Hi guys. Very interesting podcast. Hispanics are born into the rigidness of: you must go to church every Sunday. No way out! I revolted at 17 and never looked back. Upon leaving, my mother said: please remember God always. At this point now I have found God on my own accord and I believe to have now being ready to hear what God has to say. I also feel that when 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, I will be there. We all get together in prayer where ever we are in his temple of the heart and mind, in the temple of the living god. Am I wrong?
Thanks for this Dave,
I was baptized and raised and confirmed in the Lutheran church. In 1967, while serving in the USAF overseas, my pastor had me excommunicated for not taking communion in my home church. I realized that God was not in that building but rather in my heart. It was very hurtful. 25 years later, I learned that this was done to all my friends from that church that served serving in the military. I haven’t been back since.
As a Vietnam vet, this was just one of many sleights I personally suffered along with my fellow vets.
Thanks for addressing this because God is alive and well in my heart now and forever.
Steve
Thank you. I am a church drop out, not that I wouldn’t like to find one that I feel comfortable with, because I would. I asked the preacher at my ladt church this. If this church recieved a direct letter, you know, that you could feel and see, from GOD himself saying that he would attend our service sunday and sit amongst us, again, that you could see, and touch, what as a church would we do differently? The reply was, alot. I say. He is here, every week. He sits with us, every week. Act like it. EVERY WEEK. BLESS YOU my friendhi
Thank you both, the perspective that you have shared here is beyond helpful. I plan to share this with my wife, I know she will find your words encouraging. Both of us have been believers most of our lives. We are in our middle 60s
We haven’t been to a church for several years, no guilt on my part, she misses it, some what. I have been following you, Dave since the Q days began. Thanks for all you do
Dave,
The more I learn, the more I like you. Just finished listening to your short table talk on being a church drop out. We seem to have a lot in common. Jesus our Savior, Holy Spirit, institutional church drop out, gifts of Spirit, divorce, and coffee. Perhaps one day we can have a cup of coffee together.
I am in the process of learning, and cultivating, a more active faith with the eye towards healing. As I said I have seen several healings recently as I stepped out in faith believing. It began as I read your posts and blogs. New for a guy raised in the Southern Baptist denomination! I have been a chaplain for veterans, and am now a hospice chaplain here in Vero Beach Florida.
Just want to affirm the reality of what you term, “church drop out.” I meet patients and families all day long, and I can assure you, the majority have left the institutional church because they were hearing little. Entertainment, self-help philosophy, creeds/ceremonies, dry as saw-dust verse by verse teaching can only go so far. I believe the drop outs may represent a spiritual awakening. People want reality. People are starving to death in our institutional denominations, and I would add, many of our so-called “non-denominational churches.” I’m not as negative as it appears but I do believe Dave, you are on to something! Keep it up. Pray for us as we pray for you!
Merry Christmas
Jay
Thank you for addressing this important topic that and many of friends struggle with – finding the right church community. I keep thinking we just need to have our own but we’d like someone more mature to help lead us in the spirit. A home church experience a few months ago revived my relationship with him – our relationship has been amazing ever since. This renewed connection, along with reading your books and listening to your podcasts (which I’ve been doing for a few years now), has been so needed. I really question whether God/Christ/ the Holy Spirit are still present in these churches who have yielded to co v d demands. More controversial subject matter right there…. (which you don’t have to touch). I’m grateful and very appreciative of your ministry.
Hey Praying Medic, I appreciate you both. Been following you a while and actually reading your healing book now. On chapter 5. Well done. My wife and I have felt the same way regarding church. I became interested in healing in December of 2019. I became sick of something serious. Somewhat neurological. I decided to trust God and learn everything I could about healing. So I started reading Wigglesorth and Hagin, and Wommack and started speaking faith and watching what I said. I find that our words we speak can harm us. I was healed of those symptoms. It was a progressive healing as I knew almost nothing about healing and wasn’t commanding the healing to go. I was using more of Hagins methods which is declaring a decreeing that I was healed and working on faith. I find that commanding healing is a stronger model but lately reading testimonials on your telegram I have been inviting the presence of the Lord and Holy Spirit and letting His power be present and asking Him what and how I should be healed of some lingering symptoms. A hip issue and some lingering numbness and cold feet.
