Church of 'American Idol' Kris Allen Tops List of Fastest-Growing Churches

jsmith175 »

Thu Sep 17, 2009 4:33 pm Agree: 4   Disagree: 2

Perhaps the bigger question is are these new converts or disciples or are they just from another congregation. In other words, is their bigger slice of the pie based on taking from someone else's slice. Just because there may be a large attendance at a congregation does not mean that people are being discipled and that there are new followers of Jesus. The North American church has such an emphasis on numbers and having the "correct" theology that they often lose the bigger picture of the priesthood of all believers and making disciples. May we never lose sight of the important stuff.

New Minister of Famed Fla. Megachurch Facing Leadership Challenge

jsmith175 »

Thu Aug 13, 2009 1:24 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

I agree with trinalgrant. It is time we return to scripture and come up with a concensus of the believers in the congregation and not a top down leadership lording it over the sheep.

U.S. Evangelicals Pessimistic about Christianity in America

jsmith175 »

Thu Jun 04, 2009 12:14 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

I agree tpique1 about aspirations of CEO but it is a systemic problem from denominational headquarters to seminaries. It has been forgotten that leadership are to be servants not Lords and Jesus is the head of the church not pastors or bishops or seminary presidents. We are called to make disciples not members.
It is time to get rid of this competition between congregations and start living the Christ-life out so that others will see Jesus living in us. When Paul wrote to a church in a certain city, it was to all of the believers there, wherever they might be meeting. I don't believe that Christianity is decreasing here, just where it may be expressed.

U.S. Evangelicals Pessimistic about Christianity in America

jsmith175 »

Wed Jun 03, 2009 4:55 pm Agree: 6   Disagree: 0

What these evangelical leaders fail to realize is that Christianity (the followers of Jesus) no longer fall into these well-defined categories of denominations and non-denominations. It is becoming real to millions of believers as they find a relationship with Father outside of these institutions and instead of embracing them, the denominations are competing with each other for a smaller piece of the pie. Maybe if we were making disciples instead of members, it would be different.
Christianity is on the rise throughout the world and much of it through persecution. Believers are no longer looking to institutions and so-called leaders and are looking to Jesus. Living in His love is a wonderful way to live.

Huckabee: Life is Perishable; Either Use It or Lose It

jsmith175 »

Tue Mar 31, 2009 10:29 pm Agree: 2   Disagree: 1

Grace and Believer -
I think that we have missed the point in so many ways when we believe that because someone preaches a sermon on Sunday morning that somehow that is more holy than someone who is involved in politics. Everyone who is a believer is in a sacred vocation whether they are paid a salary from a church or a denomination. Jesus calls us to follow him no matter where they may lead us. Are we willing to follow him? People are shepherds (pastors) whether they have a title or not because they are shepherding. People are elders, not because they have a title or been appointed, but because they are eldering (I know, nade up word). Everything that we do is sacred to Father and our lives is our spiritual worship, not going to a meeting or being part of the clergy.
JLS

Huckabee: Life is Perishable; Either Use It or Lose It

jsmith175 »

Tue Mar 31, 2009 2:44 pm Agree: 2   Disagree: 1

I don't have a bit of problem with Mike Huckabee being a govenor or a political commentator on Fox or running for President. We have a real problem as followers of Jesus because we separate what God does not separate and that is sacred and secular. There is no dividing line. There is no clergy and layity in God's world. There is just those who follow after Jesus and those who don't. Calling a person a hypocrite or not following his vocation or just criticizing someone because they don't do things the way you would want (unless it is actual public sin) is doing the Holy Spitit's job. We need to stay out of doing what God says is His area of expertise.

Largest Christian Groups Report Membership Decline

jsmith175 »

Wed Feb 25, 2009 6:54 pm Agree: 4   Disagree: 0

Perhaps if we went back to the New Testament, we would discover that Jesus said nothing about membership. Instead the Son of God proclaimed that He would build his church and the disciples were to go out and make more disciples. Instead, we build church buildings and make members instead of discipl;es. A far cry from what Jesus envisioned.

