

"…Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?" (Ezekiel 34:2)

"Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them." (Ezekiel 34:10)

"And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine." (Leviticus 20:26)

"Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the LORD which hallow you." (Leviticus 22:32)

But,"He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still." (Revelation 22:11)

"For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ." (Philippians 3:18)

There is no fear of God before their eyes. They have become house's of heresy, entertainment, and celebration celebrating around the golden calf (money and false Jesus'). Spiritual whorehouses and palaces of pimps. Again, "…they are the enemies of the cross of Christ." (Philippians 3:18)

And it's a numbers game really. The puppet pastor "reports" to the hierarchy to tell them they had x amount of "new members" or x amount of "baptisms" which for the denomination translates into money, money, and more money so the "business can operate. "Sow your love gift of $100 and God will bless you with $1000!" is the mantra of these wolves. Because, "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me." (Matthew 15:8)

"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." (Colossians 2:8)

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1)

"Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth. Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled." (Titus 1: 14-15)

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Philippians 4:8)

Everything is geared in the denominations today to self. The music "praise and worship" with pomp and grandeur where the modern day pastor (priest) whether he's titled "pastor" or "reverend" or whatever (which is unBiblical) and is elevated in place of God? Or sitting in huge chairs behind the pulpit (altar) "waiting to be introduced." Ever notice folks obey him without question?

"Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick…" (Ezekiel 28:18)

"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" (Romans 6:16)

Avoidance and separation is not wrong it's not being ignorant either it is for our own safeguard guard your soul and spiritual well being. "He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls." (Proverbs 25:28)

"For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." (Romans 16:18)

"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." (James 1:22)

But again the warning, "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." (2 Timothy 3:13)

Don't you remember what Amos said? "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD." (Amos 8:11) Brethren, it is here!

The soon one world government will be outlawing Bibles. But this shouldn't be new to us, nor should we believe this to be some strange thing for the True Church has always been and will always be hated and persecuted. What will you do? The god of the world is deceiving and blinding many people. Ignorance and pride is everywhere. Again, "Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ?" (1 Corinthians 6:15-17) We're already members of the Church—the body of Christ and don't need to join or become a member of any denomination. Remember those lacking Biblical knowledge will always require church membership in a denomination.

What if what you called "church" was not really Church in the scriptural sense? What if the "institution" you attended faithfully and support financially has nothing to do with the Lord at all? Think about that. "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Why won't you leave? Do you like to dress up? Like the attention? Like to be known as a "big money giver" in your church? Do you like the pomp and ceremony? Like to have a "Pastor" teach you? Like to have some man that has a "degree in Bible" over you? Like to call your man a "Bishop"? Beloved, wake up! Look and see that you're in deception and in a different form of Catholicism! Its called Cathostant! (Part Catholic and part Protestant) A true mix!

"For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." (Philippians 3:3)

What to do

Get out as soon as possible! Don't be involved with them. Just go. You will feel a tremendous weight lifted off you, and then the blessing of God will flow. Read your Bible and then read it again and again and again. Stay at home and try to find other likeminded believers in your family, job, and neighborhood. Feel free to contact us for help.

Amen?

Brother Mark

Home