Lastly, I wanted to say that innthe book of ACTS they did have certain amount of a centralized organization where believers were sort of deployed for certain tasks. While of course freedom is wonderful but if it’s like minded believers there should be a freedom that flows from love and direction in a way that isn’t restrictive but carries wisdom. For example, a new believer can run out and cause more harm than good sometimes. So, I think there’s some wisdom in this idea but if it’s a controlling thing then no. But if it’s flowing from love then yes. Just my 2 cents.
I have belonged to the church since I was saved in 1969. I love to study scripture, and God has placed things in my mind that I look into and question. 1. Why is the Lord’s Supper, ie Passover, celebrated whenever we want, instead of on Passover as Jesus said. 2. Why does the church preach tithing, when that was for the Jews and the temple storehouse. 3. Why do we “join” as a club, with a membership roll? Why do we celebrate Christmas, when God clearly gave us His Feasts to celebrate, not Christmas? So many things God brings to my mind, out of the blue. Worst of all, churched believers prefer tradition to truth.
Hi Dave! Thank you for all your teaching and perspectives. I’ve been helped through your insights and I usually agree, but I have a hard time with this one.
I became a Christian at 14 years old. I am now 65 and have not felt that the Lord ever led me to stop attending a church or fellowship with other believers. I want to share why I feel it is important for believers to be faithful in regularly meeting with the church (the body of Christ). I know you have probably read these Scriptures, but please bear with me as I lay out my reasons. I feel a need to express another viewpoint. 🙂
1. God told us in the Scriptures, in Hebrew 10:25: “Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together,” and in NASB, “not abandoning our own meeting together”; in Acts 20:7, the disciples come together to break bread the first day of the week (seems like it was their custom).
2. There is also the sacrament of communion that we are encouraged to take when we meet, as we see in Acts 2:42 “They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers.”
3. In many cases in the New Testament, it speaks of churches “in the house”: Colossians 4:15, 1 Corinthians 16:19, Romans 16:15; and so. It doesn’t have to be in a church building or any organized church.
4. James 2:2 talks about an assembly of believers.
5. In Acts, Luke talks about elders being appointed in every church (Acts 14:23, Titus 1:5). The elders are given to speak over us the words of God (Hebrews 13:7); “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of a double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching (1 Timothy 5:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13); Paul writes to overseers and deacons in Philippi (Philippians 1:1b); “And he [God] gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and leaders, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11–12); Peter encourages elders to shepherd their flocks (1 Peter 5:1–2).
I attend an Anglican Church, where we use liturgy based on Scripture. I love being there, because I feel a kinship with those who are there—I feel the Holy Spirit is present and there is a true love for Jesus. There is something numinous about the worship! It is anything but an empty ritual.
All of the Scriptures I mentioned point to a body of believers meeting together regularly. I don’t think it matters where the body meets, but I think it is very important that we do, because we need each other, we need Christian community. And as Jesus said, He is with us whenever three or more gather in His name.
Thank you so much for publishing this podcast again. This topic is so highly relevant in these troubled times but rarely spoken of openly.
I’ve been following you and have got all your books which I’m using to study, learn from, share with others and as references. I’ve moved through your books to where I am able to hear Gods voice clearly, occasionally audibly, receive specific messages in dreams, and now to be able to use the authority I’ve learned about to effect real healing. We attended a Baptist church for many years, even becoming youth group leaders. I never had the kind of relationship, confidence or joy in all of those years that I have had the last couple of years since I began applying your lessons and exercises. The Jesus I now love and know exists and who loves me so fully is truly the most important relationship in my life.
That said, I’ll be sending this podcast on to some friends who simply do not understand. God bless you both.
Great podcast! I am a deacon at Bethel Redding, and teach a Bible Class there. My wife and I have cut way back on attendance for the very things you are discussing. I would sum it up as a general irrelevance especially in the context of the post pandemic/stolen election America.
We still attend about 2x a month at random times for corporate praise and to present our offering to the Lord.
My class starts back up in January after a year of being shut down. It will be an interesting semester. I know most of the leadership very well and they love me and support me as I do them.
