Blue, I like to say I was liberated from legalism. The church I was saved in as a teenager was a right-wing fundamentalist, we hate everybody kind of church and unfortunately the Bible college we attended was of the same mindset, it took several years to grow up spiritually when we finally left that side, we looked for solid Bible believing evangelical churches, which, even in the Bible Belt, are hard to find .... the one thing I am very thankful for from that background is the love of prophecy it gave me ... to him who has ears to hear .... can’t wait to move my membership one final time to that celestial city on a hill and join the praise team in worshiping our Heavenly Father :yahoo: :yahoo: :prayer-hands: My husband keeps telling me I will never find a perfect church, so I just need to get happy in it. I have been able to point our false doctrines to some, but I don't think they really understand the freedom in Christ. One thing I couldn't believe at our current church when we first started there is they had a special private homeschool co-op. Not all homeschoolers were welcome, you had to be invited to participate! We haven't attended in a year since the lockdown started and have just been watching the livestreams. What a relief! Can't imagine Christ's heart regarding the matter?! But He did give the seven churches a report card! TR There is just a little bit of legalism sneakily hidden in sermons that if you aren't watching out for it, you can be sucked right in! By the way, I did get an invite to their private school and said, "No Thanks." Sigh, I would love to be in fellowship in a good church! But I have never been able to find one long term! Something hurtful always happened, when I sad stuff about prophecy or other things! So, I listen to sermons on line and fellowship here every day! I pray with friends on the phone! But it seems that a lot of people are really hurting and I hope we are out fo here this year! Blessings ♥️ :rose: Yes, people are hurtful even when they aren't trying to be. Eye rolls if you say something about the rapture, leaving you out of the conversation, looking the other way when you pass. Can't wait to leave this kind of stuff. I have heard some YTubers say that only Acts through Philemon are for the church. Do you all think that way? I hope it is true, because I have always hated the book of James! I say I hate it because it has always been taught to me in a very legalistic way. So I have gotten that eye roll, or dear-in-the-headlights look, or even, “you can’t really be serious” for years now! I just tell myself, guess who’s going to get the last laugh and a special crown for those of us who love his appearing and are watchmen on the wall —- wait for it —— WE ARE and you can take that to the bank of heaven! Do the happy dance :yahoo: So Gods Word is complete from Genesis to Revelation and it is just as relevant to the church today as when it was completed. We need the Old Testament just as much as the new to unwind prophecy ... and James is an incredible book, it shows how much faith we have BY our works, not the other way around (works giving us faith). I run for the prize so I can give the prize 100% to the one who gave everything for me! Whose Sandler straps, I’m not worthy to tie. :prayer-hands: Blue said “I have heard some YTubers say that only Acts through Philemon are for the church. Do you all think that way? I hope it is true, because I have always hated the book of James!” I heard someone say …Andy Woods (?) “the entire Bible is written for us, but not every verse is addressed to us or written about us.” For me these verses were instrumental in getting saved. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Ephesians 2:8-9 8 For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. The Catholic Church had me in fear as a 7 yr old. They told us we need to wear these felt scapular necklaces and they said if we ever take it off we would go to hell. So I double knotted that ugly necklace. My mom was a new believer and when she told me to take that necklace off I refused … I said I can’t or I will go to hell. So she knew I was ready to hear the REAL Truth and got out her Bible and said do you believe this is God’s Holy Word? I said yes, it says Holy Bible on the cover … and then she showed me John 3:16 and Ephesians 2:8-9. My reaction? I was soooooo mad the Catholic Church lied to me and then quickly asked for a scissor to cut the ugly necklace off and then I prayed to Jesus for Him take away my sins and be my personal Lord and Savior. That day was also the catalyst for my mom to leave the Catholic Church and to find a Bible believing church. I’ve heard some people say the Gospel starts in this passage: I Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And yet Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are called the 4 Gospels. :scratch: Yes, I agree the book of James is a confusing book for many. I’ve had a few arguments with Jehovah Witnesses on the “Faith without works is dead” verse and them insisting works is needed for salvation. :negative: Speaking about Jehovah Witnesses … what is their favorite musical group? The Doors. :groan My church currently is meeting with my brothers and sisters in Christ on Saturdays and feeding the homeless on skid row. There have been many positive responses to the Gospel. Feeding stomachs and feeding hearts. Physical food and spiritual food. We usually then go to a park and share the gospel there. Hand out gospel tracts and engage people in conversation. If the Devil is going to get the church buildings closed here then the church is going to go out to the highways and the byways. By trying to stamp out the Church, it's sending sparks flying everywhere. What man meant for evil, God is changing it into something good! I not a fan of online church, personally.
