Fake Christianity

What passes today a "Christianity" in the church is quite fake from what 1st century church looked like. Today it is so much about "ME", respect of persons, entertainment, etc. It is fake compared to true church.
I would say it looks more like 1 century temple than church.
I'm so done with all the falseness.
.

Courage

Conviction, commitment, call to action, Courage

Many of us develop a conviction for a particular subject or idea; be it religious or political or social. We will deepen it and move to a commitment towards that conviction. In many cases there will be a call to action.  Too many times this is where we stall.  We know all about the subject, feel deeply towards it, and even know what to do about it, but this is where it stops.

Oh, that we had courage to take that final step.

I wish many times that I possessed courage to act on my moral convictions.

"Church" for the Un-Churched, Are we not just speaking in tongues?

“The church is one of the few organizations in the world
that does not exist for the benefit of its members.”

                                                             -Ed Stetzer & David Putman
Can someone explain to me how you can have an assembly of redeemed people (true Christian) for un-redeemed?  How will these un-redeemed persons even understand what is being said or conveyed in a true church?  It would seem to them as if the redeemed are truly speaking in tongues.  It would be a foreign language to them.

If the mission of the churches is to exist for the un-churched then where is the church for the churched?  These who advocate for a church for the un-churched would say well you have yours we have ours.  True, but don't those very advocates believe that they have found the right formula?  That would make the others working from the wrong formula.

All one needs to do is read Ephesians 4 to get the answer as to why an assembly of believers exist.

Listen Church

Ezekiel  33: 30 - 33

30 And as for thee, son of man, the children of thy people keep talking of thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from Jehovah.
31 And they come unto thee as a people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they do them not; for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their dishonest gain.
32 And behold, thou art unto them as a lovely song, a pleasant voice, and one that playeth well on an instrument; and they hear thy words, but they do them not.
33 And when this cometh to pass (behold, it will come), then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them. Allen

What god and which city?

Consider the following:
Chris Tomlin " God of this city"

[Verse 1]
You're the God of this City
You're the King of these people
You're the Lord of this nation
You are


[Verse 2]
You're the Light in this darkness
You're the Hope to the hopeless
You're the Peace to the restless
You are

There is no one like our God
There is no one like our God

[Chorus]
For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City
Greater thing have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City

[Verse 1]

[Verse 2]

There is no one like our God
There is no one like our God

[Chorus]
For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done here

There is no one like our god
There is no one like our God

[Chorus]
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done here*
* http://www.lyricstime.com/chris-tomlin-god-of-this-city-lyrics.html

Above is a song by Chris Tomlin.
We have sung it in our church, maybe you have in yours.
I do have a question though, since "God" is not defined here it will fit many of the "gods" of this world, what "god" is he talking about?
Which city, people, or nation also?
As I look around this world I can not find a single city, people or nation that Jehovah is claimed  GOD of.  You can be sure that if He were GOD of them, you would surely know it.
Don't you think it would look like heaven? No corruption, no greed, no unrighteousness ?

What are the "greater things yet to be done"?  For that matter, what things have already been done?
This seems to me to be just words.  It makes a catchy tune, but what is the truth in it?
You see, this song could relate to many other gods and still fit the lyrics. All want guidance and hope and peace from their god and their religion.  There is no differentiation here.

We need to be careful with the lyrics we use.  What is the Gospel here?
If it does not rest in Scripture we better be careful that we do not create a new gospel.
Even if there is a back story here, does it fit "your" City, people, nation?
Allen

"VISION" vs "VENTURE"

There is a great deal of talk these days about having a vision in the church.  Those that talk are using proverbs 29:18
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. (Proverbs 29:18 KJV)
I do understand that if God's word is not revealed then the people will perish.
The problem is that this is not the definition they are using for "vision".
When they use the word, they use it:
VISION
noun
2.
the act or power of anticipating that which will or may come to be: prophetic vision; the vision of an entrepreneur.
3.
an experience in which a personage, thing, or event appears vividly or credibly to the mind, although not actually present, often under the influence of a divine or other agency: a heavenly messenger appearing in a vision.  Compare hallucination (  def 1 ) .
4.
something seen or otherwise perceived during such an experience: The vision revealed its message.
5.
a vivid, imaginative conception or anticipation: visions of wealth and glory.

This is quite different from revealing GOD's word.  This is more forward looking.
What you have here is NOT vision at all.
When they use the word they are incorporating part of the dictionary definition along    With spirituality mixed in to make it sound good and acceptable.
Many start out with a proper definition of vision and move to a more progressive definition and from there to something all together different.  I'll call that "Venture"
VENTURE
noun
1.
an undertaking involving uncertainty as to the outcome, especially a risky or dangerous one: a mountain-climbing venture.
2.
a business enterprise or speculation in which something is risked in the hope of profit; a commercial or other speculation.
3.
the money, ship, cargo, merchandise, or the like, on which risk is taken in a business enterprise or speculation.

 You see, for them it is an end game.  They want to move the church to marketing.
Marketing is for profit.
For them vision is more speculation with an end result of profit.
Church has become a business, enterprise.
They do not really care about revealed truth; they need to run this business, and business takes monies.

When your leader starts quoting "vision", make sure of the definition he uses.  It could mean something totally different to him than to you.

Parallel to USA

Romans 1

18 For there is revealed wrath of God from heaven upon all impiety, and unrighteousness of men holding the truth in unrighteousness.

19 Because what is known of God is manifest among them, for God has manifested it to them,

20 -- for from the world's creation the invisible things of him are perceived, being apprehended by the mind through the things that are made, both his eternal power and divinity, -- so as to render them inexcusable.

21 Because, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but fell into folly in their thoughts, and their heart without understanding was darkened:

22 professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness of an image of corruptible man and of birds and quadrupeds and reptiles.

24 Wherefore God gave them up also in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, to dishonour their bodies between themselves:

25 who changed the truth of God into falsehood, and honoured and served the creature more than him who had created it, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them up to vile lusts; for both their females changed the natural use into that contrary to nature;

27 and in like manner the males also, leaving the natural use of the female, were inflamed in their lust towards one another; males with males working shame, and receiving in themselves the recompense of their error which was fit.

28 And according as they did not think good to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind to practise unseemly things;

29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil dispositions; whisperers,

30 back-biters, hateful to God, insolent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 void of understanding, faithless, without natural affection, unmerciful;

32 who knowing the righteous judgment of God, that they who do such things are worthy of death, not only practise them, but have fellow delight in those who do them. Doesn't this sound like the leadership of this country?  We have elevated ourselves above Jehovah   Where is the humility.  I see only arrogance  and selfishness and greed played out on the common people. Understand that verse 18 explains beforehand about Jehovah's  wrath.  We would do well to heed this warning Allen