A big problem is that even Protestant pastors have not fully embraced the priesthood of all believers. The mature believers are not given much room to help disciple the less mature ones. Everything is done by the official leaders. So the mature ones become stagnant and bored. We will need the dropouts to return once the great awakening hits.
I go to an AOG where there is acceptance of spiritual gifts; so there is prayer at the altar afterwards for healing. There is also room for a prophetic word. Nonetheless, I have often felt that there is something wrong with the traditional church model….that sitting in a building lined up in pews facing forward, standing and facing forward to sing, watching everything on stage and listening to the pastor…all feels like a passive experience…like you are not connecting or getting to know other believers and you aren’t participating, and that the messages don’t go into the deeper things if you have been a follower for a long time. I just kind of feel this isn’t what Jesus meant about meeting together. And maybe paying people to put on this service wasn’t necessarily helping them grow that much or what was intended. I think small groups were meant to be an answer to that, but then they are often so planned and organized as well. Maybe it is just me as I am an unplanned sort and an introvert. Nonetheless, as I see the membership decrease and I know that the church will be gone if more people leave, I feel like I’m needed to help support it…where will new believers go? Also there is something to knowing who the local believers are in your own community, and having an actual physical relationship with them, not solely on-line, where you can take communion with them in person, etc. So I have mixed feelings on this, and I’ve been hoping that out of this awakening that God would give us the answers…that there will be changes, though I’m not exactly sure what they will be.
My husband and I were at the place you are describing in this podcast in the late 90’s. We were born again in the late 80’s and plunged into a bible believing Spirit-filled church where we gave our all and grew in our gifting and callings. We served in every capacity of service and eventually part of the administration, prophetic counsel, healing team and began teaching others. We also became lay pastors serving over all of the care-net ministries of the home groups. This church “structure”, although wonderful for “corporate worship” and basic bible teaching – had become like many other like- minded churches- it stopped short of equipping the saints according to the pattern that Jesus taught. We noticed the clergy-laity structure of the church was not how Jesus taught. The control through “spiritual authority” or “covering teachings” which required submission to church leadership was a direct violation of 1 Cor. 11:3 – where Christ is the head of every man. A man should never delegate that authority to any other! A man who is in submission to Christ will lead his wife and family to be in fellowship with other believers. We also noticed while in the structured church leadership that it cost quite a bit of money to support this wineskin…buildings and maintenance, salaries and benefits, huge electric bills etc. etc. No money was left over for kingdom business! Again – not the way Jesus taught…..he hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans and that is exactly what happens in church structure!……So, my husband and I fasted and prayed for wisdom and for God’s will to be done! That is when God called us OUT in 1999! This is a miraculous and very involved and very detailed prophetic wonder – but we obeyed and the miracles and the growth we have had in the Lord continues to this day! We became involved in “house church”….and just like you describe in your podcast we discovered some of the most mature believers who walk in the gifts of the Holy Spirit and some of the best examples of godly lives – not the weirdos we thought we would find!…lol…We were “sent out” by leadership of the structure in 2000 (which rarely happens this way PTL!) , and have followed the Lord and have had church in our home for the past 21 years as well as in the marketplace and in corporate gatherings. We live in Tucson and would love to minister to you and assist you in your growth and calling. We have brought many into the kingdom, baptized them, and discipled them and released them into their callings! A life of adventure that most believers are missing out on because they delegated their life to earthly authority or have been in a holding pattern not feeling “released”. We believe in the Scripture – “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness – and all will be added to us.” We have all the money we need to do the will of God. We can teach freely because we do not have to water down His message in order to keep tithers. People give liberally as the Lord leads each one to His mission which is far bigger than any single institutional church or ministry. We will pray for the Lord to connect you fully!
I was a lifelong Episcopalian. In the late 90’s and early 2000’s, I started getting very uneasy about how “accepting” the church was becoming about homosexuality. (It should go without having to qualify that I am not a homophobe. Some of my very good friends believe they are homosexual. I personally believe they have unaddressed trauma, either in this life or a prior one.) Then, the parish hired two priests in a row that ended up driving away my children and destroying my marriage. It’s a long, boring story. The upshot is that I cannot make it through a service without breaking down. The liturgy used to give me so much comfort and now it’s just painful. The worst part is the other members of the church that I thought were my friends didn’t even contact me when I stopped attending to see if I was alright. The hypocrisy and judgement I received from some of them was shocking. It wasn’t my idea of being a Christian.
