Is God Still In The Church Or Has He Left The Building

Before we get started let me make a few statements.

 Statement 1: I am a believer in Jesus Christ and try to follow his teachings to the best of my abilities. I accepted Jesus as my personal savior at the age of 16. Since that time I have been close and as far away as possible with my walk with Christ. Statement 2: Churches were design as a place of worship, this I understand I also understand that they are ran by people who are sinners just like me and or not perfect, and yes this includes all the leaders in the church. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:22-24 (in Context) Romans 3 (Whole Chapter)Statement 3: I respect the church and what it stands for, along with the people who teach, preach, and sing. They are using their God given talents to spread his word. This is not about any one Religion, Church, or Organization. It is how organized religion are not following the Word of God and the results of this behavior. Statement 4: Some of you will read this and think I am bragging about all that I have done and it is all about finding wrong in the church. That is not the case; God has helped people through me, with out his blessings I would not even be able to roll out of bed each morning. I have most likely done more than most, not proud of it. Sometimes I think it would be easier to tell all the commandments I have not broken due to that list being shorter. I am trying to show how the people in the church has become self centered and way to much like a business. I am also trying to explain why so many people are turned off by religion and going to church.

 I have written this blog out of anger and pure disbelief of the actions of Churches and so called Organizations.  

 The below listed reasons are why I find it hard to regularly attend a church. These are true statements that I personally have been involved in are witnessed first hand. None of this is hear say.

 Story 1: I know this lady that had been battling Cancer of the Brain; she was a phlebotomist at a local hospital. I had opened a Car Repair Shop and was repairing cars for friends of Kathy and me. She wanted to know one day what I charged for a brake job, I replied 49.95 per axle pads included. She replied “Hmmm let me save up some money and I will get you to do it”. I ask “How bad are they scrubbing” she replied “All the time” I knew that she took her son to school every morning as he went to the same one Tyler did. I told her that I would put them on for her and she could just pay me a little bit at a time. I told her that it was just not safe to be driving around with bad brakes, she hugged me and said ‘Thanks, I owe you one, things are just a little tight right now due to the medical bills and my husband has lost his job” This was the first of many cars repairs I did on her car, she really should have bought a Chrysler product but that is a whole different blog. Please remember what I about to write, it ties back in later in this story. Like I said I made many repairs to her car and to this day she stills owes me a large sum of money, However if she would call me today and say I need my car fixed I would not hesitate to fix it, that is what Jesus Followers do, they help those in need. Matthew 5:42
Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
Matthew 5:41-43 (in Context) Matthew 5 (Whole Chapter) The money she owes me is no big deal, God gave me a talent of being able to fix most anything, and if one of his children is in need of my talent I give it whether they can pay or not.  This is the way I figure it is suppose to be. She was a regular member of a big well known church here in Nashville. I really should mention their name but I want; she was always praising God for her healing and was Cancer free the last time I talked to her. I saw her one day with tears in her eyes. She look as if the world was about to come to an end. “Are you ok” I ask? The first thing I thought was her cancer was back and she needed more chemotherapy. She just looked up at me with them big brown eyes and replied “They are going to turn my lights off in the morning if I do not pay the bill. I talked to the church and they told me I had not met my tithe requirement for this year so they could not help”. This is a huge church with a famous pastor from Texas.  Has the church become so much like a bank that you can only get money out you have put in. The bible when talking about tithing did not mention this part. As a matter of fact Jesus told us to sale what ever we owned to help those out in need.  Matthew 19:21
Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
Matthew 19:20-22 (in Context) Matthew 19 (Whole Chapter) The only things churches sell these days are video tapes, raffle tickets, and such to cover there expenses for these productions they put on that they call a worship service. She was 3 months behind and the Electric Company had let the bill go as long as possible. Well there was only one thing to do in this spot, as Kathy’s Aunt Justine would say “Just Cut Them Check” so that is what I did, wrote a check to NES for the light bill and that was that. Now, I did not mine doing this as once again this is what Jesus Followers do. However what is the church for if the members can not count on them in times of need? They could have offered to take up a Love Offering, were they afraid she might get more than she needed, maybe they were afraid if they did a Love Offering that it would cut down on how much was given to the church that day, better yet the pastor should have said it is against church policy due to your tithe requirement to give to you, but I will pay your light bill for you. However she just got a flat NO! If I were a member of this church I would be in trouble, you see I tithe in cash 90% of the time, that way they do not know who gave it. They can not send me a statement for taxes or track how much I have put in the plate. Why should I file taxes on my tithes, it is Gods money to begin with, I should not expect a tax break for giving him back his money. Matthew 6:4
that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
Matthew 6:3-5 (in Context) Matthew 6 (Whole Chapter) 2 Corinthians 9:7
So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 9 (Whole Chapter)

