I have visited a number of churches. One pastor said that he didn’t think abortions should be illegal. Adios. Another put his wife in a nursing home and started going to Arthur Murray's Dance Studio. Another likened the stories in Genesis to Greek myths. The pastor up the street at Methodist Church says he has a husband on the church website. So I give up. Many are experiencing the same thing: apparently it’s the end of the Church Age. Wow … sounds like “church” has become a circus side show for entertainment for the itching ears crowd instead of worship centered around Jesus. I think we are seeing the separation of the sheep from the goats. All the pretenders are getting exposed. That lady was not mad at you … it’s Jesus she doesn’t want to see. I’m leaning now all those who are knocking down the rapture event are probably not true believers because its the Blessed Hope for those who are genuinely saved. Or is it they lost their first love and are REALLY backslidden and have no conscience … is that even possible if you have the Holy Spirit inside of you? I don’t see how that’s possible. To experience that Love and let it go is unfathomable. Kent, you did the right thing by not attending the false churches ... it is truly heartbreaking to see what many churches have become. I’m thankful for Jack Hibbs, Amir Tsarfati, Billy Chrone, and others to listen to, plus my hubby is very Biblical in his preaching. It appears God has decided we’ve been called to help “connect” or join dying churches with vibrant ones. A lot of meetings occur to validate doctrinal standing and Biblical world view. It is long, exhausting, and heart wrenching for my husband to go thru, he loves to preach and pastor but it is not to be so. I certainly feel your pain. And yes, do be very careful, there is a movement among “evangelical” churches to bring in a form of terot card readings and other new age get your feelings lifted stuff —- very dangerous! Not to mention anti Semitic behaviors, this strikes at God’s heart! The wrath of God will certainly be justified. :prayer-hands: When the new assistant pastor was telling the kids what they were thinking (one girl had chosen the color yellow, and he told her what color she was thinking of), that was the last straw. She was a little girl. Only Jesus knows what we are thinking, and that is what we should be teaching our children. Separating the sheep and the goats! Hate and judgement rather than love! In the church there is doctrinal distress and the Rapture seems to have become a make or break sticking point! The blessed hope has hardly been fostered by many churches! More than not ignored! The line in the sand which the Lord has drawn! TR Its so sad to see the church spinning out of control and burning in an inferno. But, as TR said, God is separating the sheep from the goats. I've had a very blessed life compared to so many in the world. I grew up in a middle class Christian home with loving parents. I wasn't spoiled but I never knew want for the essentials of life. And yet I have always wanted to be alive when the rapture took place and always wanted it to happen "today". Not as an escape from life but knowing that life with Jesus is beyond compare. I have never understood how one claiming to be a Christian wouldn't be so excited at the prospect of Jesus taking us home. I just don't get it. But, I don't get how anyone can refuse the love of God, either. You're in good company here, Kent, and we are very glad you are with us! Thanks Yohanan. That means a lot. Because I don’t appreciate magic shows and am anxious for the Lord to come and get us has created quite a stir at “church.” It’s puzzling how someone could identify as Christian and not look forward to seeing Him face to face. Miss-alligned priorities! Or as scripture would put it, loving the world more than God! Again after 50 years of ambivalence with regards to the Rapture I entered into prayer! Frustrated and angry I asked the Lord why? He immediately put two words in my Spirit, Fear & Unbelief! That settled the matter for me! TR I have had an opposite experience with churches. They are either too liberal or too conservative so we have ended up at the over conservative churches....which really means legalistic and full of judgement. It is wrong to have a Christmas tree, wrong to have a scarecrow as a fall decoration, wrong to eat chocolate. You must be Baptized or maybe you aren't really saved. If by their judgement you have no fruit to show then you are not really saved etc. I had a youth pastor's wife claim she could just look at a kid in youth group and tell if they are saved or not! I think it is also the legalists who are driving people from churches.