It pains me to see how the Episcopal church has completely caved to the LGBTyadayada agenda. My faith in God and Jesus is strong. I pray for guidance and receive messages and signs all the time. I now believe that all institutions of men, particularly institutions of religion, are flawed because they are conceived and administered by man (the generic “man”) and therefore inherently are doomed to become corrupt. While society does need structure to keep order, that structure should be kept as small and unobtrusive in citizens’ daily lives as possible. Oh, it irony of how we are now living.
Thank-you for this broadcast, Dave and Denise! I to am among the many who have become fed up with “churchianity,” and had to depart on account of church becoming more of a strain on my walk with God than a blessing. And I hear you on the issue of mature believers becoming discouraged, drained, and frustrated with churches that cater to young believers.
It is refreshing to hear someone say it’s OK to not be a part of the Sunday morning routine. Again, thank-you!
In my walk with the Lord, He pulled me out of the mega church. He also later showed to me the worship songs and teams I listed to we’re NOT of God. Over time, I’ve enjoyed spending time with fellow believers in some small rural churches or home groups. But God teaches me. He walks me through incredible tests, satanic battle and other experiences teaching me His way. From those He sends my way. I run a full time ministry. I need Him every single day. Bob Larson has taught me in his International School of Excorcism.
Thanks Dave and Denise for this podcast. I truly believe God is with me no matter where I am. I was taught that belief in catholic school where I attended until I graduated from high school. I was brought up as a devout catholic and was born during the first year the pope declared a “Marian Year” hence I was named Marian. BUT when the priests were found to be molesting children, etc. and the Vatican did nothing but cover it up, I was done. And now, knowing what I know about the Vatican, no way am I going back. I am so disgusted by the covering up of these heinous deeds that the Catholic Church will never see me again, but I still believe in God and always will. Thanks again, you are doing marvelous work!
See this book:
https://www.lifestream.org/product/beyond-sundays/
Hi guys. Very interesting podcast. Hispanics are born into the rigidness of: you must go to church every Sunday. No way out! I revolted at 17 and never looked back. Upon leaving, my mother said: please remember God always. At this point now I have found God on my own accord and I believe to have now being ready to hear what God has to say. I also feel that when 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, I will be there. We all get together in prayer where ever we are in his temple of the heart and mind, in the temple of the living god. Am I wrong?
Thanks for this Dave,
I was baptized and raised and confirmed in the Lutheran church. In 1967, while serving in the USAF overseas, my pastor had me excommunicated for not taking communion in my home church. I realized that God was not in that building but rather in my heart. It was very hurtful. 25 years later, I learned that this was done to all my friends from that church that served serving in the military. I haven’t been back since.
As a Vietnam vet, this was just one of many sleights I personally suffered along with my fellow vets.
Thanks for addressing this because God is alive and well in my heart now and forever.
Steve
Thank you. I am a church drop out, not that I wouldn’t like to find one that I feel comfortable with, because I would. I asked the preacher at my ladt church this. If this church recieved a direct letter, you know, that you could feel and see, from GOD himself saying that he would attend our service sunday and sit amongst us, again, that you could see, and touch, what as a church would we do differently? The reply was, alot. I say. He is here, every week. He sits with us, every week. Act like it. EVERY WEEK. BLESS YOU my friendhi
Thank you both, the perspective that you have shared here is beyond helpful. I plan to share this with my wife, I know she will find your words encouraging. Both of us have been believers most of our lives. We are in our middle 60s
We haven’t been to a church for several years, no guilt on my part, she misses it, some what. I have been following you, Dave since the Q days began. Thanks for all you do
Dave,
The more I learn, the more I like you. Just finished listening to your short table talk on being a church drop out. We seem to have a lot in common. Jesus our Savior, Holy Spirit, institutional church drop out, gifts of Spirit, divorce, and coffee. Perhaps one day we can have a cup of coffee together.
I am in the process of learning, and cultivating, a more active faith with the eye towards healing. As I said I have seen several healings recently as I stepped out in faith believing. It began as I read your posts and blogs. New for a guy raised in the Southern Baptist denomination! I have been a chaplain for veterans, and am now a hospice chaplain here in Vero Beach Florida.
