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| Heaven and Hell Hot Ashes For Trees Hot Air For A Cool Breeze |
S.A.D. Similar And Different
Ever notice how two things can be so similar and yet so different? The next two videos really illustrate that. One is by Pink Floyd, one by Third Day. The meter and music are so much alike. But the spirit behind them is VERY different. You can listen to them one at a time. And you can listen to them simultaneously: Start the Pink Floyd song first. After a bit kick off the Third Day song and let them overlap to compare.
Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
The Pattern
As we considered these songs, it struck us how much this resembles the church world today. Many churches exist. They generally all follow a similar pattern. Folks show up and sit and chat. The church leader stands and has everyone else stand. They might open with prayer. They usually sing a song or two. Then music plays as a collection is taken up. Finally someone delivers a message. There might be an invitation to pray and a closing song. Folks leave.The Difference
So what makes one church different from another? Clearly, The Holy Spirit does. Some churches are very worldly. Overall there is no evidence of the Holy Spirit operating among the leadership. That reminds us of the ntcc. However, God is still God. People who are really seeking Him WILL experience the Holy Spirit's presence, regardless of their surrounding. This seems to confuse some people who really want God and feel that they have to stay in the ntcc in order to experience the Spirit of the Lord. That is not true.
But I FEEL God here.
Sure. God is everywhere. And the Holy Spirit indwells the believer and is present wherever you go. Folks have been taught and trained by the ntcc this cult ideology "God saved you here; Why would you go somewhere else?" That's simple. You should go somewhere that the leaders live what they preach unlike the ntcc. You should go where the leaders follow the example set forth by Jesus. That does not happen in the ntcc.
But I GOT SAVED in this church.
WONDERFUL! God saved you despite them. That doesn't mean you have to stay there. You were born in a hospital. That doesn't mean you spend the rest of your days in one. You move on. You should feel free to worship God wherever He leads you.
You can't make it outside the ntcc!?!
Really? One of the biggest indicators that you are in a cult is if they try to make you feel that you cannot live for God without them and their doctrine. Watch out for groups like ntcc that try to own you like property. That is not of God. They didn't save you. He did. And He will keep you.
A Form Of Godliness
Sure. ntcc looks like many other churches. They look good, like a whited sepulchre; but inside they are full of dead men's bones. They are just like the people God warned us against in 2 Timothy, expecially chapter 3, verse 5:
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2 Timothy 3:5
From Such Turn Away
God is very clear how to deal with such posers. From such turn away. Don't be afraid to leave the ntcc false doctrines and false teachers. God wants you to get out and serve Him in Spirit and in Truth.
2 Corinthians 3:17
They Just Wanted Their Sin!?!
Really? That is more ntcc cult jargon to make you think badly about anyone who leaves their legalistic imitation of the body of Christ. But don't let the ntcc make you afraid or convince you that liberty equals sin. You don't have to fear liberty or use it as an excuse to sin. The God Who saved you can keep you.
Romans 6:1
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Romans 6:2
1 Corinthians 10:13
Be Faithful To HIM
And just like God is faithful to give you a "way to escape", He expects you to be faithful to leave such a group as ntcc, commanding "from such withdraw thyself".
Relationship Not Religion
Once you set yourself free from the ntcc and their false doctrines, you will be pleased to find there are many other Christians outside the ntcc. You will find that serving God without the false man-made doctrines of ntcc is so different, so much better. It's like the difference between death and life, black and white, night and day. It's the difference between "heaven and hell" and "hot ashes for trees, hot air for a cool breeze".... It is a Relationship with God, not a man-made religion.
Trust Him
O taste and see that the LORD [is] good: blessed [is] the man [that] trusteth in him.
Psalm 34:8
Don't be afraid to trust in Him. He is able to keep you:
He Will Keep You
I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
2 Timothy 1:12(partial)
To us mikey kekel has exchanged a relationship with God "for a lead role in a cage". And tanya and mike are the "two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl, year after year / running over the same old ground / what have we found? / the same old fears".
ReplyDeleteThe ntcc 'leadership' is described in 1 Timothy 6 especial verse 5:
. . . men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
1 Timothy 6:5 (partial)
Just think about how often you yourself have heard people in the ntcc defend their cult by saying things like, "Just look at 'pastor' davis' life. He must be right [with God]; because he's so BLESSED [read "WEALTHY"]. Ahem. Gain does not equal godliness. From such withdraw thyself. H E L L O