| In the days of Constantine everything changed when Constantine had a �conversion experience�. In 313 Constantine wrote what he called the �Edict of Milan� which simply says that Christians are encouraged and free to serve God in the way that they see him. And that none can persecute the Christians for their beliefs. At that point the pagans were not going to conform to Christianity, so Constantine put the two beliefs together. In retrospect, many thing that we do in a church service rooted from a pagan belief system. Now I�m not saying we are pagan, but it�s kind of a big point that many traditions in our services today in the current church came from a pagan belief system. And prior to Constantine setting up the public church buildings, many of these traditions that I�m discussing where NOT in the church. If I were to find that out I would certainly �go through the house and do some cleaning�, what do you think? On top of that, the way we have our church service is no longer attracting the attention of the world, the unbelievers, and it has burnt many people who have come in not knowing what to expect, and not giving themselves totally to God, they were shot down quickly by hypocrites and their flippant judgements, now they just despise the church that they didn�t find any love in. See there are not many results in the church because we are too busy filling the pews with our own bottoms. The vision of the church should be met with all doing there part to preach the gospel in their neighborhood, community, city and county. Nothing else is more important!!! If this foundational evangelistic truth is not being fulfilled everything else should be put on hold until this is in motion. Hold off the services, sell the building and get the church out on the streets!!!!! (Right here all stuff about the great commission and what it�s for and what the commission of every Christian is.) The New Revolution: I say do way with the pulpit. Do away with the separation of the priesthood and the congregation. Teach the congregation to be priests to our God. I say let the worship team blend in with the congregation. Let them be among the congregation. Are we entertainers? Are we to be entertained? Why have service and service alone. Is there not more to the gospel? What good do our services do for the world? What good do our services do for those at the mall on Sunday? What good does it do for those on the streets and in the hospitals and in the shelters? Unless we are preparing to minister to these groups of people, could we not be wasting our time? Who ministers in the ghetto? Who holds services in suburbia? Who preaches down town? Do you have his name? How much maintenance does a Christian need to go to service 2 to 5 times a week and not go out an minister in the streets, on the job, in the hospitals, mall, schools, bars, clubs, dance halls etc. Yes there is allot to learn and yes there is always more. |
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