Just want to affirm the reality of what you term, “church drop out.” I meet patients and families all day long, and I can assure you, the majority have left the institutional church because they were hearing little. Entertainment, self-help philosophy, creeds/ceremonies, dry as saw-dust verse by verse teaching can only go so far. I believe the drop outs may represent a spiritual awakening. People want reality. People are starving to death in our institutional denominations, and I would add, many of our so-called “non-denominational churches.” I’m not as negative as it appears but I do believe Dave, you are on to something! Keep it up. Pray for us as we pray for you!
Merry Christmas
Jay
Thanks, Jay.
Thank you for addressing this important topic that and many of friends struggle with – finding the right church community. I keep thinking we just need to have our own but we’d like someone more mature to help lead us in the spirit. A home church experience a few months ago revived my relationship with him – our relationship has been amazing ever since. This renewed connection, along with reading your books and listening to your podcasts (which I’ve been doing for a few years now), has been so needed. I really question whether God/Christ/ the Holy Spirit are still present in these churches who have yielded to co v d demands. More controversial subject matter right there…. (which you don’t have to touch). I’m grateful and very appreciative of your ministry.
Hey Praying Medic, I appreciate you both. Been following you a while and actually reading your healing book now. On chapter 5. Well done. My wife and I have felt the same way regarding church. I became interested in healing in December of 2019. I became sick of something serious. Somewhat neurological. I decided to trust God and learn everything I could about healing. So I started reading Wigglesorth and Hagin, and Wommack and started speaking faith and watching what I said. I find that our words we speak can harm us. I was healed of those symptoms. It was a progressive healing as I knew almost nothing about healing and wasn’t commanding the healing to go. I was using more of Hagins methods which is declaring a decreeing that I was healed and working on faith. I find that commanding healing is a stronger model but lately reading testimonials on your telegram I have been inviting the presence of the Lord and Holy Spirit and letting His power be present and asking Him what and how I should be healed of some lingering symptoms. A hip issue and some lingering numbness and cold feet.
Lastly, I wanted to say that innthe book of ACTS they did have certain amount of a centralized organization where believers were sort of deployed for certain tasks. While of course freedom is wonderful but if it’s like minded believers there should be a freedom that flows from love and direction in a way that isn’t restrictive but carries wisdom. For example, a new believer can run out and cause more harm than good sometimes. So, I think there’s some wisdom in this idea but if it’s a controlling thing then no. But if it’s flowing from love then yes. Just my 2 cents.
I have belonged to the church since I was saved in 1969. I love to study scripture, and God has placed things in my mind that I look into and question. 1. Why is the Lord’s Supper, ie Passover, celebrated whenever we want, instead of on Passover as Jesus said. 2. Why does the church preach tithing, when that was for the Jews and the temple storehouse. 3. Why do we “join” as a club, with a membership roll? Why do we celebrate Christmas, when God clearly gave us His Feasts to celebrate, not Christmas? So many things God brings to my mind, out of the blue. Worst of all, churched believers prefer tradition to truth.
Hi Dave! Thank you for all your teaching and perspectives. I’ve been helped through your insights and I usually agree, but I have a hard time with this one.
I became a Christian at 14 years old. I am now 65 and have not felt that the Lord ever led me to stop attending a church or fellowship with other believers. I want to share why I feel it is important for believers to be faithful in regularly meeting with the church (the body of Christ). I know you have probably read these Scriptures, but please bear with me as I lay out my reasons. I feel a need to express another viewpoint. 🙂
1. God told us in the Scriptures, in Hebrew 10:25: “Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together,” and in NASB, “not abandoning our own meeting together”; in Acts 20:7, the disciples come together to break bread the first day of the week (seems like it was their custom).
2. There is also the sacrament of communion that we are encouraged to take when we meet, as we see in Acts 2:42 “They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers.”
3. In many cases in the New Testament, it speaks of churches “in the house”: Colossians 4:15, 1 Corinthians 16:19, Romans 16:15; and so. It doesn’t have to be in a church building or any organized church.