McLaren Calls World to Wake Up Amid 3 'Frightening' Crises

jsmith175 »

Wed Sep 10, 2008 6:17 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

Dear Mr. McClaren,
Unfortunately, like most politicians, we have a tendency to deal with symptoms and not the real problems.
So in order, 1) Climate change - There are people on both sides of this issue. there are those that believe that it is man-=made and those that believe that it is cyclical. The real issue is whether we are doing our best to take care of the garden. Pollution is a major problem and needs to be dealt with bi-partisan and trans-national.
2) Poverty - America is the most generous nation in the world but we are not very good at teaching people to fish as the old saying goes. And the real issue is not the have and have nots. There are only 2 races - those are part of the church (the bride of Christ) and those that are not. Unfortunately, much of the church spend their resources very unwisely. George Barna pointed out that in the last 40 years the church in America has spent billions, if not trillions on facilities, salaries and other just stuff and yet the church numbers continue to dwindle. Perhaps, we as the church in America, needs to get our priorities in line with God's economy and we could do more to help the empoverished and show Jesus to the world.
3) war and guns - no easy answer except we need to realize that there will be wars and rumors of wars until Jesus comes. We need to get back to the problem and that is hearts that are not belonging to our Lord.
I said all that to say this, go back to basics and not be caught up in distractions. Do whatever the Lord tells you to do in helping to solve these three issues whether it is recycling or riding the bus or speaking out against genocide or contacting your representatives but, abov e all else, pray. Pray for pwople's hearts to be changed because God has called us to love Him above all else and to Love those around us. Are they seeing our Love in Action or are we dealing with only the symptoms.
Sincerely,
a fellow believer

Democrats Strive to Show They Got Religion Too

jsmith175 »

Tue Aug 26, 2008 3:02 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

What I find fascinating in this whole debate is that these parties believe that people are so naive. And they are right. I am so sick of so called "Christian" leaders who claim to speak for me, whether to the right or left. There is nothing wrong with being involved in politics but anytime that people vote for a party instead of a particular person then they are being naive. One of the worst things evangelicals did was to align themselves with the Republican party and now the same goes for evangelicals who align themselves with the Democrat party. Politics never can save a country. Christians should be willing to work with Christians of any stripe or color for social justice for we are called to be ambassadors or reconciliation. But when are we going to wake up and realize that a Presidential candidate and/or party will pander to get your vote and will say anything to get your vote and will do anything to get your vote. Wake up and stop being so naive, whether you describe yourself as a Republican or a Democrat. Seek the only one that matters, Jesus.

Some Churches Have 'It,' Some Don't

jsmith175 »

Wed Aug 20, 2008 6:37 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

Why is that these innovative "pastors" have to talk in such strange terms. What is IT? I guess from what I see in the Bible, IT is a person, Jesus. And we are a kingdom of priests. Why do these pastors have to beam themselves all over the place? Have we become so much pastor idolaters that we can not trust the Holy Spirit that resides in all those that follow Jesus? I am glad that Craig went back to the Word and stop listening to what the other guys were preaching. That is a start. Now if he can only set those that he feels God has put under his care to minister and be that kingdom of priests. That would be a fulfillment of the gifts Christ has given the church in Ephesians.

Judge Rejects Christian Schools' Discrimination Suit Against UC

jsmith175 »

Wed Aug 13, 2008 1:18 pm Agree: 2   Disagree: 0

Perhaps UC should be forced to test these students on the knowledge of the courses instead of whether it was taught with a certain worldview or not. Then they would have standing on rejecting the courses. If these Christian High schools are teaching the kids to learn all viewpoints but to filter them through a Biblical worldview, then I don't know how the courses could be rejected except from a rligious bias. I hope that is the case and these kids are being taught how to think, unlike most of the public high schools who spend too much of their time on things other than reading, writing and arithmetic.

Prosperity of Televangelist's Friends, Family Raises Flags

jsmith175 »

Mon Jul 28, 2008 4:48 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

It is sad when we mistake health and prosperity for blessing. That was a major issue with the Jews in the first century. The disciples asked about who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born with a disability. Jesus answer was, to paraphrase, you just don't get it. It is to show the glory of God. The church still follows in the footsteps of the pharisees and we see things through the world's eyes. Billy Graham declares that his salary is a normal big city church senior pastor's salary (at the time 75,000 dollars). Does he need 75,000 dollars? Why do Senior pastors make a larger salary (when their kids are usually grown up, married and out of the house and his house is paid for) than the newly hired youth pastor (with a wife and two little kids). Who needs the larger salary? The church needs to wake up and start living the economy that Jesus brought instead of the U.S.capitalist economy.

Huckabee Not Seeking VP Job, Moves On

jsmith175 »

Thu Jun 19, 2008 3:07 pm Agree: 4   Disagree: 0

You have to love people who want to decide what Father has called for someone else. We are so good in our judgments but so often lacking in discernment. Father has called all his children to bi-vocational ministry whether paid or not. God is the one who raises up kings and takes them down. Perhaps it is best that we allow Father to do that. Vote for whom Father calls you to do not a party.