How to Spot a Phony Church??
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With thousands of different forms of structure, worship, and service manifest in the Christian church today, there is a great need for Christians to be certain that they are a part of a biblical New Testament body. How can we separate the genuine from the counterfeit?
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ask
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and what would you ask? how would you formulate the question??Originally posted by Tizi Melissa Othman:ask -
when the pastor only noes how to promote her new album?
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err, excuse me are you a phony church?Originally posted by breytonhartge:and what would you ask? how would you formulate the question?? -
ah the banana is back, how goes the exams??Originally posted by laurence82:err, excuse me are you a phony church? -
Originally posted by monoslayer:when the pastor only noes how to promote her new album?
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With thousands of different forms of structure, worship, and service manifest in the Christian church today, there is a great need for Christians to be certain that they are a part of a biblical New Testament body. How can we separate the genuine from the counterfeit?Originally posted by breytonhartge:and what would you ask? how would you formulate the question?? -
very funny....Originally posted by Tizi Melissa Othman:With thousands of different forms of structure, worship, and service manifest in the Christian church today, there is a great need for Christians to be certain that they are a part of a biblical New Testament body. How can we separate the genuine from the counterfeit?
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Just to continue with this thing on the phony church... based on an article I read a while ago.. the thing that the article referred to was the ancient ecclesiastical shell game, a bait-and-switch tactic called the Pergamum Scam.
What is the Pergamum Scam?
Promises you Jesus but gives you programs–plus just enough of a lift to get you through the next week, at which point you’ll need another fix. Promises you five-fold leadership to bring you to maturity like unto the stature of the fulness of Christ–but gives you one-fold leadership that leaves you at a pubescent plateau two years after conversion. Promises you eternal life but gives you, in the end, eternal boredom. -
As a member of the family of Yahweh our God, what should we be experiencing?
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...errr..... don't mean to stroke any fire.....
in your POV.... isn't all church phony? especially those who hellenised the doctrine..... I noted that the website you had briefly mentioned also used Jesus name as Jesus.... isn't this also hellenising the name of Yeshua?
this is just a checking question.
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u targeting chc la ?!Originally posted by monoslayer:when the pastor only noes how to promote her new album? -
errr. chc one, not pastor.Originally posted by crucifiedx:u targeting chc la ?! -
what u mean ?Originally posted by vince69:errr. chc one, not pastor. -
wait, we talking about mdm Ho, the singer, Pastor Kong's wife, right?Originally posted by crucifiedx:what u mean ?
Pastor Kong already said she is not a pastor.
Her name also not in the key church leader's profile.
http://www.chc.org.sg/english/our_church/church_leaders.cfm#
so, what I mean is
this statement does not seems to be targeting at CHC loh (or this statement have incorrect info)Originally posted by monoslayer:when the pastor only noes how to promote her new album? -
asking the question without inputting my coloured bias so as to generate a hopefully healthy discussion from other peoples POV.Originally posted by Chin Eng:...errr..... don't mean to stroke any fire.....
in your POV.... isn't all church phony? especially those who hellenised the doctrine..... I noted that the website you had briefly mentioned also used Jesus name as Jesus.... isn't this also hellenising the name of Yeshua?
this is just a checking question. -
monoslayer targetting chc.
he dunno that sun is not a pastor.. -
good answer..... I am glad.Originally posted by breytonhartge:asking the question without inputting my coloured bias so as to generate a hopefully healthy discussion from other peoples POV. -
juz to share sth...a phony church is usually one who uses the same terms as mainstream christians but they differ greatly when studied deeper...also most of these phony churches can be defined by their deniance of the fundamentals of christianity...by tis i mean issues like virgin birth, resurrection of jesus, salvation by grace nt gd works etc...these r cults...
there r also churches tat r subtlely phony. its often difficult to identify them as they distort fundamentals very subtlely...theres a well-known one in singapore tat claims onli its members r saved...however, they adhere to all the fundamentals of christianity...its their over-regimental n iron-hand way of doing things tat make them phony... -
Having done some reading, I found an article that said this about what a true church of Yeshua should be like... I post it here and invite comments and debate.
After surveying the ecclesiastical landscape and seeking the mind of God in Scripture, I find ten marks. You havenÂ’t got an authentic, New Testament church unless you have these basics:
1. Freedom for God
Freedom for the Holy Spirit to lead as He wills instead of subordinating Himself to our customs and traditions. There must be built-in precautions against institutionalization, and direct leading instead of priestly. (See the LordÂ’s exasperated statements in Ezekiel 34:10, 11, 15, 23, 24.)
2. Freedom for us
People must have a track to run on:
A. Authorization/release to grow in maturity and gifting
B. Repeated encouragement to step onto that track and run
C. Structures that make regular use of gifts
D. Full expression in group worship and sharing
E. Flow-through channels that allow growing gifts to serve a growing circle of people. No professional barriers to flowing into pastor/missionary work.
3. Repentance
Repudiation of ecclesiastical errors of the past and a repentance that allows Scriptural types of group function–not tradition-bound, not pastor-centered. You have to use the mobile ministry and pastor-teachers in ways that don’t smother the saints.
4. A new breed of Christian
Restoration churches are built upon a new kind of disciple: self-feeding, responsible, and determined to contribute/participate/function. They will have more than "lay" status. (Remember the old gag? The preachers preach, the teachers teach, and the laymen lay around.)
5. Conversions/growth
Reproducible growth in numbers. This must include a good number of conversions.
6. Communal righteousness
A spiritual purity that springs from the whole group (instead of one single pastor) and is maintained by the group (not just one pastor or shepherd figure).
7. Sense of belonging/ownership
An openness that allows a sense of being on the inside, not outside. A felt share in responsibility for the success of meetings.
8. Leadership development
Dynamics that constantly produce leaders from within the group, creating apostles, elders, and all other gifts as fast as theyÂ’re needed.
9. Cooperation
Kingdom attitudes vs. empire attitudes. This shows up as respect for other ministries, eagerness to work together, team orientation, relational styles, decentralized authority, and a constant concern for the individual (asking, "What I can do for him?" rather than "What he can do for me and my ministry?" ).
10. Healing of society
A ministry with impact well beyond church circles. If youÂ’re obedient and responsive to God, HeÂ’ll be able to use you as a channel of blessing to the whole world.
This, my friend, is the dazzling bride without spot or wrinkle. DonÂ’t settle for anything less.