4. James 2:2 talks about an assembly of believers.
5. In Acts, Luke talks about elders being appointed in every church (Acts 14:23, Titus 1:5). The elders are given to speak over us the words of God (Hebrews 13:7); “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of a double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching (1 Timothy 5:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13); Paul writes to overseers and deacons in Philippi (Philippians 1:1b); “And he [God] gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and leaders, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11–12); Peter encourages elders to shepherd their flocks (1 Peter 5:1–2).
I attend an Anglican Church, where we use liturgy based on Scripture. I love being there, because I feel a kinship with those who are there—I feel the Holy Spirit is present and there is a true love for Jesus. There is something numinous about the worship! It is anything but an empty ritual.
All of the Scriptures I mentioned point to a body of believers meeting together regularly. I don’t think it matters where the body meets, but I think it is very important that we do, because we need each other, we need Christian community. And as Jesus said, He is with us whenever three or more gather in His name.
Thanks for reading! Many blessings to you both.
Thank you so much for publishing this podcast again. This topic is so highly relevant in these troubled times but rarely spoken of openly.
I’ve been following you and have got all your books which I’m using to study, learn from, share with others and as references. I’ve moved through your books to where I am able to hear Gods voice clearly, occasionally audibly, receive specific messages in dreams, and now to be able to use the authority I’ve learned about to effect real healing. We attended a Baptist church for many years, even becoming youth group leaders. I never had the kind of relationship, confidence or joy in all of those years that I have had the last couple of years since I began applying your lessons and exercises. The Jesus I now love and know exists and who loves me so fully is truly the most important relationship in my life.
That said, I’ll be sending this podcast on to some friends who simply do not understand. God bless you both.
Thank you, Gail.
Great podcast! I am a deacon at Bethel Redding, and teach a Bible Class there. My wife and I have cut way back on attendance for the very things you are discussing. I would sum it up as a general irrelevance especially in the context of the post pandemic/stolen election America.
We still attend about 2x a month at random times for corporate praise and to present our offering to the Lord.
My class starts back up in January after a year of being shut down. It will be an interesting semester. I know most of the leadership very well and they love me and support me as I do them.
I love all you guys do, keep it up!!!
A big problem is that even Protestant pastors have not fully embraced the priesthood of all believers. The mature believers are not given much room to help disciple the less mature ones. Everything is done by the official leaders. So the mature ones become stagnant and bored. We will need the dropouts to return once the great awakening hits.
I go to an AOG where there is acceptance of spiritual gifts; so there is prayer at the altar afterwards for healing. There is also room for a prophetic word. Nonetheless, I have often felt that there is something wrong with the traditional church model….that sitting in a building lined up in pews facing forward, standing and facing forward to sing, watching everything on stage and listening to the pastor…all feels like a passive experience…like you are not connecting or getting to know other believers and you aren’t participating, and that the messages don’t go into the deeper things if you have been a follower for a long time. I just kind of feel this isn’t what Jesus meant about meeting together. And maybe paying people to put on this service wasn’t necessarily helping them grow that much or what was intended. I think small groups were meant to be an answer to that, but then they are often so planned and organized as well. Maybe it is just me as I am an unplanned sort and an introvert. Nonetheless, as I see the membership decrease and I know that the church will be gone if more people leave, I feel like I’m needed to help support it…where will new believers go? Also there is something to knowing who the local believers are in your own community, and having an actual physical relationship with them, not solely on-line, where you can take communion with them in person, etc. So I have mixed feelings on this, and I’ve been hoping that out of this awakening that God would give us the answers…that there will be changes, though I’m not exactly sure what they will be.