 Story 2: My family and I attended a church in Hendersonville. We all enjoyed it, they were some things that we did not care for but like stated above we realize that nobody is perfect and you can not please all the people all the time. The Bible is very important and our road map as to how we should live; as long as the basic principles of the Bible are followed I am fine. Tyler had classes he went to and was learning a lot and really enjoying him self. I was helping out with youth ministry on field trips and outings. Kathy, Mom, and I had made some friends and every thing was going just fine.  Then it happened, we walked in one Sunday an there on the right was a store selling goods. Do not get me wrong nothing wrong with a church store; you just should not put it in the Sanctuary with the Altar. We could not understand why they put there, and then we figured it out. The Sanctuary had the most traffic and this is where they wanted,it it so they could increase sales. No respect for Gods House just wanted the money. Reminded me of a story I read in the Bible, it was one time Jesus showed his anger and cleared house you may say. Mark 11:15
[Jesus Cleanses the Temple] So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.
Mark 11:14-16 (in Context) Mark 11 (Whole Chapter) Needless to say we no longer go there.

 But wait there is more, and before we get into story 3 some other things that have turned me off from religion and church people. On a way to church one Sunday morning a car passed us and started coming over in our lane, I blew the horn to let him know that he was about to take the front fender off the car, he continued over any way, with a little hard braking we managed to avoid the apparent collision.  On he back of the car was a bumper sticker that was of religious nature. Once he got in front of us and made it through the light, he politely hang us bird in front of his rear view mirror. Tyler stated that he should really go to church with us and learn how to act, Kathy agreed and we keep on trucking to church. We pulled up in the parking lot and guess who was parking, that is right the dude who cut us off and hung the bird. He never said a word, offered no apology, as a matter of fact could not even look us in the eyes. The moral of this little story, if you are going to drive like hell take the religious bumper sticker off your car and watch who you  give the finger to it just maybe one of your church members.  Don’t leave your religion at the church door. Then in another incident in Georgia I had to step between a deacon and the pastor to keep them from getting into a fist fight.  I will not bore you with anymore lets get to Story 3.

 Story 3: As I write this one there are tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. The tears come from a broken heart and pure anger. This story is about someone that I would kill for or die for if it came right down to it. He is not perfect but know one is that is walking on this earth, we are just forgiven. He is what I call James Bond Cool and I am more like a hot headed Rambo type. To see us together you would never think we were from the same blood. He has dedicated his heart to the God for more years than I can remember. He is my mentor, hero, and best friend. When I got a question about the Bible he is the one I call for the answers. He was the Director of Education at a church, a job which he truly loved and was well respected in his position by his peers. Well as of today he does not have his job anymore due to people who have religion and are members of a church body. He had to resign. He was accused of stealing from the collection plate, while 2 other people were standing right beside him. They accused a retired Police Officer of stealing. While an Officer he was suspended one Ash Wednesday because he refused to wash the Ashes of his forehead; still had them their when he was interviewed by the local news media. The same man who gave 4 years of his life in the United States Army to protect this country and the freedoms that we have. Including the Right: Freedom of Religion, ironic don’t you think! The one thing he fought to protect, and had poured his heart and soul into had turned on him. This man would give the shirt off his back, has no need to steal, God provides for him and his family and always has. Now there was an investigation, the evidence was all hear say. However the mans character had took a hit, no proof I remind you. The character that he had worked so hard to build and live by was destroyed by a couple of people in the church.  I was headed down to voice my opinion and most likely get my butt in trouble, all he said was “Relax, God will take care of it, yea I am upset he replied, but God has had me hear before and something always works out”, Like I said James Bond Cool. We got religious leaders who molest kids, buy prostitutes, do drugs, and embezzle money and they bounce back and/or repent, he can not repent he did nothing wrong. The Church has lost a devoted Director of Education; the flock has become tainted, all for what? I will bet it had something to do with jealousy, one of the devils tools. Was this handled correctly? Were bible principles followed? Well I talk to him today and he brought it to my attention that in the book of Matthew, it states how a dispute such as this should have been handled. He never got to give his side at all or even know who had done the accusing. Matthew 18:15
[ Dealing with a Sinning Brother ] “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.
Matthew 18:14-16 (in Context) Matthew 18 (Whole Chapter) His last post read something like this “A room without books is like a body without a soul.” This was my melancholy thought yesterday as I looked back one last time at my office that I vacated. I am sure his soul feels empty about right now. I may still have to go a pay these people a visit.

I believe that if we can be more like Jesus these incidents listed above would not have occurred. People do not seem to be concerned about anyone but themselves and do not think or care about the consequences of their actions. Some religions so that you must go to church, Be a member of a church, or heaven is out of your reach. Some people do not want to be involved with a group of people that will turn on one of their own. That will let one of their own sit in the dark because she has not donated enough to the church, or loving money so much that a store is set up in the Sanctuary. A group of people that will come to blows in Gods house and they are the leaders of the church. Can you follow Jesus what out being a Church Member? Can you do Gods work while not being involved in organized religion? I will continue to do my best and try to follow Jesus as best as I can, but as for as joining a church I just do not know.

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