And let us consider one another to PROVOKE to LOVE and to GOOD WORKS: NOT FORSAKING the ASSEMBLING of ourselves TOGETHER, as the manner of SOME is; but EXHORTING one another: and so much the more, as you see the day approaching (Hebrews 10:24, 25)… Is there a “MEMBERS WAR” in the Body of Christ now where churches are COMPETING for members and FORBIDDING their own membership from VISITING and FELLOWSHIPPING with Christians belonging to OTHER churches? Have we in the Body of Christ become so SHALLOW now, so SUSPICIOUS of each other, that PASTORS and LEADERSHIP are FORBIDDING members to VISIT other churches, and DENY them opportunity to FELLOWSHIP with other churches, for FEAR that they’ll LEAVE their HOME CHURCH and JOIN another? Sadly to say, this is exactly the situation with some PASTORS and LEADERS over church bodies. Members are being THREATENED, COERCED, and MANIPULATED not to VISIT other churches they may have friends at who INVITE them to FELLOWSHIP, nor are they PERMITTED to VISIT another church to HEAR another PREACHER preach whom they may like/enjoy. Don’t ALL SOULS belong to God, and every SOUL that’s SAVED belongs to Jesus? Then when did Jesus transfer POSSESSION and OWNERSHIP to PASTORS and LEADERSHIP to where they can FORBID others to FELLOWSHIP? Obviously they FEAR the members will LEAVE and NOT RETURN. But if that’s the case, maybe they were supposed to LEAVE and NOT RETURN! This is also the REASON why MANY churches don’t have OUTREACH and EVANGELISM ministries; they’re AFRAID the members will STRAY elsewhere. But we in Christ have to STOP putting each other in BONDAGE just because WE may have CONTROL and INSECURITY issues ourselves. Ask God to DELIVER you – He will. But to FORBID each other to FELLOWSHIP and VISIT together is a SIN against Christian hospitality and Christ-KINDNESS – not to mention our LIBERTY and CALL to ASSEMBLE together.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 19:28:27 +0000
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