My husband and I were at the place you are describing in this podcast in the late 90’s. We were born again in the late 80’s and plunged into a bible believing Spirit-filled church where we gave our all and grew in our gifting and callings. We served in every capacity of service and eventually part of the administration, prophetic counsel, healing team and began teaching others. We also became lay pastors serving over all of the care-net ministries of the home groups. This church “structure”, although wonderful for “corporate worship” and basic bible teaching – had become like many other like- minded churches- it stopped short of equipping the saints according to the pattern that Jesus taught. We noticed the clergy-laity structure of the church was not how Jesus taught. The control through “spiritual authority” or “covering teachings” which required submission to church leadership was a direct violation of 1 Cor. 11:3 – where Christ is the head of every man. A man should never delegate that authority to any other! A man who is in submission to Christ will lead his wife and family to be in fellowship with other believers. We also noticed while in the structured church leadership that it cost quite a bit of money to support this wineskin…buildings and maintenance, salaries and benefits, huge electric bills etc. etc. No money was left over for kingdom business! Again – not the way Jesus taught…..he hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans and that is exactly what happens in church structure!……So, my husband and I fasted and prayed for wisdom and for God’s will to be done! That is when God called us OUT in 1999! This is a miraculous and very involved and very detailed prophetic wonder – but we obeyed and the miracles and the growth we have had in the Lord continues to this day! We became involved in “house church”….and just like you describe in your podcast we discovered some of the most mature believers who walk in the gifts of the Holy Spirit and some of the best examples of godly lives – not the weirdos we thought we would find!…lol…We were “sent out” by leadership of the structure in 2000 (which rarely happens this way PTL!) , and have followed the Lord and have had church in our home for the past 21 years as well as in the marketplace and in corporate gatherings. We live in Tucson and would love to minister to you and assist you in your growth and calling. We have brought many into the kingdom, baptized them, and discipled them and released them into their callings! A life of adventure that most believers are missing out on because they delegated their life to earthly authority or have been in a holding pattern not feeling “released”. We believe in the Scripture – “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness – and all will be added to us.” We have all the money we need to do the will of God. We can teach freely because we do not have to water down His message in order to keep tithers. People give liberally as the Lord leads each one to His mission which is far bigger than any single institutional church or ministry. We will pray for the Lord to connect you fully!
I was a lifelong Episcopalian. In the late 90’s and early 2000’s, I started getting very uneasy about how “accepting” the church was becoming about homosexuality. (It should go without having to qualify that I am not a homophobe. Some of my very good friends believe they are homosexual. I personally believe they have unaddressed trauma, either in this life or a prior one.) Then, the parish hired two priests in a row that ended up driving away my children and destroying my marriage. It’s a long, boring story. The upshot is that I cannot make it through a service without breaking down. The liturgy used to give me so much comfort and now it’s just painful. The worst part is the other members of the church that I thought were my friends didn’t even contact me when I stopped attending to see if I was alright. The hypocrisy and judgement I received from some of them was shocking. It wasn’t my idea of being a Christian.
It pains me to see how the Episcopal church has completely caved to the LGBTyadayada agenda. My faith in God and Jesus is strong. I pray for guidance and receive messages and signs all the time. I now believe that all institutions of men, particularly institutions of religion, are flawed because they are conceived and administered by man (the generic “man”) and therefore inherently are doomed to become corrupt. While society does need structure to keep order, that structure should be kept as small and unobtrusive in citizens’ daily lives as possible. Oh, it irony of how we are now living.
God Bless you all. Pray for me, too.
Thank-you for this broadcast, Dave and Denise! I to am among the many who have become fed up with “churchianity,” and had to depart on account of church becoming more of a strain on my walk with God than a blessing. And I hear you on the issue of mature believers becoming discouraged, drained, and frustrated with churches that cater to young believers.
It is refreshing to hear someone say it’s OK to not be a part of the Sunday morning routine. Again, thank-you!
In my walk with the Lord, He pulled me out of the mega church. He also later showed to me the worship songs and teams I listed to we’re NOT of God. Over time, I’ve enjoyed spending time with fellow believers in some small rural churches or home groups. But God teaches me. He walks me through incredible tests, satanic battle and other experiences teaching me His way. From those He sends my way. I run a full time ministry. I need Him every single day. Bob Larson has taught me in his International School of Excorcism.
Thanks Dave and Denise for this podcast. I truly believe God is with me no matter where I am. I was taught that belief in catholic school where I attended until I graduated from high school. I was brought up as a devout catholic and was born during the first year the pope declared a “Marian Year” hence I was named Marian. BUT when the priests were found to be molesting children, etc. and the Vatican did nothing but cover it up, I was done. And now, knowing what I know about the Vatican, no way am I going back. I am so disgusted by the covering up of these heinous deeds that the Catholic Church will never see me again, but I still believe in God and always will. Thanks again, you are doing marvelous work!