In my travels people have had issues with organized religion/the Church. I was once one of them, but here’s what’s happening.
It’s the Power, it’s the Politics, and it’s the Pride found inside the house of God that nerve people — saved or not, and it’s noticeable.
In (Numbers 12:1,2), Miriam and Aaron had issues with Moses’ wife, an Ethiopian/Cushite woman named Tharbis. Many believe it was a race issue, but it wasn’t. Zipporah, the Midianite, and the wife mentioned in the Holy Bible was in actuality the first lady of her day. Moses and his wives confined with each other as husband and wife should, and Zipporah, with Tharbis had information Moses hadn’t shared with Aaron or Miriam the two found out.
They questioned who is this Ethiopian woman; aren’t we as Moses etc… (Numbers 12:1,2). God heard this and summon the three – Miriam, Aaron, and Moses, then He straightened Miriam and Aaron out immediately, (Numbers 12: 4-15), [ Pride ].
The Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, Sanhedrin, Chief Priests and Elders wanted and plotted to kill Jesus because the Jews were deserting them and believing in Him, (John 11: 45-49) and (John 12:10,11), [ Power].
Today we have different denominations of religious beliefs; one to suit your flavor so you can be comfortable in your sin and do whatever you want, to believe your self-righteous, and still go to heaven, [ Politics ].
Power is contagious and corrupts, Pride is a sin, and Politics separate. When these things are in The Church at any level — religion, traditions, false doctrine, condemnation, requirements, laws, rules, and rituals become the norm rather than the Gospel. The Church becomes a brand protected by head officials and administrators, and passed down to the congregation. If it’s in the world, it’s in The Church.
These sequences inside The Church keep you from fitting in until you show loyalty to the brand, not the Gospel — that’s second – maybe.
So many of us have a problem with organized religion; not the Gospel again, but the traditions of self-righteousness preferred over the righteousness of God which is given to all the born-again/saved – free, if you believe and have faith in Jesus’ finished works at the Cross, (Amos 5: 23,24).
Example: I read my Bible, pay my tithes, and not miss Church to show God, ? — [ Self-Righteousness ] — rather than, because of what God had Jesus do in my behave, I read my Bible, pay my tithes, and not miss Church, — [ The righteousness of God/the Gospel ].
I don’t have an ending to this illustration, just a wake-up call for the purpose of understanding.
Wake up Assemblies of God. Many people are turned off by the Pride, Power, & Politics inside The Church as you influence people to establish their own self-righteousness because of their unfamiliarity in the Gospel. Others have chosen death. They will die, and go straight to Hell in their ignorance, and many are believers that haven’t received Christ as Lord and Savior. Their reasoning – it’s because of you. God will hold you accountable, (Matthew 7:21-23).
Gaidi
Word of note: People, don’t take it out on God because of The Church. Even God is disappointed at so, so many churches/houses of God today. Read the above verse. If you believe in Jesus, that He’s the son of God, lived in the flesh, died, rose from the dead, and now through Him we’re forgiven/pardoned from the payment of sin which we’re to be responsible for come judgement, choose Him to come into your life as Lord and Savior right now.
Don’t let religion stop you because of the shallowness going on inside some of these houses of God. If you believe, push them aside just as one of the thieves on the cross did who was beside Jesus. He Believed and asked, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” (Luke 23:42,43). If you’re on the borderline and are still confused, read the article, “Get Saved Now” on this site… Jesus is returning soon.
Gaidi